Tortugas Pick Up Second Rain-Shortened Win

DAYTONA BEACH, FL -The Tortugas went from hitless to victorious in a matter of minutes before Mother Nature put an end to Daytona's 2-1 victory Monday night at Radiology Associates Field at Jackie Robinson Ballpark. The six-inning game gave Seth Varner his 14^thcareer win with the Tortugas, tied for the most in franchise history.
After RHP Willy Ortiz retired seven of the first eight Tortugas hitters, he worked himself into trouble in the bottom of the third. With one out, Daniel Sweet and TJ Friedl both worked walks and advanced on a wild pitch. After Dilson Herrera struck out looking, Taylor Trammell walked to load the bases. With Luis Gonzalez up, Ortiz threw his third wild pitch of the night, allowing Sweet to score the game's first run.
After a one-out single in the first, Varner retired 13 of the next 14 hitters. However, on his first pitch of the sixth, he surrendered a solo home run to David Olmedo-Barrera to tie the game at one.
In the bottom half of the sixth, the Tortugas cracked the hit column for the first time, with a Taylor Trammell single, followed by one from Luis Gonzalez. Tyler Stephenson made it three straight singles to start the sixth, driving in Trammell to put Daytona back up 2-1. After Mitch Nay struck out, the rain became to much to play through.
Following a 51-minute delay, the game was called, giving the Tortugas their fourth straight win, and second cut short by rain.
Varner (1-0) tossed a six-inning complete game in his first start of 2018. He gave up just three hits, including a solo home run, while striking out three.
For the Stone Crabs, RHP JD Busfield (0-1) was handed the loss. He pitched 2 1/3 innings, gave up three hits, struck out five, and allowed the winning run to score.
The Tortugas (4-1) and Stone Crabs (2-3) will play the second game of their four game series tomorrow night at The Jack for the first Taco Tuesday and Silver Slugger night of the season.
First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PM, with coverage beginning at 6:45 PM with The Metcare Pregame Show on AM 1230, AM 1490, and FM 106.9 WSBB.
NOTES: LHP Seth Varner tied RHP Tejay Antone for the most wins in Tortugas franchise history (14)… Varner pitched the second rain-shortened complete game for the Tortugas in 2018, Olson also did so Saturday (5 IP)… Luis Gonzalez's single in sixth extended his hitting-streak to 14 straight, dating back to 2017… The Tortugas have now been hit in all 5 games this season (six times total)… 10 of the 16 Stone Crabs outs were recorded via strikeout… The Tortugas have won three straight, non nine-inning games (2 rain shortened, 1 extras)