Carlton Daal Drives in Three Runs in Loss
July 5, 2015 - Florida State League (FSL1)
Daytona Tortugas News Release
Tampa, FLÂ - Michael O'Neill's go-ahead two-run homer in the seventh inning powered the Tampa Yankees (5-5, 39-41) past the Daytona Tortugas (5-5, 42-37), 5-4 on Sunday afternoon at Steinbrenner Field.
With LHP Joel Bender (BS, 2)(L, 3-2) on the mound, Miguel Andujar laid down a bunt single, and scored when O'Neill launched a 1-0 fastball over the left field fence to plate the eventual game-winning runs.
It spoiled a standout performance from SS Carlton Daal, who collected three hits, knocked in three runs, and had given Daytona a 4-3 lead in the sixth inning with a two-run single. After a hit batter and a pair of walks loaded the bases with two outs, Daal lined a base hit to center, scoring 1B Robert Ramirez and 3B Taylor Sparks.
Daytona was in control early on thanks to single runs in the first and second inning. 2B Ronald Bueno led off the first inning by coaxing a walk from Gabriel Encinas. He then stole second base and moved up to third on a throwing error from catcher Wes Wilson. Two batters later, RF Sebastian Elizalde roped an RBI double to left center to give Daytona a 1-0 advantage.
In the second, Sparks lined a leadoff single to left field, and swiped second base shortly after. After a groundout from DH Jon Matthews moved Sparks to third, Daal battled Encinas for 12 pitches. He fell behind 0-2, then fouled off seven pitches and took three balls before drilling an RBI double off the left field wall.
Making his second Florida State League start, LHP Seth Varner faced the minimum through his first three innings, but ran into trouble in the fourth when a single from Dustin Fowler scored Jacoby Ellsbury to draw the Yankees within 2-1. Tampa took a 3-2 lead in the fifth inning on an RBI groundout by O'Neill and a run-scoring single from Wes Wilson.
LF Brian O'Grady hit a bloop single to right field in the top of the eighth inning, and has now recorded exactly one hit in each of his first seven games at the Advanced-A level. Sparks extended his hitting streak to five games.
RHP Scott Brattvet (H, 2) pitched a perfect sixth inning in relief of Varner, and RHP El'Hajj Muhammad tossed a hitless ninth despite issuing a pair of walks.
The Tortugas will look to avoid the sweep with a 7:00 p.m. ET finale on Monday at Steinbrenner Field. LHP Nick Routt is scheduled to start against Rookie Davis. 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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