Pelio's Gem, Middle-Inning Offense Lead Tortugas to 7-1 Victory

DAYTONA BEACH—Mason Pelio spun 6.0 scoreless innings and the Daytona bats erupted in the middle innings as the Daytona Tortugas pulled away for a 7-1 victory over the Dunedin Blue Jays on Friday night at Jackie Robinson Ballpark.

Daytona (24-31, 53-67) took the series lead as Pelio spun the third quality start by a Tortuga this season, leading a mound effort that held Dunedin (27-30, 59-64) to just four hits on the night.

The game began late thanks to a 47-minute rain delay pregame and it began with a leadoff walk issued by Pelio. However, the Tortuga starter immediately erased it by inducing a 5-4-3 double play before ending the inning with a strikeout, setting a tone for the night.

Lazaro Estrada, meanwhile, started off his night by striking out the first five Tortugas he faced. All told, Estrada retired the first nine batters he faced over the first three innings.

Pelio, though, was equally up to the task, as he allowed an infield single to begin the second, but retired the next three batters, followed by a 1-2-3 third. He followed that up by striking out the side in the fourth inning.

Daytona mounted their first threat in the fourth as Estrada issued a pair of walks, putting runners at the corners with one out. However, Estrada picked up a strikeout, then picked off a runner to end the inning.

Pelio saw his string of batters retired end at 11 with a two-out hit in the fifth, but he finished the inning with little additional trouble.

In the bottom of the fifth, though, Daytona finally broke through. Allan Cerda led off with a single, moved to second on a one-out walk, then advanced along with Yassel Pino on a wild pitch. Ariel Almonte followed with a bloop single to center to score Cerda, which chased Estrada. Against new hurler Alex Amalfi, Pino came home on a Connor Burns RBI single to put Daytona in front 2-0.

With a lead, Pelio returned for the sixth and quickly retired the first two men. After grazing the third hitter to put a man on base, he ended his outing with a flyout to right, capping off a career night for Pelio (3-7), who went 6.0 scoreless innings, allowing just two hits and one walk while striking out a career-high seven batters.

Daytona, meanwhile, added to the lead immediately. With two on and two outs, Pino doubled to right-center to bring in a run, with Dominic Pitelli stopped at third. A passed ball then brought Pitelli to the plate, extending the lead to 4-0.

Bryce Hubbart entered for Pelio in the seventh and promptly issued a leadoff walk to begin his night. He then retired the next two batters, but then labored as the next two men walked to load the bases. On a 2-2 pitch, runner at second Bryce Arnold ran on a pitch that he thought was ball four, but was instead ball three, resulting in a traffic jam near third base that ended with Arnold being tagged out near second to end the inning.

In the bottom of the frame, Daytona then put the game away. Josh Mollenus entered and allowed a walk and single with out out. After a wild pitch moved both men along, Ethan O’Donnell yanked a groundball just inside the first-base line that rolled all the way to the corner for a stand-up, two-run triple. Cam Collier followed with a deflected groundout, bringing home O’Donnell to make it 7-0.

Hubbart spun a 1-2-3 eighth before returning for the ninth. After a strikeout to open the frame. A double and single put two on with one out. A foul out had Hubbart one out away, but two more walks brought in a run for Dunedin, before Hubbart finally closed out a 3.0-inning save with a full-count strikeout with the bases full to end the 7-1 victory.

Daytona will play a doubleheader of two seven-inning games against the Dunedin Blue Jays on Saturday, with RHP Jose Montero (first appearance) and RHP Nestor Lorant (1-1, 2.81) due opposing Dunedin RHP Kendry Rojas (3-5, 3.77) and a second starter still to be announced. Tomorrow will be our final Fan-Selected Bobblehead with the first 1,000 fans receiving a Ruben Ibarra bobblehead. First pitch will be at 4:00 p.m. for game one with pregame coverage from Jackie Robinson Ballpark with the voice of the Tortugas, Brennan Mense, will begin at 3:45 p.m. on the Tortugas Radio Network. Game two will start approximately 40 minutes following the conclusion of game one.

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.