Martinez Shines in Relief, but Tortugas Quiet in 4-0 Defeat

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla—Tortugas reliever Juan Martinez dazzled on the mound, but an opening night crowd of 2,730 was kept quiet most of the night as the Daytona Tortugas were held to just three hits as they fell to the Palm Beach Cardinals 4-0 on Tuesday night at Jackie Robinson Ballpark.

Palm Beach (3-1) struck out 16 Daytona batters as the Tortugas (2-2) were able to advance just one batter past second base in the contest.

After both starters fired a scoreless first inning, Palm Beach took the lead in the top of the second against Daytona starter Ben Brutti. Two singles to right began the inning before a walk loaded the bases with nobody out. Brutti then picked up a strikeout, but Lizandro Espinoza sliced the first pitch he saw down the right-field line for a two-run double. Brutti settled down and struck out the next two men with a pair of runners in scoring position, but the Cardinals had a 2-0 lead.

Daytona mounted a threat in the second against Juan Salas as Dominic Pitelli singled with one out and stole second before a two-out walk to Connor Burns put a second runner aboard. Trey Faltine followed and scalded a line drive, but it was caught at third base to end the inning.

Brutti returned and struck out two in a 1-2-3 third, but in the fourth, Palm Beach’s Kade Kretzschmar led off the inning with a long home run to right. Two batters later, Brutti was lifted for Gabe Starks with Daytona now trailing 3-0.

Starks induced a double play to end the fourth, but in the fifth he was touched up for another run. Ahari Grant led off with the double, moved to third on a wild pitch, then crossed the plate on a passed ball to push the Palm Beach advantage to 4-0.

Martinez entered the game for Daytona in the sixth and worked around a leadoff hit. He allowed two more hits in the seventh, but a caught stealing softened the blow in the frame. Martinez caught fire to end his outing, firing 1-2-3 eighth and ninth innings. More notably, the righty struck out six batters in a row from the seventh through nine frames, ending his night by striking out seven and issuing no walks over 4.0 scoreless innings.

On the other hand, the Tortugas offense struggled throughout the contest. Palm Beach starter Salas retired his final ten batters after the second inning threat, spinning 5.0 innings of one-hit ball with eight strikeouts.

Daytona put two on in the sixth with a pair of walks, only for a double play to end the inning. The Tortugas’ final chance came when they loaded the bases on a walk, single, and hit batter, only for a strikeout to end the inning.

The Tortugas will play game two of a six-game series against the Palm Beach Cardinals on Wednesday night. Daytona will start RHP Jose Franco against Palm Beach RHP Darlin Saladin. Tomorrow is our first Belly Buster Wednesday with all-you-care-to-eat hot dogs, hamburgers, popcorn, and Little Caesars Pizza beginning at just $17, plus the debut of Wine and Whiskey Wednesdays with specials on both beverages. First pitch from Jackie Robinson Ballpark is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. with gates opening at 5:30. Pregame coverage on the Tortugas Radio network with Brennan Mense begins at 6:20 p.m.