Rally in ninth helps 'Tugas topple Tarpons in extras, 7-6
TAMPA, Fla. - Trailing 4-1 going to the ninth, Daytona rallied to take the lead and ultimately outlast Tampa, as the Tortugas bested the Tarpons, 7-6, in 11 innings at George M. Steinbrenner Field on Saturday night.
TAMPA, Fla. - Trailing 4-1 going to the ninth, Daytona rallied to take the lead and ultimately outlast Tampa, as the Tortugas bested the Tarpons, 7-6, in 11 innings at George M. Steinbrenner Field on Saturday night.
DH Mark Kolozsvary (0-2, R, BB, SO) reached on a walk to start the ninth, while 2B-1B Alejo Lopez (1-4, 2 R) was hit and 1B Bruce Yari (0-4, R, BB, 2 SO) drew a free pass of his own to load the bases. 3B Yonathan Mendoza (3-6, 2 R, 2 RBI, SO) cracked a two-run single to center to pull Daytona (22-19) within a run, 4-3. Two pitches later, LF Drew Mount (2-4, 3B, 2 RBI, BB, 2 SO) scorched a liner into the right-field corner. Both runners raced home to score, as the 23-year-old slid into third with a two-run triple, giving the Tortugas their first lead, 5-4.
The advantage was short-lived, as Tampa (17-24) tied it in the bottom of the frame. On a 2-1 offering, LF Isiah Gilliam (2-4, R, HR, RBI, BB, 2 SO) ripped a laser over the right-field fence for a game-tying solo home run. The blast - his fifth of the year - evened things up at five and sent the contest to extra innings.
It was a battle of sacrifice flies in the 10th. RF Andy Sugilio (1-5, R, 2 SO) started the inning at second and moved to third on a passed ball before scoring on a sac fly to right by SS José Garcia (2-5, RBI, SO). Tampa evened it at six in the bottom half, as 3B Ángel Aguilar (2-5, R, 2 RBI) advanced to third on a single from 2B Wendell Rijo (1-3, 2 BB, SO) and tied it on RF
In the 11th, Lopez began at second and scooted to third on a ground out. PR-2B Randy Ventura (0-0, RBI) put Daytona back ahead, as his sacrifice fly to center made it 7-6.
LHP Andy Cox (1.0 IP, 2 SO) - who earned the win in his Florida State League debut last night - came on in the bottom of the 11th and finished off the victory. The left-hander sandwiched a pair of strikeouts around a tremendous diving grab by Mount in left to collect his first save as a Tortuga.
The Tarpons grabbed an initial 2-0 lead, courtesy of a run-scoring single from Aguilar in the second and an RBI ground out by 1B Dermis Garcia (0-5, 2 RBI, SO) in the third. After Daytona cut it to 2-1 in the fourth with a run-producing grounder from CF Lorenzo Cedrola (1-5, RBI, SO), Tampa added single runs in the sixth and seventh via another single by Aguilar and a sacrifice fly to left by Garcia.
Despite giving up runs in each of his two innings, Tortugas' RHP Michael Byrne (2.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R, ER, SO) garnered his second win of the year. RHP Braden Bristo (2.0 IP, 2 R, SO) never gave up a hit but allowed both courtesy runners to score, suffering his first defeat.
Neither starter received a decision on Saturday. LHP Reíver Sanmartín (4.0 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, BB, SO) lasted four innings for Daytona. Tampa's LHP J.P. Sears (4.0+ IP, 6 H, R, ER, BB, 6 SO) went four-plus.
Daytona will attempt to complete the series sweep on Sunday afternoon. RHP Ryan Lillie (1-3, 4.07 ERA) is expected to take the mound for the 'Tugas in the finale. The Tarpons are set to counter with RHP Shawn Semple (0-1, 3.00 ERA).
The Tortugas Pre-Game Show will kick off the broadcast at 12:45 p.m. ET, leading up to the 1:00 p.m. ET start at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Sunday's matinee can be heard on daytonatortugas.com or via the TuneIn Radio and MiLB First Pitch apps.
Following the road swing, Daytona will return home to The Jack to open up a four-game series against the Clearwater Threshers, High-A affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies, on Monday, May 20. It will be another Belly Buster Monday presented by Marco's Pizza, as a $13 game ticket gives fans access to all-you-can-eat hamburgers, hot dogs, pizza, and popcorn. Additionally, it will also be Taste of Daytona Night with local eateries from Daytona Beach and Volusia County will provide samples on the Riverwalk, as a part of the Belly Buster Monday festivities. That evening's contest will be a twinbill starting at 5:30 p.m. ET with gates opening at 4:30 p.m. ET. Both contests will be seven innings in length with a roughly 30-minute break in between contests.
Multi-game plans and single-game tickets are still currently available and can be purchased online at www.daytonatortugas.com, or by calling the Tortugas' Ticket Office at (386) 257-3172.
ABOUT THE DAYTONA TORTUGAS
The Daytona Tortugas are the High-A Affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds and a member of the 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 Beijing Shougang Eagles of National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) and many large community events and initiatives throughout the season.