Arias, again! Walk-off HR powers Tortugas

Daytona Beach, FL - Entering the eighth inning trailing 4-2, the Tortugas rallied to even the score and force extra innings, leading to a walk-off homer by CF Junior Arias in the bottom of the 11th. Daytona pulled off a dramatic 5-4 comeback win, and increased its lead to two games in the Florida State League North Division.

The eighth inning rally started with a one-out walk to 2B Carlton Daal. He was the first Tortugas baserunner to reach against Kevin Ziomek since the third inning. Lakeland's starter allowed a pair of runs in the first inning on an RBI triple from 1B Chad Wallach (the second of his career) and a run-scoring single by C Joe Hudson. From there, Ziomek was brilliant, retiring 15 of the next 16 hitters he faced until the walk to Daal.

Meanwhile, Lakeland built a 4-2 lead against RHP Nick Travieso. Ben Verlander lined a solo home run to left field in the second inning, and Raph Rhymes delivered a two-out, bases-loaded double to bring home three runs in the fourth. 

After Daal's free pass in the eighth inning, DH Jon Matthews roped a ground rule double over the head of Raph Rhymes in left field to put two men in scoring position. Arias knocked in one with groundout, and SS Alex Blandino looped a single to right center, scoring Matthews with the tying run. 

The score remained even at 3-3 until the bottom of the 11th, when Arias led off with a homer off Matt Crouse (L, 0-1) who allowed his first run of the season.

Travieso recovered nicely after the rocky fourth, throwing two scoreless innings to get through six frames with four runs allowed on seven hits with a walk and five strikeouts. RHP Jimmy Moran, RHP Nick Howard, RHP Evan Mitchell and LHP Nolan Becker (W, 3-1) combined to throw five two-hit shutout innings with two walks and five strikeouts. 

LHP Amir Garrett will get the start in Tuesday's Game 2 as the Tortugas look to improve on their 15-5 home record.