Tortugas Walk-Off Tuesday
April 26, 2016 - Florida State League (FSL1)
Daytona Tortugas News Release
Daytona Beach, FL - Brian O'Grady's second home run of the year walked the Daytona Tortugas off, 5-3, over the Clearwater Threshers Tuesday night at Jackie Robinson Ballpark. Daytona has won back-to-back games for the first time since the first two games of the season, as they beat the first-place Threshers for the first time in 2016.
Clearwater struck first, scoring a run in each of the first two frames against Daytona starter RHP Wyatt Strahan. Strahan would then settle in and blank the Threshers over his final four innings.
Daytona awoke the offense in the fourth against RHP Tom Eshelman. Jonathan Reynoso laid down a perfect bunt with a runner at third to get the Tortugas on the board with one away. It marked the third consecutive game with an RBI for Reynoso. Jeff Gelalich followed two batters later with a sacrifice fly to left field, his first RBI of the year, to knot the score at two.
Daytona would take their first lead of the night an inning later when Taylor Sparks launched his first homer of the year high over the left field fence, putting Daytona on top 3-2.
After Strahan's six innings and no-decision, LHP Brennan Bernardino stranded the bases loaded in the top of the seventh, keeping the lead with Daytona. However, in the eighth, RHP Jake Ehret surrendered the lead on a Herlis Rodriguez single to right field. Clearwater had loaded up the bases without the benefit of a hit.
Ehret would proceed to retire the next two Threshers, leaving the bases loaded once more and keeping it a 3-3 game.
RHP Jesen Therrien came on in the ninth and proceeded to walk Jeff Gelalich to begin the frame. After striking out Aristides Aquino, O'Grady stepped to the plate and left a hero. He drove a 3-1 pitch deep to right field, leaving no-doubt, to give Daytona their seventh win of the year.
RHP Jimmy Herget (1-1) earned the win after his scoreless ninth inning. Therrien (1-2) suffered the loss after allowing the walk-off.
The Tortugas will be right back at it at Jackie Robinson Ballpark Wednesday morning to continue their series with Clearwater at 10:35 AM. RHP Tejay Antone (1-1, 1.69 ERA) will make the start for the Tortugas against LHP Matt Imhof (1-1, 4.86 ERA). Coverage will begin with the Chili's pre-game show at 10:20 AM on AM 1230 and AM 1490 WSBB.
Notes: It was Daytona's second walk-off win of the year and first since Avain Rachal's game-winning single on Opening Night...Sparks homered for the first time since September 3, 2015...Jeff Gelalich drew three walks in a game for the first time since April 25, 2014.
Florida State League Stories from April 26, 2016
- Bats Come Alive in Loss - Charlotte Stone Crabs
- T-Yanks Crank out Five Home Runs in Third for Win - Dunedin Blue Jays
- Win Streak Snapped in Loss at Daytona - Clearwater Threshers
- Tortugas Walk-Off Tuesday - Daytona Tortugas
- Rosario, Mets Thump Stone Crabs 10-5 - St. Lucie Mets
- Miracle Win Third Straight with 9-1 Victory at Jupiter - Fort Myers Mighty Mussels
- Marauders Rally for Naught - Bradenton Marauders
- Mark Payton Named FSL Player of the Week - Tampa Yankees
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