Edgington’s Excellence, Early Homers Enough as Tortugas Hang on, 6-4
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla—Ariel Almonte and Ricardo Cabrera each swatted early homers and Brian Edgington spun his second quality start of the season as the Daytona Tortugas jumped out to an early lead and fought off a late charge from the St. Lucie Mets to win 6-4 on Thursday night
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla—Ariel Almonte and Ricardo Cabrera each swatted early homers and Brian Edgington spun his second quality start of the season as the Daytona Tortugas jumped out to an early lead and fought off a late charge from the St. Lucie Mets to win 6-4 on Thursday night at Clover Park.
Daytona (24-30) snapped a three-game skid while simultaneously ending a five-game run for St. Lucie (19-35), holding off a three-run charge in the ninth to finish the win.
Daytona jumped out to a quick lead in the top of the first as Sammy Stafura led off with a single, then went to third on a perfectly-executed hit and run by Cabrera. A wild pitch from St. Lucie starter Jack Wenninger followed, scoring Stafura with the game’s first run. Cabrera tried to go first-to-third on the play, but was thrown out in the process. However, Daytona still added a second run in the inning as Almonte blasted a 110-mph line drive over the right-field fence for his 12th home run of the year, putting Daytona up 2-0.
Two innings later, Daytona doubled the lead. With one out in the third, Stafura beat out a routine roller to short for the second of his three hits on the night. One pitch later, he came home when Cabrera blasted a first-pitch slider from Wenninger 405 feet off the left-center field scoreboard for a two-run home run. His sixth round-tripper of the season extended the Daytona lead to 4-0.
Edgington retired the first eight batters he faced, striking out four batters over 3.0 scoreless innings to begin his outing. In the fourth, Jesus Baez led off by crushing a home run to left-center, but Edgington did not allow any further damage.
The right-hander allowed two-out singles in both the fifth and sixth innings, but both times Diego Omana, making his Tortugas debut, threw out the runner stealing to end the inning.
Edgington (2-4) finished his night going 6.0 innings for the second time this season while allowing one run on five hits with six strikeouts and no walks, leaving him squarely in line for a victory.
The offense then took advantage of a pair of miscues to add to the lead in the seventh. Yassel Pino led off with a double, then moved to third when Stafura reached on an error with one out. Cabrera then drove in his third run of the night with a sacrifice fly. A single by Carter Graham moved Stafura to third, who then scored his third run of the night on a passed ball to put Daytona up 6-1.
Cody Adcock then entered in the seventh and issued a one-out walk, but struck out the final two batters of the inning, before returning and working a 1-2-3 eighth to finish 2.0 scoreless innings in relief.
In the ninth, Alex Johnson came on to finish off the game, but he failed to do so as he walked the first three batters he faced. After the final walk, Simon Miller came on with the bases loaded and proceeded to walk Colin Houck, forcing in a run. Jeffry Rosa followed with a two-run single to pull St. Lucie within 6-4, putting the tying run on base. Miller, though, put the clamps down with a flyout before ending the game with back-to-back strikeouts as Daytona held on for the victory.
The Tortugas will play game four against the St. Lucie Mets on Friday night. Daytona will throw LHP Adam Serwinowski (1-1, 2.68) while St. Lucie’s starter is still to be determined. First pitch from Clover Park in Port St. Lucie is scheduled for 6:10 p.m. with pregame coverage on the Tortugas Radio Network and MiLB.tv/Bally Live with Brennan Mense beginning at 5:55 p.m.