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 Daytona Tortugas

Howard Closes out Key 5-4 Win on Sunday

June 14, 2015 - Florida State League (FSL1)
Daytona Tortugas News Release


Daytona Tortugas Pitcher Nick Howard
Daytona Tortugas Pitcher Nick Howard
(Daytona Tortugas, Credit: Aldrin Capulong)

Daytona Beach, FL - The Daytona Tortugas (37-26) secured a pivotal victory -- and a five-game lead in the Florida State League North Division -- with a 5-4 win over the Tampa Yankees (30-33) on Sunday evening at Radiology Associates Field at Jackie Robinson Ballpark.

RHP Jackson Stephens (W, 5-3) recorded another quality start, limiting the damage to a pair of home runs by Ericson Leonora. He allowed three runs on eight hits with a walk and two strikeouts. Leonora's first homer gave Tampa a 2-0 lead in the second inning.

The Tortugas would then plate five unanswered runs, starting with a squeeze play in the bottom of the second. 3B Taylor Sparks was on third after a double and a wild pitch, and came home when LF Jeff Gelalich laid down a bunt single to third base.

Trailing 2-1 in the fifth, Sparks delivered another two-bagger to score CF Phillip Ervin from first base with the tying run. 1B Robert Ramirez followed with a single to right, plating Sparks to give the 'Tugas a 3-2 advantage.

One inning later, Ervin padded the lead with a two-run single to center. The Tortugas had two men in scoring position with one out, and Ervin grounded a base hit through the middle with the infield pulled in. His 37th and 38th RBIs gave Daytona a 5-2 cushion, which would prove to be just enough.

Leonora homered again in the seventh to bring Tampa within 5-3, and Michael O'Neill doubled to chase Stephens from the game. LHP Joel Bender (H, 7) came in from the bullpen, and immediately picked off O'Neill, who broke early for third base. Bender then induced a groundout off the bat of Wes Wilson to retire the side.

Abiatal Avelino hit Bender's first pitch of the eighth inning over the fence in left center to make it a one run game, but Bender survived the rest of the frame without further damage.

RHP Nick Howard (S, 2) was brought in for the ninth. Dante Bichette singled to lead off the inning, but was thrown out by Jeff Gelalich when he tried to stretch it into a double. After a walk to Mark Payton, Howard induced a game-ending 6-4-3 double play off the bat of Ericson Leonora.

Clearwater had defeated Brevard County earlier in the day, so Daytona's win preserved a five-game division lead with seven games remaining in the first half. The Tortugas begin a four-game road trip against the Twins Advanced-A Affiliate, the Fort Myers Miracle, on Monday at Hammond Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. ET. Daytona can clinch the division title as early as Tuesday night.

Fans can tune in to every Tortugas game on The Great Voice of Volusia County, AM 1230 and AM 1490 WSBB, starting with the D.B. Pickles Pregame Show at 6:50 p.m. ET.





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Daytona Tortugas Pitcher Nick Howard
Daytona Tortugas Pitcher Nick Howard

(Aldrin Capulong)
  

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