Lantigua lifts Daytona to winner's circle over Lakeland

LAKELAND, Fla. — After a 45-minute delay at the start due to rain, Daytona decided to smash a few rainmakers themselves. RF Austin Hendrick and DH Danny Lantigua each clubbed multi-RBI home runs, as the Daytona Tortugas usurped the Lakeland Flying Tigers, 6-3, on Wednesday night at Joker Marchant Stadium.

Scoreless headed to the fourth, CF Allan Cerda (1-4, R, 3B, RBI, 3 SO) was plunked to begin the inning. After a double from SS Ivan Johnson (1-4, R, 2B, BB, 2 SO), Hendrick (1-3, R, HR, 3 RBI, 2 BB, SO) laced a 2-0 pitch onto the berm in straightaway left field. The 20-year-old's fifth home run of the season — a three-run shot — put Daytona (39-41) in front, 3-0.

Lakeland (30-49) answered back with one of their own in the home half of the fourth. DH Kingston Liniak (1-4, R, 3B, 2 SO) tripled over the third-base bag and down the line and 2B Álvaro González (1-3, 2B, RBI, BB, SO) followed with a run-producing double to right.

Ahead 3-1, Daytona snatched the run back in the top of the fifth. 2B Brandon Leyton (1-5, R) ignited the rally with a leadoff single and, after a wild pitch and a pop out, Cerda stepped in and hit a flare into shallow right.

The ball landed a Bermuda triangle between the first and second baseman in addition to the right fielder. Leyton raced around from second to score, while Cerda never broke stride and ended up at third with a triple to put the Tortugas back up three, 4-1.

In the seventh, the Flying Tigers sliced the deficit to one. RF Austin Schultz (1-4, R, BB) singled to start the inning and SS Trei Cruz (0-3, 2 BB, SO) followed with a walk. After a double play seemed to quell the threat, 1B Jake Holton (1-3, R, HR, 2 RBI, 2 BB) destroyed an offering in the direction of the videoboard in left. The 441-foot, two-run shot – his fifth of the season — drew Lakeland to within 4-3.

The one-run advantage did not last long, as the Tortugas retaliated with their own tape measure blast in the eighth. 1B Leo Seminati (0-4, R, SO) reached on an error to begin the frame and, three pitches later, Lantigua (3-4, R, 2B, HR, 2 RBI, SO) cracked a missile to deep left-center. The liner sailed over the fence and onto the berm for a two-run home run. The 22-year-old's fifth home run of the season — which came off the bat at 105.7 mph and traveled 441 feet — put Daytona back up three, 6-3.

Daytona's bullpen sealed the deal from there. RHP Anthony Zimmerman (1.1 IP, H, BB, 2 SO) — who entered in the seventh and stranded the tying and go-ahead runs aboard — worked a near-spotless eighth inning to collect the win in his Tortugas' debut.

In the ninth, RHP Nick Hanson (1.0 IP, BB) emerged and shut the door. Lakeland put two runners on with two out courtesy of a walk and a throwing error, but the Savage, Minn. native induced a fielder's choice to short to end the game, sealing the win and his second save of the season.

RHP Jason Parker (4.2 IP, 4 H, R, ER, 4 BB, 4 SO) walked a career-high four but still kept the Flying Tigers off balance. The Tortugas starter fell one out shy of qualifying for the victory, taking a no-decision.

Fresh off his first win of the year, RHP Joseph Salazar (5.0 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 6 SO) performed well again for Lakeland. However, the 21-year-old was saddled with his sixth loss of the campaign after surrendering four runs in 5.0 innings.

In search of their second-straight win, Daytona is projected to give the ball to RHP James Marinan (1-5, 5.86) in game three on Thursday night. Lakeland is anticipated to counter with RHP Wilmer Flores (1-1, 7.84). Coverage on the Tortugas Radio Network will begin on the MiLB First Pitch app and www.daytonatortugas.com at 6:15 p.m. leading up to the 6:30 p.m. first pitch from Joker Marchant Stadium.

Daytona will return to Jackie Robinson Ballpark on Tuesday, August 10, to open up a six-contest homestand against the Jupiter Hammerheads, Low-A affiliate of the Miami Marlins. 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.