Jorge's Double Walks it Off For Daytona, 5-4 in 10

DAYTONA BEACH—The Daytona Tortugas squandered a two-run lead in the ninth, but Carlos Jorge saved the day with a walk-off RBI double in the bottom of the tenth to lift the Tortugas to a 5-4 victory in extras over the Jupiter Hammerheads on Tuesday night at Jackie Robinson Ballpark.

Daytona (25-33) improved to 3-1 in extra-inning affairs this season as Jupiter (31-27) left 11 runners on base and suffered their third consecutive defeat.

Daytona got off on the right foot in the first off Jupiter starter Cole Kirschsieper. With one out, Jorge dumped a bloop hit into right field that took a large hop over the head of right fielder Renny Hidalgo, which turned into a triple. Sal Stewart followed with a roller to short to bring in Jorge, staking Daytona to a 1-0 lead.

Tortuga starter Kenya Huggins worked around trouble in the second, as a one-out triple was erased on a fielder’s choice throw home from Cam Collier at third base. In the third, though, he wasn’t as lucky. A one-out double to deep center set the table two batters later for Jorge Caballero, who lined an RBI single to right, tying the game at one apiece.

Daytona, though, had an immediate response. Logan Tanner led off with a ringing double into the left-center gap. Kirschsieper rebounded by striking out the next two batters, but he walked Stewart to bring up Collier. On a 2-2 offering, Collier ripped a drive into the left-center gap that scored both runners, restoring Daytona’s lead at 3-1.

In the fourth, though Jupiter fought back against Huggins. Harrison Spohn led off with a double down the left field line and immediately came around on a single up the middle by Torin Montgomery. After a strikeout, Huggins was lifted for Brett Lockwood, who allowed a single, but retired the next two batters with runners at second and third, preserving the 3-2 lead.

He then handed things off to Mason Pelio to begin the fifth, who set the tone for things to come with a 1-2-3 inning. The right-hander issued a leadoff walk in the sixth before erasing that with a 5-4-3 twin killing.

In the bottom of the sixth, Daytona added to the lead as Stewart led off the frame. On a 2-2 offering from Kirschsieper, Stewart drove a ball the opposite way that cleared the right field fence. The 371-foot shot extended the Tortuga lead to 4-2 on Stewart’s second homer of the season.

Pelio proceeded to brush off a two-out triple in the seventh and a one-out walk in the eighth. He returned for his fifth inning of work in the ninth, but ran into trouble. He allowed two singles, sandwiched around a walk, loading the bases with no outs.

At that point, Zach Maxwell came on and induced a flyout to shallow center which failed to move any runners. Caballero followed with a broken-bat roller to short. However, he beat out the back end of a potential double-play ball to score a run and extend the game. A wild pitch then followed which allowed Brett Roberts to come home, tying the game at four apiece.

In the bottom of the ninth, Daytona stroked two singles and had the winning run just 90 feet away, but Hector Rodriguez lined out against Evan Taylor, sending the game to extras.

In the tenth, Maxwell returned and was greeted by a sacrifice bunt, which moved the automatic runner to third. A roller to short followed, but Victor Acosta made a perfect throw home to cut down the runner. Maxwell (3-2) then struck out the following hitter to end the inning with the score still tied, setting the stage for Jorge’s heroics.

Taylor returned for the tenth and promptly fell behind Jorge. On a 3-1 delivery, Jorge ripped a line drive that cleared the head of center fielder Javier Sanoja, sending Hector Rodriguez home with a walk-off 5-4 win.

CARLOS JORGE, NO CONTEXT NEEDED! pic.twitter.com/wmPdjlnglK

— Daytona Tortugas (@daytonatortugas) June 14, 2023

The Tortugas will play game two against the Jupiter Hammerheads on Wednesday night. RHP Tanner Cooper (1-2, 4.30) will get the ball for Daytona against RHP Holt Jones (0-0, 3.46). Tomorrow is a Belly Buster Wednesday with all-you-can-eat hot dogs, hamburgers, popcorn, and Marcos Pizza. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. with pregame on the Tortugas Radio Network with the Voice of the Tortugas Brennan Mense 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.