Cardinals walk-off Tortugas for third-straight night, 4-3

JUPITER, Fla. — For the third-straight evening, the home team celebrated on the field after their final trip at the plate. With the bases loaded and two out in the ninth, a wild pitch allowed 2B Franklin Soto to score the winning run, as the Palm Beach Cardinals devastated the Daytona Tortugas, 4-3, on Friday night at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium.

Tied at two entering the eighth, Daytona (2-5) manufactured a run in a way only CF Jay Allen II (0-3, R, BB, 2 SO) can. The 19-year-old started the top of the inning with a walk and promptly stole second base and then third with one out. With a runner at third, 1B Ruben Ibarra (1-3, RBI, BB, SO) smashed a hard ground ball that deflected off the pitcher's glove to the shortstop. With Allen's speed, there was no play at the plate. Ibarra was thrown out at first on the RBI ground ball to put the Tortugas back ahead, 3-2.

The lead would not last, however. 1B Osvaldo Tovalin (1-3, R, RBI, BB, SO) started the frame for Palm Beach (4-3) with a single off the first-base bag and advanced to third on a single from C Wade Stauss (2-3, BB). With RF Hansel Otamendi (0-3, BB) at the dish, a wild pitch enabled Tovalin to score to tie the game at three.

Daytona would rally in the top of the ninth, but could not jump back ahead. LF Justice Thompson (1-4) reached on an infield single and stole second base, but a pair of strikeouts and a sharp ground out to short stranded him on the bases.

In the home ninth, Soto (1-3, R, BB, SO) dunked a shallow fly into center for a knock with one out. After a fly out to right, SS Jeremy Rivas (2-4, R) snuck aboard on an infield single that was bobbled at second. Tovalin drew a five-pitch walk and, on a 2-2 offering to Stauss, another pitch squirted away. Soto scampered home from third with the game-ending run to give Palm Beach a 4-3 win.

The night had a promising start for the Tortugas. RF Austin Hendrick (2-4, R, HR, RBI, SO) clubbed the game's fifth pitch beyond the fence in right for a solo home run. The leadoff shot — the 20-year-old's and the team's first of the year — put Daytona ahead 1-0. 3B Michel Triana (1-3, R) was drilled by a pitch with one out and moved to third on an infield hit by Ibarra and a subsequent throwing error. With runners at second and third and the infield back, DH Yerlin Confidan (0-4, RBI, 3 SO) stroked a ground ball to second. Triana scored on the out to stretch the advantage to two.

Palm Beach mustered a run in the first and another in the sixth to tie the game. In the opening frame, LF Tyler Reichenborn (1-4, R, BB, SO) walked and advanced when Rivas was hit by a pitch. After an offline pickoff throw enabled the runners to snatch an extra base, Tovalin lifted a sacrifice fly to center.

Singles by Rivas and Stauss placed men at first and second with one out in the sixth when Otamendi hit a double-play ground ball to third. Daytona was able to get the force at the second, but the ball was dropped on the transfer. When Rivas rounded third and broke towards the plate, the ball was mishandled again, allowing the infielder to score to even the game at two.

Neither starter factored into the decision on Friday. RHP Reynardo Cruz (3.0 IP, R, ER, 3 BB, 3 SO) struggled with his command early but retired the final eight batters he faced in order for Daytona. LHP Alex Cornwell (2.1 IP, 5 H, 2 R, ER, BB, 2 SO) — who was asked to start on short notice for Palm Beach — yielded one earned run over 2.1 frames.

LHP Nelfri Contreras (1.0 IP, H, 2 SO) garnered his first victory of the season in relief for the Redbirds, hurling a scoreless ninth. Tortugas' LHP Jayvien Sandridge (0.2 IP, 2 H, R, ER, BB, SO) was saddled with his first defeat.

Daytona will try to put an end to the slide on Saturday night. RHP Arij Fransen (0-0, 7.71) is expected to make his first start of the season. Palm Beach is projected to counter with RHP Trent Baker (0-1, 6.75). Coverage on the Tortugas Radio Network and www.daytonatortugas.com will begin at 5:45 p.m. ET from Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium, leading up to the first pitch at 6:00.

After the six-game road swing, the Tortugas will return to Jackie Robinson Ballpark on Tuesday, April 19, to open up a series against the Bradenton Marauders, the Florida State League affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates. It will be the first Breast Cancer Awareness Night of the season presented by Radiology Associates Imaging. The Tortugas will don special pink-clad uniforms that will be auctioned off at the end of the season with all proceeds to raise money and awareness in the fight against breast cancer. It is also the first Silver Sluggers Night of the campaign presented by Conviva, featuring deals at the team store and concession stands for members, and more. The series opener also marks the return of Taco Tuesday to Daytona Beach with options at the concession stands starting at just $3.

Season tickets, multi-game plans, group packages, and single-game tickets are currently available and can be purchased online at www.daytonatortugas.com or by calling the Tortugas’ Ticket Office at (386) 257-3172.

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.