ST. LUCIE, FL - The Daytona Tortugas lost to the St. Lucie Mets in both games of their double header on Monday night at First Data Field, stranding the tying run in each game. The Tortugas lost game one, a resumption of a game suspended on May 26, 5-4, as
ST. LUCIE, FL - The Daytona Tortugas lost to the St. Lucie Mets in both games of their double header on Monday night at First Data Field, stranding the tying run in each game. The Tortugas lost game one, a resumption of a game suspended on May 26, 5-4, as Ibandel Isabel grounded out with the bases loaded in the ninth. In game two, the Tortugas squandered a 3-0 lead in a 5-3 loss.
After the original game featured two separate rain delays, it was only fitting that the resumption started in a delay lasting over an hour.
Desmond Lindsay kicked off the scoring by hitting a lead-off home run off of LHP Ty Boyles in the top of the fourth. St. Lucie would then load up the bases without any outs, ahead of Dash Winningham, who came up and hit a two-run double, putting the Mets up 3-0, and chasing Boyles from the game. Dan Rizzie hit a sacrifice fly on the first pitch from RHP Alex Webb to make it 4-0, and, two batters later, Jacob Zannon drove in a run with a single to go up 5-0.
The Tortugas would answer with three in the bottom half. After RHP Harol Gonzalez retired the first two of the inning, Narciso Crook extended the frame with a triple. Isabel then followed up the triple with a two-run home run. Brantley Bell hit the first pitch following the homer for a double and came in to score on a Hector Vargas single.
The game would then be suspended following a rain delay in the middle of the fifth, leading to the resumption 16 days later in a different ballpark.
In the bottom of the eighth, Daytona was able to inch within one. Tyler Stephenson led off the inning with a double, moved to third on a wild pitch, and scored on a Bruce Yari ground out to second. Following an Isabel strikeout, the next two Tortugas reached, but on a Taylor Trammell infield single, Brantley Bell over ran third and was caught in a run down to end the threat.
Then, in the bottom of the ninth, Daytona loaded the bases up with two outs, but Isabel grounded out to third to end the threat.
RHP Nicolas Debora (1-0) earned the win in his Advanced-A debut. He tossed 3 ⅓ innings in relief, allowing one run and three hits, while striking out two. Boyles (2-4) took the loss, allowing five runs, five hits, and three walks in three innings. RHP Ezequiel Zabaleta earned his first save of the season by recording the final two outs.
The Tortugas kicked off the scoring in game two, in the top of the third. Bell came up with the bases loaded, and drove in Michael Beltre to put Daytona up, 1-0. Yari then drove in Vargas with a sacrifice fly to left field to make it 2-0. With Stephenson at the plate, Taylor Trammell was picked off of second to end the inning.
In the fourth, Stephenson led off the frame by hitting a solo homer to left, his sixth of the season, putting Daytona up 3-0.
The St. Lucie bats would come alive in the bottom of the fifth. Winningham led the inning off with a single, moved to second on a fielder's choice ground out, and came in to score on a JJ Franco double. Franco would then move to third on a fly out and score on a Gene Cone single to make it 3-2.
The Mets would add three more in the bottom of the sixth against RHP Aaron Fossas to take the lead. Anthony Dimino came up with the bases loaded and drove in the tying run with a fielder's choice groundout to second. Franco then drove in the go-ahead run with a single, and Ian Strom added an insurance run with a run scoring double to go up 5-3.
RHP Gary Cornish (2-5) earned the win. He went six, allowed three hits, three runs, and three walks while striking out six. Fossas (2-1) took the loss in relief. He went 1 ⅓ innings, allowed five hits and three runs. RHP Alex Palsha earned his second save, tossing a scoreless seventh inning.
Daytona and St. Lucie will play another double-header on Tuesday. RHP Tony Santillan (4-4, 3.13 ERA) will be matched up with RHP Michael Gibbons (0-3, 4.50) in game one. In game two, the Tortugas will throw LHP Scott Moss (5-2, 4.70) against RHP Gabriel Llanes (2-6, 5.44).
First pitch Tuesday is scheduled for 4:00 PM, with coverage beginning at 3:45 PM with The Metcare Pregame Show on AM 1230, AM 1490, and FM 106.9 WSBB.
NOTES: Tyler Stephenson's home run was his first in nine days… Taylor Trammell had three hits in game one, his first three hit game since 4/6… Hector Vargas had a season-high three hits in game one… Ty Boyles has now allowed four earned runs in four straight starts… LHP Juan Martinez tossed four-scoreless innings in game one, his longest relief outing of the season… The Tortugas have lost five straight games for the first time in 2018… Daytona is 3-22 when trailing after 6 and 0-21 when trailing after 8… Game two was Daytona's ninth loss this year when entering the final two innings of a game with a lead or tie.
