Tortugas walk-off restart, rally to snag nightcap from Cards

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - After almost six hours of baseball, the Tortugas returned to their nest on Wednesday night with a pair of victories. SS Ivan Johnson’s walk-off two-run single in the bottom of the tenth propelled the Tortugas to a 10-9 win in 10 innings during game one, in front of a crowd of 1,667. C Garrett Wolforth’s RBI double in the fifth of game two guided Daytona to a 4-3 triumph in seven over the Palm Beach Cardinals at Jackie Robinson Ballpark with an attendance of 1,538.

Up 3-2 when the game was paused on Tuesday night in the top of the fourth, Palm Beach (11-27) jolted in front in the top of the fifth. After a hit-by-pitch and a walk, DH Todd Lott (1-5, R, HR, 3 RBI, SO) wallopped the first pitch he saw over the fence in right-center. His sixth home run of the season gave the Cardinals the lead, 5-3.

Two batters later, CF Tommy Jew (4-5, R, HR, 3 RBI) launched a delivery on top of the batting cages in left. His fourth blast of the campaign pushed Palm Beach’s advantage to three, 6-3.

The lead did not last, however. In the home fifth, 1B Michel Triana (2-5, 2 R, 2 2B) began the attack with a double to left and scored on a single to center from DH Garrett Wolforth (2-5, 2 R, 2 RBI, 2 SO). Following a single from C Daniel Vellojín (3-4, 2 R, HR, RBI, BB, SO), a pair of wild pitches allowed Wolforth to cross and pull Daytona (17-21) within one, 6-5.

Following a plunking of LF Wendell Marrero (1-3, R, RBI, BB), 3B Reyny Reyes (1-4, R, 2 RBI, SO) evened the ballgame at six apiece with an RBI single up the middle. Two hitters later, SS Gus Steiger (1-3, R, RBI, 2 BB, SO) drew a bases-loaded walk to put the Tortugas ahead once more, 7-6.

It appeared Palm Beach was going to squeak away with a win in the ninth. Trailing a pair of walks and a wild pitch that moved runners to second and third, Jew rifled a ball off the base of the wall in right. Two runs scored, giving the Cardinals an 8-7 advantage, as the former 13th-round pick was tagged out between first and second.

Vellojín refused to let the game end there. With one out in the bottom of the ninth, the Cartagena, Colombia native launched a 3-1 offering 428 feet into the auxiliary parking lot beyond the right-field fence for a game-tying solo home run, his second of the year.

The Cardinals snatched the lead back in the top of the tenth, as the automatic runner — RF Matt Koperniak (3-4, R, BB) — took third on a throwing error and scored on a wild pitch, but it was for not.

In Daytona’s half, Steiger singled to create a first-and-third situation with one out. After the 22-year-old swiped second base, Johnson (2-4, R, 2B, 2 RBI, 2 BB) scalded a ball that snuck past the first baseman and rolled into right field. Reyes and Steiger scored the tying and winning runs, sealing a 10-9 Tortugas victory.

The walk-off triumph was the first for Daytona since August 28, 2019, in a 10-inning affair against the St. Lucie Mets. It was also their most recent extra-inning win prior to Wednesday.

RHP Jake Gozzo (1.0 IP, R, BB) yielded an unearned run in the tenth but garnered his second victory of the season. Palm Beach RHP Hector Soto (1.1 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 2 ER, SO) suffered a blown save and his first defeat of the campaign.

Neither starter factored into the decision, as they were lifted after the game was suspended. Daytona’s RHP Tanner Cooper (3.1 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, BB, 4 SO) whiffed four, while Cardinals LHP Levi Prater (3.0 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 4 BB, 3 SO) struck out three.

Palm Beach’s first two runs came on Tuesday, courtesy of a two-run home run to right by 3B Jordan Walker (2-4, 2 R, HR, 2 RBI) in the first. Daytona took the lead with three in the bottom half on run-scoring singles by Wolforth and Marrero, in addition to a sacrifice fly by Reyes.

In the nightcap, it was Palm Beach again who started hot. In the top of the second, the Redbirds loaded the bags on a double, an error, and a walk. After a pair of strikeouts put Daytona on the precipice of escaping trouble, SS Masyn Winn (2-3, RBI, BB, SO) banged a single off the pitcher’s leg to force home a tally and give the visitors a 1-0 lead. DH Tommy Jew (1-3, 2 RBI, BB, SO) subsequently made it 3-0, as he stroked a two-run single to center.

Following the trend from Tuesday’s suspended game, the ‘Tugas wasted little time in making up the deficit. A walk to LF Wendell Marrero (0-2, R, BB, SO) and singles from 3B Reyny Reyes (1-3, R, 2 SO) and 1B Leo Seminati (2-3, R, SO) filled the bases with nobody out.

CF Rafael Franco (0-1, RBI, BB, SO) garnered a bases-loaded walk to put Daytona on the scoreboard, 3-1. After a strikeout, 2B Brandon Leyton (1-2, R, 2 RBI, BB) launched a laser into left. Two men dented the dish on a two-run single, knotting the score at three.

It would remain that way until the Tortugas put the finishing touches on the night in the bottom of the fifth. With one gone, Leyton drew a four-pitch walk to start a rally, and Wolforth (1-3, 2B, RBI, SO) stung a fly ball to right. The ball took a high bounce over the right fielder's head and scooted to the wall. Leyton never broke stride and scored from first on the double, thrusting Daytona ahead, 4-3.

RHP Luis Mey (2.0 IP, BB, 3 SO) proceeded to shut the door from there for the ‘Tugas. The 19-year-old struck out the side in order in the sixth and yielded only one baserunner on a walk in the seventh, sealing Daytona’s win and his second save.

RHP Ian Koch (2.0 IP, 4 BB, 4 SO) punched out a season-best four over two scoreless innings to earn his first win. Despite recording six strikeouts, RHP Will Guay (3.1 IP, 2 H, R, ER, BB, 6 SO) was saddled with his first defeat for Palm Beach.

Neither starter received a decision in the seven-inning finale. RHP James Proctor (3.0 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 BB, 3 SO) offered three unearned runs for Daytona, while Cardinals RHP Gustavo Rodríguez (1.2 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 2 SO) failed to escape the second.

The biggest party in Central Florida and Volusia County makes its way back to The Jack on Thursday night for a Bud Light Thirsty Thursday. Fans can enjoy draft beer and fountain drink specials starting at just $1 all evening long. Gates open at 6 p.m. and the first pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.

Going for their fourth-straight win, the Tortugas are anticipated to hand the ball to RHP José Franco (1-1, 9.58). Palm Beach anticipates giving the ball to LHP John Beller (0-3, 5.53). Coverage on the Tortugas Radio Network will begin on the MiLB First Pitch app and www.daytonatortugas.com at 6:50 p.m.

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.