'Tugas break up perfect game in 7th in loss

Daytona Beach, FL - The Daytona Tortugas (35-24, 72-57) dropped their second straight game to the Tampa Yankees (31-30, 65-66), a 9-3 loss on Friday night at Radiology Associates Field at Jackie Robinson Ballpark. Amongst a jovial Jimmy Buffett Theme Night crowd of 2,409, the first 1,000 fans received Tortugas Sunglasses thanks to Bob and Lori Fregolle. 

 

For the second consecutive night, the Yankees took an early 4-0 lead with one explosive inning. It came in the third inning on Friday, starting with a leadoff homer from Kyle Higasioka. RHP Jackson Stephens (L, 12-7) had retired the first six batters he'd faced up to that point.

 

Two batters after the longball, Michael O'Neill grounded a double down the third base line. Jorge Mateo reached on a throwing error at shortstop, and Abiatal Avelino loaded the bases with a single to right. Dustin Fowler was the next batter, and he cleared the bases with a line drive double along the left field line to give Tampa a four-run cushion.

 

The Yankees added two more in the top of the fifth inning off Stephens. Avelino hit a lead off single to center, stole second base and moved to third on a throwing error from C Joe Hudson. Fowler singled him home with a grounder through the middle, and scored two batters later on a double from Miguel Andjuar. Tampa had a 6-0 lead after five innings. 

 

Meanwhile, Yankees starter Jordan Montgomery (L, 12-7) was perfect. In six frames, he allowed no baserunners and struck out eight. Chance Adams struck out the first batter he faced in the seventh, but LF Brian O'Grady broke up the perfect game bid with a one-out walk. Two batters later, DH Sebastian Elizalde ripped a double to the wall in right for Daytona's first hit. 

 

O'Neill padded Tampa's lead with a three-run homer off RHP Evan Mitchell in the eighth inning, spoiling a strong night from Daytona's bullpen. RHP Jimmy Moran worked around a walk and two hits through two scoreless innings and LHP Nolan Becker picked up two strikeouts in a perfect seventh. 

 

The Tortugas would not score until the ninth inning. Trailing 9-0, O'Grady started the rally with a double to right, extending his hitting streak to 10 games. Elizalde singled him home, and came in on a two-bagger from C Chad Wallach. Wallach would eventually score on an error by Avelino to whittle the lead down to 9-3. Hudson then grounded out to shortstop to end the game.  

 

Daytona will look to avoid the sweep on Saturday night, with LHP Nick Routt scheduled to face Vicente Campos at 7:05 p.m. ET. The first 500 fans will receive a free Tortugas tote bag thanks to WyseHome Team, and the first 500 kids will receive a drawstring baseball backpack thanks to Centra Care.

 

Radio broadcast coverage will start with the D.B. Pickles Pregame Show at 6:50 p.m. ET on The Great Voice of Volusia County, AM 1230 and AM 1490 WSBB.