Knecht homers, Cole Ks 9, D-Jays lose 6-1

DUNEDIN, FL - The Blue Jays (16-20, 62-43) fell to the Charlotte Stone Crabs (14-21, 45-57) 4-1 at Florida Auto Exchange Stadium in Saturday night.

RHP Taylor Cole (L, 7-6) followed up his 12 strikeout performance with nine more Ks, but Cole received the loss this time. He retired nine of the first 10 men he faced but eventually surrendered a pair of runs in the sixth inning. He officially lasted 5.1 innings and surrendered three hits and two walks.

The game was scoreless until the sixth inning. With one out Tommy Coyle singled, stole second and scored on a single by Leonardo Reginatto. Reginatto then scored on a triple by Patrick Leonard, and Justin O'Conner hit a two run homerun.

The Jays scored their lone run on a solo homer by RF Marcus Knecht, his fourth longball of the season.

The Stone Crabs plated two more in the eighth inning. Leonard and O'Conner reached on a double and single respectively. Maxx Tissenbaum drove both men home on a double to right-centerfield.

Major League rehabber Joel Peralta started for Charlotte and pitched 1.0 inning, allowing one single and striking out one. Jordan Harrison threw 6.0 innings in a piggy-back start. He allowed just one run and struck out six batters. Zach Cooper pitched the final 2.0 innings of the game.

RHP Justin Jackson pitcher 1.2 innings and surrendered two runs. LHP Griffin Murphy also allowed two runs in 1.0 inning.

The Blue Jays finish their four-game series with the Charlotte Stone Crabs on Sunday at Florida Auto Exchange Stadium at 5:00 p.m. EST.  LHP Efrain Nieves (2-3, 2.68) will make a start for the D-Jays. RHP Austin Pruitt (7-4, 4.13) will take the mound for the Stone Crabs.