Ninth Inning Lead Slips Away in Series-Ending Defeat

DAYTONA—The Daytona Tortugas rallied in the eighth innings, but allowed three runs with two outs in the ninth inning to let Sunday evening’s contest in a 4-3 loss to the Lakeland Flying Tigers in the series finale at Jackie Robinson Ballpark.

Lakeland (19-26) rallied to earn the series split, as Daytona (19-26) will turn their attention to a 12-game road trip to Palm Beach and St. Lucie that begins Tuesday.

Daytona’s Bryce Hubbart got the game off to a strong start, striking out all three Lakeland batters in the first inning.

The Tortugas then had the chance to take the lead against Lakeland starter Ulices Campos in the second. Victor Acosta led off with a walk and Logan Tanner launched a ground-rule double that hopped over the wall in right-center. With runners at second and third, though, a lineout, strikeout, and flyout doomed Daytona to a scoreless frame.

In the top of the third, Lakeland took the lead. With one out, Tyler Johnson swatted a 1-2 fastball from Hubbart over the left field fence for a solo home run to put the Flying Tigers up 1-0.

The Tortugas, though, answered back. Carlos Jorge legged out an infield single and moved to second on a groundout. Yerlin Confidan followed by chopping a ground ball through the right side to score Jorge, tying the game at one apiece.

Hubbart worked 4.0 innings, allowing just the solo homer for his only hit and run, walking one and setting a career-high with six strikeouts before handing the reins off to b, who struck out the side in the fifth inning before departing for Arij Fransen in the sixth.

By the time Fransen took the hill, the game was a full-fledged pitcher’s duel as innings flew by with negligible scoring chances for either side. In fact, no Lakeland batter reached second base after Johnson’s home run through the eighth inning.

On the other side, though, Campos surrendered a one-out single to Tanner in the fourth, but after giving way to the bullpen in the fifth, Daytona failed to produce a baserunner through the fifth, sixth and seventh innings.

In the eighth, though, things changed. With one out, Hector Rodriguez reached on a dropped third strike, which provided an opening for Daytona. Jorge followed by lacing a double to right-center. Rodriguez beat a short-hopped throw home to put the Tortugas on top. After Jorge stole third, Sal Stewart hit a chopper to short, but Jorge beat the throw home to put Daytona ahead 3-1.

In the ninth, Luis Mey came in to close it out, but things unraveled. A leadoff walk and infield single put the tying run on with one before a flyout. Daytona was one strike from victory, but Dominic Johnson reached on an infield single on a 1-2 pitch to lead the bases. Mey then hit Luke Gold with the next delivery to bring in a run.

Frainger Aranguren came on and could not stop the bleeding. He walked Sergio Tapia on five pitches to tie the game. Tyler Johnson then walked on a full-count offering where he barely held up a checked swing, the unsuccessful appeal of which led to manager Julio Morillo’s ejection. Lakeland now led 4-3.

Jordan Marks then set down Daytona 1-2-3 on just six pitches to end the game.

The Tortugas will have Memorial Day Monday off before hitting the road to Jupiter to begin a 12-game road trip with six games against the Palm Beach Cardinals. Starters for both teams are still to be determined. First pitch for Tuesday’s series opener is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. with pregame on the Tortugas Radio Network with the Voice of the Tortugas Brennan Mense at 4:45 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.