Unlucky Number 13th for Daytona in 6-5 Loss
May 31, 2017 - Florida State League (FSL1) - Daytona Tortugas News Release
PORT ST. LUCIE, FL - Patrick Mazeika's one out single in the 13th inning gave St. Lucie a 6-5 win over the Daytona Tortugas Wednesday night at First Data Field. It was the second walk-off win of the year for the Mets, who have won six straight home games against Daytona this season.
The Tortugas started the scoring the same way as they did Tuesday night, with Gavin LaValley hitting a solo home run in the fourth inning. LaValley has now homered in three consecutive games for the first time in his career.
After retiring the first nine batters faced, RHP Wendolyn Bautista loaded up the bases with nobody out in the fourth. A walk and a pair of singles filled the bags, before Mazeika grounded into a double play with a bouncer to first. Wuilmer Beccera then followed with another ground out to first to limit the damage, keeping it a 1-1 game after four.
Daytona would use their power once again in the sixth, when Shed Long line his ninth home run of the year to the left field corner for a 2-1 lead. Three of his nine home runs have come against St. Lucie in just five games played.
However, the lead was short lived once again. After a one out walk in the home half, Bautista surrendered a game-tying RBI triple to JC Rodriguez, one of three hits he had on the night. The next batter, Jhoan Urena, drove him home with a fly ball to left field to give St. Lucie it's first lead of the game, 3-2. It was Urena's third go-ahead RBI of the series.
RHP Johnny Magliozzi came on in the eighth inning to try and protect the lead, but followed by walking the bases loaded with two outs. With two strikes in the count, Chadwick Tromp laced a bases-clearing double down the left field line to give Daytona a 5-3 lead. It was Tromp's first career hit against St. Lucie in two season with Daytona.
RHP Zack Weiss, making his first appearance since September 7, 2015, struck out the first two batters he faced in the bottom of the eighth. He then induced a ground ball to first off the bat of John Mora, which snuck under LaValley's glove for a two-base error. Rodriguez followed with a line drive single to right field to score Mora and cut the deficit in half, chasing Weiss from the game.
RHP Jake Ehret came on and allowed a double to Jhoan Urena on the first pitch he threw, coughing up the lead and blowing his first save of the year.
The game would remain tied at five all the way to the 13th. Daytona left runners in scoring position in the 11th and 12th innings, striking out a total of 19 times in the game.
RHP Sandy Lugo, working in his third inning of relief, gave up a leadoff single to Mora in the 13th. After a Rodriguez fly out advanced Mora to second, Lugo intentionally walked Urena and handing things over to LHP Juan Martinez. Brought on to face the left swinging Mazeika, Martinez allowed a pay-off pitch line drive single to center for the walk-off win.
LHP Kevin Canelon (1-0) earned the win, after striking out the side in the 13th. Lugo (3-2) took the loss, allowing the winning run in his 2 1/3 innings.
The Tortugas continue the series in St. Lucie Thursday. RHP Jonathan Crawford (0-3, 3.54) gets the ball for Daytona against RHP Joe Shaw (3-4, 4.88). First pitch is set for 6:30 PM with The Metcare Pregame Show beginning at 6:20 PM on AM 1230 and AM 1490 WSBB.
Notes: Daytona has lost six straight games in St. Lucie, dating back to July, 2015. They have been outscored 35-11 over the six games...Daytona has dropped four straight one-run games and are now 8-8 this season in one-run games overall...The Tortugas have clubbed 12 home runs in their last 12 games. LaValley has six home runs in his last 13 games, while Long has three home runs in his last four
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