'Tugas opener in Bradenton suspended after four innings

BRADENTON, Fla. - After a 50-minute delay due to lightning and inclement weather, Tuesday’s evening’s contest between the Daytona Tortugas and Bradenton Marauders was suspended after the conclusion of the fourth inning. The contest will resume in the top of the fifth at 5 p.m. on Wednesday with the game tied at two. Wednesday’s scheduled ballgame will be a seven-inning affair that starts roughly 35 minutes after the initial game’s completion.

Daytona (13-17) started the contest strong, as CF Allan Cerda (1-2, R, 2B, SO) doubled and 1B Míchel Triana (1-2) singled to begin the top of the first. DH Garrett Wolforth (1-1, R, RBI) followed with a sacrifice fly to left, giving the Tortugas an early, 1-0, lead.

In the third, Bradenton (19-11) mustered a rally to take the lead. Trailing a one-out walk to RF Jasiah Dixon (0-1, R, BB, SO), 2B Yoyner Fajardo (1-1, R, 3B, RBI) scalded a triple down the right-field line. Dixon blazed around from first to tie the game at one. Two batters later, C Endy Rodríguez (1-2, 2B, RBI, SO) put the Marauders in front, 2-1, with an RBI double to right.

The lead was short-lived, as the ‘Tugas rallied to draw even in the top of the fourth. Wolforth singled to left and took second on a fielding error to begin the attack. C Daniel Vellojín (1-2, 2B, RBI) promptly knotted the ballgame at two with a run-producing ground-rule double to right.

Bradenton never took the field for the top of the fifth, due to lightning strikes around the ballpark. Following a 50-minute halt, the contest was officially suspended.

RHP Jason Parker (4.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 5 SO) faired well outside of a bumpy third inning. The Tortugas’ 23-year-old punched out five over four innings of work.

His counterpart, Bradenton’s RHP Luis Ortiz (4.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, ER, 2 BB, 6 SO), whiffed six over four before mother nature brought the game to a halt.

In the seven-inning nightcap on Wednesday, Daytona is expected to hand the ball to LHP Evan Kravetz (0-0, 1.29). The Pittsburgh Pirates’ No. 29 prospect per Baseball America — RHP Santiago Florez (1-1, 1.52) is anticipated to take the hill for Bradenton in game two. Coverage for Wednesday’s games on the Tortugas Radio Network and www.daytonatortugas.com will begin with the Pregame Show starting at 4:45 p.m. ET.

Baseball returns to Jackie Robinson Ballpark on Tuesday, June 15, as the ‘Tugas will square off against the Palm Beach Cardinals, Low-A affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals. It will be a Breast Cancer Awareness Night presented by Radiology Associates Imaging, as Daytona players and coaches will don special pink-tinted uniforms to mark the occasion. Silver Sluggers Night — the best club in baseball for fans 60-and-over — presented by Conviva Cares Solutions will also be a part of the festivities. Fans can get in on deals at the concession stand with $2.50 Michelob Ultra draft beers.

Season tickets, multi-game plans, group packages, and single-game tickets are currently available and can be purchased online at www.daytonatortugas.com or by calling the Tortugas’ Ticket Office at (386) 257-3172.

ABOUT THE DAYTONA TORTUGAS
The Daytona Tortugas are the Low-A Affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds and a member of Minor League Baseball’s Low-A Southeast. The Tortugas play at Jackie Robinson Ballpark in downtown Daytona Beach. Jackie Robinson Ballpark also plays host to Bethune-Cookman University, the Jackie Robinson Ballpark Museum, and many community events and initiatives of all sizes throughout the year.