Florida Opens Road Trip with Loss to Daytona

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (April 23, 2018) - The Florida Fire Frogs fell behind early, but couldn't complete a comeback against the Daytona Tortugas on Monday night, dropping game one of the three-game set at Jackie Robinson Ballpark, 6-3. The Fire Frogs lost their fourth consecutive game to the Tortugas after coming away with a 3-2 victory on opening night.

Daytona (13-5) jumped out to the quick lead over Tucker Davidson (0-3) with a three-run frame in the first.
Davidson walked Dilson Herrera and T.J. Friedl to start the bottom of the first before striking out Mitch Nay. With Tyler Stephenson batting, Herrera was caught stealing third for the second out, but Stephenson kept the inning alive with a single to left. Ibandel Israel lifted a three-run home run over the wall in center to give the home team the three-run advantage.
Davidson surrendered another long ball in the third, a two-run shot to Nay to extend the deficit to 5-0. The southpaw finished the night with five runs allowed on four hits, five walks and one strikeout. The 22-year-old struggled with command on Monday, tossing 34 of his 72 pitches for strikes.
Florida (6-12) failed to reach base against Scott Moss (2-1) through the first four frames before Jared James (0x2, 2 BB) drew a free pass to start the fifth.
Moss took a no-hit bid into the sixth and walked Lucas Herbert (0x3, R, BB) to lead off the inning. The product of Florida had a 2-2 count on Marcus Mooney (1x4, R, 2B) before rain delayed the game for 49 minutes, effectively ending the night for the left-hander after five-plus frames.
When play resumed, Mooney lined a double to left against Juan Martinez, snapping the no-hitter and placing runners at second and third with nobody out. Anfernee Seymour (1x3, R, RBI) lifted a sacrifice fly to right, plating Herbert and ending the shut out.
Cristian Pache (2x4, RBI) ripped a single into left to bring home Mooney and bring the Fire Frogs within three.
The visitors edged closed with a run in the eighth on an bases-loaded, RBI hit-by-pitch off the back of Jordan Rodgers (0x3, RBI), but the Tortugas responded with a run of their own in the home half of the inning to push the game back to a three-run difference.
Jess Stallings (SV, 3) worked a perfect ninth for Daytona to close out his third save in as many chances.
Florida will look to even the series at a game apiece in game two of the three-game set at Jackie Robinson Ballpark. LHP Joey Wentz (0-0, 0.64) toes the slab in the middle game for the Fire Frogs against RHP Ryan Olson (3-0, 3.18) for the Tortugas. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m.
The Fire Frogs return home to Osceola County Stadium for a six-game homestand beginning Tuesday, May 1, with three games against the Palm Beach Cardinals and three versus the Tampa Tarpons.
About the Florida Fire Frogs
The Florida Fire Frogs are the Advanced-A affiliate of the Atlanta Braves and compete in the Florida State League. The Fire Frogs play their home games at Osceola County Stadium, located at Osceola Heritage Park in Kissimmee, Fla. For more information, please visit www.FloridaFireFrogs.com, and follow the team on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and YouTube.
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