Tortugas rally to tie in the seventh, but Hansel Otamendi provides despair for fourth-straight nightJUPITER, Fla. —Trailing by two entering the seventh, the Tortugas rallied to draw even and had a chance to take the lead in extras. After Palm Beach squeaked out of a bases-loaded jam in the 10th, CF Hansel Otamendi delivered a walk-off RBI single in the bottom half to give the Cardinals their fourth-straight win, 3-2, over Daytona in 10 innings on Saturday night at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium.
Down a pair in the seventh, LF Justice Thompson (1-4, R, 2B, BB, 2 SO) ignited a rally for Daytona (2-6) with a leadoff double over the centerfielder’s head. After a single by SS Gus Steiger (1-4, R, 2 SO) advanced him to third, DH Danny Lantigua (1-3, BB, 2 SO) walked to load the bases. Following a pitching change, the Tortugas sent Yerlin Confidan (0-1, RBI) to the plate as a pinch-hitter.
The 19-year-old ripped a grounder to first, but the only out could be made at second base. Thompson crossed on the fielder’s choice to draw Daytona within one, 2-1. With Debby Santana (0-1, SO) at the plate to pinch-hit as well, an offering squirted away from the catcher. Steiger scored on the wild pitch to tie the game.
In the eighth, the Tortugas threatened on a 3B Michel Triana (2-5, 2 SO) single and a two-out walk to Thompson, but could not deliver. Two frames later, in the 10th, Daytona loaded the bases with the automatic runner, a walk, and a sacrifice bunt that CF Jay Allen II (0-4, SO) reached on. Palm Beach (5-3) managed to escape unscathed thanks to a pair of strikeouts and an infield fly pop out to first.
The Cardinals made sure to capitalize on their opportunity in the extra frame. 3B Osvaldo Tovalin (1-3, 2 BB) was given a free pass to start the inning, putting two men aboard, including the automatic baserunner. DH Wade Stauss (1-4, 2 SO) unfurled a perfect sacrifice bunt to move the runners to second and third but reached himself when the throw to first was in the dirt. On an 0-2 pitch to Otamendi (1-5, RBI, 2 SO), the right-handed swinger slashed a line drive past the outstretched glove of the right fielder for a base-hit. SS Jeremy Rivas (0-5, R, SO) scored to give Palm Beach a 3-2 walk-off victory.
Palm Beach snuck on the scoreboard early, too. In the second, the Redbirds filled the bases on a pair of singles by C Roblin Heredia (2-4, R, SO) and 1B Ryan Holgate (2-4, R, SO), plus a walk to 2B Franklin Soto (0-2, 2 BB, 2 SO). With LF Tyler Reichenborn (0-3, 2 BB) at the dish, a wild pitch allowed Heredia to score to put the Cardinals ahead by one. After a walk to Reichenborn, another wild pitch with Rivas at the plate permitted Holgate to dent the pentagon and put Palm Beach up 2-0.
Neither starter factored into the decision on Saturday. RHP Trent Baker (5.2 IP, 3 H, BB, 7 SO) tossed 5.2 shutout frames, striking out seven in his second start for the Cards. Tortugas’ RHP Arij Fransen (2.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 2 SO) battled through a pair of innings.
RHP Andre Granillo (2.0 IP, BB, 4 SO) — who earned the victory in Palm Beach’s walk-off win on Wednesday — picked up his second victory of the year with two scoreless innings of relief. After earning the save on Tuesday, RHP Dennis Boatman (1.0 IP, H, R, BB, SO) suffered his first defeat of the campaign for Daytona.
Making his first appearance of the year out of the bullpen, RHP Julian Aguiar (4.0 IP, 3 H, 7 SO) continued his marvelous start to the season. After tossing five perfect frames on Sunday against the St. Lucie Mets in Daytona Beach, the 20-year-old struck out another seven while scattering three hits on Saturday.
Daytona will try and salvage the final game of the series on Sunday afternoon. RHP Alex Johnson (0-0, 3.86) is expected to make his first start of the season. Palm Beach is projected to counter with Tuesday night’s starter — St. Louis’ No. 26 prospect per Baseball America — RHP Zane Mills (0-1, 6.75). Coverage on the Tortugas Radio Network and www.daytonatortugas.com will begin at 11:45 a.m. ET from Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium, leading up to the first pitch at 12:00.
After the six-game road swing, the Tortugas will return to Jackie Robinson Ballpark on Tuesday, April 19, to open up a series against the Bradenton Marauders, the Florida State League affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates. It will be the first Breast Cancer Awareness Nightof the season presented by Radiology Associates Imaging. The Tortugas will don special pink-clad uniforms that will be auctioned off at the end of the season with all proceeds to raise money and awareness in the fight against breast cancer. It is also the first Silver Sluggers Night of the campaign presented by Conviva, featuring deals at the team store and concession stands for members, and more. The series opener also marks the return of Taco Tuesday to Daytona Beach with options at the concession stands starting at just $3.
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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