St. Lucie spoils series opener against Daytona

Leyton and Santana combined for five hits, two homers, but 'Tugas drop lid-lifter

2B Brandon Leyton tied a season-high with three hits and cracked a home run, but the Daytona Tortugas fell to the St. Lucie Mets, 5-3, in their series opener on Tuesday night at Clover Park. (Aldrin Capulong)

By Justin Rocke

August 24, 2021

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — 2B Brandon Leyton made several great defensive plays in addition to a three-hit performance at the plate, but it was not enough to usurp the St. Lucie Mets who topped the Daytona Tortugas, 5-3, on Tuesday night at Clover Park. St. Lucie (50-44) jumped out

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — 2B Brandon Leyton made several great defensive plays in addition to a three-hit performance at the plate, but it was not enough to usurp the St. Lucie Mets who topped the Daytona Tortugas, 5-3, on Tuesday night at Clover Park.

St. Lucie (50-44) jumped out to a quick multi-run lead in the second. 2B Justin Guerrera (0-1, 2 R, 3 BB) walked to begin the inning and quickly took second on a wild pitch. Following a double by 1B JT Schwartz (2-3, R, 2B, RBI, BB) and a ground out, DH Jack-Thomas Wold (1-4, RBI) ripped a single into center. Guerrera scored easily from third to put the Mets in front, 1-0. A wild pitch on the next offering allowed another tally to score to put St. Lucie up a pair.

In the top of the third, Daytona (47-50) began to chip away. Leyton (3-4, 2 R, HR, RBI) began the inning with a single to right and advanced to third on a two-base error via a pickoff attempt. CF Ashton Creal (1-2, RBI) promptly brought the run home with a sacrifice fly to center, slashing the deficit in half, 2-1.

DH Debby Santana (2-3, R, HR, RBI, BB) celebrated his 21st birthday on Tuesday in grand style to start the fifth. On the very first pitch of the inning, the San Cristóbal, D.R. native smashed a laser off the batter's eye in dead center for a game-tying solo home run. Santana's third of the year came off the bat at 106.7 mph and traveled 424 feet to knot the contest at two.

The Mets grabbed the lead for good, though, in the bottom of the sixth. Once again it was Guerrera starting the attack with a walk. After a Schwartz single, LF Omar De Los Santos (2-4, RBI) guided a single through the left side of the infield for a base hit. Guerrera came around from second on the base knock to put the orange and blue back in the driver's seat, 3-2.

St. Lucie added to their ledger in the seventh on a bases-loaded walk to Schwartz and again in the eighth on a run-producing ground out to second by RF Alexander Ramírez (1-5, 2B, RBI).

Ahead 5-2 going to the ninth, the Mets handed the ball to their closer, RHP Luis Montas (1.0 IP, 3 H, R, ER), to try and slam the door shut.

Leyton greeted him rudely, leading off the inning by smacking a shot beyond the wall in left for a solo home run. The León, Nicaragua native's fifth long ball of the season drew Daytona within a pair, 5-3.

The Tortugas would bring the go-ahead run to the plate with two out following a pair of singles from C Daniel Vellojín (2-5) and LF Leo Seminati (1-5, SO), but that was as close as the visitors would get. Montas induced a pop fly to right to close out the contest and seal his sixth save of the season.

In a Major League rehab appearance, RHP Jordan Yamamoto (2.0 IP, SO) took a no-decision for St. Lucie after throwing 2.0 perfect innings. RHP Robert Colina (4.2 IP, 6 H, 2 R, ER, BB, 4 SO) entered in relief and collected his second victory on the campaign.

Daytona's RHP James Proctor (3.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, SO) went a high 3.0 innings since his return from the injured list on August 8, but took a no-decision. Despite issuing just one run over 3.0 frames, RHP Frainger Aranguren (3.0 IP, 6 H, R, ER, BB, 2 SO) suffered his seventh loss of the campaign.

It will be a quick turnaround for both sides on Wednesday afternoon. RHP Joe Boyle (NR) — Cincinnati's fifth-round selection in 2020 out of Notre Dame — is expected to make his full-season debut in game two of the series for the 'Tugas. RHP Junior Santos (4-4, 4.50) — New York's No. 13 prospect per Baseball America — is anticipated to take the hill for St. Lucie. Coverage on the Tortugas Radio Network will begin on the MiLB First Pitch app and www.daytonatortugas.com at 11:55 a.m. leading up to the 12:10 p.m. first pitch from Clover Park.

The Tortugas will return home after the road trip to open up their final homestand of the season on Tuesday, August 31, against the Fort Myers Mighty Mussels, the Low-A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins. 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. Gates open at 6 p.m. and the first pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.

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.