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
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