The Jupiter Hammerheads defeated the Daytona Tortugas 13-2 Thursday night at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium in Game 2 of the Florida State League East Division Round, clinching a berth in the Florida State League Championship Series. Jupiter will face the Tampa Tarpons in the championship series.
Echedry Vargas Puts Jupiter Ahead
Daytona scored first in the top of the first inning when Arnaldo Lantigua hit a solo home run against Jupiter starting pitcher Manuel Genao. The Hammerheads answered in the bottom of the third after Jake McCutcheon drew a one-out walk. Echedry Vargas followed with a two-run home run that gave Jupiter a 2-1 lead.
Vargas’ home run was his second of the playoffs and his 29th home run overall that season. The ball left his bat at 113.2 miles per hour and traveled 408 feet. Eric Guevara added a solo home run in the bottom of the fourth inning, his first of the playoffs and third overall that season.
Hammerheads Pull Away Late
Josh Hogue followed Guevara’s home run with a single, and Andres Valor drew a walk before Carlos Sanchez hit a two-RBI double. The hit extended Jupiter’s lead to 5-1 after four innings. Daytona answered in the top of the fifth when Adolfo Sanchez hit an RBI double to cut the deficit to 5-2.
Genao completed five innings and allowed two runs on four hits, with one walk and five strikeouts. Luis Arana opened the bottom of the sixth with a double, and Valor followed with a two-run home run to make it 7-2. In the seventh, Jacob Lombard hit a two-run home run, Arana added an RBI single and Valor hit his second home run of the game to push the lead to 13-2.
Morillo worked three shutout innings, allowing three hits and striking out six Daytona batters. Jonathan Rosario struck out the side in the top of the ninth inning to secure the victory. The result sent the Jupiter Hammerheads to their first Florida State League Championship Series since 2023.
Championship Series Schedule
The Florida State League Championship Series is scheduled to begin Sunday, September 13, 2026, against the Tampa Tarpons. Games 2 and 3 are scheduled for September 15 and 16 at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium.
Source: Original report