D-Jays Drop Rubber Game in Daytona, 5-1

Daytona Beach, FL - The Daytona Tortugas broke a 1-1 tie with a four-run sixth inning and held on to defeat the D-Jays, 5-1 in the rubber game of the series on Thursday night at Jackie Robinson Ballpark.

Anthony Alford led off the game with a double down the right field line, extending his hitting streak to 12. He then stole third and scored on the same play, after Daytona pitcher Sal Romano committed a throwing error trying to catch him at third base.

The Tortugas tied the game in the bottom of the first on an RBI double by Sebastian Elizalde. Conner Greene tossed five innings for the D-Jays and scattered five hits and three walks, stranding six Daytona base runners in the process and striking out three.

Jackson Lowery (0-1) came on for the D-Jays in the sixth and walked the first two batters he faced before committing a fielding error on a bunt attempt. Brady Dragmire recorded the final two outs of the inning and pitched a perfect seventh and eighth, striking out four. It was Dragmire's seventh consecutive scoreless relief appearance out of the Dunedin bullpen.

The Blue Jays put runners on first and second with nobody out in the sixth and loaded the bases with one out in the seventh, but could not push a run across on either occasion.

Sal Romano (5-3) earned the win for Daytona, allowing just the one unearned run in eight innings of work. He gave up eight hits, walked one, and struck out five. Matt Dean and Mitch Nay recorded two hits apiece for the D-Jays. Nay finished 5-for-11 in the series.    

The D-Jays return home tomorrow and open a four-game series against the Jupiter Hammerheads. Sean Reid-Foley will be on the hill for Dunedin. First pitch is 6:30 ET and the action can be heard on DunedinBlueJays.com.