Jamal O’Guinn and Hayden Jones club consecutive decisive home runs for fifth-straight win
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Tied at three entering the bottom of the seventh, it was a pair of 2021 undrafted free agents who stepped into the hero role. PH-LF Jamal O’Guinn poked a go-ahead pinch-hit home run and C Hayden Jones followed with a blast of his own, as the Daytona Tortugas usurped the Jupiter Hammerheads, 7-4, in front of 1,384 fans at Jackie Robinson Ballpark on Wednesday night.
Knotted up, Tortugas manager Gookie Dawkins had a decision to make. With a left-hander on the mound and a left-handed hitter due up, the Daytona skipper called on O’Guinn (1-2, R, HR, RBI) to try and ignite a rally. On the very first pitch he saw, the Fresno, Calif. native demolished a 441-foot blast into the leaves of a palm tree to the left of the batter’s eye. O’Guinn’s second blast of the season put Daytona (29-35) in front, 4-3.
Four pitches later, it was Jones’ (2-3, R, HR, RBI) turn. The 22-year-old rifled a line drive off the manual scoreboard in left for another solo jack. Jones’ third blast of the season stretched the Tortugas’ lead back to two, 5-3.
However, the onslaught did not stop there. With two outs, DH Jack Rogers (2-4, R, 2 SO) poked a single to left and scooted around to third on a double to the left-hand side from 1B Yassel Pino (1-4, R, 2B, SO). SS Steven Leyton (2-4, 2 RBI, SO) followed by punching a 3-2 delivery into left-center. Two runs scored, placing Daytona in front by four, 7-3, while the infielder was thrown out trying to stretch the knock to a double, ending the fray.
Jupiter (33-30) mustered another run in the eighth when 3B José Salas (2-4, 2 R, 2B, HR, 2 RBI) double down the left-field line and ultimately scored on a fielding error that came off the lumber of 2B Ian Lewis (0-4, RBI, SO).
Three runs, though, were as close as the Hammerheads would get the rest of the night. RHP Owen Holt (2.0 IP, H, R, ER, 3 SO) struck out Jupiter in order in the ninth to seal the Tortugas’ 7-4 victory.
Daytona started fast, scoring a pair in the opening inning. On the first pitch of the bottom of the first, 2B Tyler Callihan (2-3, R, HR, RBI, BB) powered a colossal drive beyond the fence in right-center field for a solo home run. The Neptune Beach, Fla. resident’s third clout of the season granted an early 1-0 cushion.
CF Jay Allen II (0-3, R, BB, SO) added another run in the inning. The 19-year-old followed Callihan’s home run with a walk before promptly stealing second and third. Allen would ultimately score on a wild pitch to make it a two-run affair.
After trading runs in the second on wild pitches, Jupiter tied the game in the third. Following a one-out free pass to SS Kahlil Watson (0-3, R, BB), Salas scalded a two-run shot into the auxiliary parking beyond the right-field wall. The 19-year-old’s fourth home run of the campaign tied the game at three.
Neither starter factored into the decision on Wednesday. RHP Chase Petty (5.0 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 2 SO) did not have his best stuff for the Tortugas, but kept his team in the contest and matched a career-best with five frames of work. RHP Jordan Holloway (2.0 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 4 SO) yielded three runs in two innings on a rehab start for the Hammerheads.
Daytona’s RHP Juan Abril (2.0 IP, BB, SO) hoisted two hitless innings, garnering his first win of the season out of the bullpen. LHP Luis Palacios (5.0 IP, 9 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 3 SO) was saddled with his fourth defeat in relief for Jupiter.
We celebrate love and equality in addition to the biggest party in Central Florida returning to the World’s Most Famous Beach as the series continues on Thursday. It will be the Tortugas’ annual Pride Night at the ballpark featuring special honorees and uniforms that Daytona players and coaches will wear. Those jerseys will be auctioned off throughout the season. It is another Thirsty Thursday™ presented by Bud Light, as well. All fans will be able to beat the heat and enjoy their favorite draft beer or fountain soda for as low as $1 at concession and beer stands throughout the night
The Tortugas are expected to hand the ball to 20-year-old RHP Reynardo Cruz (0-3, 5.85) on Thursday night. The Hammerheads are scheduled to counter with RHP Edgar Sánchez (4-2, 3.88). Coverage on the Tortugas Radio Network will begin on the MiLB First Pitch app and www.daytonatortugas.com at 6:50 p.m. leading up to the 7:05 p.m. first pitch from Jackie Robinson Ballpark
Season tickets, multi-game plans, group packages, and single-game tickets are currently available and can be purchased online at www.daytonatortugas.com or by calling the Tortugas’ Ticket Office at (386) 257-3172.
ABOUT THE DAYTONA TORTUGAS
The Daytona Tortugas are the Single-A Affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds and a member of Minor League Baseball’s Florida State League. The Tortugas play at Jackie Robinson Ballpark in downtown Daytona Beach, Fla. 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.
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