Horn Perfect in Debut, but Tortugas Blanketed by Tarpons, 11-0

TAMPA, Fla. — Ty Horn retired all six batters he faced in his professional debut and Jirvin Morillo accounted for all three Daytona hits, but the Tampa Tarpons broke open a scoreless game with six runs in the sixth inning and defeated the Tortugas, 11-0, on Saturday afternoon at George M. Steinbrenner Field.

The game remained scoreless through five innings before Tampa erupted for 11 runs over the sixth and eighth frames. The loss gave the Tarpons a 3-2 lead in the six-game series and a 6-5 advantage in the season series.

The Rundown

Ty Horn could not have been much sharper in his first professional appearance. The right-hander needed just 18 pitches to retire all six Tampa hitters he faced across the first two innings.

Horn induced consecutive groundouts from Dax Kilby and Yostin Pena before Paul Gutierrez-Contreras II popped out to complete a perfect first. He retired Bear Harrison, Anthony Potestio and Luke Pettitte in order to finish his debut with 2.0 perfect innings.

Justin Henschel took over in the third and immediately continued Daytona's early dominance. Henschel struck out the side in the third and worked around a walk in the fourth, giving the Tortugas four consecutive hitless innings to begin the afternoon.

Daytona's offense was similarly quiet against Justin West. The Tampa left-hander did not allow a hit over the first three innings before Jirvin Morillo broke through with a two-out single to right in the fourth. Morillo's hit represented Daytona's only baserunner against West outside of a second-inning walk through the first five frames.

Tampa finally collected its first hit when Pettitte doubled to left field with one out in the fifth, but Henschel stranded him and kept the game scoreless.

The Tarpons changed the game in the sixth.

Luis Escudero and Kilby opened the inning with consecutive walks before Pena drove a full-count pitch over the left-field wall for a three-run home run, putting Tampa ahead, 3-0. After two outs, Potestio walked and Pettitte singled before Diego Castellanos loaded the bases with another base hit.

Brando Mayea followed with a single through the left side that scored two runs. Logan Tanner entered from the bullpen, but an error on the next batter allowed another run to score and completed a six-run inning that gave Tampa a 6-0 lead.

Morillo collected his second hit with a seventh-inning single, but Daytona could not generate a rally against Jose Martinez.

Tampa put the game away with five more runs in the eighth. Potestio and Castellanos singled before Escudero was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Kilby walked to force home the first run of the inning before a balk brought home another.

With two runners still in scoring position, Pena launched his second three-run home run of the afternoon, extending the advantage to 11-0. Pena finished with six RBI, all coming on his two three-run homers.

Morillo added his third single in the ninth, but the Tortugas were unable to push across a run as Tampa completed the shutout.

Stat of the Game

6 — Horn retired all six batters he faced in his professional debut, working 2.0 perfect innings on just 18 pitches.

Notes

• Daytona fell to 54-65 overall and 33-20 in the second half.
• The Tortugas fell to 13-8 in August.
• Daytona fell to 10-12 on Saturdays.
• The Tortugas fell to 12-20 in day games.
• Daytona fell to 19-40 on the road.
• Tampa leads the six-game series, 3-2.
• The Tarpons lead the season series, 6-5.
• Daytona fell to 14-14 against left-handed starters.
• The Tortugas fell to 1-50 when trailing after seven innings.
• Daytona fell to 8-50 when scoring fewer than five runs.
• The Tortugas fell to 11-51 when being outhit by their opponent.
• Daytona was shut out for the fifth time this season and for the first time since Aug. 7 at St. Lucie.
• Horn made his professional debut and retired all six batters he faced over 2.0 perfect innings.
• Horn needed just 18 pitches, 11 strikes, to complete his two innings.
• Daytona pitching did not allow a hit through the first 4.1 innings and held Tampa scoreless through five.
• Morillo recorded all three of Daytona's hits, finishing 3-for-3 with a walk.
• Morillo recorded his fourth multi-hit game of the season.
• Morillo recorded his first three-hit game of the season.
• Morillo tied his career high with three hits for the seventh time and first since May 14 against the ACL Rockies.
• Morillo extended his on-base streak to six games.

Up Next

The Tortugas wrap up their six-game series against the Tampa Tarpons on Sunday, August 23 at George M. Steinbrenner Field. First pitch for the series finale is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. ET.