Leyton & Leo lift-off as 'Tugas top Threshers, 6-1

Daytona takes lid-lifter; Second game rained out, will play two on Friday

1B Leo Seminati reached base three times and smashed a three-run home run, as Daytona took game one of a scheduled doubleheader from Clearwater, 6-1, at BayCare Ballpark on Thursday afternoon. Game two was rained out and will be made up as part of a doubleheader on Friday, starting at 4 p.m. (Aldrin Capulong)

By Justin Rocke

June 24, 2021

CLEARWATER, Fla. — 2B Brandon Leyton and 1B Leo Seminati each clubbed vital home runs, as the Daytona Tortugas took game one of a scheduled doubleheader, 6-1, over the Clearwater Threshers at BayCare Ballpark on Thursday afternoon. Game two was postponed due to rain and will be made up as

CLEARWATER, Fla. — 2B Brandon Leyton and 1B Leo Seminati each clubbed vital home runs, as the Daytona Tortugas took game one of a scheduled doubleheader, 6-1, over the Clearwater Threshers at BayCare Ballpark on Thursday afternoon. Game two was postponed due to rain and will be made up as part of a doubleheader on Friday evening starting at 4 p.m.

Trailing 1-0 after the first, Daytona (19-25) dented the scoreboard themselves in the second. With one out, Leyton (1-4, R, HR, 2 RBI, SO) demolished a 3-1 offering into the Clearwater (22-22) bullpen in left. His second home run of the season — and in as many games — tied it up at one.

An inning later, the Tortugas grabbed the advantage for good. SS Ivan Johnson (0-3, R, BB, 2 SO) started the rally with a leadoff walk and RF Austin Hendrick (1-3, 2 R, BB, 2 SO) followed with a broken-bat single to left.

After an error allowed C Garrett Wolforth (0-3, R, BB) to reach and load the bases, a wild pitch allowed Johnson to score, giving Daytona the lead, 2-1. Seminati (2-3, R, 2B, HR, 3 RBI, BB, SO) proceeded to walk — reloading the bases — before a Leyton ground out to short scored Hendrick to make it 3-1.

Seminati was a factor again in the fifth, as the ‘Tugas put the game out of reach. Hendrick drew a four-pitch walk to start the inning and Wolforth followed with a free pass on five deliveries. On a 1-1 offering, the 22-year-old clocked a high fly ball into the seats beyond the left-field fence. Seminati’s three-run shot — his third home run of the season — pushed Daytona’s advantage to five, 6-1.

That was more than enough cushion for the Tortugas pitching staff in the lid-lifter. Starter RHP Case Williams (4.0 IP, 2 H, R, ER, 2 BB, 2 SO) yielded just one run on a 2B Kendall Simmons (2-3, R, HR, RBI) solo blast onto the berm in right in the opening frame. RHP Miguel Medrano (3.0 IP, H, 2 BB, 2 SO) twirled three scoreless innings of relief, earning his first win of the season.

LHP Rafael Marcano (1.1 IP, H, R, ER, 2 BB, 3 SO) threw five hitless innings in his first start against Daytona at Jackie Robinson Ballpark but was unable to escape the second inning in a no-decision. LHP Tyler Adams (1.2 IP, H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 2 SO) yielded a pair in the third and suffered his second defeat of the campaign.

The second game of the doubleheader was scheduled to get underway at 7 p.m., but a torrential downpour that rolled in before the first pitch prevented the contest from ever getting underway. That ballgame will be made up as a part of a doubleheader on Friday evening starting at 4 p.m.

RHP José Franco (1-1, 9.42) — the Tortugas scheduled starter in Thursday’s game two — is anticipated to take the hill in the lid-lifter. RHP Jason Parker (1-0, 5.17) projects to take the hill for the visitors in game two. Clearwater projects to hand the ball to RHP Fernando Lozano (3-1, 2.45) in the opener and RHP Cristian Hernández (2-2, 3.27) in the nightcap.

Daytona will return home to open up their Independence Day Homestand on Tuesday, June 29, against the Lakeland Flying Tigers, the Low-A affiliate of the Detroit Tigers. It will be 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. Fans can get in on deals at the concession stand with $2.50 Michelob Ultra draft beers.

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.