Daytona breaks up no-hit and shutout bid in the sixth before game is called after seven due to rain, lightning
JUPITER, Fla. — Making just his third professional start, RHP Gabe Bierman dominated from the onset for the Hammerheads. The 22-year-old struck out a career-high 10 over 5.0 no-hit innings, as Jupiter jolted the Daytona Tortugas, 7-1, in a rain-shortened, seven-inning affair at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium on Friday night.
Both starters cruised through the first inning. Bierman (5.0 IP, BB, 10 SO) retired Daytona (55-57) in order on 10 pitches and his counterpart — Tortugas RHP Sam Benschoter (2.0 IP, H, 4 R, 2 ER, BB, 3 SO) — proceeded to strike out the side in order on 12 pitches to start his team debut.
In the second, however, the Hammerheads (60-50) offense sprung to life. RF Victor Mesa Jr. (2-4, 2 R, 2B) ignited the inning with a double to right and C Paul McIntosh (0-1, R, 3 BB, SO) followed with a walk. DH Tanner Allen (1-4, R) stepped in and hit a soft ground ball to second. While Allen reached on the ball that was booted, Mesa Jr. never stopped hustling, scoring from second on the error to put Jupiter in front, 1-0.
Consecutive hit-by-pitches of 1B Marcus Chiu (0-2, R, SO) and LF Davis Bradshaw (2-3, R, RBI, SO) chased in another run, while 2B-SS Dalvy Rosario (0-1, RBI, 2 BB, SO) followed with a sacrifice fly to center to put the Hammerheads up by three.
Trailing a fielder’s choice off the bat of SS José Salas (0-2, SO), Jupiter placed men at the corners and two out. With 3B Cody Morissette (1-5, 2 SO) at the dish, a pitch squirted to the backstop. Chiu scored from third to grant Jupiter a 4-0 advantage.
2B Federico Polanco (1-3, R, HR, 2 RBI) entered the game for Salas in the top of the fourth after the latter fouled a pitch off his right ankle in the second. On the first offering he saw in the fourth, the left-handed swinger crushed a two-run home run over the fence in right. His second long ball of the season extended the Hammerheads’ lead to 6-0.
After Jupiter added another run in the fifth on a wild pitch, Daytona broke up the no-hit and shutout bid in the sixth.
2B Gus Steiger (0-1, R, BB, SO) reached on a one-out walk and proceeded to swipe second base. With two out, SS Elly De La Cruz (1-3, RBI, SO) rifled a 110.7 mph liner into right for the Tortugas’ first knock. Steiger scored from second as the ball kicked behind the right fielder and onto the warning track. De La Cruz stopped at third after the single and error, making it a 7-1 contest.
In the bottom of the seventh, Jupiter loaded the bases against RHP Frainger Aranguren (3.0 IP, 3 H, R, ER, 4 BB, 3 SO), but the 24-year-old escaped unscathed with a ground ball to second.
Before Daytona could come to bat in the top of the eighth, the umpires sent both teams off the field due to lightning around Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium. After a 32-minute delay with rain and lightning, the game was called.
Bierman (5.0 IP, BB, 10 SO) was outstanding for Jupiter, tossing a career-high 5.0 innings and punching out a career-best 10 for his first professional victory. Despite a near immaculate first inning, Benschoter (2.0 IP, H, 4 R, 2 ER, BB, 3 SO) took his first pro defeat for Daytona.
The Tortugas will try to return to the win column in game five of the series on Saturday night. RHP José Franco (2-4, 6.24) is expected to take the hill for Daytona, while Jupiter is scheduled to counter with RHP Jesse Bergin (0-1, 9.64). Coverage on the Tortugas Radio Network will begin on the MiLB First Pitch app and www.daytonatortugas.com at 6:15 p.m. leading up to the 6:30 p.m. first pitch from Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium.
ABOUT THE DAYTONA TORTUGAS
The Daytona Tortugas are the Low-A Affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds and a member of Minor League Baseball’s Low-A Southeast. The Tortugas play at Jackie Robinson Ballpark in downtown Daytona Beach. 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.
