St. Lucie clubs a pair of home runs, as Daytona limited to three hits in defeat
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — LHP Nick Zwack and LHP Keyshawn Askew were stupendous for St. Lucie on Wednesday night. The Mets’ left-handers combined for 15 strikeouts and limited the Tortugas to only three hits, as St. Lucie captured their second-straight over Daytona, 5-2, at Clover Park.
3B William Lugo (2-4, R, 2B, SO) started the offensive attack for St. Lucie (11-6) with a first-pitch double to left to begin the bottom of the second. After taking third on a fly out to left, 1B Raul Beracierta (1-4, RBI) dunked a single into shallow right-center field to score the run and put the Mets up 1-0.
St. Lucie started utilizing the long ball in the third. 2B José Rivera (0-0, BB) was plunked by a pitch to start the inning but was quickly erased on a double play off the bat of CF Alex Ramirez (1-4, RBI). After a four-pitch walk to LF Stanley Consuegra (0-3, R, BB, SO), SS Shervyen Newton (1-3, R, HR, 2 RBI, BB, SO) smashed the first pitch he saw off the bottom of the batter’s eye in straightaway center field for a two-run home run. The switch-hitter’s first of the year extended the home team’s cushion to 3-0.
Once again, the Mets attacked the first pitch in the fourth to their benefit. DH Carlos Dominguez (1-4, R, HR, RBI, 2 SO) rifled the initial toss of the frame off the second level of advertisements beyond the left-field wall. The 22-year-old’s fourth long ball of the season extended St. Lucie’s advantage to four.
In the seventh, St. Lucie registered their final tally. RF Omar De Los Santos (1-4, R, 2B, SO) began the inning with a double down the line in left and stole third on a one-out walk to Rivera. Ramirez proceeded to whack a single to center to chase home a run and put the Mets up 5-0.
Daytona (8-9) finally broke up the shutout in the eighth. 2B Reyny Reyes (0-3, R, SO) reached on a throwing error and LF Danny Lantigua (0-3, R, 2 SO) snuck on safely thanks to a fielding miscue. After a wild pitch moved the runners to second and third, C Andruw Salcedo (1-3, RBI, SO) and CF Jay Allen II (0-4, RBI, 2 SO) brought both men home with consecutive ground outs.
Zwack (4.0+ IP, 3 H, BB, 9 SO) was outstanding in his start for St. Lucie, striking out a career-high nine batters before being removed one hitter into the fifth. Askew (5.0 IP, 2 R, 6 SO) entered in support and posted five no-hit innings — yielding two unearned runs — to garner his first victory of 2022.
Tortugas RHP Arij Fransen (4.0 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 4 ER, BB, 2 SO) battled through four innings in his second start of the year but suffered his first loss of the season.
The Tortugas will attempt to snap the brief two-game slide on Thursday but have not yet announced a probable starting pitcher for the contest. The Mets are scheduled to counter with RHP Mike Vasil (0-0, 4.91). Coverage on the Tortugas Radio Network will begin on the MiLB First Pitch app and www.daytonatortugas.com at 5:55 p.m. leading up to the 6:10 p.m. first pitch from Clover Park.
After the six-game road swing, the Tortugas will return to Jackie Robinson Ballpark on Tuesday, May 3, to open up a series against the Jupiter Hammerheads, the Florida State League affiliate of the Miami Marlins. It will be a Breast Cancer Awareness Night 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 a Silver Sluggers Night by Labcorp, featuring special team store, concession stand deals for members, and more. The series opener features Taco Tuesday 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.
###DBT###
