Tortugas Bounce Back to Blank Birds, 2-0

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla—One night after being shutout, the Daytona Tortugas flipped the script on Saturday night, defeating the Palm Beach Cardinals 2-0 at Jackie Robinson Ballpark.

Daytona (4-4) held Palm Beach (5-3) to just four hits in earning their second shutout victory of the season, overcoming a strong 6.0-inning start from Palm Beach’s Chen-Wei Lin.

After a 1-2-3 first inning by Daytona starter Adam Serwinowski, the Tortugas got on the board right away against Lin. Carlos Sanchez led off with a walk and promptly stole second. A groundout moved him to third before Dominic Pitelli rolled a soft bouncer back to the mound. Sanchez broke home, but Lin elected for the out at first as Sanchez slid home safely for a 1-0 lead.

Serwinowski was sharp afterwards, allowing just a two-out infield hit in the second before erasing a third-inning walk on a caught stealing.

The left-hander saved his best work for the fourth, when he allowed a leadoff double, but then struck out the next three batters to finish his outing, in which he went 4.0 scoreless innings, allowing two hits and a walk while striking out six.

He handed off the lead to Anyer Laureano who promptly threw a 1-2-3 fifth frame. After seeing a first-and-third, one-out chance go up in smoke thanks to a double play in the fourth, Daytona was able to extend the lead against Lin in the fifth. With one out, Jack Moss sliced a line drive down the left field that landed just out of the reach of a sliding Kade Kretzschmar. By the time he corralled the ball, Moss had slid into third with a triple. Three pitches later, Lin uncorked a wild pitch to score Moss to put Daytona in front 2-0.

Laureano returned for the sixth and struck out the first two batters of the inning. However, the right-hander wobbled as he walked the next two men, then fell behind Kretzschmar 2-0. Laureano (1-1) was able to execute when it mattered, though, inducing a tapper back to the mound to end the inning and his 2.0 scoreless innings that put him in line for the win.

Nestor Lorant was next out of the bullpen in the seventh and he was greeted by a bunt single on his first pitch. However, he retired the next three hitters to end the inning. In the eighth, a leadoff double began the frame, but once more, Lorant retired the next three to put a zero on the board.

The ninth inning saw no such drama as Lorant set down the side 1-2-3 with two strikeouts, earning his first professional save with a 3.0-inning effort in which he struck out four, nailing down a 2-0 win.

The Tortugas will finish the series against the Palm Beach Cardinals on Sunday evening. Daytona will start RHP Juan Martinez (0-0, 0.00) against Palm Beach RHP Jose Davila (0-0, 0.00). Tomorrow will be our first Shelldon’s Family Fun Day with Sunday ticket specials for the whole family, Plus, tomorrow is our first Kids Run the Bases sponsored by Neighbors Ice Cream. First pitch is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. with gates opening at 4:00. Pregame coverage on the Tortugas Radio network with Brennan Mense begins at 4:45 p.m.