Tortugas Bounce Back With Blowout Win Over Tarpons

TAMPA, FL—Kevin Abel pitched 5.0 innings of two-run ball to earn his third straight win and the Daytona Tortugas batted around twice in a pair of big innings to defeat the Tampa Tarpons 12-2 on Saturday night at George M. Steinbrenner Field.

Daytona (6-1, 35-37) bounced back from Friday’s crushing loss, scoring double digit runs for the third time in five games, as they’ve now taken three of four in Tampa (3-4, 34-39).

Daytona took the lead right away as Tampa starter Sean Hermann struggled mightily to find the zone to begin the game. With one out, Herman walked consecutive hitters. After a fielder’s choice, a balk brought Hector Rodriguez home. Two more walks then followed, loading the bases for Yassel Pino. Hermann then plunked Pino, bringing home a Cade Hunter to stake Daytona to a 2-0 lead.

However, Tampa answered right back. Jared Serna doubled on the first pitch from Abel, which was followed by a walk. After a groundout moved up both runners, Anthony Hall singled to right to bring home both runners, knotting things up at two apiece.

In the third, though, Daytona got to Hermann in a big way, sending ten men to the plate in the inning. Hunter drew a leadoff walk, moved to second on a groundout, and scored on a Johnny Ascanio RBI single. Pino followed by blasting an RBI triple to deep right-center to bring in a second run. A grounder to a drawn-in infield followed, but a bad throw home scored Pino to put Daytona ahead 5-2. After a bloop double for Logan Tanner, Hermann was lifted for Shane Gray.

Gray induced a fielder’s choice that resulted in an out at the plate, but Rodriguez reached on an error to score a run and extend the inning. Sal Stewart then took advantage by roping a line drive to left-center. Carlos Jorge scored and Rodriguez was waved around, just beating the throw home. Stewart’s two-run double capped off a six-run frame that gave Daytona a commanding 8-2 lead.

From there, Abel settled in. A leadoff walk was erased on a caught stealing in the third, allowing him to face the minimum in that frame. He followed with a 1-2-3 fourth. In the fifth, he again walked the leadoff man, but retired the next three batters to finish 5.0 innings for the second time this year.

Abel (3-1) went 5.0 innings, allowing two runs on three hits, three walks, and six strikeouts to earn his third consecutive victory.

He handed things off to Rob Hensey, who followed with a pair of scoreless frames, working around a one-out double and walk to finish his night.

After not recording a baserunner since the third, Daytona roared back to life in the eighth against Matt Keating. The Tortugas strung together four singles with a pair of walks, with Jorge, Rodriguez, and Cam Collier all stroking RBI hits. A wild pitch brought home Rodriguez to cap off a four-run frame in which Daytona batted around for the second time in the game.

Brett Lockwood came out of the bullpen and allowed a leadoff walk in the eighth. However, he erased the runner on a double play, finished the inning with a strikeout, then twirled a 1-2-3 ninth inning to bring home the 12-2 victory.

The Tortugas will play game five against the Tampa Tarpons on Sunday afternoon. Daytona will send RHP Mason Pelio (1-2, 4.55) to the mound opposite RHP Justin Lange (0-3, 4.82) for Tampa. First pitch is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. on Wednesday with pregame coverage on the Tortugas Radio Network with the Voice of the Tortugas Brennan Mense begins at 11:45 a.m. from George M. Steinbrenner Field.

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.