Garrett, Elizalde drive Tortugas to victory

3,834 fans enjoy 4-1 Tortugas win and 10-minute fireworks show

By Tyler Murray

July 3, 2015

Daytona Beach, FL - The Daytona Tortugas (42-36, 5-3) completed a three-game sweep of the Lakeland Flying Tigers (35-42, 2-6) with a 4-1 win in front of 3,834 fans on Friday night at Radiology Associates Field at Jackie Robinson Ballpark. The night was capped off with a 10-minute fireworks show to celebrate Fourth of July Weekend.

LHP Amir Garrett (W, 4-5) and DH Sebastian Elizalde were Daytona's difference makers. In a career-high seven innings, Garrett struck out seven hitters while allowing just three singles and two walks. Cincinnati's No. 4 Prospect (according to MiLB.com) has posted a 1.07 ERA in his last five starts.

Garrett did not allow a hit until the fourth inning, when Javier Bentancourt lined a single through the middle. Bentancourt was quickly retired at second as part of a 6-4-3 double play. James was the only batter to reach second base against Garrett, and he got there because of an infield single and a throwing error.

Elizalde knocked in three of Daytona's four runs on three different hits. He singled home 3B Taylor Sparks to make it 1-0 in the first inning, and tripled home Sparks to make it 2-0 in the sixth inning. In the seventh, Elizalde mashed a no-doubt solo homer off the light tower in right field. He finished 3-for-4 and a double shy of the cycle. Sparks went 2-for-4 on the night, and is batting .417 in eight games since the second half started.

C Joe Hudson knocked in another run with an RBI single in the sixth inning, and finished with a pair of hits.

RHP Nick Howard struck out the side in the eighth inning, and RHP Carlos Gonzalez finished the ninth.

The Tortugas were one out away from their second consecutive shutout, but Lakeland scratched across a ninth-inning run when a two-out wild pitch scored Jiwan James from third base.

Daytona hits the road on Saturday for a three-game series against the Tampa Yankees at Steinbrenner Field. RHP Sal Romano is scheduled to take the hill for a 6:00 p.m. ET start. Fans can listen to the action on The Great Voice of Volusia County, AM 1230 and AM 1490 WSBB, starting with the D.B. Pickles Pregame Show at 5:50 p.m. ET.