Palm Beach pours it on early, defeats Daytona, 8-5

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Despite trailing 7-0 heading to the bottom of the fifth, the Tortugas rallied and put the tying and go-ahead runs on base in the seventh and brought the go-ahead run to the plate in the eighth. However, they could not complete the comeback, as the Palm Beach Cardinals defeated Daytona, 8-5, in front of 1,387 fans at Jackie Robinson Ballpark on Tuesday night.

Palm Beach (28-59) started hot, as 1B Thomas Francisco (2-4, 2 R, HR, 3 RBI, SO) began the top of the second with a single. After a strikeout and a walk to C Aaron McKeithan (0-2, R, 2 BB, SO), 3B Osvaldo Tovalín (1-4, R, HR, 3 RBI) hit a slicing fly ball towards the left-field pole.

With 12 mph winds blowing out to left, the ball sailed over the wall for a three-run home run. The first professional long ball for Tovalín gave the Cardinals an early 3-0 lead.

The visitors stayed on the offensive in the third. SS Mack Chambers (1-4, R, 2B, BB) doubled to begin the frame and quickly scored on a single from LF Ryan Holgate (1-4, R, RBI, BB, SO).

Now up 4-0, DH L.J. Jones (1-4, R, SO) kept the ball rolling with a single to center. Francisco followed by punching a 1-0 pitch through the teeth of the breeze and beyond the right-center field wall for another three-run blast. The second home run in the East Carolina University alum's professional career gave the Redbirds a 7-0 advantage.

Daytona (44-47) started to chip away in the fifth. 2B Brandon Leyton (2-4, R, 2B, SO) doubled down the left-field line with two out and DH Daniel Vellojín (0-2, 2 R, 3 BB, 2 SO) followed with a free pass. With the wind still whipping to left, SS Elly De La Cruz (2-5, R, 2B, HR, 3 RBI, 2 SO) poked a drive out in that direction.

The 19-year-old's shot knuckled in the wind gusts but ricocheted off the netting of the batting cages for a three-run home run. De La Cruz's fifth home run since his July 17 debut with the Tortugas, pulled the green and white within four, 7-3.

3B Leo Seminati (1-5, R, HR, RBI, 2 SO) followed EDLC's lead in the following inning. The 22-year-old scalded a 1-0 offering off the batter's eye in dead center field for a solo home run. The Bergamo, Lombardy, Italy native's ninth home run of the campaign trimmed the deficit to three, 7-4.

The best chance for Daytona to tie or take the lead came in the seventh. With the bases loaded on a pair of walks and a CF Allan Cerda (1-4, BB, 2 SO) single, 1B Ruben Ibarra (1-3, RBI, BB, 2 SO) was plunked on the hand to force in a run.

With the bases still full and the deficit down to two, Daytona had two cracks with the tying and go-ahead runs aboard. Palm Beach RHP Luis Ortiz (1.2 IP, 2 H, BB, 5 SO) managed to strike out the next two hitters swinging to quell the threat.

The Tortugas rallied again in the eighth. With men at second and third and two out on a Leyton single and a De La Cruz double, Ortiz once more recorded a strikeout to strand the tying runs on base.

In the ninth, Palm Beach put the game away. CF Mike Antico (3-5, R, 2B, HR, RBI) clubbed a solo home run to right — the second of his pro career — with one out in the frame to pad the Cardinals lead back to three, 8-5.

Daytona mustered a one-out walk in the bottom of the ninth, but RHP Inohan Paniagua (1.0 IP, BB, 2 SO) — making his first appearance since June 12 — tallied the final three outs to collect the first save of his career.

RHP Ludwin Jiménez (4.2 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 7 SO) performed well for the Cardinals but fell one out shy of qualifying for the victory. RHP Andre Granillo (1.2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, BB, 4 SO) earned his second victory in relief. RHP James Marinan (3.0 IP, 6 H, 7 R, 7 ER, 5 BB, 2 SO) made the start for Daytona and was saddled with his sixth defeat.

The homestand continues with a Wishful Wednesday presented by VyStar Credit Union. The Tortugas will partner with a local non-profit organization to swell up donations and awareness for a worthy cause. Starting at just $14, patrons will be able to enjoy all-you-can-eat hot dogs, hamburgers, pizza, and popcorn thanks to a Belly Buster Wednesday presented by Marco’s Pizza. Courtesy of Landshark, souvenir cup holders will also be able to enjoy refills at concession stands for just $3.

The Low-A Southeast Pitcher of the Month for May — RHP James Proctor (3-0, 1.35) — is expected to make his second start off the injured list for the Tortugas on Wednesday. Palm Beach is scheduled to counter with RHP Dionys Rodríguez (3-3, 4.66). Coverage on the Tortugas Radio Network will begin on the MiLB First Pitch app and www.daytonatortugas.com at 6:50 p.m. leading up to the 7:05 p.m. first pitch from Jackie Robinson Ballpark.

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.