DAYTONA BEACH, FL - Alfredo Rodriguez was thrown out at second for the final out of the game, leaving a man at third base in Daytona's, 4-3, loss to the Tampa Yankees on Friday evening at Radiology Associates Field at Jackie Robinson Ballpark in front of 1,693.Trailing, 4-1, entering the
DAYTONA BEACH, FL - Alfredo Rodriguez was thrown out at second for the final out of the game, leaving a man at third base in Daytona's, 4-3, loss to the Tampa Yankees on Friday evening at Radiology Associates Field at Jackie Robinson Ballpark in front of 1,693.
Trailing, 4-1, entering the final frame, the Tortugas rally started innocently enough. Pinch hitter Blake Butler reached on a throwing error by Mandy Alvarez on a grounder to third with one out. Garrett Boulware pinch-hit and got on base, lacing a single to right-center field off of LHP James Reeves. With runners on the corners, Chris Okey was drilled by a pitch to load the bases. After Mitch Piatnik fanned, Alfredo Rodriguez nailed a two-run single down the left-field line. With the tying run just 90 feet away, Rodriguez attempted to extend that single into a double and was gunned down doing so to end the game.
The only other run of the game for the home team came in the first inning. Shed Long, via a walk, and Nick Senzel, via a dropped fly ball in right field, put runners on the corners with one out. Gavin LaValley would then ground out to short to score Long for his 33rd RBI of the season, giving Daytona the initial run of the contest.
Tampa got three of its four runs off of Tortugas starter RHP José López. A Nick Solak single in the second scored Chris Gittens to tie the game at one. The Yankees went ahead on a Jeff Hendrix RBI double in the top of the 4th and got another run on a Mandy Alvarez RBI knock. The Yankees third baseman added another RBI on a grounder in the sixth.
Lopez (2-4) tossed five innings on the rubber, yielding four hits, three earned runs, three walks, and fanning four batters. RHP Jake Paulson permitted a run in one of his two frames and two hits while recording two strikeouts. LHP Brian Hunter made his Tortuga debut, tossing two shutout innings of one-hit ball and punching out four.
RHP Jose Mesa Jr. (1-0) logged 2 2/3 crucial innings in relief of starter RHP Brody Koerner, who went just 4 1/3 frames. Mesa walked one and struck out two to earn the win.
Daytona continues the Memorial Day Weekend series against the Yankees on Saturday at The Jack. A grand fireworks display will happen moments after the final out and free admission will be granted to all active and retired military personnel. RHP Vladimir Gutierrez opposes RHP Erik Swanson of the Yankees on the mound. First pitch is set for 7:05 PM with The Metcare Pregame Show beginning at 6:50 PM on AM 1230 and AM 1490 WSBB.
Notes: The Yankees are ahead of the Tortugas in the FSL North standings for the first time in 2017… Alfredo Rodriguez had three hits for the fifth time this year… Gavin LaValley has RBIs in 8 of his last 10 games and has 11 RBI during that span…Jose Lopez has thrown at least five innings in all nine starts.
