Tortugas Walk-Off on Big Shellbowski Night

DAYTONA BEACH, FL - Tyler Stephenson was hit by a Blake Weiman pitch with the bases loaded in the ninth for a 6-5 win over the Bradenton Marauders Saturday night at Radiology Associates Field at Jackie Robinson Ballpark in front of 3,591 fans. It was the fourth walk-off win for the Tortugas this season, second from Stephenson.
After scoring just three runs over the previous two games, Daytona didn't waste any time scoring on Saturday. Michael Beltre reached on an infield single to start the bottom of the first and scored on a Bruce Yari double to left field to make it a 1-0 game.
Bradenton took the lead in the top of the third off of RHP Tejay Antone. The first two Marauders reached in the inning, then Adrian Valerio hit the first pitch he saw over the left field wall to put Bradenton up 3-1.
The Marauders made it 4-1 in the top of the fourth on an RBI single from Jared Oliva, scoring Brett Pope.
The Tortugas scored two in the bottom of the fourth to make it a one-run game. Stephenson hit a one-out double and came into score on a two-out double hit by Daniel Sweet. Sweet came into score a few pitches later on a single from Stuart Fairchild to cut the deficit to 4-3.
Daytona tied the game three pitches into the bottom of the fifth. Randy Ventura reached on a bunt single on the first pitch of the frame, and moved to second on a single from Yari on the second pitch. Stephenson then hit the first pitch he saw for a single to score Ventura from second.
Bradenton re-took the lead in the top of the sixth. With two outs, Oliva hit an RBI single off RHP Jeremy Kivel to score Garrett Brown and give the Marauders the 5-4 advantage.
The Tortugas tied the game with two-outs in the last of the eighth. Fairchild extended the inning with a double and came in to score the tying run on a Morgan Lofstrom RBI single to left.
Then, in the top of the ninth, Beltre and Ventura hit back-to-back singles to start the frame, and Yari walked to load the bases just ahead of Stephenson, who was struck by the first pitch thrown to him, bringing in Beltre to give Daytona the 6-5 win.
RHP Ryan Hendrix (4-3) pitched a perfect inning in relief with two strikeouts to earn the win.  Weiman (1-1) took the loss, allowing the winning run to score on two hits and a walk. He did not record an out.
The Tortugas will try and win the series Sunday with LHP Wennington Romero (8-4, 3.97) on the mound against RHP Mike Wallace (3-6, 4.99).
First pitch Sunday is scheduled for 5:35 PM, with coverage beginning at 5:20 PM with The Metcare Pregame Show on AM 1230, AM 1490, and FM 106.9 WSBB.
NOTES: The Tortugas are 3-3 against Bradenton this year. All three victories have been by one run, with all three losses being by five or more runs… Daytona recorded their second five-double game. Both have come in July… Nine-hole hitters are 11-for-13 over the last three games against the Tortugas (11 singles, 5 RBIs and 5 runs)… Michael Beltre recorded his third three-hit game with Daytona… Stuart Fairchild recorded his first three-hit game with Daytona… Tyler Stephenson extended his hitting-streak to seven games after going 2-for-4, tying his season high. He also drove in a pair of runs and now has 18 multi-hit games and 10 multi-RBI games… RHP Jeremy Kivel pitched for Daytona for the first time since 7/31/16. His last three Tortuga outings have all come against Bradenton. He worked 1 1/3 scoreless innings… RHP Tejay Antone recorded double-digit strikeouts for the first time in his career, finishing with 10 in 5 2/3 innings… RHP Ryan Hendrix struck out two more batters tonight. He now has 55 strikeouts in 36 2/3 innings this season.