O'Donnell Blasts First Pro Homer, but Dunedin Spoils 'Tugas Home Finale

DAYTONA BEACH—Ethan O’Donnell crushed his first professional home run and Dominic Pitelli added two hits and two RBI, but the Dunedin Blue Jays spoiled the Daytona Tortugas’ home finale with a 9-4 victory on Sunday evening at Jackie Robinson Ballpark.

Dunedin (29-31, 61-65) secured a series split thanks to a seven-run sixth inning in the final game for Daytona (25-33, 54-69) at The Jack in 2023, with the Tortugas finishing the year 33-32 on their home turf.

In the bottom of the first, Daytona scored first against Dunedin right-hander Rafael Ohashi. Ohashi set down the first two batters, but O’Donnell cracked a 1-1 delivery 407 feet over the center field fence for his first professional home run, giving Daytona a 1-0 lead.

In the second, though, Dunedin immediately responded against Daytona starter Johnathan Harmon. Nick Goodwin led off by slicing a triple just inside the right field line. One pitch later, Brennan Orf rifled a line drive to center for an RBI single that tied the game at one each.

After a 1-2-3 third from Harmon, a miscue opened the door for Dunedin as a leadoff error put Goodwin aboard. Orf followed with a double to right to move Goodwin to third. Manuel Beltre then chopped a ground ball to short to bring home Goodwin, staking the Blue Jays to a 2-1 lead.

Ohashi was sharp over the second and third frames, allowing only a one-out walk in the third. In the fourth, though, Daytona got to him once more. With one out, Jack Moss singled up the middle and moved to second on a walk to Yassel Pino. Pitelli followed with a line drive to left-center that scored both of them giving, Daytona a 3-2 lead.

Harmon departed after 4.0 innings for Alex Johnson, who began his outing with a 1-2-3 fifth. In the sixth, though, things went sideways for Daytona. Roque Salinas led off with a double to left. Two pop ups sandwiched around a walk put two on with two outs, but consecutive walks brought in the tying run. A wild pitch brought home the go-ahead run, before a walk re-loaded the bases, chasing Johnson.

Brody Jessee entered with the bases loaded, but Tucker Toman unloaded them with a three-run double that broke open the game. Jace Bohrofen followed with a single to right-center to score Toman. In the process, Bohrofen went to second on the throw home, which was cut off, but the throw to second was errant, allowing Bohrofen to advance to third and home, capping off a seven-run frame that put Dunedin ahead 9-3.

In the bottom of the sixth, Aaron Munson came on for Dunedin and was touched up for three hits and a walk, but an ill-timed double play put a damper on a potential big inning. Nonetheless, Ariel Almonte did line an RBI single to trim the deficit to 9-4.

However, the offense dried up the rest of the way as the Tortugas recorded only one baserunner the rest of the way as Munson and two more Dunedin relievers locked down the 9-4 victory.

Daytona will have Labor Day Monday off before beginning their final series of the season on the road against the St. Lucie Mets. First pitch Tuesday will be at 6:10 p.m. with pregame coverage from Clover Park in Port St. Lucie with the voice of the Tortugas, Brennan Mense beginning at 5:55 p.m. on the Tortugas Radio Network.

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.