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Tortugas walk it off in Little League fashion

Reds No. 9 prospect Cabrera circles bases in atypical manner
@benweinrib
April 25, 2024

The Daytona Tortugas seem to have a knack for walk-off hits. Two of their three home wins this season have been of that variety. But it's going to be difficult to top the way Cincinnati's Single-A pulled off Wednesday night's 5-4 win at Jackie Robinson Ballpark.

The Daytona Tortugas seem to have a knack for walk-off hits. Two of their three home wins this season have been of that variety.

But it's going to be difficult to top the way Cincinnati's Single-A pulled off Wednesday night's 5-4 win at Jackie Robinson Ballpark.

Down a run with one out in the ninth inning against the St. Lucie Mets, Ricardo Cabrera delivered what could be best described as a Little League home run that nearly ended the rally before he could toss off his helmet by home plate with the winning run.

The Reds' No. 9 prospect was 0-for-4 heading into the fateful at-bat and battled to a 1-1 count against left-handed Mets prospect Ryan Ammons with runners on first and second. The Venezuela native crushed a ball into the right-center gap for a double, easily plating the tying run.

But the potential winning run was another matter. Malvin Valdez was thrown out trying to score from first on an excellent relay throw from Colin Houck (NYM No. 7). But Cabrera's heads-up baserunning kept the play alive.

With catcher Vincent Perozo sprawled on the ground and focused on the home plate umpire Kameron Jones' ardent out call, he didn't see Cabrera advancing to third. When he did, he made an off-balance throw that went into left field.

Cabrera immediately capitalized on the situation, and he tossed off his helmet and started celebrating after taking a few steps off the third-base bag. His Tortugas teammates had a water cooler ready to dump on him after he crossed home plate to celebrate their wackiest 24 seconds of the season -- so far.

Ben Weinrib is a contributor for MiLB.com.