Flying Tigers remain unbeaten in 6-5 victory over Daytona

The Lakeland Flying Tigers (4-0) began the 2026 home slate with a 6-5 win over the Daytona Tortugas (1-3) on Tuesday night at Joker Marchant Stadium. The entire offense contributed to the victory, with all but two hitters reaching base. On the mound, Jorger Petri escaped a key bases-loaded jam in the seventh en route to a seven-out save.
Daytona began the scoring in the top of the first off Lakeland starter and Detroit Tigers rehabber Bailey Horn. Bernard Moon singled, moved to second on a balk and third on a wild pitch. He scored on a Carson Rucker throwing error to put the visitors ahead, 1-0.
Lakeland responded in the second off Tortugas starter Sheng-En Lin. Four of the first six Flying Tigers began the inning with walks, including RBI walks from Zach MacDonald and Nolan McCarthy, giving the Flying Tigers a 2-1 lead. Lakeland added one in the fourth. MacDonald led off with a ground-rule double, moved to third on a groundout and scored on a wild pitch from left-hander Dominic Scheffler, moving the lead to 3-1.
Daytona punched back with two runs in the sixth off Grayson Grinsell. Moon drew a leadoff walk, stole second and scored on a double from Jacob Friend. Friend later scored on a Mason Neville sacrifice fly, tying the game at 3-3.
The game’s turning point occurred in the bottom half of the sixth. With two outs and the bases loaded, shortstop Rafhlmil Torres lost a popup in the wind, allowing all three runners to score, giving the Flying Tigers a 6-3 lead.
The Tortugas mounted a comeback with two runs in the top of the eighth off Eliseo Mota, courtesy of a Tyson Lewis RBI double and an RBI groundout from Torres. The left-handed reliever Petri entered the game with two outs and the bases loaded before striking out Neville to maintain Lakeland’s 6-5 lead.
With the tying run on second base in the ninth, Petri shut the door for Lakeland, securing the team’s fourth straight home-opening victory.
Grinsell (1-0) earned the win, going 4.0 innings in his professional debut, allowing two earned runs and striking out six. Deivi Villafana (0-1) took the loss, allowing three unearned runs on the misplay from Torres. Petri (1) earned the seven-out save, allowing just one baserunner.
The Flying Tigers look to move to 5-0 as they host the Tortugas tomorrow at 6:00 p.m. in the second game of the six-game set. Lakeland RHP Caleb Wetwiska (0-0, 0.00) faces off against Daytona RHP Mason Morris (0-0, 0.00).