Walks weigh down Tortugas, Mets take series finale

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. - Despite jumping out to an early 2-0 lead, the Tortugas could not manage to snag one last victory to close out the road trip. The Mets scored six in the first and sixth innings, as St. Lucie defeated Daytona, 15-3, on Sunday afternoon at Clover Park.

The matinee began promising for the Tortugas (12-12), as 2B Tyler Callihan (0-3, BB, 2 SO) drew a leadoff walk. Following a force out at second and a wild pitch, 3B Rece Hinds (1-3, R, 2B, RBI) served a double into right. SS Gus Steiger (0-5, R, 2 SO) scored to put Daytona ahead, 1-0. DH Daniel Vellojín (2-3, RBI, BB, SO) followed with a roaring single to center to chase home Hinds and pad the early advantage, 2-0.

Unfortunately for Daytona, the lead did not linger long. With one out, 2B Shervyen Newton (2-5, 2 R, HR, 3 RBI, BB, 2 SO) singled and moved to second on a wild pitch. 1B José Peroza (1-4, 2 R, RBI, BB, SO) tallied a knock and 3B Jaylen Palmer (0-2, R, 4 BB, SO) walked to load the bases.

Consecutive free passes to RF Cole Kleszcz (0-3, R, RBI, BB) and DH Jimmy Titus (0-3, 2 R, RBI, 2 BB) tied the game at two apiece and a sacrifice fly by C Nic Gaddis (0-1, R, RBI, 3 BB) put St. Lucie (16-8) ahead, 3-2. Subsequently, after a pitching change, LF Brandon McIlwain (1-2, 3 R, HR, 3 RBI, 2 BB, SO) hammered a 1-0 offering over the left-center field wall for his first professional home run. The three-run clout gave the Mets a 6-2 advantage.

St. Lucie knicked one more across in the second on a wild pitch and two additional runs on a SS Branden Fryman (2-5, R, 2B, RBI, BB) double and a ground out off the bat of Peroza in the fifth.

In the sixth, the Mets scored six more times, including a three-run home run to right-center by Newton — his second of the series.

Daytona squeezed across one more run in the ninth when LF Wendell Marrero (1-2, R, 2B, 2 BB, SO) walked, swiped second and third on wild pitches, and later scored on a single from 2B Reyny Reyes (1-1, RBI).

Mets RHP Junior Santos (3.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 4 SO) rebounded after a rocky first inning but did not last long enough to earn a victory. RHP Luis Montas (2.0 IP, H, 2 SO) garnered the victory out of the bullpen in his professional debut.

RHP Tanner Cooper (0.2 IP, 2 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 3 BB) struggled with his command in his first professional start for Daytona. The 21-year-old was saddled with his second loss of the campaign. In all, Daytona issued a season-high 19 walks.

The ‘Tugas return to Jackie Robinson Ballpark for a six-game series against the Clearwater Threshers, Low-A affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies, on Tuesday, June 1. It will be Opening Night 2.0, as the Tortugas roll out the green carpet to celebrate Jackie Robinson Ballpark’s return to full capacity. It is also a Breast Cancer Awareness Night presented by Radiology Associates Imaging, as Daytona players and coaches will don special pink-tinted uniforms to mark the occasion. Silver Sluggers Night — the best club in baseball for fans 60-and-over — presented by Conviva Cares Solutions will also be a part of the festivities.

Neither team has announced probable starters for Tuesday’s series opener. Gates open at 6 p.m. with first pitch scheduled for 7:05 p.m. ET. Coverage on the Tortugas Radio Network and www.daytonatortugas.com will begin with the Pregame Show starting at 6:50 p.m. ET.

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 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.