Tortugas Turn Back Late Rally to Earn Win, Even Series

DAYTONA BEACH—Ryan Cardona threw 4.0 hitless innings to start the contest, his offense scored in four straight innings, and the Daytona Tortugas held off a ninth-inning rally from the St. Lucie Mets to even the series with a 4-3 win on Wednesday night at Jackie Robinson Ballpark.

Daytona (10-19) held St. Lucie (8-21) to just one hit over the first eight innings before surviving a ninth-inning push in a game that was delayed by weather before the first pitch.

After a 1-hour, 18-minute delay, Daytona threatened with a pair of runners in the first, but did not score. In the second, though, they did scratch across a run against Felipe De La Cruz. Victor Acosta drew a walk, moved to third on a Michel Triana double, then scored on a wild pitch with two outs to put Daytona ahead.

The Tortugas added single tallies the next two innings as Cade Hunter came through with a two-out RBI single to bring home Sal Stewart in the third. In the fourth, Daytona nearly squandered a first-and-third, no-out situation after a pair of strikeouts, but De La Cruz uncorked another wild pitch, which scored Acosta for a second time.

Cardona, on the other hand, walked the leadoff batter in each of his first three frames, but each time he retired the next three hitters. He ended his night with a 1-2-3 fourth, finishing the night with 4.0 hitless innings, walking three and striking out a season-high six batters.

Tanner Cooper entered in the fifth and was greeted by a single by Kevin Villavicencio single, the first hit for St. Lucie. The next batter followed with a grounder to first. However, Triana’s throw hit Villavicencio in the back as he attempted to start a 3-6-3 double play, which instead sailed into left field and put runners at second and third. However, Cooper retired the next three and only allowed one run to score, which came home on a Scott Ota sacrifice fly.

In the bottom of the fifth, Daytona got the run right back in unconventional fashion. With one out, Logan Tanner walked and went first-to-third on a single from Hunter. However, Hunter was caught in a rundown after taking a wide turn around first. While he was in the pickle, though, Tanner raced home and scored ahead of the throw home to put Daytona back up 4-1.

Cooper (1-0) did not allow another hit in the remainder of his 3.2-inning outing, which netted him the win, though he departed after a two-out walk in the eighth for John Murphy, who ended the inning with a strikeout.

Murphy then ran into trouble in the ninth, with two doubles and a single opening the inning, with Villavicencio bringing in a run on the third hit of the inning. Murphy then received a stroke of good luck as earned a strike-em-out, throw-em-out double play with Fernando Villalobos fanning and Villavicencio thrown out by Tanner. Yeral Martinez did score on the throw to second, making the score 4-3.

Murphy did walk pinch-hitter Luis Castillo to put the tying run back on base, but induced a groundout to first from Ota to clamp down his second save, and with it, a 4-3 victory.

The Tortugas will play game three against St. Lucie on Thursday night. Tomorrow is Thirsty Thursday with $1 and $2 drink specials on both beer and soft drinks. First pitch is at 6:35 with gates opening at 5:30. RHP Arij Fransen (1-2, 8.36) will get the ball for Daytona against St. Lucie LHP Javier Atencio (0-4, 9.88). Pregame on the Tortugas Radio Network and Bally Live with the Voice of the Tortugas Brennan Mense 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.