Win Streak Snapped as Jupiter Wins Pitcher's Duel

JUPITER, FL—Tanner Cooper and Ryan Cardona combined to allow just six hits, but the Jupiter Hammerheads scored twice in the fourth inning and made it hold up as they defeated the Daytona Tortugas 2-1 on Tuesday night at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium.

Jupiter (19-15) improved to a league-best 8-1 in one-run contests as Daytona’s (14-20) five-game winning streak came to an end as the Tortugas struck out a season-high 16 times.

The first three innings flew by as neither pitcher allowed a run. Daytona starter Cooper walked Javier Sanoja in the first, but Logan Tanner threw him out trying to steal second, allowing Cooper to face the minimum over three hitless innings.

On the other side, rehabbing Triple-A veteran Enmanuel De Jesus got the ball for Jupiter and allowed just a pair of infield singles over the first three innings.

In the fourth, though, the Hammerheads got to Cooper. With one out, Cooper surrendered back-to-back singles. Jorge Caballero followed with a line drive to right, but Malvin Valdez couldn’t catch the liner while battling the sun, which went for an RBI double. Brett Roberts followed with a sacrifice fly to center that put Jupiter ahead 2-0.

De Jesus continued to deal, brushing aside a leadoff single in a scoreless fifth. After allowing a one-out double in the sixth to Carlos Jorge, though, he departed for Breidy Encarnacion. Jorge promptly stole third base. After a walk, Cam Collier lifted a sacrifice fly to bring home Jorge, trimming the deficit to 2-1.

Rodriguez (1-0) worked 5.1 innings, allowing one run on four hits with eight strikeouts and no walks.

After Cooper (1-1) finished a season-high 5.0 innings of two-run ball, Jupiter threatened to pull away, putting two on with no outs in both the sixth and seventh innings against Cardona. However, both times the right-hander pulled an escape act, retiring the next three hitters to turn in scoreless innings.

Daytona, though, couldn’t come up with the equalizer. Victor Acosta singled with one out in the seventh and stole second, but Encarnacion responded by striking out the next five batters through the end of the eighth inning.

Josh White came out of the bullpen and threw a 1-2-3 ninth with a pair of punchouts, including winning a 13-pitch battle with a strikeout of Logan Tanner for the second out. One more strikeout gave the Hammerheads the 2-1 victory

The Tortugas will play game two in Jupiter on Wednesday night. LHP Bryce Hubbart (0-0, 4.50) gets the ball for Daytona against RHP Cole Kirschsieper (4-1, 3.86). First pitch is at 6:30 with pregame on the Tortugas Radio Network and Bally Live with the Voice of the Tortugas Brennan Mense at 6:15 from Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium.

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.