Tortugas split DH with Clearwater Tuesday

Daytona Beach, FL - The Daytona Tortugas (73-58) split a doubleheader with the Clearwater Threshers (76-57) on Thursday night at Radiology Associates Field at Jackie Robinson Ballpark, finishing 6-11 in the regular season against their eventual playoff opponents. 

 

Game 1: Clearwater 3, Daytona 2 (F/8)

 

The Threshers used the longball to overpower the 'Tugas in the opener, including an eventual game-winning blast from Malquin Canelo. He broke a 2-2 tie with a leadoff homer to left field in the eighth inning, and the Tortugas went down in order in the bottom half of the final frame.

 

Clearwater loaded the bases with nobody out in the first inning, but LHP Amir Garret limited the damage by inducing a run-scoring double play and snagging a line drive off the bat of Willians Astudillo.

 

Rhys Hoskins started the fourth inning with a homer to left center to give the Threshers a 2-0 lead, but Garrett allowed nothing else from there. He finished after six quality innings, having surrendered two runs on five hits with a walk. For the 22nd time in 26 starts, Garrett held his opponent to two runs or fewer.

 

LF Brian O'Grady evened the score with a two-run blast in the fifth inning. After CF Junior Arias started the inning with an infield single, O'Grady golfed one over the right field fence. The Tortugas would not score again, finishing 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position and leaving eight men on base.

 

Daytona Beach native 1B Daniel Pigott collected a double and a triple in the losing effort, and continued to slug in Game 2.

 

Game 2: Daytona 3, Clearwater 0

 

DH Sebastian Elizalde hit a two-out single in the first, Pigott followed with a two-run homer to left, and the Tortugas were off and running with a 2-0 lead in the nightcap. Arias made it 3-0 in the third. He reached on an error, stole second base, moved to third on a groundout and scored on a wild pitch.

 

Daytona would get nothing but a 3B Taylor Sparks double from there, but they wouldn't need much more. LHP Seth Varner (W, 3-4) threw five two-hit shutout innings with no walks and three Ks. He's now riding a 12-inning scoreless streak.

 

RHP El'Hajj Muhammad (H, 11) worked around a leadoff walk with a double play and a strikeout, and RHP Alejandro Chacin (S, 10) stranded a pair in the final frame to close it out.

 

The Tortugas have an off day on Wednesday before a four-game series with the Brevard County Manatees to wrap up the regular season.

 

Daytona has officially clinched a postseason berth in their inaugural season, and will face the first half champion Clearwater Threshers in the 2015 Florida State League North Division Series.

 

The Tortugas will host Game 1 on Tuesday, September 8th at Radiology Associates Field at Jackie Robinson Ballpark, with first pitch scheduled for 7:05 p.m. ET. Tickets are now available ($8 general admission, $12.50 VIP) at DaytonaTortugas.com or over the phone at 386-257-3172.

 

Fans can enjoy "Thirsty Tuesday" drink specials during the playoff game, including $1 12 oz. domestic drafts and small sodas.