FSL1 Daytona Tortugas

Arias' Late Homer Snaps Three-Game Skid

Published on June 6, 2015 under Florida State League (FSL1)
Daytona Tortugas News Release


Daytona Tortugas CF Junior Arias
Daytona Tortugas CF Junior Arias
(Daytona Tortugas, Credit: Aldrin Capulong)

Lakeland, FL - The Daytona Tortugas (33-23) edged out the Lakeland Flying Tigers (27-28) for a much-needed 3-2 win on Saturday night at Joker Marchant Stadium, snapping a season-high three-game losing streak and preserving a four-game division lead in the process.

The Tortugas held a 1-0 lead through the first six innings, thanks to a first-inning RBI single from SS Alex Blandino and another strong performance from RHP Barrett Astin (W, 4-1). He held the Flying Tigers to just three hits and three walks through 6.2 innings, but Lakeland rallied to take the lead with two outs in the seventh.

Francisco Martinez singled to right, stole second, and scored the tying run on a ground-rule double by Bobby Borchering. Grayson Greiner, who produced a walk-off single in Friday's game, dropped a single in front of RF Sebastian Elizalde to score Borchering and give Lakeland a 2-1 lead.

With just six outs remaining, the Tortugas were in danger of dropping their fourth consecutive game and seeing their division lead narrowed to three. That was until the top of the eighth, when LF Philip Ervin lined a single to left, and CF Junior Arias drilled a laserbeam home run over the left-field fence to regain a 3-2 advantage for Daytona. Those were the first runs allowed by Lakeland reliever Julio Felix (L, 3-1) since April 30.

Pitching for the first time in six days, LHP Nolan Becker (H, 1) tossed a 1-2-3 eighth inning. In the ninth, 2014 19th overall pick RHP Nick Howard (S, 1) was brought in for his first save opportunity of the season, in Daytona's most important game of the year to date.

Howard allowed a leadoff single to Dominic Ficociello, but then induced a 5-4-3 double play off the bat of Ben Verlander. Martinez extended the inning with an infield single to the shortstop hole, putting the tying run aboard with two outs. The next batter was Borchering, who unloaded on a pitch to deep right field. The Joker Marchant Stadium crowd of 3,240 rose to its feet, but Elizalde drifted back to the wall -- about 340 feet from home plate -- and hauled in the final out

The top of Daytona's order had another strong night, as Ervin, Arias, Blandino and Elizalde combined for seven hits in 16 at bats with three doubles, three RBIs and three runs scored.

Tampa completed a three-game sweep of Clearwater, which means the Tortugas still have a four-game lead in the Florida State League North Division with 14 games remaining in the first half. After Sunday's off day, the Tortugas will begin a week-long homestand and a four-game series with the St. Lucie Mets.

RHP Jackson Stephens (4-2, 3.27 ERA) is scheduled to start the opener for Daytona. As with every Daytona Tortugas game, fans can tune in to the action on AM 1230 and AM 1490 WSBB, starting with the D.B. Pickles Pregame Show at 6:50 p.m. ET.

As part of Belly-Buster Monday, fans can enjoy Taste of Daytona, sponsored by U.S. Foods, an all-you-can-eat sampling of food from some of the finest restaurants in Volusia County.

Check out the Daytona Tortugas Statistics

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Images from this story

Daytona Tortugas CF Junior Arias
Daytona Tortugas CF Junior Arias
(Aldrin Capulong)		   



Florida State League Stories from June 6, 2015


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