Tortugas Sweep Yankees
July 6, 2016 - Florida State League (FSL1)
Daytona Tortugas News Release
TAMPA, FL - The Daytona Tortugas (8-3, 44-36) swept the Tampa Yankees (8-6, 50-33) with a 7-0 win Wednesday night at Steinbrenner Field. Brian O'Grady paced the offense with four hits and a pair of RBIs, while Bautista tossed 6 1/3 innings of scoreless baseball to earn his second win of the season, both against Tampa. Daytona allowed just two runs in the three game series.
The game started as a pitchers duel between Bautista and Tampa's RHP Will Carter (1-3), as the pair of starters opened the game with three scoreless innings each. However, the Tortugas finally cracked the scoreboard in the top of the fourth.
Ronald Bueno led the frame off with a double down the left field line and moved to third on a Blake Trahan ground out to set the inning. Brian O'Grady followed with a single laced up the middle to score Bueno and give the Tortugas a 1-0 lead. It was O'Grady's 14th RBI in as many games.
The Tortugas would manufacture a run in their half of the fifth inning. Blake Butler singled and advanced to third on an errant throw by Carter. Chadwick Tromp followed with a ground ball to third base to drive home Butler, doubling the lead, 2-0.
In the eighth inning, Daytona loaded the bases before an Abiatal Avelino error on a ground ball off the bat of Angelo Gumbs allowed Trahan and O'Grady to score for the 4-0 lead.
The Tortugas broke the game open in the ninth on a trio of runs, courtesy of an O'Grady ground rule double, and a two run single by Gavin LaValley, for the 7-0 lead. It was the fourth hit of the night for O'Grady and the single for LaValley extended his hitting streak to 15-games.
Jimmy Moran tossed a scoreless ninth to finish the sweep. Bautista tossed 6 1/3 scoreless innings for his second win in as many starts against Tampa.
The Tortugas outscored the Yankees, who entered the series with the second-highest scoring offense, 15-2 in the three games.
Daytona travels to Brevard County for a quick game against their I-95 rivals at Space Coast Stadium Thursday. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 PM, as RHP Keury Mella (5-5, 3.31 ERA) gets the ball for Daytona against RHP Eric Hanhold (2-10, 4.65 ERA). Coverage begins at 6:20 PM on AM 1230 and AM 1490 WSBB.
Notes: It was the first four-hit game for O'Grady since May 1st, 2015 when he was with the Dayton Dragons...The Tortugas haven't committed an error in their last 27 innings...Daytona earned their fourth series sweep of the season and first in Tampa since August of 2013...The Tortugas are 30-14 since May 16th, the best mark in the FSL...Tampa has lost four straight for the first time this season, becoming the last FSL team to lose four straight...It's the second time this season that Daytona has tossed two shutouts in the same series. -
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Florida State League Stories from July 6, 2016
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