‘Tugas Tempered by Birds, 3-1, in Series Finale

July 3, 2022 – Florida State League (FSL) – Daytona Tortugas News Release

JUPITER, Fla. – DH Michel Triana continued his evisceration of Florida State League pitching, adding two more hits and a solo home run. However, the rest of Daytona’s offense could not find similar success, as the Tortugas fell to the Palm Beach Cardinals, 3-1, on Sunday evening at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium.

Scoreless through two, the Redbirds (7-2, 37-36) jumped ahead in the bottom of the third. SS Jeremy Rivas (2-5, R, 2 SO) singled to right with one out and advanced to third on another knock to right field from LF Matt Chamberlain (2-2, R, 2B, 2 BB).

After a walk to DH Aaron McKeithan (0-3, BB, SO) loaded the bases, C Leonardo Bernal (1-4, 2 RBI, SO) burned Daytona’s RHP José Franco (5.0 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 6 SO) for the second time in the series. With a go-ahead grand slam under his belt against him in the lid-lifter on Tuesday, the 18-year-old smashed a lead-creating two-run single on Sunday. Bernal’s one-base hit put Palm Beach ahead 2-0.

Daytona (3-6, 32-42) quickly got one of those two runs back in the top of the fourth. With the bases empty and two out, Triana (2-4, R, HR, RBI) launched a 2-0 pitch to deep right field. The 22-year-old deposited the down-and-in offering beyond the fence for a solo home run, his second of the series. Triana’s fourth blast of the year drew the Tortugas within one, 2-1.

Palm Beach added a key insurance run against the bullpen in the sixth. CF Adanson Cruz (1-3, R, 2B, BB, 2 SO) ignited a two-out rally with a double that dipped into right field. Following a balk that moved the runner to third, 2B Darlin Moquete (1-5, RBI, SO) poked a single into left field to bring him home, stretching the Cardinals’ lead back to two, 3-1.

After hurling eight impressive innings, Palm Beach’s LHP Alex Cornwell (8.0 IP, 4 H, R, ER, 11 SO) was lifted. Daytona promptly produced a rally, as 2B Steven Leyton (1-4, SO) started the ninth for the Tortugas with a single to right.

With Leyton on the move to second, 3B Austin Callahan (0-3, BB, 2 SO) drew a walk on a 3-2 pitch. The ultimately unnecessary throw skidded into center field, allowing the runner to pop up and advance to third.

However, that would be as close as Daytona reached in the final frame. After a strikeout, Triana hit a high pop that was caught in foul ground by the first baseman. Leyton attempted to tag and score from third but was tagged out at the plate, ending the ballgame.

Cornwell (8.0 IP,…