St. Lucie squeezes past Daytona in pitcher's duel, 3-1
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — The Tortugas' starting pitching continued to thrive on Saturday night, as RHP José Franco struck out five hitters over 4.2 one-run innings. However, the Mets picked up runs in the seventh and eighth to take the lead for good in St. Lucie's 3-1 victory over
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — The Tortugas' starting pitching continued to thrive on Saturday night, as RHP José Franco struck out five hitters over 4.2 one-run innings. However, the Mets picked up runs in the seventh and eighth to take the lead for good in St. Lucie's 3-1 victory over Daytona at Clover Park.
Scoreless through four and a half innings, St. Lucie (19-16, 59-41) utilized the long ball to jump ahead in the fifth. With the bases empty and one out, LF Raúl Beracierta (1-3, R, HR, RBI, BB, SO) ripped a 1-0 pitch out towards the videoboard in left-center field for a solo home run. The right-hander swinger's second home run in as many days — and his 11th of the year — put the Mets in front, 1-0.
The home team's lead did not last long, though. In the top of the fifth, Daytona (10-23, 39-59) sprung a rally thanks to a one-out free pass to SS Edwin Arroyo (1-3, R, BB, 2 SO).
The 18-year-old quickly stole second base and, on the very next pitch, attempted to steal third on the pitcher. Arroyo produced such an effective lead and early break that he induced a balk from the pitcher attempting to make a pickoff move, granting him third base. RF Ashton Creal (0-3, RBI, SO) followed with a sacrifice fly to center, tying the game at one.
St. Lucie jumped in front for good in the seventh. C Brady Smith (1-3, R, 2B, SO) plopped a ball into a vacant patch of grass in shallow right field and motored into second with a double.
After a wild pitch advanced him to third, CF Omar De Los Santos (2-3, RBI, BB) snuck a grounder up the middle and past the drawn-in infield. Smith scored on the single, giving the Mets a 2-1 edge.
An inning later, St. Lucie added a run of insurance. 3B Justin Guerrera (2-4, R, 2 SO) started the eighth with a single to left and took second on a walk to RF Carlos Domínguez (0-1, 3 BB).
Following a fielder's choice that erased the runner at second, pinch-hitter Fernando Villalobos (0-1, RBI) hit a tapper up the first-base line. The first baseman fielded, but his only play was at first, where Daytona secured the force out. A run scored on the ground ball, stretching the Mets' advantage to two, 3-1.
The Tortugas managed to bring the tying run to the plate in the ninth, but could not come back. 1B Michel Triana (0-2, 2 BB, SO) coaxed a two-out walk to keep the game alive, but RHP Reyson Santos (1.0 IP, BB, 2 SO) recorded a strikeout looking to seal his first save in St. Lucie in 2022 and the Mets' win.
Neither starter received a decision on Saturday. Tortugas' RHP José Franco (4.2 IP, 3 H, R, ER, 4 BB, 5 SO) departed due to pitch count with two outs in the fifth and is one strikeout shy of 100 for the season. RHP Kyle Wilson (2.0 IP, 5 SO) punched out five of the six batters he faced in a rehab start for the Mets.
RHP Jeffrey Colón (5.0 IP, 3 H, R, ER, 2 BB, 4 SO) piggybacked off of Wilson and hurled five frames of one-run ball to earn his third win of the year for St. Lucie.
Daytona's RHP Brett Lockwood (3.1 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, BB, 3 SO) provided the bullpen with some crucial length but was saddled with his third defeat of the season.
The Tortugas try to salvage the final game of the season series on Sunday. RHP Julian Aguiar (7-6, 3.58) is scheduled to make the start for Daytona. RHP Harol González (0-0, 6.23) is projected to make his second rehab start of the series for St. Lucie. Coverage on the Tortugas Radio Network will begin on the MiLB First Pitch app and www.daytonatortugas.com at 11:55 a.m. leading up to the 12:10 p.m. first pitch from Clover Park.
The Tortugas will return to Jackie Robinson Ballpark on Tuesday, August 9, to open up a two-week homestand with six games against the Lakeland Flying Tigers, the Florida State League affiliate of the Detroit Tigers. The series opens with another Shell Yeah Cookout. The $15 add-on includes the full “Bases Loaded” menu during a 90-minute buffet with hot dogs, hamburgers, pulled pork, baked beans, cookies, Pepsi products, and more. It is also a Breast Cancer Awareness Night presented by Radiology Associates Imaging. The Tortugas will don unique pink-clad uniforms that will be auctioned off at the end of the season with all proceeds to raise money and awareness in the fight against breast cancer. Silver Sluggers Night presented by Conviva is a part of the festivities. The exclusive 60-and-older club features deals at the team store, concession stands for members, and more. The series opener also marks a Taco Tuesday with options at the concession stands starting at just $3.
Multi-game plans, group packages, and single-game tickets are 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 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.
