Two Homers and Two Excellent Outings Lead Tortugas to Series-Opening Win

DAYTONA BEACH—Cam Collier and Carlos Jorge homered and Arij Fransen and Bryce Hubbart combined to stymie the opposing bats, providing just enough for a 3-2 victory for the Daytona Tortugas over the Lakeland Flying Tigers in the series opener at Jackie Robinson Ballpark in Tuesday night.

Daytona (17-23) has now won six straight games at home, as the two Daytona hurlers struck out 13 Lakeland (16-24) hitters to earn the squad’s first series-opening win since April 11.

In the first inning, both teams got off to a roaring. First, Lakeland strung together three hits against Fransen, with Peyton Graham singling and coming home on a Carlos Pelegrin double, Jose De La Cruz followed with an RBI single up the middle to put Lakeland up 2-0.

That lead, though, disappeared almost immediately. Hector Rodriguez led off with a single against rehabbing Lakeland Max Green. After a strikeout, Collier lined a 111-mph rope over the right-field wall which landed 392 feet away for a two-run home run which tied the game.

After that, Fransen settled down. The right-hander retired the side in order in the second, third, and fourth innings, striking out two batters each in the first three innings, then tying his career high with a seventh whiff in the fourth.

In the fifth, Moises Valero snapped a string of 12 straight batters retired by tripling to right, just out of the reach of Ariel Almonte. However, Fransen buckled down to pick up his career-high eighth strikeout before a lineout to Almonte in right ended the inning.

In the bottom of the frame, Fransen was put in line for the win, thanks to a big hit from Jorge. With one out, Jorge ripped a line drive to left-center that just carried over the fence for a solo home run, his fourth of the season. The 383-foot drive put Daytona in front 3-2.

.@Cam_Collier16 🤝 Carlos Jorge

Hittin' bombs💣💣 pic.twitter.com/b0Aol9azDq

— Daytona Tortugas (@daytonatortugas) May 24, 2023

Hubbart then entered for the sixth and promptly surrendered a leadoff infield single, which turned out to be Lakeland’s final hit of the night. He followed that, though, by inducing a 5-4-3 double play. He then worked around a leadoff walk in the seventh before a 1-2-3 eighth.

In the ninth, Hubbart surrendered a leadoff free pass to Pelegrin, but the southpaw buckled down, striking out the next hitter. Despite a wild pitch shortly thereafter, which moved the tying run into scoring position, Hubbart wasn’t fazed, striking out the last two hitters as well to nail down the victory.

Fransen (2-2) worked 5.0 innings, allowing two runs on four hits with no walks and eight strikeouts to earn the win. Hubbart went the final 4.0 frames, allowing one hit, no runs, three walks, and striking out five to nail down his second save.

The Tortugas play game two against the Lakeland Flying Tigers on Wednesday night. RHP Kevin Abel (0-0, 5.68) will get the ball for Daytona against Lakeland LHP Jake Miller (1-1, 14.40). Wednesday is Belly Buster Wednesday with all-you-can-eat hot dogs, hamburgers, popcorn, and Marcos Pizza. Gates will open at 5:30 p.m. with first pitch at 6:35 p.m. Pregame on the Tortugas Radio Network 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.