Ninth Inning Again Haunts Tortugas in Walk-off Defeat
JUPITER, FL—Victor Acosta stroked three hits and Kevin Abel spun 4.1 hitless innings in relief, but the Palm Beach Cardinals scored twice in the bottom of the ninth to walk off the Daytona Tortugas 6-5 on Tuesday evening at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium. Palm Beach (27-19) defeated the Tortugas for
JUPITER, FL—Victor Acosta stroked three hits and Kevin Abel spun 4.1 hitless innings in relief, but the Palm Beach Cardinals scored twice in the bottom of the ninth to walk off the Daytona Tortugas 6-5 on Tuesday evening at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium.
Palm Beach (27-19) defeated the Tortugas for the 10th time in 13 meetings this year as Daytona (19-27) was unable to hold a ninth-inning lead for the second consecutive game.
In the bottom of the first, Palm Beach took advantage of a miscue to take an early lead. After two outs to begin the game, a ground ball by R.J. Yeager was bobbled, allowing him to reach, extending the inning. After a wild pitch moved Yeager into scoring position, Leonardo Bernal doubled down the left field line to put the Cardinals up 1-0.
Daytona, though, answered in the second. A leadoff single by Cam Collier was followed by a walk to Cade Hunter. Acosta then stepped in and rolled a single through the right side. Collier ran through a stop sign at third, but scored anyways, tying the game.
An inning later, the Tortugas jumped in front. Yassel Pino pulled a leadoff double down the left-field line, then moved to third on a groundout. Carlos Jorge followed with a chopper to the first baseman Yeager who threw home. However, his throw was on a hop, which allowed Pino to score, putting Daytona ahead 2-1.
An inning later, the Tortugas came up with some clutch hitting to extend the lead. Two singles and a walk loaded the bases with one out. After a strikeout, Hector Rodriguez extended his hitting streak to 12 games with a single through the right side to score two runs, extending the lead to 4-1.
However, Palm Beach immediately bounced back. Two singles sandwiched around a walk loaded the bases with nobody out in the bottom of the fourth. Carlos Linarez lifted a sacrifice fly to bring home the first run and Javier Bolivar singled home another runner. Alex Iadisernia followed with a double to left which not only tied the game but put runners at second and third. However, Johnathan Harmon induced a pop-up and groundout to keep the game tied at 4-4.
Daytona answered back in the fifth. Sal Stewart drew a leadoff walk and went to second on a groundout. With two outs, Acosta came through with his third hit of the night, a triple into the right field corner to plate Stewart with a restored lead at 5-4.
Victor Acosta's third hit of the night is a three-bagger! His 4th triple of the year drives in his second run of the night to put Daytona back in front!
— Daytona Tortugas (@daytonatortugas) May 30, 2023
5-4 Tortugas mid-5! pic.twitter.com/9gyG0W0GlX
In the bottom of the fifth, Abel entered the contest and began his excellent work. He struck out two in a 1-2-3 sixth, then worked around two walks in the seventh with two more punchouts and a pickoff. Following a spotless eighth, he had an opportunity to finish the contest.
However, after a strikeout to open the ninth, Iadisernia walked, ending the night for Abel in favor of Zach Maxwell. However, two walks opened Maxwell’s (1-2) outing, loading the bases with one out for Bernal. On the second pitch of the at-bat, Bernal launched a drive to the right field fence, easily scoring a pair of runners, ending the contest on a two-run, walk-off double for a 6-5 win for Palm Beach.
The Tortugas will return to action Wednesday night for game two against the Palm Beach Cardinals. Daytona will throw RHP Kenya Huggins (0-2, 5.57) against Palm Beach LHP Pete Hansen (2-1, 3.44). First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. with pregame on the Tortugas Radio Network with the Voice of the Tortugas Brennan Mense at 6:15 from Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium.
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.