Daytona Takes Seesaw Opener as Tampa Drops Fifth-Straight
TAMPA, Fla. - Coming off back-to-back shutout losses in Palm Beach, the Tampa offense broke out with 13 hits, but the defense tied a season-high with four errors as the Tarpons lost a back-and-forth affair, 8-6, to the Daytona Tortugas in the opener of a six-game homestand on Friday night
TAMPA, Fla. - Coming off back-to-back shutout losses in Palm Beach, the Tampa offense broke out with 13 hits, but the defense tied a season-high with four errors as the Tarpons lost a back-and-forth affair, 8-6, to the Daytona Tortugas in the opener of a six-game homestand on Friday night at George M. Steinbrenner Field.
After taking both ends a doubleheader to sweep the Fort Myers Miracle in a rain-shortened, two-game series, Tampa (17-23) lost four-straight games in Palm Beach to complete a six-game road trip. The loss on Friday put the Tarpons on a season-worst five-game losing streak.
Daytona (21-19) jumped out to a 2-0 in the first against RHP
Otto held the Tortugas scoreless for the rest of his six innings of work, logging his first quality start of the season. The 23-year-old allowed two runs (one earned) on six hits and one walk while tallying seven strikeouts on 90 pitches (59 strikes).
After opening the season with six-straight relief outings, RHP
RHP
Tampa responded with a four-run rally in the bottom of the seventh off RHP
A leadoff walk by
A pair of fielding errors assisted in Daytona taking back the lead in the eighth. Lopez reached on catcher's interference and, one out later,
Sugilio singled, stole second and scored on a double by
Cox (W, 101) retired four of the last five batters he faced. A leadoff single by Olivares brought the tying run to the plate for Tampa in the ninth, but RHP
Olivares (2-for-5, RBI, R, CS), Gilliam (2-for-5, RBI), Carrizales (2-for-4, 2R), Rijo (2-for-4, 2B, RBI) and
LHP
On Strikeout Saturday, strikeouts by Tampa pitchers will determine the special of the day. When a Tarpons pitcher strikes out a batter, a select special will be activated for the night (each special lasts 60 minutes). In addition, fans can collect player autographs on the concourse from 5:40-6:00 p.m.