Tortugas Split Pair of One-Run Contests vs. Jupiter
JUPITER, FL—The Daytona Tortugas were on each end of a pair of one-run games as they split a doubleheader with the Jupiter Hammerheads, dropping game one 5-4 and winning game two 1-0 on Friday night at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium. Daytona (15-22) couldn’t ride four hits from Hector Rodriguez to
JUPITER, FL—The Daytona Tortugas were on each end of a pair of one-run games as they split a doubleheader with the Jupiter Hammerheads, dropping game one 5-4 and winning game two 1-0 on Friday night at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium.
Daytona (15-22) couldn’t ride four hits from Hector Rodriguez to a game one win, but held Jupiter (21-16) to just one hit in the second game to win the pitcher’s duel and earn the split.
The doubleheader got started with a flourish as Rodriguez led off by winning an 11-pitch battle with a triple to left-center. Carlos Jorge followed with a slow roller to short that he legged out for an infield single, scoring Rodriguez to put Daytona in front 1-0.
Jupiter, though, answered right back against Daytona starter Johnathan Harmon as Ian Lewis led off with a single, moved to third on a wild pitch and groundout, then scored on Javier Sanoja’s RBI single to tie the game.
After a scoreless second, Daytona answered back as Rodriguez led off with his second triple of the game, a 110-mph rope to right-center. Jorge immediately drove him in with a sacrifice fly to put Daytona up 2-1.
HECTOR DOES IT AGAIN! His second triple in 3 innings and this one leaves the bat at 110 MPH!
— Daytona Tortugas (@daytonatortugas) May 19, 2023
He scores on a Carlos Jorge sac fly to put the 'Tugas up 2-1 in the 3rd! pic.twitter.com/9LHyu48RQA
However, the Hammerheads again had an answer. With one out, Lewis and Jordan McCants lined consecutive doubles to bring in a run. Sanoja followed with a single to put runners on the corners. A groundout brought in a second run before Sanoja scored on a wild pitch to put Jupiter in front 4-2 after a three-run frame.
In the fifth, Rodriguez again started a rally by doubling with one out, moving to third on a groundout, and scoring on an error by Sanoja at second, closing the gap to a run.
Once more, though, Jupiter again answered. Consecutive hits greeted Kevin Abel in the bottom of the fifth. A wild pitch brought home a run to put the Hammerheads back up by a pair, 5-3. Abel, though, settled down to retire the next six batters, five of whom he struck out.
That set the stage for a seventh-inning push. Against Jupiter closer Evan Taylor, Victor Acosta led off with an infield single. After a strikeout, Rodriguez singled for his fourth hit of the game, then Jorge followed with his second hit and third RBI to trim the deficit back to a run. After a strikeout, Cade Hunter was plunked to load the bases for Sal Stewart. However, Stewart flied to right to end the opener, with Jupiter escaping with a 5-4 victory.
In the nightcap, Kenya Huggins earned the start and was locked in from the start, setting down the first six batters and beginning his night with a three scoreless innings with four strikeouts.
On the other side, Cade Gibson matched Huggins with his three scoreless frames before Daytona struck in the fourth. Yassel Pino singled with one out, stole second, then scored when Malvin Valdez roped a triple into the gap in left-center.
Huggins worked a 1-2-3 fourth, finishing his night with 4.0 shutout innings on one hit, no walks, and four strikeouts. He handed off the 1-0 lead to Chris McElvain in the fifth.
Meanwhile, Daytona had golden opportunities to add to the league, putting two on with no outs in both the fifth and sixth innings. However, both times the Hammerheads wiggled out of those jams with no runs allowed.
It didn’t matter, though, as McElvain (2-1) allowed a two-out walk in the fifth, but nothing more. He set down the Hammerheads in order in the sixth and seventh innings, finishing 3.0 hitless innings of relief with four strikeouts to lock down a 1-0 victory in the nightcap.
The Tortugas will play game five in Jupiter on Saturday afternoon. RHP Mason Pelio (1-2, 3.51) gets the ball for Daytona against RHP Jacob Miller (1-2, 5:00). First pitch is at 4:00 with pregame on the Tortugas Radio Network and Bally Live with the Voice of the Tortugas Brennan Mense at 3:45 from Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium.
Daytona Tortugas single-game tickets and ticket packages are on sale now at daytonatortugas.com, (386) 257-3172, or the box office at 110 East Orange Ave.
ABOUT THE DAYTONA TORTUGAS
The Daytona Tortugas are the Single-A Affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds and a member of Minor League Baseball’s Florida State League. The Tortugas play at Jackie Robinson Ballpark in downtown Daytona Beach, Fla. 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.