FSL1 Daytona Tortugas

Tortugas Come Alive with 8-1 Win

Published on July 31, 2015 under Florida State League (FSL1)
Daytona Tortugas News Release


Daytona Beach, FL - Two big offensive innings and a gem from RHP Jackson Stephens (W, 10-5) led the Daytona Tortugas (19-14, 56-47) past the Fort Myers Miracle (21-14, 59-46) for the first time in six tries this season. The Tortugas took an 8-1 win on Friday night at Radiology Associates Field at Jackie Robinson Ballpark.

Both teams were held scoreless until the bottom of the third inning, when DH Brian O'Grady sparked a rally with a leadoff infield single to the shortstop.

O'Grady moved to second on a groundout by 2B Carlton Daal, then took third base on the first wild pitch from Kohl Stewart (L, 4-7). Fort Myers brought the infield in, which allowed LF Phillip Ervin to sneak a ground ball through the middle and score O'Grady with the game's first run. CF Junior Arias then grounded a single to center to put two men aboard, and both runners advanced into scoring position on another wild pitch.

2B Alex Blandino made it 2-0 with an RBI groundout to short, and RF Sebastian Elizalde lined a first-pitch single through the middle to score Arias and extend the Tortugas lead to 3-0.

Stephens retired the first 11 hitters he faced until Mitch Garver was hit by a pitch with two outs in the fourth. T.J. White eventually broke up the no-hit bid with a two-out line drive single in the fifth, but Stephens popped up Michael Quesada to end the frame. He finished after six innings and 85 pitches, having allowed just two hits with no walks and five strikeouts.

Daytona's second offensive outburst came in the fourth. Blandino was hit by a pitch to start the inning, and Elizalde promptly drilled a triple to center to drive him in. 3B Taylor Sparks then beat out an infield single to first base, plating Elizalde and extending the Tortugas lead to 5-0. After a pop out, C Joe Hudson hit a gargantuan two-run home run to left field, a towering fly that cleared the fence in the blink of an eye. The 7-0 cushion would be more than enough.

Fort Myers' run came across against RHP Jimmy Moran, who had to work around a leadoff walk and a Ryan Walker double in the seventh inning. He held the Miracle to just a sacrifice fly, and picked up a pair of strikeouts.

1B Chad Wallach re-extended the lead to 8-1 in the eighth inning, cashing in a Sparks walk with an RBI two bagger to left center. The double came off Tyler Jay, the sixth overall pick in the 2015 MLB draft.

LHP Nolan Becker threw a hitless eighth, and RHP Alejandro Chacin struck out the side in the ninth to finish off Fort Myers.

The Tortugas went 4-for-8 with runners in scoring position, and stranded just three men on base while collecting eight hits and drawing four free passes.

Eight Daytona hitters reached base, seven recorded a hit, and seven scored at least one run. Elizalde produced the game's lone multi-hit performance, finishing 2-for-4 with a run and two RBIs.

The Tortugas will send LHP Nick Routt (4-1, 2.81 ERA) to the mound on Saturday against RHP Aaron Slegers (8-5, 2.78 ERA), with first pitch scheduled for 7:05 p.m. ET. Fans can listen to the action on The Great Voice of Volusia County, AM 1230 and AM 140 WSBB, starting with the D.B. Pickles Pregame Show at 6:50 p.m. ET. As with every Saturday home game, fans can enjoy a postgame fireworks spectacular at The Jack.

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Florida State League Stories from July 31, 2015


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