Leyton helps 'Tugas swim past Hammerheads, 3-2

JUPITER, Fla. — 2B Brandon Leyton matched a season-high with three hits on Sunday, but it was his clutch baserunning in the ninth that put Daytona ahead for good, as the Tortugas slipped by the Jupiter Hammerheads, 3-2, to earn a series split at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium.

Tied at two entering the final frame of regulation, Leyton (3-5, 2 R, SO) ignited Daytona's (57-57) rally with a single to left. With a hit-and-run on, SS José Torres (2-3, RBI, BB) lofted a fly ball that found an empty patch of grass in shallow center for a hit.

As the throw came into third, Torres attempted to take second base on the play. Jupiter (60-52) tossed the ball onto second to tag out Torres, but as that occurred, Leyton made a break for home. The Hammerheads whipped the pearl to the plate, but the León, Nicaragua native swam around the tag to score the go-ahead run.

With Daytona leading 3-2, Jupiter quickly put the tying and winning runs on base in their half of the ninth. DH Davis Bradshaw (1-3, BB, SO) singled on the first pitch of the frame and 2B Federico Polanco (1-3, RBI, BB, 2 SO) followed with a walk.

After RHP Alberto González (2.1 IP, 2 H, BB, 4 SO) collected a strikeout for the first out of the inning, the Tortugas brought in RHP Tyler Garbee (0.2 IP) from the bullpen. The 24-year-old induced a flyout to center on his first pitch and a groundout to second on his second offering to close out the victory and his first save with the club.

For the fifth time in six games, Daytona jumped on the board in the first inning. DH Daniel Vellojín (0-4, R, BB, SO) started the contest with a walk and, after a Leyton single, Torres was plunked to load the bases. Trailing a line out to third, a wild pitch allowed Vellojín to score to put the Tortugas in front, 1-0.

Jupiter drew even in the third, loading the bases with one out on a walk to C Keegan Fish (1-3, R, 2B, BB, 2 SO) and consecutive singles from SS José Salas (1-4) and 3B Cody Morissette (1-5, SO). LF Osiris Johnson (1-4, RBI, SO) put the Hammerheads in the run column with a soft RBI ground out to third.

An inning later, the Hammerheads jumped ahead. CF Dalvy Rosario (0-3, R, SO) was hit with one out and Bradshaw followed with a walk. 2B Federico Polanco (1-3, RBI, BB, 2 SO) poked a run-producing single to right to slide Jupiter in front, 2-1.

In the seventh, the Tortugas tied it up. Leyton began the inning with a knock up the middle and advanced to third on a double down the left-field line by 3B Rece Hinds (2-5, 2B, SO). C Garrett Wolforth (0-3, RBI, 2 SO) managed to tie the game at two with a sacrifice fly to left.

Neither starter received a decision in Sunday's series finale. RHP Ryan Cardona (3.0 IP, 2 H, R, ER, BB, 3 SO) yielded just one run over a career-high 3.0 innings of work, striking out a career-best three, for Daytona. Jupiter's RHP Evan Fitterer (3.2 IP, 5 H, R, ER, BB, 4 SO) worked into the fourth in his second start off the injured list.

Tortugas RHP Anthony Zimmerman (3.0 IP, 2 H, R, ER, BB, 4 SO) did not receive a decision either, but his strikeout of Fish in the fourth tied the franchise record for strikeouts in a single season dating back to when the franchise reformed in 1993. An inning later, the 25-year-old punched out Morissette swinging to set the new high watermark of 1,120, surpassing the previous mark of 1,119 K's recorded by the 2019 squad.

González earned his second triumph out of the bullpen for Daytona, while Garbee recorded his fifth save overall on the year. RHP Robinson Martínez (2.0 IP, 2 H, R, ER, SO) yielded the go-ahead run in the ninth and suffered his second loss for the Hammerheads.

Following the final league-wide off day of the season on Monday, the Tortugas will return to Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium on Tuesday night to open up their final series of the 2021 season against the Palm Beach Cardinals, the Low-A affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals. Neither team has announced probable starters for that evening's contest. 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 Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium.

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.