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Daytona Tortugas

Routt Weaves Gem, Tortugas Win 3 of 4

July 2, 2015 - Florida State League (FSL1)
Daytona Tortugas News Release


Daytona Beach, FL - The Daytona Tortugas (40-36, 3-3) opened up a 5-0 lead in the fifth inning, and managed to hang on for a 5-4 win over the Lakeland Flying Tigers on Wednesday night at Radiology Associates Field at Jackie Robinson Ballpark. Since snapping their nine-game losing streak on Sunday, the Tortugas have won three of their last four.

With the bases empty and two outs in the first inning, SS Alex Blandino took Matt Crouse (L, 4-2) deep over the left field fence for his sixth homer of the year. CF Junior Arias doubled Daytona's lead to 2-0 with a solo homer to left-center in the fifth inning. Crouse has now allowed three homers all season: two to Arias and one to Blandino.

The Tortugas went to work with a two-out rally following Arias' long ball. Blandino reached on an infield single, RF Sebastian Elizalde walked and 3B Taylor Sparks knocked in Blandino with a ground ball single through the shortstop hole. In his Jackie Robinson Ballpark debut, LF Brian O'Grady blooped a base hit to center, scoring Elizalde to give Daytona a 4-0 cushion. With Sparks on third, 1B Robert Ramirez hit a sharp grounder to shortstop that Jared Reaves mishandled, allowing Daytona's final run to come across. It would prove to be just enough.

LHP Nick Routt (W, 2-1) had a no-hitter going through five innings, issuing just two walks and racking up six strikeouts. After Lakeland started the sixth inning with a pair of hits, Routt ended his night with a K of Jiwan James.

From there, Daytona needed five different relievers to record the final 11 outs of the ballgame. LHP Nolan Becker induced a double-play ball to strand two runners and finish up the sixth, but issued back-to-back walks to start the seventh. RHP Joe Mantoni retired all three men he faced in relief of Becker -- including an RBI groundout by Francisco Martinez -- to close out the seventh. RHP Nick Howard walked the bases loaded with one out in the eighth, and RHP Joel Bender (H, 9) was called in to record the final two outs of the inning.

Javier Bentancourt greeted Bender with a grounder through the middle, plating two runs and drawing Lakeland within 5-3. After a flyout and a strikeout ended the eighth, the Flying Tigers put together a pair of singles to chase Bender from the game with one down in the ninth. RHP El'Hajj Muhammad (S, 9) entered the game with runners on the corners and Tyler Hanover made it a one-run game with an RBI fielder's choice to the shortstop. James then singled to right, and a throwing error from Elizalde put two runners in scoring position.

With the tying run at third and the go-ahead run at second, Muhammad got Raph Rhymes to hit a game-ending flyout to right field. Lakeland's Brennan Smith made the comeback bid possible, throwing three hitless innings of relief with one walk and five strikeouts.

Blandino had a single, double and homer entering his final at-bat, but struck out swinging in the seventh inning.

The Tortugas continue their three-game homestand with the Flying Tigers on Thursday in Daytona Beach, with RHP Jackson Stephens scheduled to face LHP Kevin Ziomek at 7:05 p.m. ET. As with every 'Tugas game, fans can listen to the action 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.

On Thirsty Thursday, fans at the ballpark can enjoy drink specials starting at $1. The Tortugas will finish their homestand with an Independence Day Weekend celebration on Friday night at The Jack, featuring the biggest postgame fireworks show of the season.

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