Bonnin blazes Tortugas past Mussels in combined three-hitter

FORT MYERS, Fla. — RHP Bryce Bonnin continued his incredible start to his professional career, tossing 5.0 shutout and one-hit innings, as the Daytona Tortugas pieced together a 4-1 victory over the Fort Myers Mighty Mussels on Saturday night at Hammond Stadium.

Daytona (34-37) jumped out to an early advantage for the second-straight night. Scoreless headed to the second, CF Allan Cerda (1-2, R, RBI, BB, SO) drew a leadoff walk to start the rally. Two pitches later, SS Ivan Johnson (2-5, R, HR, 2 RBI, 2 SO) deposited a 1-0 offering into the white-shaded bleachers beyond the fence in right. The Atlanta, Ga. native's fifth home run of the season put the Tortugas up 2-0.

Bonnin (5.0 IP, H, 2 BB, 7 SO) kept the line moving from there. The 22-year-old topped out a 97.8 mph with the fastball, punching out seven Fort Myers hitters. Bonnin permitted just one hit on the night, a leadoff double to 2B Yunior Severino (2-3, 2B, RBI, BB) in the fourth.

After RHP Alberto González (1.0 IP, BB, 2 SO) posted a scoreless sixth in his Daytona debut, RHP Frainger Aranguren (2.0 IP, 2 H, R, ER, 3 BB, SO) took over in the seventh.

Fort Myers (38-33) pieced together a two-out rally on a pair of walks, but a ground ball to short ended the frame. In the eighth, they started hot, as C Jeferson Morales (1-4, R, 2B) doubled to left and scored on a single to right from Severino. Now a 2-1 game, a walk to 1B Aaron Sabato (0-3, BB, 3 SO) placed the tying and go-ahead runs on base.

However, the 24-year-old stood strong and struck out CF Misael Urbina (0-4, 4 SO) before inducing a pair of fielder's choices to force out runners at second to end the inning and keep Daytona ahead by one, 2-1.

In the ninth, Daytona added key insurance runs. C Daniel Vellojín (0-3, R, 2 BB) and RF Austin Hendrick (0-4, BB, 2 SO) drew consecutive walks to start the inning before a double play nearly ended the rally.

After a walk to LF Wendell Marrero (1-3, R, 2 BB, 2 SO), Cerda served a soft line drive over the leaping glove of the shortstop and into left field for a hit. Vellojín scored easily from third, but the throw into third base to try and cut down Marrero skidded to the backstop. With both the pitcher and the catcher chasing the ball, home plate was unoccupied, allowing Marrero to cross all the way from first to put the Tortugas up three, 4-1.

RHP Brett Lockwood (1.0 IP) entered in the bottom half of the ninth and sealed the deal. The 24-year-old retired Fort Myers in order in the frame to garner his first professional save and his first save since the final outing of his college career at Kansas State University on March 6, 2020.

Bonnin earned his second victory of the season for Daytona, while RHP Orlando Rodríguez (5.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 7 SO) — who made his second start for Fort Myers since being signed out of the MLB Partner Frontier League on July 13 — took his first loss.

The Tortugas will go for the series victory tomorrow afternoon, as RHP José Franco (1-2, 8.06) is slated to toe the slab in the series finale. Fort Myers is anticipated to counter with LHP Zarion Sharpe (3-2, 5.33). Coverage on the Tortugas Radio Network will begin on the MiLB First Pitch app and www.daytonatortugas.com at 11:45 a.m. leading up to the 12 p.m. first pitch from Hammond Stadium.

Daytona will return to Jackie Robinson Ballpark on Tuesday, July 27, to open up a six-contest homestand against the St. Lucie Mets, Low-A affiliate of the New York Mets. It will be a Breast Cancer Awareness Night presented by Radiology Associates Imaging, as Daytona players and coaches will don special pink-tinted uniforms to mark the occasion. Silver Sluggers Night — the best club in baseball for fans 60-and-over — presented by Conviva Cares Solutions will also be a part of the festivities. Fans can get in on deals at the concession stand with $2.50 Michelob Ultra draft beers.

Season tickets, multi-game plans, group packages, and single-game tickets are currently available and can be purchased online at www.daytonatortugas.com or by calling the Tortugas’ Ticket Office at (386) 257-3172.

ABOUT THE DAYTONA TORTUGAS
The Daytona Tortugas are the Low-A Affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds and a member of Minor League Baseball’s Low-A Southeast. The Tortugas play at Jackie Robinson Ballpark in downtown Daytona Beach. Jackie Robinson Ballpark also plays host to Bethune-Cookman University, the Jackie Robinson Ballpark Museum, and many community events and initiatives of all sizes throughout the year.