Tortugas Rally in Middle Innings, Hold Off St. Lucie Late to Win Series Finale
PORT ST. LUCIE, FL—Sal Stewart tallied two doubles and three hits overall, Chris McElvain spun 4.0 hitless frames, and the Daytona Tortugas erupted for seven runs in a three-inning span and held on to defeat the St. Lucie Mets 8-5 on Sunday afternoon at Clover Park. Daytona (24-33) tied a
PORT ST. LUCIE, FL—Sal Stewart tallied two doubles and three hits overall, Chris McElvain spun 4.0 hitless frames, and the Daytona Tortugas erupted for seven runs in a three-inning span and held on to defeat the St. Lucie Mets 8-5 on Sunday afternoon at Clover Park.
Daytona (24-33) tied a season high with five doubles at the plate to help them to a series split with St. Lucie (19-37), ending a season-long 12-game road trip with a 5-7 mark on the trek.
The afternoon began slowly for both offenses. Felipe De La Cruz threw a 1-2-3 first for St. Lucie before giving way to Jawilme Ramirez, who allowed a one-out single in the second, but nothing more over the second and third frames.
On Daytona’s side, McElvain battled his command in the first two innings, walking a batter in each frame, but managed to work around those free passes before firing a 1-2-3 third inning.
In the fourth, Daytona had a golden opportunity to jump in front. Stewart led off with a double to right-center, which was followed by a walk. However, Cam Collier rolled into a 3-6-1 double play before a strikeout ended the inning as Daytona failed to cash in.
An inning later, though, Daytona broke through. Johnny Ascanio doubled to lead off the inning then scored two batters later on a Yerlin Confidan RBI double. After a single from Michel Triana, a sacrifice fly from Carlos Jorge brought in a second run. An error on the play moved Triana to third, which proved fortuitous as a wild pitch brought him home to make it 3-0, Daytona.
Yerlin Confidan breaks the seal with a ringing double to left-center in the 5th! Daytona adds two more as well on a sac fly and a wild pitch!
— Daytona Tortugas (@daytonatortugas) June 11, 2023
3-0 Daytona mid-5! pic.twitter.com/T2hRwCyM7p
McElvain departed after 4.0 hitless innings for Frainger Aranguren, who allowed a leadoff hit, then a wild pitch to move the runner to third. A groundout brought home a run, but Aranguren allowed nothing more, as the lead was trimmed to 3-1.
Daytona got the bats going again in the sixth. After a one-out walk, Ariel Almonte laced an RBI double to deep right that brought Collier all the way from first. Two batters later, Yassel Pino followed with an RBI double of his own to deep left-center to extend the lead to 5-1.
Once more, St. Lucie had an answer in the bottom of the sixth. With one out, Wilfredo Lara lined a solo homer. A hit and walk followed, but the Tortugas turned a 5-4-3 twin killing to end the threat, keeping the lead at 5-2.
In the seventh, the Tortugas continued to drill line drives into the gaps. After a one-out walk, Stewart produced his second double of the day to put two men in scoring position. A wild pitch brought home Jorge before Cade Hunter looped an RBI single to center to push the lead to 7-2.
Two more in the 7th for Daytona as a wild pitch brings home Carlos Jorge and @cadehunter17 singles home @stewart_sal!
— Daytona Tortugas (@daytonatortugas) June 11, 2023
7-2 'Tugas at the stretch! pic.twitter.com/JnWmkvLuPf
St. Lucie mounted a threat in the seventh as Aranguren allowed a pair of runners. With two on and two outs, he departed for Joseph Menefee who walked a batter to load the bases, but struck out Blaine McIntosh to end the inning. Aranguren (2-0) allowed a pair of runs in 2.2 innings to earn his second win.
Menefee came back out for the eighth, but the Mets continued to be relentless. The Mets stroked four singles in the inning, which coupled with a walk produced three runs. The tying run was on base, but Menefee induced a 6-3 double play to end the inning, keeping Daytona in front by a 7-5 score.
In the ninth, Daytona righted the ship with an insurance run. Jorge walked, stole second, and moved to third on Stewart’s third hit of the day. A wild pitch then brought Jorge across to make the score 8-5.
In the bottom of the ninth, Easton Sikorski came on and left no doubt, setting down St. Lucie 1-2-3 to earn his fourth save of the season, nailing down a series-ending 8-5 victory.
The Tortugas will have Monday off before beginning a 12-game homestand on Tuesday night with the first of six games with the Jupiter Hammerheads. Pitchers for both teams are still to be determined. That game is Silver Sluggers Tuesday as well as Breast Cancer Awareness Night, plus we celebrate World Softball Day. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. with pregame on the Tortugas Radio Network with the Voice of the Tortugas Brennan Mense at 6:20 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.