Opportune hits key back-to-back big innings in Saturday blowout
JUPITER, Fla—Bernard Moon and Alfredo Alcantara each had a home run and three RBI and the Daytona Tortugas scored four runs in back-to-back innings to quickly pull away from the Jupiter Hammerheads 10-1 on Saturday night at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium.
Daytona (19-22, 48-59) only recorded six hits, but took advantage of a litany of free baserunners and a pair of errors surrendered by Jupiter (17-24, 47-60) to take control of the penultimate game of an 11-game road trip.
The first three innings flew by as few offensive opportunities arose for either side. Against Daytona starter Ovis Portes, Jupiter recorded a one-out baserunner in each of the first two innings. Two men reached with one out in the third, but Portes retired the last two, finishing off 3.0 scoreless innings.
On the other side, Daytona had absolutely no answer for Jupiter starter Nate Payne, who threw 3.0 perfect innings, going nine-up, nine-down with five strikeouts.
In the fourth, though, the Hammerheads went to the bullpen and Daytona pounced. A hit batter and walk put two on with no outs. Two batters later, Moon singled to right to drive in the first run. After a walk, Alcantara was plunked for the first of three times on the night, forcing in a second run. Peyton Holt then lined a two-out, two-run hit to left, stretching the lead to 4-0.
One inning later, Daytona doubled the lead. An error and two walks loaded the bases with no outs for Moon, whose fielder’s choice drove in a run. Moon then took off for second, and the throw sailed into center field, scoring a runner from third. With two outs, Alcantara crushed a two-run homer, raising the lead to 8-0.
On the mound, Zach Murray (1-2) took the hill in the fourth and worked around a hit and a walk in his 2.0 innings, striking out a pair in his scoreless frames, putting himself in line for his first professional win.
Victor Diaz came on in the sixth and did allow a two-out RBI in the inning to Carter Johnson, scoring Jupiter’s lone run. However, he bounced back with a scoreless seventh as he too worked 2.0 innings.
Daytona, meanwhile, added a couple more runs late. With two outs in the seventh, Moon crushed a line drive over the left field fence for his fourth home run of the season, driving in his third run of the night with a solo shot that made it 9-1, Daytona.
In the ninth, Mason Neville narrowly missed his first professional home run, ripping a line drive off the right field wall for a long RBI single, his first RBI as a pro.
With a large lead, Gabe Starks faced minimal trouble recording the final six outs. After a 1-2-3 eighth, he allowed a one-out hit in the ninth, but induced a 6-4-3 double play to end the game, closing out a 10-1 win.
Daytona will finish the series against the Jupiter Hammerheads on Sunday afternoon at noon. Pregame coverage from Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium with the Voice of the Tortugas, Brennan Mense, will begin on MiLB.tv and the Tortugas Radio Network at 11:50 a.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.
