Sebastian Dos Santos hit a game-tying two-run home run and scored the winning run Wednesday night as the Palm Beach Cardinals defeated the Daytona Tortugas 6-5 at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium in Jupiter. The victory was Palm Beach’s fifth walk-off win of the season and its third consecutive victory over Daytona.
Daytona took a 2-0 lead in the top of the second inning when Arnaldo Lantigua hit a two-run home run. Palm Beach starting pitcher Jacob Haley allowed two runs in two innings, one of which was earned.
Palm Beach Takes Early Lead
The Palm Beach Cardinals tied the game in the bottom of the third inning when Dos Santos hit a two-run home run. The blast made the score 2-2.
Palm Beach moved ahead in the fourth inning after Jayden Lobliner and Trevor Haskins opened the frame with consecutive singles. Trevor Condon followed with a double that scored both runners, giving Palm Beach a 4-2 lead. It was Condon’s second double of the game, and he exited after the play.
Earle Zulueta took over in the second inning and worked 3 1/3 scoreless innings. He struck out five Daytona batters during his outing.
Cardinals Rally for Walk-Off Victory
Daytona regained the lead in the top of the eighth inning. Jirvin Morillo hit an infield single, and Ian Francis and Sherman Johnson hit sacrifice flies during the Tortugas’ three-run inning. The rally put Daytona ahead 5-4.
Palm Beach answered in the bottom half of the inning. Dee Kennedy reached on an infield single, advanced to third on two wild pitches and scored on another wild pitch to tie the game 5-5.
Nathan Shinn pitched a perfect top of the ninth inning to earn the win and improve to 2-2. Daytona reliever Tristian Smith issued three consecutive walks to begin the bottom of the ninth and took the loss, falling to 1-2. Dos Santos then scored on a wild pitch to give Palm Beach the 6-5 walk-off victory.
Palm Beach entered the game with a 32-31 record in the second-half standings and a 65-64 overall record. Daytona entered at 36-26 in the second half and 57-71 overall. The series had three games remaining in the regular season after Wednesday’s game.
The Palm Beach Cardinals are scheduled to face the Daytona Tortugas again Friday, September 4, at 6:30 p.m. at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium.
Source: Original report