FSL1 Daytona Tortugas

Lakeland Spoils 'Tugas Five-Run Comeback

Published on June 5, 2015 under Florida State League (FSL1)
Daytona Tortugas News Release


Lakeland, FL - The Tortugas (32-23) lost a heart-breaker on Friday night at Joker Marchant Stadium, overcoming a 5-1 deficit to take a 6-5 lead in the ninth, only to watch the Lakeland Flying Tigers (27-27) plate a pair in the bottom half to walk off with a 7-6 win.

The teams entered the ninth inning tied at 5-5, when Scott Sitz (W, 1-1) loaded the bases by walking RF Sebastian Elizalde, hitting 1B Chad Wallach with a pitch, and surrendering a single to 3B Taylor Sparks. After a pop out, SS Carlton Daal hit a sacrifice just deep enough to right field, scoring Elizalde from third with the go-ahead run.

RHP El'Hajj Muhammad (BS, 3)(L, 4-2), who had recorded a save in five of Daytona's last seven wins, ran into trouble early in the bottom of the ninth. Dominic Ficiocello singled to right, Ben Verlander drilled a ground-rule double to left center, and Francisco Martinez tied the game with a looping liner over the leap of 2B Wendell Soto. Two batters later, Grayson Greiner smacked a single past the dive of Sparks at third to win the ballgame.

Much like Thursday's series opener, Daytona struck first but could not hold an early lead. After Sparks led off the second inning with his fifth homer of the year, Lakeland responded with a five-spot in the bottom of the frame. A walk and a pair of singles off Reds No. 15 prospect RHP Sal Romanostarted the rally, which featured a two-run triple from Jiwan James and a two-run double from Javier Betancourt.

Romano settled down considerably from there, allowing just two hits the rest of the way before leaving the game after five innings. He surrendered five runs on eight hits with three walks and five strikeouts, and his fastball was consistently clocked at 96-98 on the radar gun.

Meanwhile, the Tortugas got Romano off the hook for the loss with four unanswered runs. LF Phillip Ervin drew a leadoff walk in the fifth, and moved to third on a single from SS Alex Blandino, who drew three walks on the night. RF Sebastian Elizalde then ripped a double to the wall in right center, scoring both runners to draw Daytona within 5-3.

Elizalde delivered again in the sixth against Will Clinard, who loaded the bases on two walks and a single. He blooped a pitch to shallow right center - just beyond the outstretched glove of second baseman Javier Betancourt - to score a pair and tie the game at 5-5.

With RHP Alejandro Chacin pitching lights-out relief (2.2 innings, no hits, two walks, five strikeouts), the score remained even until the ninth inning.

With Tampa's 1-0 walk-off win over Clearwater, the Tortugas now have a four-game lead in the Florida State League North Division with 15 games remaining in the first half. The Tortugas finish the three-game series with the Flying Tigers on Saturday night at 6:00 p.m. ET, with RHP Barrett Astin (3-1, 2.17 ERA) scheduled to face Matt Crouse (2-1, 1.05 ERA).

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 5:50 p.m. ET. The team will return home on Monday, June 8th to start a seven-game home stand against the Tampa Yankees and St. Lucie Mets. This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.

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Florida State League Stories from June 5, 2015


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