Davies’ Go-Ahead Blast Pushes Tortugas Past Mets, Magic Number to Two

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Drew Davies broke a 5-5 tie with a go-ahead solo home run in the seventh inning as the Daytona Tortugas rallied from four runs down to defeat the St. Lucie Mets, 6-5, on Friday night at Jackie Robinson Ballpark.

Daytona erased a 4-0 deficit with a five-run fifth before Davies answered St. Lucie's game-tying run with his seventh homer of the season. The victory moved the Tortugas to 35-22 in the second half and dropped their magic number to clinch the Florida State League East second-half championship to two. A Daytona victory and Palm Beach loss on Saturday would clinch the division for the Tortugas.

The Rundown

St. Lucie jumped in front against Ryjeteri Merite in the first inning. Jake Ogden singled, stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch before Kuhio Aloy walked and stole second. With two outs, Yovanny Rodriguez singled through the right side to bring home both runners and give the Mets a 2-0 advantage.

Merite worked around a two-out single in the second before Justin Henschel took over to begin the third. Ogden greeted him with a single and Ryan Tayman was hit by a pitch before Aloy walked to load the bases with nobody out. Rodriguez followed with a sacrifice fly to make it 3-0, but Henschel induced Julio Zayas into an inning-ending double play to limit the damage.

The Mets added another run in the fourth when Branny De Oleo hit a one-out solo home run to left field, extending St. Lucie's lead to 4-0.

Daytona had just three hits through the first four innings before the offense erupted in the fifth.

Rafhlmil Torres opened the rally with a single and Ichiro Cano walked before a wild pitch moved both into scoring position. After a strikeout, Sherman Johnson delivered a two-run single into left-center field to cut the deficit in half.

Steele Hall followed with a single to put two aboard before another wild pitch moved both runners up. Mulivai Levu then singled through the right side to score Johnson and Hall, tying the game at four. Levu advanced to second on an error before Arnaldo Lantigua capped the five-run frame with an RBI single to right, giving Daytona its first lead of the night, 5-4.

Henschel protected the lead in the sixth despite another St. Lucie threat. De Oleo was hit by a pitch and Wyatt Vincent reached on a fielder's choice before Vladi Gomez singled to put runners at the corners. Henschel escaped when Ogden lined out to right field.

St. Lucie finally pulled even in the seventh. Tayman led off with a double to center and Aloy followed with an infield single. After Rodriguez popped out, a passed ball allowed Tayman to score from third and tie the game, 5-5. Henschel responded by striking out Zayas before inducing Dylan Carey into an inning-ending groundout.

The tie lasted exactly one pitch. Davies stepped to the plate to lead off the bottom of the seventh and jumped on the first pitch he saw from Brett Banks, driving it over the right-field wall for his seventh home run of the season. The solo shot immediately restored Daytona's lead at 6-5.

Jesus Colina took over in the eighth and slammed the door. The right-hander struck out the first two hitters he faced before working around a two-out walk and stolen base to preserve the one-run advantage.

Colina returned for the ninth and made quick work of the middle of the Mets order. Tayman lined out to Johnson, Aloy popped out in foul territory and Rodriguez grounded out to Hall to complete two hitless innings and secure Colina's third Single-A save.

Stat of the Game

2 — Daytona's magic number to clinch the Florida State League East second-half championship is down to two. A Tortugas win and Palm Beach loss on Saturday would clinch the division.

Notes

• Daytona improved to 56-67 overall and 35-22 in the second half.
• The Tortugas improved to 15-10 in August.
• Daytona improved to 8-13 on Fridays.
• The six-game series is tied, 2-2.
• The Tortugas are 9-13 against St. Lucie this season.
• Daytona improved to 37-27 at Jackie Robinson Ballpark.
• The Tortugas improved to 44-47 in night games.
• Daytona improved to 42-53 against right-handed starters.
• The Tortugas improved to 41-3 when leading after seven innings.
• Daytona improved to 20-13 in one-run games.
• The Tortugas recorded their 27th comeback victory of the season.
• Daytona improved to 40-23 when hitting a home run.
• The Tortugas improved to 49-17 when scoring five or more runs.
• Daytona improved to 41-4 when outhitting its opponent.
• Daytona's magic number to clinch the FSL East second-half championship dropped to two.
• The Tortugas can clinch the FSL East second-half championship Saturday with a Daytona win and Palm Beach loss.
• Davies hit his seventh home run of the season to break a 5-5 tie in the seventh inning.
• Johnson recorded his third multi-hit game of the season.
• Johnson tied his career high with two hits for the third time and first since Aug. 25 against St. Lucie.
• Johnson recorded the first multi-RBI game of his professional career.
• Johnson established a new career high with two RBI.
• Hall recorded his third multi-hit game of the season.
• Lantigua recorded his 20th multi-hit game of the season.
• Lantigua recorded his 17th two-hit game of the season.
• Levu recorded his third multi-RBI game of the season.
• Levu recorded his second two-RBI game of the season.
• Colina extended his scoreless-inning streak to a season-high 3.0 innings.
• Colina extended his scoreless-outing streak to two appearances.
• Levu extended his hitting streak to four games.
• Cano extended his on-base streak to 16 games.
• Sanchez extended his on-base streak to four games.

Up Next

The Tortugas continue their six-game series against the St. Lucie Mets on Saturday, August 29 at Jackie Robinson Ballpark with an opportunity to clinch the FSL East second-half championship. Daytona can secure the division with a victory and a Palm Beach loss. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. ET.