Jupiter sweeps doubleheader from Daytona

JUPITER, Fla. - After sweeping a doubleheader on Wednesday from Jupiter, Daytona had the favor returned on Friday evening. The Hammerheads used a six-run third inning to capture the opener, 8-2, and carried a no-hit bid until two outs in the seventh in game two, defeating the Tortugas, 4-1, at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium.

Scoreless through one and a half in the lid-lifter, Jupiter (25-32) received a two-out walk to 3B Dalvy Rosario (1-2, 2 R, BB). RF Davis Bradshaw (3-3, 2 R, 3B, HR, 4 RBI) then clobbered the first pitch he saw over the right-field fence for a two-run home run. His first professional dinger put the Hammerheads ahead, 2-0.

Daytona (27-31) used their power to get on the board in the top of the third. With one out, RF Danny Lantigua (2-3, R, 2B, HR, RBI) rocketed a drive beyond the left-center field wall for a solo home run — his fourth — to pull the ‘Tugas within a run, 2-1.

However, the game got away from Daytona in the bottom of the inning. SS Nasim Núñez (0-2, R, 2 BB, SO) walked and C Jan Mercado (1-3, R, BB, 2 SO) singled to start the inning before a knock to right from CF Victor Mesa Jr. (1-3, R, RBI, BB, SO) extended Jupiter’s advantage back to two, 3-1. DH Cameron Barstad (0-4, RBI, 2 SO) followed with a run-scoring ground out to the pitcher and 2B Federico Polanco (1-3, R, RBI) served an RBI single to right to cushion their lead to four, 5-1.

With a man at first and one out following a pitching change, Rosario reached on an infield knock to third and Bradshaw subsequently banged a triple into right field. Two runs scored on the three-base hit to extend the Hammerheads lead to six, 7-1. 1B Marcus Chiu (0-2, RBI, BB) capped the six-run, nine-batter frame with another run-producing grounder to the pitcher.

The Tortugas mustered one last run in the top of the fourth, as SS Ivan Johnson (1-3, R, HR, RBI, SO) plastered a solo home run off the Miami Marlins’ offices beyond the wall in left. His fourth long ball of the season drew Daytona within 8-2.

LHP Luis Palacios (7.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 8 SO) was superb for Jupiter in the opener. The 20-year-old hurled his first career complete game, yielding just two runs on five hits for his first win of the year.

Daytona’s RHP José Franco (2.1 IP, 4 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 3 BB, 3 SO) was unable to escape the third inning and suffered his second defeat of the campaign.

Once more, the Hammerheads attacked early in the nightcap. 2B Federico Polanco (1-3, R, SO) began the inning with an infield single and, two batters later, RF Davis Bradshaw (1-2, R, 2B, BB) scalded a double to right. With men at second and third, 1B Zack Kone (1-2, 2 RBI, BB) struck a grounder up the middle and past the drawn-in infield. Two runs scored on the single to put Jupiter ahead, 2-0.

The Hammerheads tacked on two more in the fifth. LF J.D. Orr (1-3, R, 3B, SO) began the frame with a line drive to center that was misplayed into a triple. Following a fielder’s choice rundown between third and home that didn’t register an out, a wild pitch allowed Orr to score to make it a 3-0 affair. 3B Angeudis Santos (0-1, RBI, BB) would stretch it 4-0 with a sacrifice fly to center, scoring SS Nasim Núñez (0-3, R).

Jupiter’s RHP Yeremin Lara (5.0 IP, BB, 8 SO) and RHP Jesús Sánchez (2.0 IP, 2 H, R, ER, 2 SO) carried a combined no-hit bid into the seventh inning. One out away from securing the no-no, C Garrett Wolforth (1-3, R, 2B, 2 SO) lifted a high pop into shallow right field. With the second baseman leaking into the outfield and the right fielder charging, neither player was able to find it in the lights. The ball plopped onto the outfield grass, as Wolforth motored into second with a no-hit busting double.

SS Ivan Johnson (1-3, RBI) followed with an RBI knock to center, but with the tying run on deck, Sánchez registered one last strikeout to seal the doubleheader sweep for Jupiter.

Lara — making just the second start of his season — was near untouchable, tossing five hitless frames for his fourth win of the year. Daytona’s RHP James Marinan (5.0 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 4 ER, BB, 5 SO) pitched better than his final line showed, but was saddled with his second loss of 2021.

The Tortugas will attempt to return to the win column on Saturday with RHP Miguel Medrano (1-0, 0.73) expected to make his third start. 18-year-old RHP Eury Pérez (1-2, 2.32) projects to take the hill for the Hammerheads. Coverage on the Tortugas Radio Network will begin on the MiLB First Pitch app and www.daytonatortugas.com at 6:15 p.m. The first pitch is slated for 6:30 p.m. from Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium.

Daytona will return home on Tuesday, July 13, to open up a six-game homestand against the Bradenton Marauders, Low-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates. 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.