Leads Slip Away for Tortugas in 6-5, 11-inning Defeat
BRADENTON, FL—The Daytona Tortugas held a 3-0 advantage early and two extra-inning leads late, but every time, the Bradenton Marauders rallied back as they defeated the Tortugas 6-5 in 11 innings on Wednesday afternoon at LECOM Park. Bradenton (7-4) won their fifth straight with their persistent rallying, thanks in part
BRADENTON, FL—The Daytona Tortugas held a 3-0 advantage early and two extra-inning leads late, but every time, the Bradenton Marauders rallied back as they defeated the Tortugas 6-5 in 11 innings on Wednesday afternoon at LECOM Park.
Bradenton (7-4) won their fifth straight with their persistent rallying, thanks in part to a season-high nine walks from the Daytona (5-6) pitching staff, as the Tortugas suffered their sixth straight setback.
After a scoreless first, the Tortugas took the lead in the top of the second against Bradenton starter. A leadoff error allowed Ariel Almonte to reach before singles by Hector Rodriguez and Victor Acosta loaded the bases with no outs. Logan Tanner followed with a sac fly to bring Almonte home, though Dotel was able to escape with no further damage. Daytona, though, led 1-0.
On the other side, Lyon Richardson worked around two hits in the first and one in the second, with a double-play ball ending the latter inning. He then threw a 1-2-3 third with a pair of strikeouts, which capped off an outing in which he went 3.0 scoreless frames, allowing three hits and no walks with five strikeouts.
As a parting gift, his offense provided him with a couple more runs in the fourth in unusual fashion. With one out, Almonte was plunked before Dotel walked Tanner and Michel Triana to load the bases. Wendell Marrero then drew another free pass to bring home Almonte, chasing Dotel in the process. Yoldin De La Paz entered and Carlos Jorge proceeded to draw another bases-loaded walk to make it 3-0.
In the fourth, Johnathan Harmon entered for Daytona, but Bradenton rallied. After a pair of walks, Braylon Bishop singled home a run, with an error allowing both runners to advance into scoring position. Geovanny Blanchart took advance, lining a single up the middle to score both runners, tying the game at three apiece.
Meanwhile, both pitchers settled down. De La Paz walked two in the fifth, but emerged unscathed in the inning. Harmon, meanwhile, responded with 1-2-3 fifth and sixth innings before departing after retiring the first two batters in the seventh, in total retiring the final nine batters of his 3.2-inning outing.
The Tortugas had an opportunity in the seventh, as Almonte lined an opposite-field double with two outs, but a strikeout ended that threat.
In the eighth, Bradenton mounted a threat against Easton Sikorski as a leadoff double began the inning. With runners on the corners, though, Jorge snared a line drive to end the inning, preserving the tie.
An inning later, the Marauders mounted another major threat against John Murphy, but a fielder’s choice with the bases loaded sent the game to extras tied at three apiece.
In the tenth, the Tortugas took advantage of the automatic runner, with two well-placed ground balls being enough to bring home Leo Balcazar, as Almonte drove in the go-ahead run on a soft chopper to first. However, Bradenton also scored on a groundout, this time a chopper to short, which sent things to the 11th tied at 4.
In the 11th frame, Acosta led off with a single to left, putting runners on the corners. Tanner followed with a sacrifice fly, his second of the game, to bring home Rodriguez to again put the Tortugas in front.
In the bottom of the inning, though, things fell apart. Four straight walks began the inning and it was all the Marauders needed. Jesus Castillo drew the game-tying free pass and Shalin Polanco watched ball four as the Marauders walked off—literally—in a 6-5 win.
The Tortugas will play game three in Bradenton against the Marauders on Thursday night. RHP Chris McElvain (0-0, 2.25) gets the ball for Daytona against a to-be-announced starter for Bradenton. First pitch is at 6:30 with pregame on the Tortugas Radio Network and Bally Live with the Voice of the Tortugas Brennan Mense at 6:15 from LECOM Park in Bradenton.
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.