Daytona Delivers Dramatics
April 8, 2016 - Florida State League (FSL1)
Daytona Tortugas News Release
Daytona Beach, FL - The Daytona Tortugas walked-off in the tenth inning, 5-4, on an RBI single by Avain Rachal to beat the Brevard County Manatees Thursday night at Radiology Associates Field at Jackie Robinson Ballpark. The Tortugas scored the final four runs of the game, jumpstarted by a Rachal homerun in the seventh. Major League rehabber Jon Moscot earned a no decision for his 3 2/3 innings of work.
The Tortugas struck first, getting on the board in the third inning. Jonathan Reynoso tripled over the head of Clint Coulter in right field to begin the frame, before coming down to score one batter later on a Blake Trahan groundout to shortstop. But the Tortugas wouldn't score again until the seventh.
Meanwhile, Brevard got on the board in the sixth inning, aided by some Tortuga miscues. George Iskenderian reached on a two-base error by Rachal at first to start the visiting half of the sixth. He then advanced on a groundout and came in to score on a Trahan error at shortstop, the second of the inning, to get the Manatees on the board.
Brevard broke the 1-1 tie an inning later, when Dustin DeMuth launched a two-run homer deep to right field against reliever Brennan Bernardino. Already leading 3-1, Dustin Houle added on with an RBI double against reliever Alex Powers later in the inning.
With a 4-1 lead in the seventh, Brevard manager Joe Ayrault turned to his bullpen. Reliever Kaleb Earls was greeted with a home run to left field by Rachal, the first batter the righthander faced.
With Daytona trailing 4-2 in the home half of the eighth, it became the Tortugas turn to capitalize on some shaky fielding. Trahan reached to begin the inning on a throwing error by shortstop Angel Ortega on a relatively routine play. He was then knocked in one batter later when Brian O'Grady laced a triple to dead centerfield. The very next pitch was uncorked to the backstop by Earls, allowing O'Grady to score without a play, tying the game at four.
Daytona stranded two men in scoring position in the inning, a common theme on both sides, passing up a golden opportunity to regain the lead. It was Brevard's turn in the 10th, wasting an opportunity to jump ahead in extra innings. With a runner at third and one out, Ortega bounced a ball to Taylor Sparks at third base who was able to cut down the runner, Jose Cuas, at home to end the threat.
Kender Villegas got the extra frame for Brevard and proceeded to strike out the first two batters he faced. But it was Angelo Gumbs who followed with a sharp single to left field to extend the inning. After a Sparks walk, Rachal played hero with the game-winning hit on a bloop single to left field.
RHP Jon Moscot went 3 2/3 innings, allowing six baserunners, no runs, and struck out a batter. The Manatees were 1-for-7 against Moscot with men in scoring position. RHP Jake Ehret got the win in his Daytona debut, allowing no hits in two innings, while striking out three. RHP Kender Villegas was saddled with the loss, allowing the walk-off in his 2/3 innings of work.
The Tortugas are right back at it Friday night, when they travel to Brevard County for game two of this series. First pitch is schedule for 7:05 PM, with the pregame show beginning at 6:50 on AM 1230 and AM 1490 WSBB.
NOTES: The two teams combined to go 2-for-26 with RISP...Taylor Sparks stole two bases for the first time since July 30, 2014...Ayvain Rachal hit his first home run in 25 games (August 5, 2015 vs. Cedar Rapid Kernels...Daytona has now beaten Brevard County on opening night in back-to-back years after losing the previous seven.
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