Lakeland Pulls Ahead Late and ‘Tugas Can’t Counter in Mother’s Day Defeat
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla—Alfredo Duno notched three hits and two RBI, but the Lakeland Flying Tigers scored twice in the top of the ninth and the Daytona Tortugas couldn’t cash in a bases-loaded chance in their final turn at bat in a 6-4 defeat on Sunday evening at Jackie Robinson Ballpark.
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla—Alfredo Duno notched three hits and two RBI, but the Lakeland Flying Tigers scored twice in the top of the ninth and the Daytona Tortugas couldn’t cash in a bases-loaded chance in their final turn at bat in a 6-4 defeat on Sunday evening at Jackie Robinson Ballpark.
Lakeland (22-11) took five of six in the series as Daytona (18-15) left 12 runners on base in the finale of their least-successful series of the 2024 season.
Daytona pulled in front right away in the bottom of the first as Yerlin Confidan and Dominic Pitelli singled off Lakeland starter Duque Hebbert to put runners on the corners with one out. Duno followed by ripping a line drive into the gap in right-center to score both runners. With two outs, the Tortugas loaded the bases on a walk and hit batter, but couldn’t come up with the huge hit. Nonetheless, the Tortugas led 2-0.
Daytona starter Gabriel Aguilera was excellent early on, setting down Lakeland nine-up, nine-down over the first three innings, with only one ball being hit out of the infield.
Aguilera retired the first two men in the fourth, but then hit a wall, as a walk was followed by three consecutive singles. A hit by David Smith scored a run before a two-run single by Samuel Gil staked the Flying Tigers to a 3-2 lead.
After doing little over the previous three innings, Daytona came to life in the fifth. A hit batter began the inning, chasing Hebbert. Against Cam Brown, Pitelli reached on a fielder’s choice and stole second. After Duno’s third hit of the night moved Pitelli to third, Ariel Almonte lifted a sacrifice fly to center to tie the game at three apiece.
Lakeland, though, had an answer against Daytona reliever Jose Montero. Max Clark led off with a single, then motored all the way home on an RBI triple by Josue Briceno. However, Montero was able to retire the next three batters to prevent another run from scoring, though Lakeland was back in front, 4-3.
The Flying Tigers brought in Quinn Gudaitis in the sixth and Daytona once more put a rally in motion. Esmith Pineda led off with a double, then a hit batter and a walk loaded the bases with no outs. Following a pop-out, an infield hit from Confidan brought in Pineda to tie the game. A controversial double play, though, ended the inning to keep the game knotted up at four.
The score remained tied as Montero worked scoreless seventh and eighth frames to finish off a solid outing in which he logged 4.0 innings of one-hit ball to keep the game tied. On the other side, Daytona logged a pair of two-out runners in the eighth, but left the go-ahead run at third.
In the ninth, Dylan Simmons came on, but Lakeland was ready. Three of the first four batters singled, bringing home a run. A sacrifice fly brought home a second run to give Lakeland a two-run lead.
In the bottom of the ninth, Daytona threatened as Thomas Bruss walked Pitelli with one out. Yosbere Sanchez came on and picked up a strikeout, but then walked Almonte and Pineda to load the bases with two outs for Carter Graham. However, Graham hit a sharp ground ball to second to end the game as Lakeland claimed a 6-4 victory.
Daytona have Monday off before travelling to Clearwater to begin a six-game series with the Clearwater Threshers on Tuesday night. First pitch from BayCare Ballpark is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. with pregame coverage on the Tortugas Radio Network with Brennan Mense begins at 6:15 p.m.
