Daytona Dashed by Palm Beach, 5-1, in Opener

August 30, 2022 – Florida State League (FSL) – Daytona Tortugas News Release

JUPITER, Fla. – 3B Austin Callahan tripled and scored on an error to open Daytona’s and the game’s scoring in the top of the third inning. However, Palm Beach took the lead in the bottom of the inning and never looked back. The Cardinals scored four in the third and snapped the Tortugas’ three-game win streak with a 5-1 victory at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium on Tuesday night.

With the bases empty and one out, Callahan (1-4, R, 3B, SO) fell behind in the count 1-2 before ripping a line drive to deep left-center field. The center fielder tracked it down to his right, but could not make the play and slammed violently against the padded fence.

The Fremont, Neb. native never stopped hustling and made a turn for the plate after the left fielder bobbled picking the leather off the grass. The eventual throw in from the outfield trickled up the third-base line, allowing Callahan to score, giving Daytona (19-34, 48-70) a 1-0 edge.

In the bottom of the inning, Palm Beach (31-23, 61-57) ignited a rally with two out. CF Victor Scott (0-3, R, 2 BB, 2 SO) coaxed a free pass and promptly stole second base. With Scott in motion on a 3-2 pitch, LF Nathan Church (1-5, R, RBI) poked a looper into shallow left for an RBI knock, tying the game at one.

After back-to-back walks loaded the bases, Daytona made a pitching change. One strike away from keeping the game tied through three, CF Joshua Báez (1-3, R, 2B, 3 RBI, 2 SO) hammered a 1-2 delivery off the fence in left. All three base runners came in to score, while the 2021 second-round pick was thrown out trying to stretch his hit to a triple, giving the Cardinals a 4-1 lead.

Palm Beach mustered one final insurance run in the sixth. The Redbirds loaded the bases when the first three batters of the inning reached on a Báez hit-by-pitch and singles from C Jimmy Crooks (2-4, SO) and 2B Brody Moore (2-4, SO). SS Jeremy Rivas (0-3, RBI, BB, SO) chased in the last tally with a run-creating ground out to second.

RHP José Davila (6.0 IP, 3 H, R, 2 BB, 5 SO) yielded just one unearned run over a season-high-tying six innings of work for Palm Beach, earning his first career Florida State League victory.

Daytona’s RHP Ryan Cardona (2.2 IP, 2 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 3 SO) was charged with all four runs in the third inning and was saddled with his fourth defeat.

The Tortugas will attempt to even the series at a game apiece on Wednesday night with RHP Tanner Cooper…