Tugas take two from Miracle in twin bill
Daytona takes game one, 4-2, and game two, 2-1
FORT MYERS, Fla. (June 4, 2016) - The Daytona Tortugas swept a doubleheader over the Fort Myers Miracle on Saturday at Hammond Stadium with a 4-2 win in game one and 2-1 victory in game two.
In game one, the Miracle struck first with a pair of runs in the bottom of the third inning. With one out, Brian Olson singled into left field and then advanced to third when Engelb Vielma lined a base hit up the middle. With runners on the corners, Daytona starter Tejay Antone made a poor throw to first base on a pick-off attempt and Olson scored on the error while Vielma advanced to second. Nick Gordon then stepped up and doubled into the gap in left center to plate Vielma and put the Miracle up, 2-0.
Daytona returned fire in the next half inning. With one out, Angelo Gumbs doubled into left center off Miracle starter Randy Rosario. Gavin LaValley dropped a single into center to put Tortugas on the corners. Taylor Sparks then doubled high off the wall in left center to bring in Gumbs. Brian O'Grady followed with a sacrifice fly to tie the game, 2-2.
In the fifth, the Tortugas surged ahead with another two runs. Jonathan Reynoso reached on an error to begin the inning. Reynoso hit a routine ground ball to short. Gordon's throw pulled Alex Real off the first base bag, but Real's tag on Reynoso loosened the ball. Reynoso then stole second base and moved up to third when Blake Butler flew out to right field. Blake Trahan then ripped an 0-1 pitch from Rosario (2-5) into left field for a triple and Reynoso crossed home. Aristides Aquino followed with a base hit up the middle to bring in Trahan and put the Tugas up 4-2.
Antone (5-3) lasted six innings and gave up two runs on six hits to pick up the win. Jimmy Herget retired the side in the ninth to earn his ninth save. Rosario took the loss after five innings with four runs, three earned, surrendered on eight hits with one strikeout.
In game two, the Miracle drew first blood again. With two out in the third, Vielma reached on an infield hit to the shortstop. Two pitches later from Daytona starter Wendolyn Bautista, Edgar Corcino singled to left and Vielma scampered over to third base. Gordon stepped to the plate and Bautista's first toss was in the dirt and skipped past catcher Garrett Boulware. Vielma scurried home, 1-0.
Miracle starter Stephen Gonsalves was nearly perfect through six innings. Gonsalves (5-3) retired 18-of-19 batters faced before the seventh. After getting Trahan looking for his eighth strikeout, Aquino reached on a throwing error by Chris Paul. Gumbs then softly lined a base hit into right field and Aquino advanced to third. With runners on the corners, Sparks pulled a double down the third base line to bring in two runs and push the Tortugas into the lead, 2-1.
Jake Ehret entered the game for Daytona in the seventh and recorded a perfect frame to earn his fourth save of the year. Alex Powers faced one batter and grabbed the win. Powers (3-0) induced a line out double play from Paul to get out of a two-on, one-out jam in the sixth.
Gonsalves ended the night with a complete game loss. Over seven frames, Gonsalves gave up two runs, one earned, on three hits and struck out eight with no walks.
The Miracle (27-29) and Tortugas (26-30) are set to battle in game three of the series on Sunday afternoon at 4:05 p.m. Randy LeBlanc is slated to make his Miracle debut against Tyler Mahle for Daytona. Gates open at 3 p.m. for a DQ Sunday. Fans can pick up complimentary general admission tickets at local Dairy Queen restaurants in Lee and Collier counties and upgrades to a box seat are just $2.
In game one, the Miracle struck first with a pair of runs in the bottom of the third inning. With one out, Brian Olson singled into left field and then advanced to third when Engelb Vielma lined a base hit up the middle. With runners on the corners, Daytona starter Tejay Antone made a poor throw to first base on a pick-off attempt and Olson scored on the error while Vielma advanced to second. Nick Gordon then stepped up and doubled into the gap in left center to plate Vielma and put the Miracle up, 2-0.
Daytona returned fire in the next half inning. With one out, Angelo Gumbs doubled into left center off Miracle starter Randy Rosario. Gavin LaValley dropped a single into center to put Tortugas on the corners. Taylor Sparks then doubled high off the wall in left center to bring in Gumbs. Brian O'Grady followed with a sacrifice fly to tie the game, 2-2.
In the fifth, the Tortugas surged ahead with another two runs. Jonathan Reynoso reached on an error to begin the inning. Reynoso hit a routine ground ball to short. Gordon's throw pulled Alex Real off the first base bag, but Real's tag on Reynoso loosened the ball. Reynoso then stole second base and moved up to third when Blake Butler flew out to right field. Blake Trahan then ripped an 0-1 pitch from Rosario (2-5) into left field for a triple and Reynoso crossed home. Aristides Aquino followed with a base hit up the middle to bring in Trahan and put the Tugas up 4-2.
Antone (5-3) lasted six innings and gave up two runs on six hits to pick up the win. Jimmy Herget retired the side in the ninth to earn his ninth save. Rosario took the loss after five innings with four runs, three earned, surrendered on eight hits with one strikeout.
In game two, the Miracle drew first blood again. With two out in the third, Vielma reached on an infield hit to the shortstop. Two pitches later from Daytona starter Wendolyn Bautista, Edgar Corcino singled to left and Vielma scampered over to third base. Gordon stepped to the plate and Bautista's first toss was in the dirt and skipped past catcher Garrett Boulware. Vielma scurried home, 1-0.
Miracle starter Stephen Gonsalves was nearly perfect through six innings. Gonsalves (5-3) retired 18-of-19 batters faced before the seventh. After getting Trahan looking for his eighth strikeout, Aquino reached on a throwing error by Chris Paul. Gumbs then softly lined a base hit into right field and Aquino advanced to third. With runners on the corners, Sparks pulled a double down the third base line to bring in two runs and push the Tortugas into the lead, 2-1.
Jake Ehret entered the game for Daytona in the seventh and recorded a perfect frame to earn his fourth save of the year. Alex Powers faced one batter and grabbed the win. Powers (3-0) induced a line out double play from Paul to get out of a two-on, one-out jam in the sixth.
Gonsalves ended the night with a complete game loss. Over seven frames, Gonsalves gave up two runs, one earned, on three hits and struck out eight with no walks.
The Miracle (27-29) and Tortugas (26-30) are set to battle in game three of the series on Sunday afternoon at 4:05 p.m. Randy LeBlanc is slated to make his Miracle debut against Tyler Mahle for Daytona. Gates open at 3 p.m. for a DQ Sunday. Fans can pick up complimentary general admission tickets at local Dairy Queen restaurants in Lee and Collier counties and upgrades to a box seat are just $2.