Tortugas tripped up by Mets, 3-2

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — 3B Austin Callahan and 1B Michel Triana each garnered multiple knocks, while RHP Hunter Parks matched a career-best with seven strikeouts. However, a game-tying home run in the seventh and a wild pitch in the eighth, allowed the St. Lucie Mets to rally and stun the Daytona Tortugas, 3-2, in front of 1,919 fans at Jackie Robinson Ballpark on Thursday night.

Daytona (4-8, 33-44) carried a 2-1 advantage into the top of the seventh, but it did not last long into the frame. Leading off the inning, 1B Raúl Beracierta (2-4, R, HR, RBI, SO) powered a 3-1 pitch beyond the fence in right-center field for a solo home run. The Venezuela native's sixth blast of the year tied the game up at two.

In the eighth, St. Lucie (6-6, 46-31) captured the lead without a base hit. CF Omar De Los Santos (1-3, R, BB) earned a five-pitch walk to ignite the inning and promptly stole second and third base to move into scoring position. With two outs, a pitch squeaked to the backstop. De Los Santos motored home from third without a play, placing the Mets in front, 3-2.

The Tortugas put the tying run aboard in the eighth, but that was as close as they would get. Despite the one-out single from CF Fidel Castro (1-4, SO) in the eighth, RHP Raimón Gómez (2.0 IP, H, 4 SO) proceeded to strike out four of the next five hitters to close out his second save and St. Lucie's one-run win.

Both teams traded early runs in the second inning to start the scoring. With runners at first and second and one out, St. Lucie's C Brady Smith (0-3, 2 SO) tapped a ground ball to third. While Daytona was able to get the force at third, the throw to first sailed up the right-field line. The throw to the plate was in time, but the catch and tag could not be made cleanly, as a runner scored from first on the error to put the Mets up 1-0.

In the bottom of the inning, Triana (2-4, 2 R) punched a single to right and quickly stole second base. After a ground out advanced him to third, C Hayden Jones (1-4, RBI, 2 SO) laced an RBI single to left-center to even the game up at one.

Triana and Callahan helped create a lead for the Tortugas in the fourth. The Cuban-born infielder reached on a two-out single to center and was able to sneak around a tag to swipe second base. Callahan (2-4, 2B, RBI, SO) would scald a double to the right-center field fence, scoring Triana, to give Daytona the edge, 2-1.

Neither starter received a decision on Thursday. RHP Tanner Cooper (5.0 IP, 3 H, R, 2 BB, 2 SO) was charged with just one unearned run over a career-high-tying five innings for Daytona. 18-year-old RHP Joel Díaz (4.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, BB, 4 SO) matched a season-best with four frames in a start for St. Lucie.

RHP Saúl González (1.0 IP, H, SO) stranded a baserunner in the seventh in relief for the Mets, ultimately earning his second victory of the year.

Despite matching a career-high with seven strikeouts and yielding only one hit, the Tortugas' Parks (3.0 IP, H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 7 SO) was saddled with his third defeat of 2022.

‘The Nine’ Night returns as the week-long set continues on Friday. The Tortugas will pay homage as part of Minor League Baseball’s focused outreach platform designed to honor and celebrate the historic impact numerous Black baseball pioneers made on the sport. As part of the celebration, the first 1,000 fans through the gates that night will receive a limited edition Tortugas’ Black Rose ‘The Nine’ T-Shirt Giveaway. Tortugas’ players and coaches will don Best Dressed Uniforms, as well, to pay homage, which will be auctioned off during the season. Prior to the first pitch, fans will also be able to enjoy Live Music from Tropical Drifter on the third-base riverwalk. Friday Night Happy Hour comes back to the ballpark, too, with special discounts on select draft beers at the concession stands. After the game’s final out, fans are encouraged to hang around for a First Friday Fireworks extravaganza.

Two-time National League Cy Young Award winner, Stetson University alum, and DeLand, Fla. native — RHP Jacob deGrom (0-0, 0.00) — is scheduled to make his second rehab start for St. Lucie on Friday. RHP Ryan Cardona (3-1, 3.60) anticipates getting the ball for Daytona. Gates open at 6 p.m. Coverage on the Tortugas Radio Network will begin on the MiLB First Pitch app and www.daytonatortugas.com at 6:50 p.m. leading up to the 7:05 p.m. first pitch from Jackie Robinson Ballpark.

Season tickets, 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 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.