Steady Offensive Performance Leads Tortugas
April 22, 2017 - Florida State League (FSL1)
Daytona Tortugas News Release
DAYTONA BEACH, FL - The Daytona Tortugas got back to .500 with a 5-3 victory over the St. Lucie Mets Friday evening in front of 2,685 fans at Radiology Associates Field at Jackie Robinson Ballpark.
For the sixth time in the last seven games, Daytona's opponent scored the first run of the contest when Patrick Mazeika singled home John Mora to give St. Lucie the lead after a half inning, 1-0.
Blake Butler, hitting first in the order for the first time this season, made an instant impact for the Tortugas. He singled, along with Shed Long, and Nick Senzel reached on an error to load the bases for Gavin LaValley. The Tortugas first baseman hit a sac-fly to center, scoring Butler to tie the game at one after the first frame.
The scoring picked back up in the bottom of the fifth. After Reydel Medina doubled to lead things off, Butler lined his first double of the season into the left field corner to score him and give Daytona the lead, 2-1. Butler recorded his first three-hit game since May 27, 2016.
The Tortugas added three more runs in the following frame. LaValley doubled for the second consecutive night to set up Narciso Crook. Crook slammed his second homer of 2017 392 feet to left field to make it 4-1. Alfredo Rodriguez and Medina singles laid the foundation for Mitch Piatnik to lay down a bunt single, scoring Rodriguez, to round out the Daytona scoring for the evening.
RHP Jesus Reyes was fairly effective in limited action. He had to leave his start after four innings due to a high pitch count. He tossed four innings of one run ball and yielded five hits and two walks. RHP Jake Paulson (2-1) faced the minimum over three innings, walking one and fanning three. RHP Robert Stock pitched the final two innings, permitting two eighth inning runs, three hits, and a walk, while striking out three.
RHP Nabil Crismatt (1-1) went 5+ innings, surrendering nine hits, five earned runs, and punched out eight.
The middle game of the series will be held on Saturday evening at the Jack. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PM with pregame at 6:45 PM on AM 1230 and AM 1490 WSBB. LHP Ty Boyles (0-1, 2.00) gets the ball for Daytona against RHP Joe Shaw (0-1, 11.25).
Notes: Blake Butler had his first three-hit game since May 27th of last season. He was the leadoff hitter that night as well in a 13-1 loss at Dunedin... Gavin LaValley has now notched an extra-base hit in five of his last six games... Mitch Piatnik had his second two-hit game of 2017 and brought in his first run of the year with his bunt single in the sixth.
• Discuss this story on the Florida State League message board...
Florida State League Stories from April 22, 2017
- Steady Offensive Performance Leads Tortugas - Daytona Tortugas
- Steady Performance Leads Tortugas by Mets - Daytona Tortugas
- Thirteen Hits Not Enough in Loss - Dunedin Blue Jays
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
Other Recent Daytona Tortugas Stories
- Wild Wednesday Walk-off Evens Series
- Cabrera Extends Hit Streak in Shutout Loss
- Ricardo Cabrera Named Florida State League Player of the Week
- Tortugas Hit Three Homers, But Late Bradenton Rally Leads to 8-7 Loss
- Big Hit, Big Throws Key Tortugas to Series-Clinching Win
