'Tugas club three homers in 6-1 flattening of Hammerheads

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - After suffering 18 strikeouts at the plate and being limited to only one run on Wednesday, the Tortugas got their revenge on Thursday night. 2B Tyler Callihan, DH Alex McGarry, and C Wilfred Astudillo each smacked solo home runs in Daytona’s 6-1 win over the Jupiter Hammerheads in front of a sellout crowd of 1,486 at Jackie Robinson Ballpark.

The night did not start kindly for the Tortugas (8-7). SS Nasim Núñez (1-4, R, SO) and 2B Osiris Johnson (1-4, SO) reached on singles to start the night, but a subsequent fly out and strikeout seemed to quell the threat. However, a hit-by-pitch kept the inning alive and a bases-loaded walk to DH Cameron Barstad (0-1, RBI, 3 BB, SO) put the Hammerheads (6-9) ahead, 1-0.

Daytona’s bats sprung to life in the home half of the second. With one retired, McGarry (2-4, 2 R, 3B, HR, RBI, SO) unfurled a missile that rolled to the right-field wall. The Oregon State alum never broke stride and slid into third with a triple. 1B Michel Triana (1-2, 2 R, RBI, BB) immediately made it count with a sacrifice fly to center, tying the game at one.

In the third, the Tortugas started to utilize the long ball. Callihan (1-4, R, HR, RBI, SO) ripped a 1-2 offering over the left-center field wall and into the Magnolia parking lot for a solo home run. His first of the season put Daytona in the driver’s seat, 2-1.

An inning later, it was McGarry’s turn. After launching a laser to right on Saturday that cut through 15-plus mph winds, the left-handed swinger was at it again on Thursday. McGarry muscled another line driver over the right-field fence for a solo shot. His team-leading fourth home run of the season stretched the advantage to 3-1.

Triana showed off his excellent athleticism in the latter frames. The Cifuentes, Villa Clara, Cuba native reached on a two-out infield single in the sixth. Triana caught Jupiter off guard by stealing second base on a two-strike count setting the stage for SS Gus Steiger (3-4, 2 2B, 2 RBI).

The right-handed swinger hit a grounder in the hole at short and managed to beat the throw across the diamond for an infield single. However, Triana — following the instruction of his third-base coach — never stopped around third base. By the time the Hammerheads realized and made a throw to the dish it was too late, as the first baseman scored to extend the edge to three, 4-1.

Following a third solo clout — this time by C Wilfred “La Tortuguita” Astudillo (1-3, R, HR, RBI) — in the seventh, it was the Triana-Steiger duo who created the final tally.

Once more with two retired, Triana drew a walk and snagged second base. Steiger would plop a double into right field to score the runner from second and essentially put to bed a 6-1 Daytona victory.

The Tortugas pitching staff was borderline unhittable after yielding a run in the first. Over the final eight frames, RHP Jason Parker (4.0 IP, 3 H, R, ER, 2 BB, 4 SO), RHP Frainger Aranguren (2.0 IP, H, 2 BB, 3 SO), and RHP Stevie Branche (3.0 IP, 4 SO) united to issue no runs on two hits with three walks and struck out 10.

Aranguren earned his second triumph of the season in relief following Parker’s four strong innings to start the night. Branche retired all nine batters he faced — striking out four — to collect his first professional save.

RHP Chris Mokma (5.2 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 4 ER, BB, 3 SO) was solid for Jupiter on Thursday but did not receive enough run support. The 20-year-old was saddled with his second defeat of the campaign.

Fans are invited to gaze to the heavens on Friday night, as the Tortugas host their annual Astronomy Night presented by the Museum of Arts & Sciences. The first 500 fans through the gates will receive a limited edition Astronomy Themed Tortugas T-Shirt. Following the final out, patrons are invited to stick around for a Star-Gazing Tour with the museum’s Curator of Astronomy Seth Mayo.

Cincinnati’s No. 22 prospect per MLB Pipeline — RHP Case Williams (0-0, 3.52) — is expected to make the start for Daytona. Jupiter is scheduled to counter with RHP George Soriano (0-0, 27.00). Gates open at 6 p.m. with the first pitch scheduled for 7:05.

Season ticket, multi-game plans, group packages, and more 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 Low-A Affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds and a member of Minor League Baseball’s Low-A Southeast. The Tortugas play at Jackie Robinson Ballpark in downtown Daytona Beach. 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.