Daytona held to one hit, allows 18 hits as St. Lucie squares series
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla.—The Daytona Tortugas took the lead early on, but the St. Lucie Mets unleased an offensive avalanche to bury the Tortugas in a 14-1 shellacking on Wednesday night at Clover Park.
St. Lucie (16-9, 50-40) ripped 18 hits, the most allowed by Daytona (13-11, 41-49) this season, while the 13-run margin matched the worst margin of defeat for the Tortugas this season.
In the top of the first inning, the Tortugas jumped in front right away. With one out, Alfredo Duno walked, then he chugged all the way home on Esmith Pineda’s double into the left field corner. Pineda’s 50th RBI of the season put Daytona ahead 1-0.
On the mound, rehabbing right-hander Mason Pelio made his first appearance in a Tortugas uniform since 2023 and looked sharp out the gate, throwing a 1-2-3 first. He allowed a leadoff single in the second, but brushed that aside by retiring the next three hitters.
In the third, though, St. Lucie jumped in front. Two walks began the inning, then Jeremy Rodriguez followed with a single to right. One run scored, while a throwing error on the tail end of the play scored a run. After another hit put runners on the corners, a fielder’s choice brought home Rodriguez for a 3-1 lead.
Two innings later, St. Lucie took advantage of a key miscue to blow the game open. A walk and single put two on before an error on the infield loaded the bases. A strikeout followed that would’ve ended the inning if not for the miscue, but St. Lucie stayed at the plate. Yonatan Henriquez then singled in two runs and Nick Rosselli looped an RBI single. Simon Juan then ripped a two-run triple to right-center, driving in the final two runs of a five-run frame (all unearned) that opened up an 8-1 advantage for the Mets.
The night did not get any better. The Mets reached double figures with two runs in the seventh as Juan and Rodriguez stroked two-out RBI singles. They piled on in the eighth, as St. Lucie began the inning with five straight hits, leading to four runs to build a 14-1 cushion.
Daytona’s offense had absolutely no answers for the St. Lucie pitching after the first inning. The Tortugas drew nine walks, but the Pineda double was the only for Daytona as the Tortugas suffered a lopsided defeat.
Daytona will finish the four-game series in Port St. Lucie against the St. Lucie Mets with a doubleheader on Thursday. First pitch from Clover Park will be at 11:10 a.m. for the first game, with game two beginning approximately 40 minutes after the conclusion of game one. Pregame coverage with the Voice of the Tortugas, Brennan Mense, will begin on the Tortugas Radio Network at 6:00 p.m.
Tickets for every Tortugas home game are available on our website, by calling 386-257-3172, or by visiting the Jackie Robinson Ballpark box office at 110 E. Orange Avenue.
ABOUT THE DAYTONA TORTUGAS
The Daytona Tortugas are in their tenth season as the Single-A Affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds and a member of Minor League Baseball’s Florida State League. The Tortugas play at historic Jackie Robinson Ballpark in Daytona Beach, Florida that was recently designated a National Commemorative Site. Jackie Robinson Ballpark also plays host to Bethune-Cookman University, the Jackie Robinson Ballpark Museum, and many community events and initiatives of all sizes throughout the year.
