Longballs, Clutch Hits Help 'Tugas Erase Five-Run Deficit to Move to 5-0

DAYTONA BEACH—Hector Rodriguez and Wendell Marrero homered and Ariel Almonte drove in three runs to spearhead a comeback effort as the Daytona Tortugas rallied from five runs down to swipe a 9-6 win over the Palm Beach Cardinals on Wednesday night at Jackie Robinson Ballpark.

Daytona (5-0) won their eighth straight game dating back to the end of last season while continuing their perfect start. Palm Beach (1-4) now has dropped four straight after winning their season opener.

After both pitchers threw 1-2-3 first innings, Palm Beach touched up Daytona starter Rob Hensey in the second, With one out, a walk was followed by an RBI triple from Won-Bin Cho, who then scored on an RBI single from Michael Curialle to put the Cardinals ahead 2-0.

An inning later, Palm Beach added on. With two outs, an infield single extended the inning for Leonardo Bernal, who ripped a two-run homer over the left field wall. That chased Hensey, who gave way to Jean Correa. Correa, though, was greeted by a solo homer from Joshua Baez to left-center that put Palm Beach ahead 5-0.

In the bottom of the third, though, the Tortugas began a comeback bid. Cardinals starter Joseph King retired the first eight batters he faced, but Marrero ended that string with a solo home run to left to put Daytona on the board.

An inning later, Rodriguez cut the deficit in half. Following a leadoff walk, Rodriguez drilled a 392-foot laser off the manual scoreboard in left field for a two-run shot, trimming the deficit to 5-3.

Correa held the line through scoreless fourth and fifth innings before handing off the ball to Arij Fransen, who kicked off a strong outing with a 1-2-3 sixth. In the bottom of the inning, the comeback effort kicked in to high gear.

After Sal Stewart drew a leadoff walk, Cade Hunter ripped a one-out double down the right field line to pull Daytona within a run. That merely set the stage for the seventh.

With one out, Leonardo Balcazar and Rodriguez walked and a wild pitch moved them both into scoring position. Stewart then lifted a sac fly to right, tying the game. One batter later, Almonte put the ‘Tugas in front, doubling to left-center. Victor Acosta then came to the plate as a pinch hitter and tripled to right-center—his second in as any many nights—which made it 7-5, Daytona.

Fransen, who went 3.0 innings striking out four and allowing just two hits and no walks to earn the victory, polished off his third scoreless frame in the eighth before the Tortugas tacked on some insurance. Two walks and a hit batter loaded the bases. After a flyout double play threatened to derail the inning, another walk, the 11^th of the night for Daytona, re-loaded the bases for Almonte, who ripped a two-run single up the middle to extend the lead to four runs.

Those insurance runs proved fortunate, as Palm Beach scored a run in the ninth and brought the tying run to the plate against Zach Maxwell. However, Chris Rotondo popped up to first to end the game, sending Daytona to 5-0 with a 9-6 victory.

Daytona play game two of the series on Thursday night at Jackie Robinson Ballpark against Palm Beach at 6:35 p.m. Tomorrow will be the our first Thirsty Thursday with $1 and $2 beer and soft drink specials. RHP Lyon Richardson (0-0, 0.00) will take the hill for the Tortugas against LHP Brycen Mautz (1-0, 1.80) for Palm Beach. The Voice of the Tortugas, Brennan Mense, will have pregame coverage on the Daytona Tortugas Radio Network beginning at 6:20

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