Tortugas Shake Extra Inning Issues in 5-3 Win

CLEARWATER, FL -The Daytona Tortugas scored the final five runs of their 5-3 victory over the Clearwater Threshers 10 innings Thursday night at Spectrum Field. The win made the Tortugas a league-best 22-11 and snapped their four-game losing streak in extra inning affairs.
Clearwater started the scoring in this one, getting on the board three batters in against LHP Scott Moss. Adam Haseley worked a one-out walk, stole second, then came in to score on an Austin Listi double off the wall in left field. Clearwater has scored 23 first inning runs this year, their most in any frame.  
In the bottom of the third, the Threshers would add two more to go up 3-0.  After Moss retired the leadoff hitter, Haseley and Listi reached on back-to-back singles. With runners on the corners, Darick Hall grounded into a fielder's choice, scoring Haseley. Listi would score three pitches later on a Mickey Moniak single to right.
In the top of the fifth, the Tortugas would finally get on the board and erase the deficit. Ibandel Isabel led off the inning by hitting the first pitch from RHP Mauricio Llovera for a solo home run deep to right field. It was Daytona's first run in 17 innings. Following the homer, Bruce Yari singled and moved to third on a Brantley Bell double. Jose Siri, in his first game of 2018, then hit an infield single to third to load the bases. With the bags full, TJ Friedl and Taylor Trammell each worked run-producing walks against Llovera, to tie the game at three.
The score would remain that way all the way to the top of the tenth. For the second game in a row, and second road game in a row, the Tortugas found themselves in extra frames. Rivero led the inning off on second base, per the new MiLB pace of play rules, and came in to score on a Friedl RBI single to center. Friedl used good instincts to move in to scoring position on the throw. That heads-up play was followed by another, when Friedl came in to score from second on a Trammell infield RBI single, bounced behind first, to give the Tortugas a two-run advantage.
LHP Jesse Adams (1-1) earned the win in relief, tossing a perfect bottom of the ninth. LHP Aaron Brown (1-2) took the loss, giving up four hits in two innings, while striking out five and surrendering the go-ahead runs. RHP Joel Kuhnel picked up his third save, pitching a perfect tenth while striking out two.
First pitch Friday is scheduled for 6:15 PM, with coverage beginning at 6:00 PM with The Metcare Pregame Show on AM 1230, AM 1490, and FM 106.9 WSBB. The Tortugas will look to win the first two games of an eight-day, seven-game road trip behind RHP Ryan Olson (4-0, 2.06).
NOTES: The Tortugas bullpen has given up just one earned run in their last 19 innings of work… Daytona's pitching did not allow a hit over the final five innings… The Tortugas are now 2-4 in extra inning games… Opponents have scored first in four of the last five Tortuga wins… #7 prospect Jose Siri went 2-for-5 with two infield singles in his 2018 debut… The Tortugas struck out a season-high 18 times… Tyler Stephenson, Jose Siri, and Carlos Rivero all struck out three times, while Ibandel Isabel struck out four… Carlos Rivero is now 0-for-his-last-23 with 13 strikeouts, and 1-for-his-last 33 with 16 strikeouts. He has struck out in 41% of his at-bats and is two plate appearances from qualifying for the lowest batting average in the FSL (.108, 88 PA's).