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DAYTONA BEACH — Willie Harris saw some good things. He noticed some bad things. And he knows the 132-game grind is just beginning.
“I'm chalking it up to the first game of the year,” the Daytona Tortugas’ new manager said. “It's a long way to go, and we just want these kids to get better and, as we move forward, play some cleaner baseball.”
During Harris’ debut Friday, his team fell to the Bradenton Marauders 6-2 at Jackie Robinson Ballpark. Bradenton snatched a 1-0 lead in the first inning and held on the rest of the way.
The Opening Day crowd featured 3,301 spectators, the second-most for any game at The Jack since the canceled COVID season of 2020. The largest crowd came for a Jacob deGrom rehab appearance against the Tortugas in July of 2022.
On the first pitch from Daytona starter David Lorduy, Bradenton shortstop Konnor Griffin smoked a single to left field. After he advanced to second on a groundout and stole third, Griffin trotted home on a double by center fielder Will Taylor.
The Marauders extended their lead to 3-0 in the top of the third inning. Griffin and Taylor reached safely again and sprinted around on a two-run double by third baseman Yordany De Los Santos.
Lourdy escaped the frame without any further damage, but his day ended after that. In three innings, he surrendered five hits, two walks and three runs while striking out two. He was tagged with the loss.
After Harris turned to the bullpen, his relievers provided solid work. Harris liked the way they attacked the strike zone. It offered the Tortugas the chance to stay in the game.
They did for a while.
In the bottom of the fourth, they plated their first two runs of the season on a throwing error as Bradenton attempted to finish a double play. Shortstop Sammy Stafura and third baseman Carlos Sanchez, who had each walked, scored.
It remained 3-2 until the sixth when the Marauders tacked on two runs. An error by second baseman Bernard Moon produced the first. The second followed on a wild pitch by freshly inserted pitcher Nelfri Payano.
Payano went 2⅔ innings without giving up a hit. He walked three and allowed only one run while fanning a game-high six batters.
The Tortugas struck out 14 on the night.
Victor Diaz, a Winter Park native and the hurler Payano replaced, also threw well. His final line: 2⅓ innings, two runs (one earned), one hit, two walks and five strikeouts.
Drew Pestka handled a scoreless ninth inning for Daytona. He allowed one hit and picked up one strikeout.
Bradenton added its last run in the seventh. Tortugas catcher Alfredo Duno fired down to second base on a double steal, and the throw squirted into center field, bringing home the lead runner, De Los Santos.
Of the Marauders’ seven hits, Griffin, Taylor and catcher Axiel Plaz tallied six of them.
Greiber Mendez earned the victory with 2⅔ shutout innings out of the ’pen.
Daytona mustered only four knocks. Stafura and Sanchez were on base twice apiece, both with one hit and one base on balls. Outfielder Malvin Valdez drew two walks.
“I just expect these guys to get better after each series, and as we grow and continue to play together and get to know each other a little bit better, we'll see some success,” Harris said. “But today was just not a clean-played game.”
The Tortugas will return to the field against Bradenton Saturday and Sunday. Saturday’s first pitch is set for 6:35 p.m.
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Daytona Tortugas lose to Bradenton Marauders on 2025 Opening Day
Continue reading...
“I'm chalking it up to the first game of the year,” the Daytona Tortugas’ new manager said. “It's a long way to go, and we just want these kids to get better and, as we move forward, play some cleaner baseball.”
During Harris’ debut Friday, his team fell to the Bradenton Marauders 6-2 at Jackie Robinson Ballpark. Bradenton snatched a 1-0 lead in the first inning and held on the rest of the way.
The Opening Day crowd featured 3,301 spectators, the second-most for any game at The Jack since the canceled COVID season of 2020. The largest crowd came for a Jacob deGrom rehab appearance against the Tortugas in July of 2022.
On the first pitch from Daytona starter David Lorduy, Bradenton shortstop Konnor Griffin smoked a single to left field. After he advanced to second on a groundout and stole third, Griffin trotted home on a double by center fielder Will Taylor.
The Marauders extended their lead to 3-0 in the top of the third inning. Griffin and Taylor reached safely again and sprinted around on a two-run double by third baseman Yordany De Los Santos.
Lourdy escaped the frame without any further damage, but his day ended after that. In three innings, he surrendered five hits, two walks and three runs while striking out two. He was tagged with the loss.
After Harris turned to the bullpen, his relievers provided solid work. Harris liked the way they attacked the strike zone. It offered the Tortugas the chance to stay in the game.
They did for a while.
In the bottom of the fourth, they plated their first two runs of the season on a throwing error as Bradenton attempted to finish a double play. Shortstop Sammy Stafura and third baseman Carlos Sanchez, who had each walked, scored.
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It remained 3-2 until the sixth when the Marauders tacked on two runs. An error by second baseman Bernard Moon produced the first. The second followed on a wild pitch by freshly inserted pitcher Nelfri Payano.
Payano went 2⅔ innings without giving up a hit. He walked three and allowed only one run while fanning a game-high six batters.
The Tortugas struck out 14 on the night.
Victor Diaz, a Winter Park native and the hurler Payano replaced, also threw well. His final line: 2⅓ innings, two runs (one earned), one hit, two walks and five strikeouts.
Drew Pestka handled a scoreless ninth inning for Daytona. He allowed one hit and picked up one strikeout.
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Bradenton added its last run in the seventh. Tortugas catcher Alfredo Duno fired down to second base on a double steal, and the throw squirted into center field, bringing home the lead runner, De Los Santos.
Of the Marauders’ seven hits, Griffin, Taylor and catcher Axiel Plaz tallied six of them.
Greiber Mendez earned the victory with 2⅔ shutout innings out of the ’pen.
Daytona mustered only four knocks. Stafura and Sanchez were on base twice apiece, both with one hit and one base on balls. Outfielder Malvin Valdez drew two walks.
“I just expect these guys to get better after each series, and as we grow and continue to play together and get to know each other a little bit better, we'll see some success,” Harris said. “But today was just not a clean-played game.”
The Tortugas will return to the field against Bradenton Saturday and Sunday. Saturday’s first pitch is set for 6:35 p.m.
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Daytona Tortugas lose to Bradenton Marauders on 2025 Opening Day
Continue reading...
