Daytona Tortugas drop first playoff game since 2018 to Palm Beach Cardinals

DAYTONA BEACH — JJ Wetherholt was the seventh pick in July’s Major League Baseball draft for a reason.

He showed why in the first inning Tuesday.

The Palm Beach Cardinals’ shortstop clanked a ball off the scoreboard at Jackie Robinson Ballpark for a two-run blast. It gave the Palm Beach Cardinals control over the Daytona Tortugas in the first game of a best-of-three series in the Florida State League playoffs.

Palm Beach never relinquished it, winning 8-3. It was the Tortugas’ first postseason appearance since 2018.

“We’re facing a really good team, and obviously, we didn’t start the way we wanted to,” manager Julio Morillo said. “... They had a good offense and took advantage. They also killed our momentum when we had it going. But that’s what good teams do, especially in the playoffs. I think the guys went out there and competed and gave us the best chance they had today.”

Now, the first-round series heads south. The Cardinals will host Game 2 Thursday and, if necessary, Game 3 Friday.

“The pitchers need to go out there and compete and make good pitches in tough situations,” Morillo said. “They’re not going to give you easy outs. I think we just need to continue to get good at-bats, and hopefully, we can get that one on Thursday and play Friday.”

After Wetherholt’s dinger — on his 22nd birthday, no less — Daytona crushed its own in the bottom of the first. Center fielder Yerlin Confidan led off the frame with a high, far one to left.

But Palm Beach tagged Tortugas starter Dualvert Gutierrez with three more runs in the top of the second. All three scored with two outs.

Second baseman Christian Martin doubled home two. The next batter, center fielder Bryce Madron, brought him around with a single.

Gutierrez lasted just two innings. David Lorduy entered in relief and calmed things down. The righty fired three no-hit innings, striking out four.

Daytona cut its deficit to 5-2 in the bottom of the third.

After Confidan walked and second baseman Peyton Stovall singled to kick off the inning, designated hitter Ryan McCrystal blooped a single down the left-field line to plate Confidan with one out. The round ended when the following batter, right fielder Ariel Almonte , lined into a double play.

That was all they got off Cardinals starter Jose Davila. His final line: five innings, two runs, four hits, three walks and four strikeouts. The Tortugas had runners on base in every inning but the fifth.

Stephen Quigley took the mound for Daytona in the top of the sixth inning, and the Cardinals pulled away. The tacked on three runs — two on a triple by left fielder Joshua Baez and another when first baseman Josh Kross grounded into a double play — to boost their advance to 8-2.

Quinley also pitched the seventh, eighth and ninth without a score change.

In the bottom of the ninth, Almonte led off with a walk and later sprinted home on a wild pitch to solidify the final score of 8-3.

Palm Beach pounded out 11 hits to the Tortugas’ five. Davila earned the win. Gutierrez took the loss.

Confidan was the only Daytona player to notch two hits. He also walked and accounted for two of its three runs.

Game 2 is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Thursday at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium. The Tortugas will have to win the next two games to advance.

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Daytona Tortugas drop first playoff game since 2018 to Palm Beach Cardinals