Hunter Homers, Stewart Runs Streak to 14, but 'Tugas Fall 8-5

DAYTONA BEACH—Cade Hunter spearheaded a five-run inning with a three-run homer and Sal Stewart extended his hitting streak to 14 games, but the Daytona Tortugas let a three-run lead slip away as the Bradenton Marauders secured a series victory with a 9-5 win Friday night at Jackie Robinson Ballpark.

Bradenton (9-4, 44-34) scored seven unanswered runs over the fifth and sixth innings to win for the fourth time in as many nights over Daytona (7-6, 36-42), who has now dropped five in a row overall.

Both teams stroked one-out doubles in the first but didn’t score in the opening frame. However, that changed in the second as Alexander Mojica doubled off Tortuga starter Mason Pelio, then hustled home on a Geovanny Planchart RBI single, narrowly beating a strong throw home to put Bradenton ahead 1-0.

An inning later, the Marauders doubled the lead. Pelio jumped ahead of Josiah Sightler 0-2, but Sightler blasted the two-strike delivery 394 feet over the wall in right-center for a leadoff solo home run. Bradenton now led 2-0.

After three scoreless innings, Marauders starter Derek Diamond faltered in the fourth. A dropped third strike and walk opened the inning. Hunter followed with a rocket over the center-field wall for a three-run home run which put the Tortugas ahead 3-2. Daytona continued the rally, though, with a pair of singles and a sacrifice bunt setting up a two-run single from Michel Triana. The Tortugas sent nine men to the plate in a five-run frame that put Daytona ahead 5-2.

Bradenton, though, roared right back. Two walks opened the fifth, which ended Pelio’s night. Brett Lockwood came on and allowed a single to load the bases before a fielder’s choice brought in a run. The right-hander then uncorked a wild pitch to close the gap to 5-4.

In the sixth, the tide firmly turned in the Marauders’ favor. After a leadoff strikeout, the next seven batters reached on three hits and four walks. The first five of those runners wound up scoring on two wild pitches and three RBI singles, putting the Marauders in front 9-5.

From there, Bradenton pitching did the rest. Diamond (7-3) bounced back from the fourth-inning rally with scoreless fifth and sixth frames before two relievers recorded the final nine outs. One of the few highlights of the later innings was Stewart extending his hitting streak to 14 games, the longest this year by a Tortuga, on an infield hit in the fifth and affirming it with a clean hit to right in the eighth.

However, despite scoreless relief from Pedro Alfonseca and Jacob Heatherly over the final three frames, the Tortugas drew no closer as Bradenton cruised to a 9-5 victory.

The Tortugas will play game five against the Bradenton Marauders Saturday night. Both teams’ starters are still to be announced. Tomorrow is Wizards and Wands Night which will feature a costume contest, special on-field games, and a Golden Stitch Baseball giveaway to the first 1,000 fans. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. with pregame coverage on the Tortugas Radio Network with the Voice of the Tortugas Brennan Mense begins at 6:20 from Jackie Robinson Ballpark.

Daytona Tortugas single-game tickets and ticket packages are on sale now at daytonatortugas.com, (386) 257-3172, or the box office at 110 East Orange Ave.

ABOUT THE DAYTONA TORTUGAS

The Daytona Tortugas are the Single-A Affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds and a member of Minor League Baseball’s Florida State League. The Tortugas play at Jackie Robinson Ballpark in downtown Daytona Beach, Fla. Jackie Robinson Ballpark also plays host to Bethune-Cookman University, the Jackie Robinson Ballpark Museum, and many community events and initiatives of all sizes throughout the year.