Daytona Dashes St. Lucie with Late Rally, 3-2

July 6, 2022 – Florida State League (FSL) – Daytona Tortugas News Release

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – 3B Austin Callahan powered a game-tying solo home run to right-center in the sixth and LF Jamal O’Guinn produced a go-ahead, bases-loaded walk in the seventh, as the Daytona Tortugas rallied to tame the St. Lucie Mets, 3-2, in front of 1,603 fans at Jackie Robinson Ballpark on Wednesday night.

St. Lucie (5-6, 45-31) carried a 2-1 advantage into the sixth inning and seemed on the verge of carrying it into the seventh after a pair of strikeouts.

However, on an 0-1 pitch, Callahan (1-3, R, HR, RBI) rifled a drive to deep right-center field. Mets RF Carlos Domínguez leaped at the fence, but could not bring the clout back. The Fremont, Neb. native’s first home run of the season knotted the game up at two apiece.

It remained tied until the bottom of the seventh. Daytona (4-7, 33-43) started the frame with a single to center from C Hayden Jones (1-4, R, SO), who advanced to third on a one-out bloop single to right from 2B Steven Leyton (1-4, 2 SO). After RF Fidel Castro (0-1, R, BB, SO) was plunked on the foot with a pitch, O’Guinn (1-2, RBI, 2 BB, SO) stepped to the dish with the bases full.

The University of Southern California alum fell behind in the count 0-2 before battling to run it full. O’Guinn watched a 3-2 offering drop below the zone for ball four, forcing in the go-ahead run. His free pass put the Tortugas back ahead, 3-2.

RHP Julian Aguiar (4.0 IP, 3 H, 4 SO) made sure that the one-run cushion was enough to hold up the rest of the night. The Long Beach, Calif. native retired the final seven batters he faced to close out the night, sealing his team-leading sixth win and Daytona’s 3-2 triumph.

After being shut out in the series opener on Monday, Daytona wasted no time scratching the scoreboard on Wednesday.

Castro earned a one-out walk in the home first and scooted to second on another free pass to O’Guinn. DH Jack Rogers (1-4, 2B, RBI, 3 SO) then pummeled a ball over the right fielder’s head that one-hopped over the fence for a ground-rule double. The 2021 ninth-round pick’s run-scoring, two-bagger granted the Tortugas a 1-0 lead.

St. Lucie jumped in front in the third with a gopher ball. With a runner at first and two out, CF Omar De Los Santos (1-4, R, HR, 2 RBI, 2 SO) scalded a line drive over the wall in right-center field for a two-run shot. The 22-year-old’s 10th home run of the season put the Mets in front, 2-1.

Neither starter received a decision…