These 15 moments led to season No. 15 of Minor League road trips
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from his newsletter is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
MiLB podcast crew makes Opening Day predictions
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Everything you need to know for Triple-A Opening Day
First, there was big league Opening Day. Now it's Triple-A's turn to take the spotlight. The Minor League season opens Friday when the Triple-A International League and Pacific Coast League seasons get underway for the first of MiLB’s two Opening Days. And right out of the gates, several of baseball's
Top prospects to watch at Triple-A -- one for each organization
It’s Triple-A’s turn up to bat on Friday. The regular season begins for the Minor Leagues’ highest level one day after the action starts on the Major League side. Fun fact: it’ll be the earliest start to a Minor League season since 1951 (March 27). Double-A, High-A and Single-A will
Here's where every Top 100 prospect is expected to start the season
The 2025 Opening Day prospect roster announcements began last week when the Cubs informed Matt Shaw (MLB No. 19) he was making the trip overseas to compete in the Tokyo Series. Roki Sasaki (No. 1) also received the good news, but his assignment was much less of a surprise. Now
Nationals prospect King joins MiLB podcast
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Here are the 2025 All-Spring Breakout Teams
Fifteen games, several jersey swaps and countless highlights later, the second edition of Spring Breakout has officially concluded – and it lived up to its billing. Of the 16 contests sprinkled across four days, only one game (Dodgers vs. Cubs) was rained out. Coincidentally, the Cubs were one of two
Rox young sluggers aim to bring pop back to Coors Field
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Coors Field may provide the best run-scoring environment in Major League Baseball, but the Rockies haven’t taken advantage of it in recent years. Even without adjusting for Coors, they have fielded offenses worse than the league average the past three seasons, and they scored the fewest runs
Astros brass sees potential in consistently 'underranked' farm system
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- The last time the Astros landed in the top 10 of MLB Pipeline’s farm system rankings was before the 2019 season. Since those rankings expanded to all 30 teams ahead of the 2020 season -- 11 lists in total -- they’ve never ranked higher than
Complete results and highlights from Spring Breakout
The second edition of MLB Spring Breakout is complete, and there was no shortage of highlights from the future stars of Major League Baseball over the four-day showcase. Here's a complete breakdown of the 16-game exhibition:
Southpaw Spring Breakout: White Sox future on display with Schultz, Smith
GLENDALE, Ariz. -- If all goes as planned for the White Sox, left-handers Hagen Smith and Noah Schultz won’t spend much time following each other to the mound in a single game. Schultz, the No. 1 White Sox prospect and No. 16 overall, per MLB Pipeline, and Smith, who is
In first pro game, Rainer offers pop, promise to Tigers fans
NORTH PORT, Fla. -- Bryce Rainer’s pro career consisted of workouts and batting practice until Sunday.
'Me and Brady on the dirt again': House, King reunite at Spring Breakout
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- The 2025 Spring Breakout was a flashback for Brady House and Seaver King. Over 10 years ago, the infielders were travel ball teammates in Georgia who shared the dream of making it to the Major Leagues. Now, they are top prospects in the same organization,
Lambert -- 'an adrenaline guy' -- hoping to be next Mets bullpen gem
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Ryan Lambert loves throwing hard. He relishes the idea of getting to two strikes and blowing hitters away. “Get me in a game,” Lambert said, “cool things will happen.”
Stewart embraces Spring Breakout: 'What's not to love?'
PHOENIX -- Sal Stewart was one fired-up Reds prospect. On Sunday in the first inning during the organization's 9-7 Spring Breakout win over Brewers prospects, Stewart lifted a 2-2 pitch that sailed over the center fielder's head to the wall. Already not known as a speedster, he stumbled running between
Prospect Peña quietly drawing raves in Brewers' farm system
PHOENIX – Jesús Made was at the top of the Brewers’ lineup for Sunday’s 9-7 loss to the Reds in the finale of MLB’s four-day Spring Breakout, a fitting perch when you consider that the 17-year-old infielder is under a bright spotlight as MLB Pipeline’s No. 55 prospect. Made could
Brecht -- in 1st outing since '24 Draft -- wows at Spring Breakout
GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Sunday's Spring Breakout showcase was the perfect unveiling for Rockies No. 5 prospect Brody Brecht. A right-handed pitcher from the University of Iowa whom the Rockies selected 38th overall last summer, Brecht had a nice collegiate resume, an interesting backstory as a former wide receiver for the
Braves prospects show promise in Spring Breakout
NORTH PORT, Fla. -- As Terry Pendleton prepared to serve as the manager of the Braves prospect team that played the Tigers prospect team in a Spring Breakout game on Sunday afternoon, he said fans should be patient with John Gil and Luis Guanipa, a pair of teenagers who have
Yanks' Lagrange flashes triple-digit heat in Spring Breakout
SARASOTA, Fla. -- There was an audible “Ooh” from the crowd at Ed Smith Stadium, and Carlos Lagrange quickly glanced beyond the right-field wall, checking the velocity of the pitch he’d just thrown in Saturday’s 5-4 Spring Breakout loss to the Orioles. It had registered in the triple digits, and
Bradfield dedicates Spring Breakout performance to late friend
SARASOTA, Fla. -- It was about more than playing in the national spotlight. More than the dinner bet placed with an old college teammate earlier in the month. More than a game. As Enrique Bradfield Jr. slid home to score a run during the first inning of Saturday night’s Spring