Early Lead Evaporates as Tortugas Fall on Saturday Night

JUPITER, FL—Joseph Menefee threw 3.0 scoreless innings and Sal Stewart and Carlos Jorge both logged multi-hit nights, but the Daytona Tortugas let a 4-0 lead slip away as the Palm Beach Cardinals secured a series victory with a 13-5 win on Saturday night at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium.

Palm Beach (15-11) scored all of their runs in the middle three innings, overcoming six errors to defeat Daytona (9-17), who allowed a season-high 13 runs as they drop their fourth series in a row.

In the first, Daytona took an early lead, thanks to some help. With one out, Jorge walked and Stewart singled. After Jorge was caught stealing, a throwing error brought home Stewart with Daytona’s first run. The Tortugas then loaded the bases on two walks, but Brycen Mautz induced a flyout to limit the damage to one run.

On the other side, Johnathan Harmon mowed through the first three innings, striking out four without allowing a hit.

In the top of the fourth, Daytona took advantage of shoddy defense from Palm Beach to extend the lead. Two singles set the stage for Jorge, who dropped a single to right to score a run. However, an errant throw on the play allowed Malvin Valdez to score. One batter later, another error allowed Jorge to scamper home, putting Daytona ahead 4-0.

At that point, though, the entire game shifted 180 degrees in favor of Palm Beach.

In the fourth, the Cardinals struck for four runs on three hits, with a couple of walks and a Daytona error adding fuel to the fire. The rally tied the game at four, though the Cardinals were far from done.

In the fifth, the first four batters reached for Palm Beach, with R.J. Yeager ripping an RBI single. He came home with two others on a three-run triple for Lizandro Espinoza to put Palm Beach ahead 8-4.

Palm Beach put together another huge inning in the sixth as the first six hitters in the inning reached, five of whom scored. The rally was capped off by Yeager, who pulled a line-drive off the left-field foul pole for a grand slam, which put Palm Beach ahead 13-4.

At that point, Menefee came in and threw 3.0 scoreless innings, striking out a career-high five batters in the process as he shut down the Cardinal offense.

Palm Beach did commit two more errors in the ninth, their fifth and sixth of the game, to allow a run to score for Daytona, but the Cardinals cruised to a 13-5 victory.

The Tortugas will finish the series against the Palm Beach Cardinals at noon on Sunday afternoon. Daytona will send RHP Kenya Huggins (0-1, 11.74) while Palm Beach counters with RHP Cade Winquest (1-1, 3.95). Pregame on the Tortugas Radio Network and Bally Live with the Voice of the Tortugas Brennan Mense at 5:45 from Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium in Jupiter.

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 Ballpark Museum, and many community events and initiatives of all sizes throughout the year.