D-Jays Fall Behind Early in 6-2 Loss

Lakeland, FL - Francisco Martinez drove in five runs to lift the Lakeland Flying Tigers over the Dunedin Blue Jays, 6-2 at Joker Marchant Stadium on Saturday night.

Conner Greene, who was making his Dunedin debut after being called up from Lansing, retired the first two hitters he faced before allowing back-to-back singles. Martinez was the next man up and he belted a three-run home run onto the berm in left field.

Although the blast from Martinez proved to be all the Flying Tigers would need, he drove in another run in the third on an RBI double. His fifth RBI came in the seventh on a sacrifice-fly.

Down 4-0 heading into the sixth, the Blue Jays rallied with two out to cut the Lakeland lead in half. Mitch Nay singled and L.B. Dantzler reached on a wild pitch after striking out. Christian Lopes and Derrick Loveless followed with RBI singles.

The Flying Tigers added a pair of insurance runs in the seventh. The Blue Jays stranded 11 runners on base, including two in the top of the ninth inning.

Greene (0-1) settled down after the rough first inning and at one point retired nine in a row. The right-hander gave up nine hits, four runs, and struck out four. Jonathan Maciel (3-7) earned the win for Lakeland, surrendering six hits and two runs in five and two-thirds innings.

The Blue Jays continue their three-game series with the Lakeland Flying Tigers tomorrow afternoon. Right-hander Sean Reid-Foley will be on the hill for the D-Jays. First pitch is at 1:00 p.m. and the action can be heard on DunedinBlueJays.com.