Tortugas One-Hit by Miracle in 4-0 Defeat
July 31, 2015 - Florida State League (FSL1)
Daytona Tortugas News Release
Daytona Beach, FL - The Daytona Tortugas (18-14, 55-47) were held to one infield single in Thursday's 4-0 loss to the Fort Myers Miracle (21-14, 59-46) at Radiology Associates Field at Jackie Robinson Ballpark.
LHP Seth Varner (L, 1-3) battled through 4.2 innings, allowing just two earned runs on a pair of solo homers - one from Mitch Garver in the first and one from Logan Wade in the third - while striking out seven and walking two.
The long balls had Daytona behind 2-0 early, and Fort Myers added an unearned run off Varner in the fourth. Chad Christensen singled, T.J. White reached on an error and Zack Granite lined a two-out RBI single to center two batters later.
The Miracle made it 4-0 in the sixth inning with another unearned run, this time off RHP Evan Mitchell. After a one-out single from Tanner Vavra, Granite hit a double play ball to third base. 2B Alex Blandino got the first out at second, but he bounced his throw to first base, allowing Granite to reach second. Engelb Vielma followed with an RBI single to center to cap the scoring.
Mitchell finished after 1.1 innings, and turned the ball over to RHP Carlos Gonzalez and RHP El'Hajj Muhammad, who combined to throw three hitless innings. Muhammad struck out two batters in the ninth.
Stephen Gonsalves (W, 5-1) issued three walks but recorded eight strikeouts and held the Tortugas without a hit through five innings. With one out in the seventh, Trevor Hildenberger (H, 1) allowed Daytona's only hit, an infield single by 3B Taylor Sparks. The ball was grounded to the right side, and first baseman Michael Quesada took several steps over to make a backhand play. As Hildenberger hustled from the mound to cover the bag, Quesada flipped high and wide to first, and the ball glanced of Hildenberger's glove. Sparks had sprinted down the line, which would have made it a bang-bang play with a good toss.
Daytona Beach native Vince Carter signed autographs and took photos with fans and players alike on the riverwalk before Thursday's game.
The Miracle are now 5-0 against the Tortugas this season. Daytona will send RHP Jackson Stephens (9-5, 3.35 ERA) to the mound to face Kohl Stewart (4-6, 3.14 ERA) for Game 2 on Friday. The first 1,000 fans will receive a free Shelldon Gnome.
First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. ET, and 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.
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