Triana's Homer, Cardona's Terrific Outing Undone by Early Errors in 5-4 Loss

DAYTONA BEACH—Michel Triana launched his first home run of the season and Ryan Cardona spun 4.1 scoreless innings in relief, but the Palm Beach Cardinals scored five runs in the first three innings and hung on to defeat the Daytona Tortugas 5-4 on Wednesday night at Jackie Robinson Ballpark.

Palm Beach (37-28) took advantage of four errors as Daytona (29-36) saw their four-game winning streak come to an end.

In the first inning, defensive breakdowns cost the Tortugas dearly. With one out, a throwing error put a runner at second. After starter Arij Fransen recorded the second out, a walk was followed by a single from Carlos Linarez which drove in a run. However, an error on the throw home allow two runners to advance into scoring position. That was followed by an infield single from Adanson Cruz with another throwing error tacked on, with three errors leading to three unearned runs, putting Palm Beach in front 3-0.

In the second, the Cardinals added another run as Lizandro Espinoza deposited a 3-1 delivery 407 feet off the left-field scoreboard to extend the lead to 4-0. Fransen, though, struck out the next three batters to end the frame.

In the bottom of the second, Daytona came to life against Palm Beach starter Pete Hansen. Cam Collier and Johnny Ascanio singled to put runners on the corners with one out for Yerlin Confidan. Confidan bounced out on a slow dribbler to Hansen, but Collier scored with Daytona’s first run. Triana followed by blasting an 0-2 pitch 422 feet away over the wall in right-center for his first home run of the season, cutting the deficit to 4-3.

However, Palm Beach had an answer in the third. Jose Fermin led off with a double to deep left-center and scored on an RBI single from Won-Bin Cho. A walk and infield single loaded the bases before Fransen departed for Cardona with two outs. However, Cardona was able to finish the inning with no more damage, with Palm Beach now up 5-3.

The pitchers settled down from there. Cardona threw a 1-2-3 fourth before working around a single and a walk while striking out the side in a scoreless fifth.

On the other side, Hansen set down eight straight batters at one point, including five straight strikeouts over the third and fourth innings. In the fifth, though, Victor Acosta walked with one out. With two outs, Sal Stewart lined a soft single up the middle. Acosta went first to third, but was waved home as Cruz took longer than usual to reach the ball, thus the odd result of scoring from first on a single, which closed the gap to 5-4.

Cardona proceeded to strike out the side in the sixth, but ran into trouble in the seventh as two singles opened up the frame. Chris Rotondo followed with a hot line drive to third, but Cam Collier made a leaping snag and threw to second to double off the runner. An interference call on a stolen base call then ended the inning. It also brought a close to an excellent outing in relief for Cardona, who went 4.1 scoreless innings with three hits and one walk allowed, along with seven strikeouts.

In the bottom of the eighth, Daytona put together a threat against Palm Beach reliever Tanner Jacobson. Stewart singled with one and pinch-runner Carlos Jorge stole second. An infield single moved Jorge to third, but a strikeout ended the inning to keep Palm Beach up a run.

Jacobson returned for the ninth and set down the Tortugas in order to finish off a 3.0-inning save which nailed down a 5-4 win for Palm Beach.

The Tortugas will play game two against the Palm Beach Cardinals on Wednesday night. RHP Johnathan Harmon (2-4, 5.55) will get the ball for Daytona against Palm Beach RHP Max Rajcic (6-2, 1.59). Tomorrow will be a Thirsty Thursday with $1 and $2 drink specials all night long, plus pregame music from Tropical Drifter. Gates will open at 5:30 with first pitch scheduled for 6:35 p.m. Pregame coverage on the Tortugas Radio Network with the Voice of the Tortugas Brennan Mense begins at 6:20 from Jackie Robinson Ballpark.

Daytona Tortugas single-game tickets and ticket packages are on sale now at daytonatortugas.com, (386) 257-3172, or the box office at 110 East Orange Ave.

ABOUT THE DAYTONA TORTUGAS

The Daytona Tortugas are the Single-A Affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds and a member of Minor League Baseball’s Florida State League. The Tortugas play at Jackie Robinson Ballpark in downtown Daytona Beach, Fla. 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.