Daytona Tromps Brevard 9-2

Daytona Beach, FL- Chadwick Tromp's first home run of the year put the Tortugas ahead for good in their 9-2 win over the Brevard County Manatees Wednesday night at Radiology Associates Field at Jackie Robinson Ballpark. Daytona scored six runs in the eighth inning to put away their second consecutive victory against their rivals.

Brevard struck first in the top of the first, rallying off three consecutive singles against RHP Keury Mella with Dustin DeMuth driving in the run on a base hit to center. Mella would settle down, allowing four hits over his final seven innings.

Daytona would take the lead in the second inning on RHP Jon Perrin. Chadwick Tromp started the scoring with his first of four RBI on the night, singling to left field. Garrett Boulware followed with a single to left field as well, giving Daytona the 2-1 lead.

Brevard would get back on the board against Mella in the fifth, when Johnny Davis singled home Greg McCall on a base hit to center. The damage could've been worse, if Reynoso didn't throw out his second runner of the night, this time at the plate, on the play.

The game remained knotted at two until the seventh, when Tromp greeted RHP Kender Villegas with a first pitch home run deep to left field. It was Tromp's first home run since 2014.

With Mella dealing, Daytona was able to break the game open in the eighth. The Tortugas sent 11 men to the plate, scoring six of them, against two Brevard relievers. Blake Butler commenced the onslaught with an RBI single to left field. He was the final batter Villegas would face, as LHP Brad Kuntz would come on and allow the first five batters he faced to get on base.

Up 4-2, Tromp, Boulware and Reynoso all hammered consecutive RBI doubles against the southpaw. The final run of the frame came two batters later, when Trahan singled to centerfield, his second hit of the inning.

Mella (2-4) tossed eight innings in the win, striking out a season-high eight. Villegas (1-4) took the loss in relief, allowing four runs and five hits in 1 2/3 innings. LHP Brennan Bernardino closed things out with a scoreless ninth for Daytona.

The two rivals will wrap up the four game series Thursday night at Radiology Associates Field at Jackie Robinson Ballpark. LHP Seth Varner (2-0, 2.66) gets the ball for Daytona against RHP Eric Hanhold (0-4, 3.13). First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PM with the Chili's pre-game show beginning at 6:50 PM on AM 1230 and AM 1490 WSBB.

Notes: Mella became the first Tortuga starter to go eight innings in 89 games (7/9/15)…The eight innings were a career-high for Mella, who struck out eight batters for the fifth time in his career. Wednesday is tied for the fifth highest strikeout performance in his career…Tromp drove in a career-high four runs for the second time in his career and the first since 2014. It was also his first three hit game of the season…Daytona tied their season-high with 14 hits, also done at The Jack two home games ago.