Seminati's smash not enough, as Threshers walk-off, 4-3

CLEARWATER, Fla. - LF Leo Seminati tied the game in the seventh with a titanic two-run shot, but Daytona could not complete the comeback. DH Abrahan Gutiérrez delivered a walk-off single in the bottom of the 10th, as the Clearwater Threshers bit the Tortugas, 4-3, on Sunday afternoon at BayCare Ballpark.

Trailing 3-1, DH Garrett Wolforth (2-4, R, BB, SO) started the top of the seventh for Daytona (20-28) with a walk. After a pop-out on a bunt attempt, Seminati (1-3, R, HR, 2 RBI, BB) dug in and unloaded on a 2-2 offering. The 22-year-old cranked it into the Clearwater (25-23) bullpen in left-center for his fourth home run of the season — his second of the series — to tie it at three.

The Tortugas would load the bases in the eighth and put the go-ahead run in scoring position in the ninth and tenth, but could not capture the sought-after lead.

Three pitches into the bottom of the tenth, Gutiérrez (1-5, RBI, SO) stung a line drive into left. Seminati came up throwing, but his toss to the dish was offline. CF Yhoswar García (0-5, R, 2 SO) — who began the inning at second with the international tiebreaker rule in effect — scored to give the Threshers a 4-3 victory.

Daytona plastered a tally on the scoreboard first in the top of the third. CF Ranser Amador (1-4, R, 2B, SO) uncorked a double down the line in left and scored on a subsequent two-bagger into the right-center field gap from 2B Brandon Leyton (1-4, 2B, RBI, SO) to take the lead, 1-0.

It would not last long, as mistakes plagued the Tortugas in the bottom half of the frame. A dropped pop-up allowed LF Nicolas Torres’ (2-4, R, SO) plate appearance to continue, ultimately ending with a single to left-center. 2B Kendall Simmons (1-5, R, 2B, RBI, SO) doubled to left to tie the game at one after a wild pitch enabled Torres to take second. After a ground out advanced him to third, Simmons scored on a two-out balk to give the Threshers their first edge, 2-1.

Clearwater added another tally in the sixth, as 1B Rixon Wingrove (1-4, R, HR, RBI, 3 SO) lined a leadoff home run into the pavilion in left. His solo shot — the sixth of the season for the Australia native — put the Threshers in front, 3-1.

RHP James Proctor (5.0 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 7 SO) was outstanding yet again for the Tortugas in a no-decision. The 22-year-old did not allow an earned run over five innings and struck out seven. Threshers RHP Victor Vargas (5.0 IP, 3 H, R, ER, BB, 3 SO) did not factor into the decision after five strong frames either.

LHP Gabriel Yanez (0.2 IP, H, SO) entered with two on and one out in the tenth for Clearwater and recorded the final two outs to earn his second win of the season and the series. Despite three-plus frames of sterling relief, Daytona’s RHP Frainger Aranguren (3.1 IP, 2 H, R, 3 SO) was saddled with his fourth defeat.

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.

Neither team has announced a probable starting pitcher for the series opener. Gates open at 6 p.m., while coverage on the Tortugas Radio Network will begin on the MiLB First Pitch app and www.daytonatortugas.com at 6:50 p.m. The first pitch is slated for 7:05 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.
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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.