The Daytona Tortugas scored in each of the first four innings and collected 14 hits Saturday night in a 13-4 Florida State League victory over the St. Lucie Mets at Jackie Robinson Ballpark.
Daytona scored 11 runs during that opening stretch, including five in the fourth inning. Sherman Johnson went 3-for-5 with a double, two RBIs, one run and one stolen base to record the first three-hit game of his professional career.
Daytona Creates Early Separation
Mulivai Levu put Daytona ahead in the first inning with a two-run home run after Steele Hall drew a one-out walk. St. Lucie tied the game in the second when Branny De Oleo hit a two-run home run after Jeremy Rodriguez walked.
The Tortugas immediately regained the lead in the bottom of the second. Anielson Buten singled, Henry Hunter was hit by a pitch and Buten stole third before Johnson drove both runners home with a double, giving Daytona a 4-2 advantage.
Daytona added two runs in the third. Arnaldo Lantigua scored on a Rafhlmil Torres single, and Drew Davies later scored when Buten reached on a fielder’s choice and an errant throw allowed the inning to continue.
The Tortugas scored five times in the fourth. Johnson opened the inning with a single and stole second before scoring on a passed ball, while Lantigua followed with a sacrifice fly that brought home Levu. Davies then singled home Ichiro Cano, and Buten doubled to score Torres and Davies.
Torres also recorded three hits, and six Daytona hitters finished with multiple hits. The Tortugas added two runs in the eighth, with Cano singling home Levu before Torres doubled to bring home Lantigua and give Daytona a 13-4 lead.
Bryan Salgado Wins Single-A Debut
Bryan Salgado earned the victory in his Single-A debut. He allowed one run on two hits and two walks over 3.2 innings while striking out six.
Salgado established career highs in innings pitched and strikeouts. He entered in the third inning, struck out the side around a leadoff walk and worked through the sixth before leaving with two outs.
Julio Zayas hit a solo home run in the sixth, but Salgado responded with a strikeout and a groundout. Abraham Gaitan then worked 3.1 innings of one-run relief and earned his second save.
St. Lucie used position players to pitch the final four innings after Jose Lopez exited during the first inning. Reed Stallman covered the fifth and sixth innings, while Jake Ogden pitched the seventh and eighth.
Daytona Moves Closer to Championship
The victory improved Daytona to 57-67 overall and 36-22 in the second half. The Tortugas also moved to 16-10 in August, 10-13 against St. Lucie this season and 38-27 at Jackie Robinson Ballpark.
Daytona’s magic number to clinch the Florida State League East second-half championship dropped to one. Any Daytona win or Palm Beach loss over the remainder of the regular season will clinch the championship for the Tortugas.
The Tortugas lead the six-game series against the St. Lucie Mets 3-2. Daytona will play its final home game of the 2026 regular season and the series finale Sunday, August 30, at Jackie Robinson Ballpark, with first pitch scheduled for 1:05 p.m. ET.
Source: Original report