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Daytona Tortugas

'Tugas Continue Slide, But Sparks Stays Hot

June 28, 2015 - Florida State League (FSL1)
Daytona Tortugas News Release


Palm Beach, FL - For the second night in a row the Daytona Tortugas (37-35, 0-2) scored in the top of the 1st inning and took an early lead only to squander it later in the game. The Palm Beach Cardinals (35-38) answered with a run in their half of the 1st and three more in the 3rd to grab hold of the lead. The Cardinals chased Daytona starter RHP Jackson Stephens (L, 5-5) from the game after the 3rd inning and added four more runs in the 7th.

The Tortugas struck first as SS Carlton Daal reached on an error and CF Junior Arias singled. Both advanced a base on a wild pitch and Daal scored on a sacrifice fly from 3B Taylor Sparks. Sparks has four RBIs in his last two games. DH Chad Wallach also scored Arias on an RBI single. For the second game in a row, the Tortugas led 2-0 after the top of the 1st. Both runs were unearned against Palm Beach starter Corey Littrell.

Stephens ran into trouble early in his first inning as well as Robelys Reyes doubled to left field and was brought home on a Luke Voit single. After an inning, the Tortugas held a narrow 2-1 lead.

Although Daytona had offensive success in the 1st inning, Littrell was untouchable for the next four frames. From the end of the 1st inning until the end of the 5th, Littrell retired 13 batters in a row, including eight via strikeout. The Tortugas were able to find two singles off the lefty starter in the top of the 6th but Cardinal reliever Kevin Herget entered the game and ended the threat getting the final two outs of the inning. Littrell received the win, his second of the year and Herget earned his second hold.

LHP Nolan Becker pitched the middle three innings and faced the minimum while allowing no hits. However, the Cardinals added on to their lead in the 7th when RHP Nick Howard gave up two hits and four walks which brought in four Palm Beach runs. RHP Evan Mitchell finished the inning and the game for Daytona. At the end of the inning, the Cardinals led 8-2.

The Tortugas did not go quietly as they were able to get a run back in the 9th. RF Sebastian Elizalde led off the 9th with a walk and Sparks hit a ground rule double to put two in scoring position. Elizalde then scored on an RBI groundout by 1B Robert Ramirez.

With the 8-3 loss, the Tortugas are now 3-2 against Palm Beach this season. Daytona continues their series against the Cardinals tomorrow with a 1:05 P.M. start time from Roger Dean Stadium. Fans can listen to the action on AM 1230 and AM 1490 WSBB starting with the D.B. Pickles Pregame Show at 12:45 P.M.

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Florida State League Stories from June 28, 2015


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