Tortugas Stymied by Mother Nature, Jupiter in Rain-Shortened Loss

DAYTONA BEACH—Mother Nature and Jupiter pitching stole the night as the Daytona Tortugas fell 3-1 to the Jupiter Hammerheads in a game that was delayed twice by rain and was ended after eight innings on Thursday night at Jackie Robinson Ballpark.

Jupiter (33-27) won their second straight game as they held Daytona (25-35) to just two hits in the contest.

The game began almost an hour behind and when it began, the Hammerheads jumped out to a quick lead for the second night in a row. Two singles began the game to put runners on base against Arij Fransen. Fransen then induced a double play off the bat of Javier Sanoja, but a run scored to stake Jupiter to a 1-0 lead.

An inning later, the Hammerheads extended the lead. Ian Lewis singled and stole second, then came across on a Chase Luttrell. After a single and a walk, Fransen was lifted with the bases loaded and one out. Brody Jessee came out of the bullpen for his first appearance with Daytona since Opening Day and allowed an RBI single to bring in a second run, but retired the next two batters to leave the bases loaded, now trailing 3-0.

The Tortugas did little early on against Jupiter starter Ike Buxton, who set down the first eight Tortugas before a two-out walk in the third.

In the fourth, though, the Tortugas got on the board. Carlos Jorge led off the inning with a ringing triple into the gap in left-center, his sixth of the season. Sal Stewart followed with a groundout to second to bring home Jorge, narrowing the gap to 3-1.

After that point, the pitching staffs took over. Buxton departed with two outs in the fifth for Zach McCambley, who twirled 1.1 hitless frames.

On the Daytona side, Bryce Hubbart took over for Jessee to begin the fourth inning. He worked around a walk and infield single in a scoreless frame, then threw a scoreless fifth, thanks in part to an outfield assist from Hector Rodriguez.

In the seventh, Hubbart saved his best work for last. After a leadoff triple, two walks loaded the bases with no outs. The southpaw, though, picked up a strikeout before a fielder’s choice recorded the second out at the plate. Hubbart then came off the mound to field a tapper and fire a strike to first to end the inning, escaping the threat with no damage.

Hubbart threw 4.0 scoreless innings with three hits and three walks, striking out five.

Daytona mounted a threat in the seventh against Jupiter’s Breidy Encarnacion. A leadoff walk was followed by a single from Ariel Almonte to put runners on the corners with one out. However, the Jupiter right-hander struck out the next two hitters to hold the 3-1 lead.

After both teams traded zeroes in the eighth, Mother Nature intervened again, as rain and lightning sent both teams to the clubhouses at the end of the eighth.

The Tortugas will play game four against the Jupiter Hammerheads on Thursday night. Daytona’s starter is still to be determined, while Jupiter will throw LHP Jake Eder (0-1, 3.00). Tomorrow is Faith Night, featuring pregame music from the Tomoka Christian Youth Band. It will also be a Friday night happy hour with pregame drink specials. Additionally, tomorrow is a Fireworks Friday, with postgame fireworks lighting up the sky. Gates open at 5:30 with first pitch scheduled for 6:35 p.m. Pregame coverage on the Tortugas Radio Network with the Voice of the Tortugas Brennan Mense begins at 6:20 from Jackie Robinson Ballpark.

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