Tugas Fall Short in 6-5 Loss

DAYTONA BEACH, FL - The Tortugas left the tying run in scoring position in each of the final two innings of their 6-5 loss against the Dunedin Blue Jays Friday night at Jackie Robinson Ballpark.  
Trailing by a run, TJ Friedl struck out for the final out of the eighth inning with runners at the corners. In the ninth, Tyler Stephenson doubled to the wall in center field with two outs, before Mitch Nay grounded out to third, stranding the tying run at second.
Dunedin scored the first run in the top of the first, on an Alberto Mineo single, scoring Rodrigo Orozco.
In the second, Dunedin doubled their lead when DJ Davis hit a two-run homerun of RHP Ryan Olson. It was his first home run since hitting one at The Jack last August.
Then, in the top of the third, the Blue Jays went up 3-0. With runners on the corners, Riley Adams came up and bounced into a double play, scoring Logan Warmoth from third.
The Tortugas were still looking for their first hit, as the game headed into the bottom of the fourth. Taylor Trammell would lead the inning off with a single, then came around to score on a Tyler Stephenson RBI double.
Leading, 3-1, in the top of the sixth, Dunedin would double their lead. After the first two hitters reached with singles off Olson, he was replaced by RHP Alex Webb, who allowed a two-run double to Nash Knight, putting the Blue Jays up 5-1.
In the bottom of the sixth, Daytona would get one of those runs back, as Trammell led of the inning with a solo home run on the first pitch of the frame.
Dunedin would get the run back in the next half inning. With runners on first and second, Mineo hit a ground ball to Ibandel Isabel at first. Isabel got the force out at second, but the return throw from Calten Daal ended up getting past Isabel, allowing Orozco to score from second on an E6 to go up 6-2.
Daytona would add another run on a solo homer in the seventh, this time by TJ Friedl to right field to cut the deficit to 6-3.
Then, in the eighth, the Tortugas would cut the deficit to just one. With runners on the corners and one out, Bruce Yari came up to pinch hit for Isabel, and laced a single to center to drive in Nay. Then, two batters later, with two outs and runners on the corner, Shane Mardirosian pinch hit for Brantley Bell and hit a single, driving in Narciso Crook to cut it to 6-5.
RHP Johnny Cheshire (3-0) picked up the win in relief, tossing 1 1/3 innings, allowing two hits and a run. Olson (4-2) was handed his second consecutive loss. He went five, gave up seven hits and five runs. LHP Travis Bergen earned his first career save, getting the final out of the night.
The Tortugas will send LHP Wennington Romero (4-1, 2.79 ERA) to the mound in the middle game of the series Saturday against RHP Josh DeGraaf (1-5, 4.34).
First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PM, with coverage beginning at 6:50 PM with The Metcare Pregame Show on AM 1230, AM 1490, and FM 106.9 WSBB.
NOTES: The Tortugas have allowed first inning runs in six of their last eight games… Opponents have scored ahead of Daytona in nine straight games, and 11 of the last 13… Daytona is now 1-12 when trailing after six innings…. The Tortugas have homered in three straight games, and 4 of 5… Tyler Stephenson tallied his team-leading third 3-hit game of the season… Ryan Olson has given up 12 earned runs over his last 9 innings, after giving up just 8 over his first 30… Daytona has scored on 5 of 7 pinch-hit at-bats this year… Friday was the Tortugas first series opening loss at The Jack since Opening Night… Daytona has won just two of their last seven games.