Tortugas Lose a Pair of Extra Inning Games Monday

DAYTONA BEACH, FL - The Daytona Tortugas were swept by the Fire Frogs in their doubleheader at Radiology Associates Field at Jackie Robinson Ballpark on Monday night, losing game one, 3-1, in nine innings and game two, 2-1, in eight innings. Daytona took a perfect game into the ninth innning in the first leg, falling a run short of the second perfect game In their franchise history.
RHP Tejay Antone threw seven perfect innings in game one, retiring all 21 hitters he faced, but the game remained scoreless at the end of regulation.
RHP Joel Kuhnel tossed a perfect top of the eighth, stranding the placed runner at second, to keep the perfecto in tact.
The Fire Frogs led off the top of the ninth with a single off of Kuhnel to end Daytona's bid for perfection. The placed runner, Jared James, reached third and Kurt Hoekstra reached first. Kevin Josephina followed that up with an RBI single to score James and give Florida a 1-0 lead. After a sacrifice bunt moved the runners into scoring position, the Tortugas walked Cristian Pache to load the bases. Isranel Wilson and Brett Cumberland then hit back-to-back bases loaded singles to put Florida up 3-0.
In the bottom of the ninth, Daytona got on the board, but left the tying run on base. Ibandel Isabel drove in Taylor Trammell, the placed runner, with a single to make it a 3-1 game. Then, with runners on first and second, Michael Beltre struck out to end the game.
LHP Thomas Burrows (5-2) earned the win in relief. He allowed an unearned run on one hit with two strikeouts in 2 ⅓ innings pitched. He also struck out five. Kuhnel (0-2) took the loss, allowing three runs (two earned) on four hits in two innings with a walk and three strikeouts.
The Fire Frogs did not waste any time getting in the hit column in game two. Pache led off the game with a single, moved to second on a bunt single from Wilson, and came into score on a Braxton Davidson single to right field for a 1-0 lead after a half inning.
It would take Daytona until the final half inning to score their initial run. Trammell reached to start the inning on an error, then stole second to put the tying run in scoring position. Isabel then blooped a fly ball down the right field line to score Trammell from second and tie the game at one.
In the top of the eighth, the placed runner Davidson moved to second on a fielder's choice, then came into score on a Josephina single to take a 2-1 lead.
In the bottom of the eighth, the Tortugas got the placed runner to third, but left him stranded there.
LHP Kyle Muller (4-1) earned the win. He allowed an unearned run on five hits in seven innings with a season-high 12 punchouts. RHP Brian Hunter (1-1) took the loss after allowing the placed runner to score in the eighth. In two innings, he allowed just an unearned run on two hits with two walks and three strikeouts. RHP Josh Graham pitched a perfect bottom of the eighth to notch his first save.
Daytona and Florida will play the middle game of this five game series tuesday, with LHP Wennington Romero (8-4, 3.80 ERA) on the mound for Daytona against LHP Jon Kennedy (5-4, 2.16 ERA).
First pitch Tuesday is scheduled for 7:05 PM, with coverage beginning at 6:45 PM with The Metcare Pregame Show on AM 1230, AM 1490, and FM 106.9 WSBB.
NOTES: The Tortugas fall to 4-8 in extra innings this season, and 0-4 when a game goes to a second extra frame. It's the most extra inning losses in the FSL… This is Daytona's first time losing back-to-back games verse the Fire Frogs this season. They are 11-4 against Florida, with 5 of the 15 games reaching extra frames… The eight combined perfect innings is the longest into a game Daytona has taken a no-hit bid this season. They have taken a no-hitter into the sixth four times this year, with three coming against the Fire Frogs… Ibandel Isabel drove in both Tortuga runs. He now has a team-high 46 RBIs, despite playing the first two weeks this season in the Dodgers system… Taylor Trammell had two hits in game one. He has a team best 21 multi-hit games. His home on-base streak came to an end in game two at 26 games… Randy Ventura had two hits in game two. He has 5 multi-hit efforts with Daytona… RHP Tejay Antone has allowed just one run in 14 innings against Florida this season.