Tortugas topple Tarpons in 7-6 triumph

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - A night after exiting the game following a hit-by-pitch on his wrist, 3B Jonathan India showed no ill effects. The 22-year-old slammed a two-run home run off the videoboard in left, as the Daytona Tortugas captured their first home win of the season with a 7-6 victory over the Tampa Tarpons in front of 3,391 fans at Jackie Robinson Ballpark on Saturday night.

With a four-run lead whittled down to one, 1B Bruce Yari (3-4, 2 R, 2B) slapped a one-out single to center in the seventh. On a 2-0 pitch, India (1-4, R, HR, 2 RBI, SO) wallopped an offering to deep left. The clout sailed over the fence and clanged off the top left corner of the videoboard for a two-run home run. The blast - his second of the year and the first by a Tortuga at home in 2019 - extended Daytona's (4-6) lead to 7-4.
The three-tally advantage did not last long, however. In the top of the eighth, consecutive singles from Tarpons' (3-7) 2B Matt Pita (1-4, R, SO) and SS Oswaldo Cabrera (2-4, R) put men at first and third with nobody out. While Tampa did not accrue another hit in the inning, three wild pitches in the frame enabled both runners to score, trimming the Tortugas' advantage to 7-6.
That was as close as the visitors would get, however. RHP Wendolyn Bautista (1.0 IP, SO) came on in the top of the ninth and shut the door for Daytona. The 26-year-old worked a perfect ninth to earn his second save of the campaign and the Tortugas' first home win in 2019.
After being held scoreless for 22 innings entering the night, Daytona broke the stretch with a four-run first. Yari singled to lead off the bottom of the first and 2B Alejo Lopez (3-4, R, 2B) followed with a knock of his own. LF Stuart Fairchild (2-4, 2 R, 2B, RBI) ended the streak by banging a single up the middle to score a run and put the Tortugas in front, 1-0. 
Later in the frame - after a walk to CF Andy Sugilio (2-3, R, RBI, BB) loaded the bases - C Hendrik Clementina (0-4, SO) hit a hard shot ground ball to third. A great diving snag was made, but the throw to first skipped down the right-field line. All three runs came across on the error to make it a 4-0 contest.
Following an RBI single from 3B David Metzgar (1-4, RBI, SO) that put Tampa on the board in the second, Daytona responded in the third. Fairchild kickstarted the frame with a double and came across on a knock to center by Sugilio, putting the 'Tugas back up four, 5-1.
Tampa would use the long ball to account for the next three runs. C Jason Lopez (2-4, 2 R, 2B, HR, 2 RBI, 2 SO) popped a two-run blast over the wall in left for a two-run homer in the fourth. In the sixth, RF Steven Sensley (2-4, 2 R, HR, RBI) hit a laser over the fence in right for a solo blast.
In just his second career start, RHP Michael Byrne (5.0 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 7 SO) struck out a career-best seven hitters to collect his first win of the year. Despite allowing just two earned runs over six frames, RHP Miguel Yajure (6.0 IP, 9 H, 5 R, 2 ER, BB, 3 SO) was saddled with his second defeat.
The Tortugas will attempt to earn their first series victory on Sunday, as LHP Reiver Sanmartin (0-1, 3.97 ERA) is expected to take the ball. Tampa is projected to start RHP Rony Garcia (0-0, 3.24 ERA) in the series finale.
The Tortugas Pre-Game Show will kick off the broadcast at 5:20 p.m. ET, leading up to the 5:35 p.m. ET start. Sunday evening's contest can be heard on daytonatortugas.com or via the TuneIn Radio and MiLB First Pitch apps. 
Fans are encouraged to arrive at the ballpark early, as the first 500 fans in attendance will receive a Jackie Robinson No. 9 replica shirt giveaway. It will be Daytona's first Tiny 'Tugas Night of the summer and - like all Sunday home contests - kids will get to run the bases after the contest.
Season ticket and multi-game plans are still 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 High-A Affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds and a member of the 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 and many large community events and initiatives throughout the season.