Six-Run Eighth Inning Propels Tortugas to Victory

DAYTONA BEACH, FL - Daytona scored six runs in the bottom of the eighth inning for a come-from-behind, 8-7, victory against the Florida Fire Frogs Tuesday night at Radiology Associates Field at Jackie Robinson Ballpark. Brantley Bell delivered the winning hit, as RHP Ryan Hendrix pitched a perfect bottom of the ninth to wrap up the comeback.
The Fire Frogs took the lead two pitches into the game, as Cristian Pache hit a solo homer off LHP Wennington Romero for the second time this season. It was the second leadoff homer in Pache's career.
Daytona responded with a run in their half. Randy Ventura led off the inning with an infield single, moved to second on an error, third on a fielder's choice, and came in to score on a sacrifice fly from Tyler Stephenson.
Florida retook the lead in the third. Riley Delgado walked on four pitches with one-out and came around to score from first on a two-out double from Braxton Davidson, his second hit of the night.
The Fire Frogs added two more against Romero the next inning. With two away, Isranel Wilson extended the frame with a single, stole second, and scored on a Marcus Mooney double to make it 3-1. Mooney would then score from first on a Pache triple to make it 4-1.
Daytona would make it 4-2 in the bottom of the fourth. Stuart Fairchild reached on a fielder's choice, and came around from first to score a pitch later on a Michael Beltre double to left.
In the sixth, Wilson scored on a RHP Nick Howard wild pitch to make it 5-2.
Then with one out in the seventh, Brett Cumberland hit a solo home run to center off Howard to make it 6-2. 
Florida added another tally in the run column in the top of the eighth. Jordan Rodgers reached on a Brantley Bell error, stole second, and scored on a single to left by Kurt Hoekstra, making it 7-2.
RHP Mauricio Cabrera came on for the Fire Frogs in the eighth, and walked Taylor Trammell to start the inning. Trammell would move to second on a wild pitch and headed to third after a Stephenson single. With runners on the corners and Ibandel Isabel at the plate, Cabrera uncorked a wild pitch, allowing both runners to move up, making it a 7-3 game. Isabel then walked on four-pitches, before Daniel Sweet drilled a three run homer to right field, his second with the Tortugas, to make it a 7-6 ballgame. 
Cabrera was pulled for RHP Brandon White after allowing all four batters he faced to score. On the second pitch White threw, Fairchild hit a grounder to third, but Rodgers airmailed the throw, allowing the tying run to get all the way to third base. Beltre followed with a game-tying single up the middle to plate Fairchild. Two batters later, Bell came up with the bases loaded and hit a line drive to left, scoring Beltre, to give the Tortugas the 8-7 lead. Daytona sent 11 men to the plate, putting the first nine men on base and scoring six runs.
RHP Michael Byrne (1-0) picked up the win in his second professional appearance. He allowed an unearned run on one hit in one inning with a pair of strikeouts. White (1-1) was handed the loss. He allowed the tying and go-ahead runs on three hits with a walk and a strikeout. Hendrix earned his seventh save, getting the final three outs with a pair of strikeouts.
The Tortugas will look to make it two straight wins on Wednesday when they send LHP Scott Moss (9-2, 3.61 ERA) to the mound against RHP Jeremy Walker (2-8, 4.37 ERA). Moss is 4-0 against the Florida this season and has matched up with Walker three previous times.
First pitch Wednesday is scheduled for 7:05 PM, with coverage beginning at 6:50 PM with The Metcare Pregame Show on AM 1230, AM 1490, and FM 106.9 WSBB.
NOTES: The Tortugas are now 3-21 when trailing after seven innings and 29-0 when leading after 8… RHP Michael Byrne becomes the 16th different pitcher to earn a win for Daytona this season… RHP Ryan Hendrix converted his seventh straight save opportunity. He has 53 strikeouts in 35 ⅔ innings with Daytona… LHP Wennington Romero allowed 5 runs (4 earned) in 5 ⅓ innings tonight. He had allowed just 2 earned runs in 18 ⅔ innings against the Fire Frogs in three previous starts… Brantley Bell is 6-for-9 with the bases loaded this season with 13 RBIs after his game-winning single in the eighth… Daniel Sweet hit a three-run homer, his first home run since 4/14. It is the first time he has driven in 3 runs in a game since 4/27/17… Michael Beltre finished 3-for-4 with 2 RBIs. It is his second multi-hit game and first multi-RBI game with Daytona… Tyler Stephenson recorded his 16th multi-hit effort… Stuart Fairchild snapped an 0-for-19 stretch with a second inning single, his first hit in his first at-bat of a game as a Tortuga. He finished 2-for-4, recording his second multi-hit game with Daytona… Alberti Chavez is 1-for-his-last-26 (.038) at the plate after starting after starting 5-for-13 (.385).