These 15 moments led to season No. 15 of Minor League road trips
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from his newsletter is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
MiLB podcast crew makes Opening Day predictions
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Everything you need to know for Triple-A Opening Day
First, there was big league Opening Day. Now it's Triple-A's turn to take the spotlight. The Minor League season opens Friday when the Triple-A International League and Pacific Coast League seasons get underway for the first of MiLB’s two Opening Days. And right out of the gates, several of baseball's
Top prospects to watch at Triple-A -- one for each organization
It’s Triple-A’s turn up to bat on Friday. The regular season begins for the Minor Leagues’ highest level one day after the action starts on the Major League side. Fun fact: it’ll be the earliest start to a Minor League season since 1951 (March 27). Double-A, High-A and Single-A will
Here's where every Top 100 prospect is expected to start the season
The 2025 Opening Day prospect roster announcements began last week when the Cubs informed Matt Shaw (MLB No. 19) he was making the trip overseas to compete in the Tokyo Series. Roki Sasaki (No. 1) also received the good news, but his assignment was much less of a surprise. Now
Nationals prospect King joins MiLB podcast
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Here are the 2025 All-Spring Breakout Teams
Fifteen games, several jersey swaps and countless highlights later, the second edition of Spring Breakout has officially concluded – and it lived up to its billing. Of the 16 contests sprinkled across four days, only one game (Dodgers vs. Cubs) was rained out. Coincidentally, the Cubs were one of two
Rox young sluggers aim to bring pop back to Coors Field
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Coors Field may provide the best run-scoring environment in Major League Baseball, but the Rockies haven’t taken advantage of it in recent years. Even without adjusting for Coors, they have fielded offenses worse than the league average the past three seasons, and they scored the fewest runs
Astros brass sees potential in consistently 'underranked' farm system
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- The last time the Astros landed in the top 10 of MLB Pipeline’s farm system rankings was before the 2019 season. Since those rankings expanded to all 30 teams ahead of the 2020 season -- 11 lists in total -- they’ve never ranked higher than
Complete results and highlights from Spring Breakout
The second edition of MLB Spring Breakout is complete, and there was no shortage of highlights from the future stars of Major League Baseball over the four-day showcase. Here's a complete breakdown of the 16-game exhibition:
Southpaw Spring Breakout: White Sox future on display with Schultz, Smith
GLENDALE, Ariz. -- If all goes as planned for the White Sox, left-handers Hagen Smith and Noah Schultz won’t spend much time following each other to the mound in a single game. Schultz, the No. 1 White Sox prospect and No. 16 overall, per MLB Pipeline, and Smith, who is
In first pro game, Rainer offers pop, promise to Tigers fans
NORTH PORT, Fla. -- Bryce Rainer’s pro career consisted of workouts and batting practice until Sunday.
'Me and Brady on the dirt again': House, King reunite at Spring Breakout
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- The 2025 Spring Breakout was a flashback for Brady House and Seaver King. Over 10 years ago, the infielders were travel ball teammates in Georgia who shared the dream of making it to the Major Leagues. Now, they are top prospects in the same organization,
Lambert -- 'an adrenaline guy' -- hoping to be next Mets bullpen gem
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Ryan Lambert loves throwing hard. He relishes the idea of getting to two strikes and blowing hitters away. “Get me in a game,” Lambert said, “cool things will happen.”
Stewart embraces Spring Breakout: 'What's not to love?'
PHOENIX -- Sal Stewart was one fired-up Reds prospect. On Sunday in the first inning during the organization's 9-7 Spring Breakout win over Brewers prospects, Stewart lifted a 2-2 pitch that sailed over the center fielder's head to the wall. Already not known as a speedster, he stumbled running between
Prospect Peña quietly drawing raves in Brewers' farm system
PHOENIX – Jesús Made was at the top of the Brewers’ lineup for Sunday’s 9-7 loss to the Reds in the finale of MLB’s four-day Spring Breakout, a fitting perch when you consider that the 17-year-old infielder is under a bright spotlight as MLB Pipeline’s No. 55 prospect. Made could
Brecht -- in 1st outing since '24 Draft -- wows at Spring Breakout
GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Sunday's Spring Breakout showcase was the perfect unveiling for Rockies No. 5 prospect Brody Brecht. A right-handed pitcher from the University of Iowa whom the Rockies selected 38th overall last summer, Brecht had a nice collegiate resume, an interesting backstory as a former wide receiver for the
Braves prospects show promise in Spring Breakout
NORTH PORT, Fla. -- As Terry Pendleton prepared to serve as the manager of the Braves prospect team that played the Tigers prospect team in a Spring Breakout game on Sunday afternoon, he said fans should be patient with John Gil and Luis Guanipa, a pair of teenagers who have
Yanks' Lagrange flashes triple-digit heat in Spring Breakout
SARASOTA, Fla. -- There was an audible “Ooh” from the crowd at Ed Smith Stadium, and Carlos Lagrange quickly glanced beyond the right-field wall, checking the velocity of the pitch he’d just thrown in Saturday’s 5-4 Spring Breakout loss to the Orioles. It had registered in the triple digits, and
Bradfield dedicates Spring Breakout performance to late friend
SARASOTA, Fla. -- It was about more than playing in the national spotlight. More than the dinner bet placed with an old college teammate earlier in the month. More than a game. As Enrique Bradfield Jr. slid home to score a run during the first inning of Saturday night’s Spring