Pineda’s Slam, Moon’s Big Night Key Back-and-Forth Victory

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla—Esmith Pineda crushed a first-inning grand slam amidst a five-RBI night, Bernard Moon had three hits and two RBI, and the Daytona Tortugas scored twice in the eighth to break a tie after losing a six-run lead, outlasting the St. Lucie Mets 11-9 on Tuesday night at Jackie Robinson Ballpark.

Daytona (16-18) narrowly avoided a second six-run collapse in three games, pounding out 11 hits off St. Lucie (17-17) pitching and striking out 13 Mets hitters to overcome a dozen walks issued.

In the first inning, Daytona rallied against St. Lucie starter Edgar Moreta. Kyle Henley reached on a dropped third strike, then moved to third on a two-out single by Moon. After Duno walked to load the bases, Pineda blasted a 1-0 pitch from Moreta 412 feet to deep left-center, just clearing the wall for a grand slam that put Daytona ahead 4-0.

Daytona starter Juan Martinez dealt with traffic over the first three innings, including needing a double play to work around a two-on, one-out jam in the second. He was able to also navigate a one-out walk in the first and a leadoff hit in the third to work three scoreless innings to begin his night.

In the bottom of the third, Daytona added to the lead. Carlos Sanchez drew a one-out walk, then a throwing error put runners on the corners. Alfredo Duno followed by ripping a double down the left-field line that scored both runners to stretch the lead to 6-0.

In the fourth, though, Daiverson Gutierrez put St. Lucie on the board with a solo homer. In the fifth, Martinez returned, but a single and two walks loaded the bases with no outs, at which point Martinez left for Gabe Starks. Starks admirably limited the damage to just one run on a sacrifice fly, ending the inning with a 6-2 advantage.

The Mets, though, came roaring again in the seventh, as Colin Houck skied a three-run homer over the left-field wall to close the gap to 6-5.

After three quiet innings, though, the Daytona offense woke up again, loading the bases with no outs for Moon, who stroked his third hit of the game, a two-run double to left-center. Two batters later, Pineda lifted a sacrifice fly to restore the four-run cushion on his fifth RBI of the night.

St. Lucie, however, again roared back. St. Lucie sent ten men to the plate in the eighth. After pulling within two on a two-run single by Trey Snyder, bases-loaded walks to Corey Collins and Nick Rosselli pulled the Mets even at 9-9.

The Tortugas, though, had one more rally in them. With one in the eighth, Luis Reyes legged out the first triple of his career to left-center. One pitcher later, Sammy Stafura stroked a go-ahead double to right-center and went to third on an error. Henley then brought him home on an infield single to put Daytona back in front, 11-9.

At that point, Trent Hodgdon (3-1) finally shut down the St. Lucie offense. The Tortugas righty struck out two in a 1-2-3 ninth to nail down an 11-9 win for both him and Daytona in the series opener.

Daytona play game two of their six-game series against the St. Lucie Mets at The Jack on Wednesday night. It will be Belly Buster Wednesday with all-you-can-eat hot dogs, hamburgers, popcorn, and Little Caesars pizza for just a $6 add-on to your ticket. Gates will open at 5:30 p.m. with first pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. Pregame coverage with the Voice of the Tortugas, Brennan Mense, will begin on the Tortugas Radio Network and MiLB.tv at 6:20

Tickets for every Tortugas home game are available on our website, by calling 386-257-3172, or by visiting the Jackie Robinson Ballpark box office at 110 E. Orange Avenue.

ABOUT THE DAYTONA TORTUGAS

The Daytona Tortugas are in their tenth season as the Single-A Affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds and a member of Minor League Baseball’s Florida State League. The Tortugas play at historic Jackie Robinson Ballpark in Daytona Beach, Florida that was recently designated a National Commemorative Site. 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.