The Dunedin Blue Jays continued to build momentum for the post-season with their third straight victory over the Clearwater Threshers in a 6-0 shutout effort at home on Saturday night. T.J. Zeuch made a successful return to the mound for the Blue Jays in just his second appearance since injuries sent
The Dunedin Blue Jays continued to build momentum for the post-season with their third straight victory over the Clearwater Threshers in a 6-0 shutout effort at home on Saturday night.
T.J. Zeuch made a successful return to the mound for the Blue Jays in just his second appearance since injuries sent him to the disabled list in May. Working on a pitch limit, Zeuch tossed 4.0 shutout innings, allowed just three hits, walked one, and struck out three.
The Blue Jays offense wasted no time providing run support for Zeuch. 2B Cavan Biggio singled with one out in the bottom of the first inning, and DH Vladimir Guerrero Jr. followed with a walk, putting a pair of runners on for a three-run home run off the bat of 3B Juan Kelly into the Blue Jays bullpen in right field. The home run was Kelly's tenth on the season.
Zeuch exited the game after the fourth and was replaced on the mound by RHP Adonys Cardona. Working in and out of jams, Cardona threw two scoreless innings, allowing two hits and a walk, and was credited with his fifth win of the year.
Besides Kelly's home run, the Blue Jays managed just two other hits off Threshers starter Sixto Sanchez, who hit 100 miles per hour on the stadium's radar gun during the game. They had far less trouble against the Threshers bullpen, knocking in three runs in the sixth inning. Kelly and CF Edward Olivares hit back-to-back singles with one out in the sixth. C Andres Sotillo drove in Kelly with a single, and LF Jake Thomas doubled home Olivares and Sotillo.
Following Cardona's pair of innings, LHP Alonzo Gonzalez worked two scoreless himself, also allowing two hits and a walk. RHP Jackson McClelland finished the game and the shutout with a scoreless ninth inning.
The Blue Jays (38-30, 72-65 overall) will finish the regular season tomorrow evening against the Threshers (28-39, 66-71) at Florida Auto Exchange Stadium with the first pitch scheduled for 5:00 PM. RHP Patrick Murphy is scheduled to make his second start of the year for the Blue Jays in their finaly tuneup before beginning a three-game divisional playoff series with the Tampa Yankees on Tuesday.
