Johnson launches first career homer, Tortugas fall 5-3 to Palm Beach

JUPITER, Fla. — Sherman Johnson launched the first home run of his professional career and the Daytona Tortugas carried a two-run lead into the sixth inning, but Palm Beach rallied for three runs in the frame and defeated Daytona 5-3 Wednesday night at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium.

The loss was Daytona’s third straight and dropped the Tortugas to 0-2 in September, while Palm Beach took a 2-0 lead in the six-game series.

The Rundown

Daytona struck immediately against Palm Beach starter Gabriel Chinchilla.

Johnson opened the game by driving a 2-2 pitch over the wall in left field for his first professional home run, giving the Tortugas a 1-0 lead before an out was recorded.

Ichiro Cano followed with a single to left-center and Arnaldo Lantigua was hit by a pitch. After Drew Davies lined out, Rafhlmil Torres doubled to right field to score Cano and extend the lead to 2-0.

Palm Beach answered with a run in the bottom of the first. Sebastian Dos Santos walked and Miguel Hernández singled before Alexander Frias drove in Dos Santos with a single to center. Iker Redona limited the damage from there, striking out Ryan Mitchell and Dee Kennedy before retiring Owen Henne.

Redona worked a perfect second inning and finished his outing with four strikeouts over two innings, allowing one run on two hits and one walk.

Dusty Revis entered in the third and immediately worked around traffic. Dos Santos and Hernández opened the inning with consecutive singles before Revis struck out Frias and Mitchell and induced a groundout from Kennedy to keep Daytona ahead.

The Tortugas added to their lead in the fifth without recording a hit. Davies walked with two outs before Torres and Jirvin Morillo followed with walks to load the bases. Yael Romero then drew a fourth consecutive walk from Palm Beach pitching to force home Davies and make it 3-1.

Revis cruised through the fourth and fifth, retiring six straight Cardinals and striking out three during the stretch.

Palm Beach finally broke through against him in the sixth.

Mitchell singled with one out and advanced on a passed ball before Kennedy singled to put runners at the corners. Henne followed with an RBI double to right, cutting Daytona’s lead to 3-2. Matthew Miura then singled home Kennedy to tie the game before Gabe Camacho added another RBI single to score Henne and put Palm Beach ahead 4-3.

Revis escaped the inning without further damage and bounced back with a scoreless seventh. Hernández tripled with nobody out, but Johnson started a relay with Anielson Buten and Henry Hunter that cut Hernández down at the plate. Revis then retired the next two hitters to keep Daytona within one.

The right-hander finished with five innings in relief, allowing three runs on eight hits without issuing a walk. He tied his career high with six strikeouts.

Palm Beach added an insurance run in the eighth against Abraham Gaitan. Henne doubled with one out and eventually scored on J.P. Cabrera’s two-out RBI single, making it 5-3.

Daytona’s offense was held hitless after the second inning. Jesús García retired all 10 batters he faced after entering in the sixth, including a perfect ninth to finish the game.

Stat of the Game

6 — Dusty Revis tied his career high with six strikeouts, reaching the mark for the third time this season and first since July 1 at Bradenton.

Notes

• Daytona fell to 57-70 overall and 36-25 in the second half.
• The Tortugas fell to 0-2 in September.
• Daytona’s losing streak reached three games.
• Palm Beach leads the six-game series, 2-0.
• The Tortugas fell to 9-11 against Palm Beach this season.
• Daytona fell to 8-14 on Wednesdays.
• The Tortugas fell to 45-49 in night games.
• Daytona fell to 19-42 on the road.
• The Tortugas fell to 43-56 against right-handed starting pitchers.
• Daytona fell to 1-54 when trailing after seven innings.
• The Tortugas fell to 6-18 in two-run games.
• Daytona fell to 18-30 when allowing at least 10 hits.
• The loss marked the 31st time this season Daytona has lost after holding a lead.
• The Tortugas fell to 41-24 when hitting a home run.
• Daytona fell to 37-27 when scoring first.
• The Tortugas fell to 8-53 when scoring fewer than five runs.
• Daytona fell to 11-56 when being outhit by its opponent.
• Johnson hit the first home run of his professional career with his leadoff shot in the first inning.
• Revis tied his career high with six strikeouts for the third time this season and first since July 1 at Bradenton.
• Hunter tied his career high with two hits for the third time this season and first since May 21 at Jupiter.
• Hunter recorded his third multi-hit game of the season.
• Cano extended his on-base streak to 19 games.
• Davies extended his on-base streak to five games.
• Lantigua extended his on-base streak to eight games.

Up Next

The Tortugas continue their six-game series against the Palm Beach Cardinals on Thursday, September 3 at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. ET.