Mark Makes Daytona Pay-ton in 3-1 Loss

Daytona has lost first five games of road trip

By Cory Nidoh

April 23, 2016

Tampa, FL - Mark Payton's three run home run proved the difference in the Tampa Yankees 3-1 win over the Daytona Tortugas Saturday night at Steinbrenner Field. Daytona scored their first run in 20 innings, but only pushed across the single tally in their fifth consecutive defeat.

Jonathan Reynoso plated the lone Daytona run with a two-out hit to right field, scoring Brian O'Grady. The run-scoring hit snapped a streak of 20 consecutive scoreless innings for the Tortugas and 16 consecutive hitless at-bats with men in scoring position. However, that was all Daytona was able to produce against Tampa starter LHP Ian Clarkin (2-1), who went a career-high 7 2/3 innings.

Daytona's starter RHP Tyler Mahle (1-1) pitched well in comparison. Aside from the three-run homer to Payton in the second inning, the righty settled in and faced the minimum in his last four innings of work, allowing one other hit and striking out eight.

After recording three hits in their first nine batters, Daytona scratched for base runners the rest of the way. The Tortugas had just two hits and six base runners in their last 26 plate appearances to end the game.

With the loss, it ties a season-high losing streak and extends their road losest streak to nine games, tying the longest in the Tortuga history. Daytona set the mark last year, dropping nine consecutive away from Jackie Robinson Ballpark from June 15-June 27.

The Tortugas look to salvage the road trip with a win tomorrow in Tampa with first pitch scheduled for 1:00 PM. RHP Keury Mella (0-3, 3.68 ERA) will get the start for Daytona while RHP Chace Adams (1-0, 7.84 ERA) goes for Tampa. Coverage will begin with the Chili's pregame show beginning at 12:50 PM on AM 1230 and AM 1490 WSBB.

Notes: It's already Daytona's second five-game losing streak (4/11-15)…Daytona has four runs, 23 hits, and 35 strikeouts during their five-game losing streak, getting outscored 16-4…Daytona held their first lead Saturday in 35 innings, giving it away two outs into the next half inning.