Palm Beach Propels Past Daytona, 3-2

September 2, 2022 – Florida State League (FSL) – Daytona Tortugas News Release

JUPITER, Fla. – 3B Austin Callahan and RF Yerlin Confidan each recorded multi-hit games for Daytona, but Palm Beach put up two runs in the fifth to take the lead for good, as the Cardinals claimed a 3-2 victory over the Tortugas on Friday night at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium.

Scoreless through two, Daytona (19-37, 48-73) drew first blood in the top of the third. With one out, 1B Yassel Pino (1-4, R) scooted into scoring position on a two-base throwing error, ultimately taking third with two out on a balk. 2B Trey Faltine’s (1-3, R, RBI, 2 BB, SO) run-scoring single into left gave the Tortugas a 1-0 advantage.

In the fourth, Palm Beach (34-23, 64-57) tied it up. 1B Thomas Francisco (1-2, R, 2B, 2 BB) started the frame with a soft fly ball into shallow right field that would glace off the lunging outfielder’s mitt for a double. 3B R.J. Yeager (1-3, BB, SO) promptly roped a single up the middle, but a diving stop by Faltine kept it in the infield, saving a run.

With one out, RF Chris Rotondo (1-4, RBI, SO) hit a soft tapper that never left the dirt of the batter’s circle. The only play for C Cade Hunter was to first base to get the sure out, allowing Francisco to score, tying the game at one.

Palm Beach snared the lead for good in the bottom of the fifth. LF Alex Iadisernia (1-2, R, BB) slapped a one-out single to center and stole second base on a strikeout. On a two-strike pitch, DH Joshua Báez (1-4, R, RBI, 2 SO) slapped a ground ball through the left side of the infield for a single. Iadisernia raced home to score with the go-ahead run, giving the Cardinals a 2-1 lead.

After a pitching change, Báez was picked off first base. On his way to second the throw over to first trickled toward the Cardinals’ bullpen in right, enabling the 2021 second-round pick to advance to third. On ball four to Francisco, the pitch shuffled away from the catcher allowing Báez to score on a wild pitch.

Daytona climbed back within one in the sixth. Faltine coaxed a leadoff walk and rolled to third on a looping single to center by Confidan (2-4, SO) before a sacrifice fly to center from SS Edwin Arroyo (1-3, 2B, RBI, SO), pulling the Tortugas down by a tally, 3-2.

The Tortugas’ best chance to regain the lead came in the top of the seventh. LF Blake Dunn (1-3, BB) stung a single with one retired and took second base on Callahan’s (2-5) knock up the middle. Following a walk to Faltine that loaded the…