FSL1 Daytona Tortugas

Herget Holds in Ninth

Published on May 21, 2016 under Florida State League (FSL1)
Daytona Tortugas News Release


Daytona Beach, FL - Jimmy Herget worked around a bases loaded jam, as the Daytona Tortugas held on for a 4-3 victory over the St. Lucie Mets Saturday night at Radiology Associates Field at Jackie Robinson Ballpark. Keury Mella won his third straight start, as Daytona has taken five of their last six.

St. Lucie struck first, using a pair of Daytona errors to score an unearned run in the top of the first against Mella. Michael Katz drove in Luis Guillorme with an RBI single to right field.

Daytona evened the score in the home half of the third, when Garrett Boulware led off the fram with a 10-pitch at-bat, resulting in a walk. He moved to third on back-to-back outs before scampering home on a Chris Flexen wild pitch.

St. Lucie gift wrapped Daytona's second an inning later, as well. Blake Trahan led off with a double down the right field line to extend his on-base streak to 27 games, the longest in the FSL this season. On an attempted steal to third, Trahan cruised home when catcher Tomas Nido airmailed his throw into left field.

St. Lucie would get the run back in the top of the fifth, on the only earned run allowed by Mella. Champ Stuart was hit by a pitch with one out and later came in to score on a Wuilmer Becerra single to left field.

Leading off the home half, the tie was broken on Gavin LaValley's first career Tortuga hit, a home run to left field. For LaValley, the 420 foot homer was his first since last August with Dayton (A).

RHP Nick Howard relieved Mella and walked two of the three batters he faced in the eighth. Howard gave way to RHP Evan Mitchell, who proceeded to strike out both batters faced to strand the tying run at third base.

The Tortugas added some insurance in the bottom half, when Angelo Gumbs laced a single down the third base line to score Blake Butler with two outs in the frame. The extra run would prove to be the difference.

RHP Jimmy Herget came on to shut the door in the ninth, pitching on back-to-back days for just the second time this season. After getting four outs Friday, Herget opened up Saturday by walking two of the first three batters he faced. After an Amed Rosario single to right loaded the bases, Herget induced an infield pop up from Becerra. With one out to go, Herget walked Michael Katz to push across a run, moving the tying run to third base in the process. With the bases full of Mets and one out to go, leading by one, Herget closed out the win by getting John Mora to fly out to left field, leaving the 12th man on base for St. Lucie.

Mella (4-4) won his third straight start, allowing an earned run in seven innings, while striking out eight. Flexen took the loss, surrendering three runs in 6 2/3 innings. Herget escaped the ninth for his 11th consecutive save and eighth this season, second most in the league.

The series continues Sunday evening with a 5:35 PM first pitch. LHP Seth Varner (3-1, 2.35 ERA) will get the start for the Tortugas against RHP Josh Oswalt (2-1, 5.00 ERA). Coverage will begin with the Chili's pre-game show at 5:20 PM on AM 1230 and AM 1490 WSBB.

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Florida State League Stories from May 21, 2016


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