Tortugas break tie with nine-run eighth to win earn first road series win of ‘25
JUPITER, Fla—Bernard Moon had two doubles, a homer, and a steal of home amidst a four-hit, six-RBI day, and the Daytona Tortugas broke open a tie game with a franchise-record nine-run eighth inning to lead a 16-6 rout of the Jupiter Hammerheads on Sunday afternoon at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium.
Daytona (2-1, 31-38) pounded out 18 hits for the second time in three days as they scored 36 runs in the final three games against Jupiter (1-2, 31-38), earning the Tortugas’ first road series win of the season.
Out of the gate, neither team accomplished much offensively. Daytona’s Juan Martinez threw a 1-2-3 first, then allowed a one-out double in the second, but worked around that with a popup and a groundout.
In the third, though, a leadoff single was followed by a walk. After a soft lineout, a single to right loaded the bases with one out for PJ Morlando, who flied out to the wall in right for a sacrifice fly, scoring the game’s first run. Dillon Head followed by slicing a double down the left field line, scoring two more runs. Martinez then was lifted for Drew Pestka. Head then stole third and came home on a passed ball, giving Jupiter a 4-0 lead.
After recording just two singles over three scoreless innings against Liomar Martinez, Daytona jumped on the Jupiter starter in the fourth. Sanchez led off with a single, then Sammy Stafura walked. Moon followed with a two-run double down the left-field line, scoring both runners to cut the lead in half. Kyle Henley then laid down a bunt single to put runners on the corners. Henley and Moon then pulled off a double steal, with Moon beating the return throw home to swipe home with a third run. Two batters, later Henley came home on Luis Reyes’ ground to tie the game at 4-4.
An inning later, the Tortugas took the lead. Alfredo Duno walked, moved to second on a balk, the advanced on a groundout. Stafura followed with an RBI single to center that extended his hitting streak to 17 games and gave Daytona a 5-4 lead.
Pestka settled in, working around a two-out bloop double in the fourth, then working around a walk and single with one out in the fifth, throwing 2.1 scoreless innings out of the bullpen.
He gave way to Reynardo Cruz, who threw a 1-2-3 sixth, but ran into trouble in the seventh. A single and walk began the inning. After a flyout, a double steal moved both into scoring position, before Cruz induced a flyout for the second out. However, a wild pitch brought in Abrahan Ramirez to tie the game.
In the eighth, though, Daytona unleashed an avalanche. After loading the bases with no outs, Myles Smith drew a walk to force in the go-around run. A fielder’s choice off the bat of Reyes brought in a second run, then Malvin Valdez singled up the middle to drive in Smith with the third tally of the frame.
After a pitching change, a balk forced in Reyes ahead of Ryan McCrystal’s third hit of the day, an RBI single. Two batters later, Carlos Sanchez’s base hit drove in the sixth run. After a fielder’s choice, Moon stepped up and stroked his second hit of the inning, a three-run home run to left that capped a Tortugas-record nine-run inning. Daytona sent 15 men to the plate and also tied a franchise record with seven hits in the inning, which propelled the Tortugas to a 14-5 lead.
In the ninth, the Tortugas added even more to the lead. Jacob Friend led off the inning and deposited the first pitch he saw into the left field bullpen for a pinch-hit home run, the first homer of his career. After a hit and a walk, Moon laced his second double into left field, driving in his sixth run of the day on his fourth hit of the contest, stretching the lead to 16-5.
Meanwhile, Cruz (1-0) worked around a two-on, no-out jam to throw a scoreless eighth, striking out two in 3.0 innings of one-run ball to earn the win. Beau Blanchard came on for the ninth and allowed a leadoff home run to Morlando, but retired the next three to finish off a 16-6 rout.
Daytona will have Monday off before returning to Jackie Robinson Ballpark on Tuesday to begin a six-game series with the Palm Beach Cardinals. Tuesday will be Breast Cancer Awareness Night and a Taco Tuesday. Gates will open at 5:30 p.m. with first pitch at 6:35 p.m. Pregame coverage on Tuesday with the Voice of the Tortugas, Brennan Mense, will begin on the Tortugas Radio Network at 6:20 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.
