Tortugas Double Their Way to 5-4 Victory

KISSIMMEE, FL - The Tortugas matched their season high with four doubles in their 5-4 victory over the Florida Fire Frogs Saturday afternoon at Osceola County Stadium. The four doubles led to all five Tortuga runs, as Daytona improved to 8-2 against the Fire Frogs this season.
Just like the first two games, Florida got on the board first in Saturday's contest as well. With two-outs in the home half of the first, Brett Cumberland hit a solo home run off of LHP Scott Moss to center field to go up 1-0. It was the eighth homer surrendered by Moss this season, the third most in the league.
With two outs in in the top of the third, Hector Vargas extended the inning with a single and came around to score from first on a Taylor Trammell double in to the left field corner, tying the score at one.
The Tortugas would take their first lead an inning later. Bruce Yari hit a two-out double, then moved to third on a Daniel Sweet ground out. With Yari at third, Brantley Bell drew a four-pitch walk to put runners on the corners. Randy Ventura then laced his second hit of the day into left field for the 2-1 Tortuga advantage.
Florida tied the game back up at two in the bottom of the fifth. Ray-Patrick Didder led the inning off with a single, then stole second and moved to third on a Morgan Lofstrom throwing error.  With Didder on third, Jordan Rodgers hit a grounder back to Moss, who tried to throw behind the runner at third, but ended up throwing the ball away, allowing Didder to score the tying run.
In the top of the sixth, Daytona would take the lead for good. After Stuart Fairchild struck out to start the frame, Bruce Yari reached second on a two-base throwing error from Rodgers at second. Sweet followed with an RBI double to put the Tortugas back in front, 3-2. It was Sweet's first RBI with Daytona since May 4^t.
Bell then reached on a dropped third strike and stole second base, putting two in scoring position. Lofstrom stepped up to the plate and brought both runners in with a double laced into the right field corner, putting the Tortugas up 5-2.
The Fire Frogs wouldn't go away quietly, making things interesting in the eighth. Braxton Davidson led off the frame with a four-pitch walk, then stayed at first as LHP Juan Martinez retired the next two hitters in order.  
But with two away, Didder came through with a run scoring triple, driving in Davidson from first to make it a two-run game. Martinez was then pulled for RHP Brian Hunter who gave up an infield single to Rodgers, scoring Didder from third to make it 5-4. Rodgers then stole second, putting the tying run in scoring position, before Hunter was able to get Lucas Herbert to fly out to right to end the threat.
Moss (7-2) tied the Florida State League lead with his seventh victory. He allowed seven hits and two runs (one earned) in 5 ⅔ innings, while striking out two. RHP Jeremy Walker (2-7) tied the league lead with his seventh loss. He gave up eight hits and five runs (two earned) in six innings, while walking one and striking out six. RHP Joel Kuhnel earned his tenth save of the year, second most in the league, after pitching a scoreless bottom of the ninth with a walk.
The Tortugas will go for the series victory Sunday morning with RHP Tommy Bergjans (0-0, 3.72 ERA) on the mound against LHP Tucker Davidson (4-5, 4.68 ERA).
First pitch is scheduled for 11 AM on AM 1230, AM 1490, and FM 106.9 WSBB.
NOTES: The Tortugas improved to 32-1 when leading after six innings and 22-0 when leading after eight… Daytona committed two more errors Saturday. They have committed 23 errors in 21 June games, allowing 15 unearned runs. They are 4-12 when committing 2+ errors… The Tortugas had 4 doubles in a game for the third time this season, first since 4/27 at Fort Myers… Randy Ventura started at second base for the Tortugas.  It was the first time in 242 minor league games he started in the infield. He finished the day 3-for-4, recording his first three-hit game of 2018 against many of his former teammates… Brantley Bell stole a pair of bases for the seventh time in his career, and first since 7/24/17. He becomes the third Tortuga with a multiple steals in a game this season… Taylor Trammell extended his team-best hitting streak to 9 games with a third inning double. He is just one game shy of tying his season-long hitting streak… Joel Kuhnel has recorded 10 straight saves after blowing his first two chances this season.