Stellar Moundwork Carries Tortugas to Doubleheader Sweep

JUPITER, Fla—The Daytona Tortugas allowed just one run over 14.0 innings and despite scoring just three tallies on the day, swept the Palm Beach Cardinals 2-1 and 1-0 in a Wednesday evening doubleheader at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium.

Daytona (14-9) has won six of their last seven games, shutting down a Palm Beach (14-9) that came into the game leading the Florida State League in runs scored.

In the first inning of game one, Palm Beach starter Gerardo Salas walked the bases loaded in the top of the first innings, but Daytona couldn’t cash in. Meanwhile, Jose Cordoba stroked an RBI single off Daytona starter Gabriel Aguilera, but the Daytona right-hander left two men in scoring position to limit the deficit to 1-0.

In the top of the second, though, Daytona answered back. With two outs, Carter Graham sliced a double down the right field line, then Ricardo Cabrera blasted a 1-2 pitch over the left field wall for a two-home run. His third round-tripper of the year put Daytona ahead 2-1.

After that, Aguilera settled down. He allowed a leadoff single in the second, but a strikeout and double play took care of the Cardinals in the inning before he spun a 1-2-3 third. He also allowed a leadoff bunt single in the fourth, but retired the next three men without incident.

Aguilera (1-0) ended his day with a 1-2-3 fifth, putting himself in line for the win by throwing 5.0 innings and allowing one run on four hits, with three strikeouts and no walks.

He gave way to Anyer Laureano, who started his outing with a spotless sixth inning. However, in the seventh he plunked a batter with one out. After a strikeout netted the second out, a wild pitch put the tying run in scoring position, then a walk put the winning run on base. However, he recovered to induce a fly ball to center to end the contest, securing the 2-1 win with his first career save.

In the second game, neither offense could make headway as starters Darlin Saladin for Palm Beach and Jose Montero for Daytona each traded zeroes.

Saladin racked up the whiffs early, striking out six batters in the first three innings, including back-to-back K’s after a one-out double from Jack Moss in the second. Daytona’s best threat against Saladin came in the fourth innings, when Johnny Ascanio and Yassel Pino singled with one out, but Moss lined to second and Ascanio was doubled off to end the inning.

Montero allowed a single in each inning of the second through fifth frames, but he worked around all four hits, throwing 5.0 scoreless innings, allowing four hits, no runs, and no walks, with three strikeouts.

He gave way to Jonah Hurney, who allowed a one-out double to Cordoba, but after a groundout, he picked up a strikeout with the runner at third to end the inning.

In the seventh, Saladin departed for Gustavo Rodriguez. With one out, Esmith Pineda chopped a double over third base. He departed for pinch-runner Trey Faltine, who went to third on a wild pitch. After a walk, Ascanio stepped in and lifted a sacrifice fly to deep right, which was plenty deep to plate Faltine as Daytona finally broke the deadlock, going ahead 1-0.

Hurney (1-0) returned for the bottom of the seventh and retired the first two batters of the inning. After allowing a two-out single, he regrouped to induce a ground ball to Ascanio at second base to secure Hurney’s first professional win and a twinbill sweep for the Tortugas.

Daytona will start RHP Ben Brutti (0-1, 4.05), while Palm Beach’s starter is still to be announced. First pitch from Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium in Jupiter is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. with pregame coverage on the Tortugas Radio network with Brennan Mense begins at 6:15 p.m.