Junior Arias Homers Twice in 8-4 Win Friday
August 21, 2015 - Florida State League (FSL1)
Daytona Tortugas News Release
Tampa, FL - The Daytona Tortugas (34-19, 70-52) pushed their winning streak to four in a row with an 8-4 victory over the Tampa Yankees (26-29, 60-65) on Friday night at Steinbrenner Field.
Reigning Florida State League Pitcher of the Week RHP Nick Travieso (W, 6-5) dominated again, holding the Yankees to one run on four hits with a walk and seven strikeouts in six innings. He surrendered a pair of doubles that plated a run in the second, but allowed just two base knocks the rest of the way. In four starts since returning from the disabled list, Travieso is 3-0 with a 1.00 ERA (2 earned runs in 18 innings).
CF Junior Arias put together perhaps Daytona's finest offensive effort of the season. He went 4-for-5 with a pair of two-run homers, a double, a stolen base and three runs scored. Arias now has nine hits in his last 12 at bats, including three long balls.
LF Jeff Gelalich started the scoring in the second, cashing in a 3B Taylor Sparks double with an RBI single to left field. Arias made it 3-1 in the third inning with his first homer, a two-run bomb off the left field scoreboard.
Much like Thursday's game, both teams were held scoreless through the middle innings. Daytona struck again in the top of the seventh when Arias singled, stole second base and hustled home on an infield single from 1B Daniel Pigott to give the Tortugas a 4-1 advantage.
Daytona broke the game open with a four-spot in the eighth inning, which turned out to be the decisive frame. C Chad Wallach and Gelalich started the inning with singles, and moved up to third on a groundout. DH Brian O'Grady was called upon to pinch hit, and lined a two-run single to right field. With O'Grady on first, Arias unloaded again, drilling a line drive homer to left that left the yard in an instant. By the end of the inning, Daytona had an 8-1 cushion.
After two scoreless innings of one-hit relief from RHP El'Hajj Muhammad, the Yankees rallied off RHP Jimmy Moran in the ninth. Five singles plated three runs and loaded the bases with two outs. RHP Alejandro Chacin (S, 8) came in to face the tying run with an 8-4 lead, and managed to strike out Dustin Fowler to end the game.
Gelalich produced a three-hit night to boost his average to .259, and Wallach contributed another multi-hit performance that included a pair of walks.
The Tortugas have collected 12 hits in each of the first two games in the series, which concludes on Saturday night at Steinbrenner Field. RHP Jackson Stephens (12-6, 2.92 ERA) will take the mound as Daytona goes for the sweep at 6:00 p.m. ET. Fans can listen to the action on AM 1230 and AM 1490 WSBB, starting with the D.B. Pickles Pregame Show at 5:50 p.m. ET.
Florida State League Stories from August 21, 2015
- Tampa Bats Wake up Late in 8-4 Loss - Tampa Yankees
- Junior Arias Homers Twice in 8-4 Win Friday - Daytona Tortugas
- Hammerheads Blank Stone Crabs 3-0 - Charlotte Stone Crabs
- Clearwater Comes up Short in 6-5 Loss - Clearwater Threshers
- D-Jays Shut out by Lakeland, 4-0 - Dunedin Blue Jays
- Marauders Crush Fort Myers 9-3 - Bradenton Marauders
- Cardinals Come Back to Edge Mets 3-2 - St. Lucie Mets
- Marauders Sink Miracle, 9-3, to Even Series - Fort Myers Mighty Mussels
- Utne Named FSL Athletic Trainer of the Year - Daytona Tortugas
- Threshers Win Big over Manatees, 11-1 - Clearwater Threshers
- Hammerheads Take Opener 3-1 - Charlotte Stone Crabs
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