Jorge, Almonte Go Deep, But 'Tugas Can't Hold Four-Run Lead

LAKELAND, FL—Carlos Jorge and Ariel Almonte homered, while Jorge and Victor Acosta each drove in three runs, but the Daytona Tortugas let a four-run lead slip away as the Lakeland Flying Tigers slugged their way to a 9-8 victory on Tuesday night at Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium.

Lakeland (16-9, 42-48) improved to 15-4 in July behind seven extra-base hits as the Daytona (11-12, 40-48) bullpen surrendered seven runs over their three innings of work.

The bottom of the first featured a defensive highlight for Daytona as a leadoff infield hit from Seth Stephenson was followed by the Lakeland outfielder’s 41^st stolen base. The throw to second scooted into center field, but in just his third game in center, Jorge fired a perfect one-hop throw to third base to cut down Stephenson, who tried unsuccessfully to advance on the overthrow.

In the second, Daytona turned around and took the lead. Yassel Pino drew a leadoff walk and moved to third when Cam Collier legged out a hustle double to right-center. Johnny Ascanio and Acosta followed with well-placed groundouts that each scored a run, staking the Tortugas to a 2-0 lead.

Operating with a lead, Arij Fransen was sharp. After allowing a two-out single in the second, the right-hander needed just seven pitches to spin a 1-2-3 third inning. He brushed aside a one-out hit in a scoreless fourth inning as well.

On the other side, the Tortugas could not grow the lead as Lakeland start Edgardo Ibarra locked in, setting down 11 straight hitters, which included 1-2-3 frames in the third and fourth. The string ended with a one-out walk in the fifth, but Daytona did nothing with the free pass.

In the fifth, Lakeland finally struck against Fransen as Cristian Santana blasted a 413-foot drive over the wall in left-center for a solo home run, closing the gap to 2-1.

Fransen did settled down, though, retiring the next two hitters to tie his season high of 5.0 innings, allowing a run on four hits, with no walks and four strikeouts.

In the sixth, though, Rob Hensey entered for Daytona and walked the first two batters he faced. After a strikeout, Mike Rothenburg ripped a double to right-center to score both runners, putting Lakeland in front 3-2.

Daytona, though, had an immediate answer. A pair of one-out walks chased Chris Mauloni, for Eric Mendez, whose very first pitch to Acosta was lined into the right-field corner for a two-run triple to restore the Daytona lead. After a walk, a pop-up had Mendez one out from ending the inning. Jorge, though, launched a 1-2 delivery 396 feet over the right-field fence, capping off a five-run frame that put the Tortugas up 7-3.

The Tortugas, though, had no chance to think about cruising to the finish line. Two doubles sandwiched around a single greeted Hensey in the seventh, scoring a run and putting two in scoring position with no out. Frainger Aranguren entered and promptly surrendered a two-run double to Stephenson, cutting the deficit to 7-6. Aranguren, though, buckled down and retired the next two men before Stephenson was caught stealing third to end the inning.

Lakeland then finished the comeback an inning later, as with one out, a hit batter and double put two on for Manuel Sequera, who lifted a moonshot over the left-field fence for a three-run home run, putting the Flying Tigers in front for good, 9-7.

Against Cam Brown in the ninth, the Tortugas got a run back on Almonte’s fourth home run of the season, a 416-foot no-doubter to right. That was as close as Daytona would get, though, as Brown then struck out Jorge to end the game, with Lakeland winning 9-8.

The Tortugas will play game two against the Lakeland Flying Tigers on Wednesday night. RHP Jared Lyons (0-3, 4.56) will get the ball for Daytona while Lakeland’s starter is still to be announced. First pitch from Joker Marchant Stadium in Lakeland will be at 6:30 p.m. with pregame coverage with the voice of the Tortugas, Brennan Mense, beginning at 6:15 p.m. on the Tortugas Radio Network.

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.