Tortugas Outlast Rain, Redbirds as Stewart Homer is Deciding Blow in 6-5 Win

DAYTONA BEACH, FL—Sal Stewart homered for the second straight night as the Daytona Tortugas jumped out to a pair of four-run leads and hung on to defeat the Palm Beach Cardinals 6-5 on a rain-soaked Saturday night at Jackie Robinson Ballpark.

Daytona (2-0, 31-36) secured a series victory over Palm Beach (0-2, 36-29) for the first time in four tries this season, outlasting a resilient Cardinals team and a lengthy mid-game rain delay in the process.

In the first, Daytona put together a big inning against Palm Beach starter Cade Winquest. Carlos Jorge led off with a walk and stole second, before moving to third on a groundout. Cade Hunter then legged out an infield single to score Jorge. After another hit, an infield single from Yassel Pino brought home Hunter with a second run. Victor Acosta followed by roping a double into the left-field corner to put Daytona ahead 4-0.

Palm Beach, though, began to chip away against Daytona starter Mason Pelio. In the second, R.J. Yeager led off with a double and moved to third on a single. Michael Curialle followed with a single to left to bring in Yeager with the first Cardinal run.

An inning later, the Cardinals drew closer still as Alex Iadisernia tagged a 3-2 pitch from Pelio and deposited it over the right field wall to draw Palm Beach within 4-2.

Pelio, though, recovered to allow no more in the third as well as toss a scoreless fourth. Jacob Heatherly (3-3) then entered for the fifth frame and worked around a two-out single to put up a zero, putting him in line for the win.

On the other side, Winquest was pulled after the first inning. Luis Gastelum worked 2.0 scoreless frames and Angel Cuenca retired the first five men he faced after him. With two outs in the bottom of the fifth, though, Hector Rodriguez singled up the middle, setting the stage for Stewart, who jumped on the first pitch from Cuenca and sent it 396 feet the other way, clearing the wall for a two-run home run, his fourth of the season.

With Daytona leading 6-2, the two teams came back out for the sixth. However, before the inning could begin, a storm rolled in, sending both teams to the clubhouse for a rain delay.

The delay lasted for a total of 1 hour, 31 minutes before play resumed in the sixth. Brett Lockwood came on for Daytona and struck out his first two men. However, he walked the next two men, which brought Joseph Menefee into the game. Alex Iadisernia greeted him with an RBI single, which was followed by a walk, but Menefee left the bases loaded to keep Daytona up 6-3.

However, Menefee returned for the seventh and allowed a walk and an RBI double to Leonardo Bernal, trimming the gap to 6-4. Easton Sikorski then entered the fray and hit a batter, but managed to leave two men in scoring position, finishing the inning with no more runs across.

In the eighth, Sikorski began the frame with a strikeout. However, Jose Fermin followed by jumping on the first pitch and lining it over the left field wall for a solo home run, which trimmed the Daytona lead to 6-5.

However, that’s as close as the Cardinals would get. Sikorski got the final two outs of the eighth, then struck out the side in the ninth to lock down a 6-5 victory, securing the series win with his fifth save of the campaign.

The Tortugas will finish the series against the Palm Beach Cardinals on Sunday evening. RHP Kenya Huggins (1-2, 4.86) will get the ball for Daytona against Palm Beach RHP Hancel Rincon (5-3, 3.59). Tomorrow will be a Shelldon’s Family Fun Day. Gates will open at 4:00 with first pitch scheduled for 5:00 p.m. Pregame coverage on the Tortugas Radio Network with the Voice of the Tortugas Brennan Mense begins at 4:45 from Jackie Robinson Ballpark.

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.