Stafura Strokes Two Hits in Wednesday Afternoon Defeat

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla—Sammy Stafura logged two hits for a second consecutive contest, but the St. Lucie Mets held off the Daytona Tortugas 2-1 on Wednesday afternoon at Clover Park.

St. Lucie (19-34) extended their season-high win streak to five games as Daytona (23-30) was held to just four hits in their third straight defeat.

After a scoreless first inning, St. Lucie threatened against Daytona starter Gabriel Aguilera. The right-hander issued a one-out walk, then allowed a single and a second walk with two outs, loading the bases. However, a slow roller to short ended the inning and Aguilera escaped with the game still scoreless.

St. Lucie put two more on with two outs in the third, but once more, Aguilera made it through the inning without allowing a tally. He also allowed a leadoff hit in the fourth, but retired the next three hitters, finishing an outing in which he allowed three hits and four walks, but no runs over 4.0 innings.

St. Lucie starter Joel Diaz, meanwhile, was dominant over his 4.0 innings of work. He issued a leadoff walk in the second, but retired every other hitter he faced, setting down his final nine hitters while striking out five Tortugas.

After he departed in the fifth, Daytona mounted a threat against Miguel Alfonseca as Esmith Pineda led off with a single, then stole second. Carter Graham hit a bouncer to short, but a throwing error moved Pineda to third and allowed Graham to reach second, putting two men in scoring position. However, a pop-up and groundout, both to second, ended the inning as Daytona failed to score.

Jose Montero worked a scoreless fifth in his first inning out of the bullpen, then was dealt a stroke of bad luck with one out in the fifth. Willy Fanas hit a bouncer to first, but the ball bounced off the first base bag and hopped over the head of Graham, resulting in a one-out triple. A groundout against a drawn-in infield did result in Fanas being thrown out at the plate, but the inning continued with a runner at first.

Montero then issued a two-out walk, putting two on for Boston Baro, who lined an RBI single to right. Jesus Baez then lined a base hit through the right side, scoring a second run to give St. Lucie a 2-0 lead.

In the seventh, Daytona fought back. Back-to-back one-out walks put two on for Graham, who hit a chopper to short. The first out was recorded at second, but the throw to first sailed over everyone into a camera well, scoring Pineda from second to put Daytona on the board, with the lead cut to 2-1.

That was as close as Daytona would get, though. The Tortugas picked up a single from Stafura in the eighth, which gave him a two-hit day for the second straight contest. He advanced to third on two successive balks, but did not score. In the ninth, Ariel Almonte led off with a single, but Daytona did not advance anyone past first in the ninth in a 2-1 setback.

The Tortugas will play game three against the St. Lucie Mets on Thursday night. Daytona will throw RHP Brian Edgington (1-4, 3.91) while St. Lucie’s starter is still to be determined. First pitch from Clover Park in Port St. Lucie is scheduled for 6:10 p.m. with pregame coverage on the Tortugas Radio Network and MiLB.tv/Bally Live with Brennan Mense beginning at 5:55 p.m.