Strong Arms, Timely Hits Lead Tortugas to Series-Evening Win

FT. MYERS, FL—Jared Lyons spun 5.0 innings of eight-strikeout ball and Yerlin Confidan broke up a tie game in the eighth to give Graham Osman his first professional win and lead the Daytona Tortugas to a 3-1 victory over the Ft. Myers Mighty Mussels on Wednesday night at Hammond Stadium.

In the bottom of the first, Ft. Myers threatened to jump ahead in the first for a second straight night. Following an infield single and a walk against Lyons, Danny De Andrade singled to left. Confidan, though, came up firing and threw out Luke Keaschall at the plate. However, Lyons issued a walk to load the bases. But, he buckled down and picked up a strikeout to end the inning.

Daytona next had a golden chance to score first in the third inning against Ft. Myers starter Jack Noble. A leadoff walk was followed by a single and hit batter to load the bases. Johnny Ascanio came up with the bases loaded and no outs, but hit a bouncer to first that Rubel Cespedes picked up, tagged the base, then threw home to tag out Connor Burns for a 3-2 double play. A flyout followed to get Noble out of the jam unscathed.

Lyons, meanwhile, settled down after the first-inning scare. He set down the side in order in the second and third innings, retiring sevens straight hitters at one point, to keep the game scoreless through three.

In the fourth, Daytona jumped in front. With one out, Condifan roped an 0-2 curveball just inside the right-field line for a double. Two batters later, Ethan O’Donnell connected on an 0-2 pitch of his own and ripped a ground ball up the middle to bring home Confidan, breaking the deadlock to put Daytona ahead 1-0.

However, Ft. Myers answered back right away. A leadoff single and stolen base by De Andrade was followed by a flyout and strikeout, putting Lyons on the verge of an escape. However, Rafael Cruz trickled a ground ball through the right side to score De Andrade, tying the game at one each.

Lyons proceeded to bounce back with a scoreless fifth, striking out two more to end his outing with a career high-tying eight punchouts over 5.0 innings of one-run ball. However, he had to settled down a no-decision.

Samuel Perez set down Daytona in order in both the sixth and seventh frames, but Osman returned the favor, spinning a 1-2-3 sixth and erasing a one-out walk in the seventh with a double play, keeping the game time and putting Osman (1-0) in position to earn his first win after 2.0 innings of hitless, scoreless ball with two strikeouts.

Juan Mendez came on for Ft. Myers in the eighth and Daytona’s bats came to life. With one out, Ascanio walked, then moved to second on a two-out single by Carter Graham. Confidan followed with a base hit up the middle to push Daytona ahead once and for all, making it 2-1.

Brody Jessee entered for the eighth and ripped through the side quickly, setting down the Mighty Mussels 1-2-3 on just seven pitches with a pair of strikeouts.

In the ninth, Daytona picked up key insurance. O’Donnell led off with his second hit and moved to second on a walk by Burns. After a punchout, Victor Acosta ripped a double to right to score O’Donnell, pushing the Tortugas ahead by two. With runners at second and third, though, Mendez struck out the next two to end the inning, keeping Ft. Myers within striking distance.

In the bottom of the ninth, Jessee continued to mow down batters, striking out the first two hitters on three pitches each, having now struck out four straight batters on just 12 pitches. However, with two outs, a pair of singles and a walk by pinch-hitter Yohander Martinez put the tying and winning runs on base for Maddux Houghton, who grounded to short to end the game, as Daytona hung on for a 3-1 victory, with Jessee earning his second save.

Daytona will play game three against the Ft. Myers Mighty Mussels on Thursday night. RHP Gabriel Aguilera (0-2, 8.53) gets the ball for Daytona against Ft. Myers RHP Miguelangel Boadas (0-2, 9.72). First pitch will be at 7:00 p.m. with pregame coverage from Hammond Stadium with the voice of the Tortugas, Brennan Mense, beginning at 6:45 p.m. on the Tortugas Radio Network.

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.