DeGraaf, Bats Best Bradenton At Home
The Dunedin Blue Jays returned home to Florida Auto Exchange Stadium on Saturday evening for game one of their three game set with the Bradenton Marauders and left victorious thanks to a strong performance by their offense and another stellar outing by RHP Josh DeGraaf. The Blue Jays scored in
The Dunedin Blue Jays returned home to Florida Auto Exchange Stadium on Saturday evening for game one of their three game set with the Bradenton Marauders and left victorious thanks to a strong performance by their offense and another stellar outing by RHP
RHP Josh DeGraaf entered tonight's game on a roll, having pitched to a 2.20 ERA in 28.2 innings since returning to Dunedin from AA-New Hampshire. He continued his strong second half on Saturday evening, allowing just two hits over 5.2 innings and striking out six. DeGraaf allowed three runs (two earned), with most of the damage coming in the sixth inning on a two-run home run by
"The game plan was to go right after them,"
Bradenton went up 1-0 in the first inning, using a pair of errors by 1B
"We could tell from the beginning that he wasn't quite the same pitcher we had faced the previous times," Pentecost said post-game. "We went up there and attacked the fastball and were able to get in hitters counts. It really worked to our advantage."
Keller hit the leadoff batter in the first, DH
Dunedin added a run in the second on an RBI single by Alford, a run in the third on a sacrifice fly by
Bradenton got two back in the sixth on the two-run homer by George, but Dunedin added an insurance run in the seventh thanks to a sacrifice fly by Bichette.
Dunedin knocked ten hits in the game and stole five bases. Pentecost finished 3-5 with a run scored. Bichette had his fourth straight multi-hit game, finishing 2-3 with an RBI, two runs scored, and two stolen bases. 2B Cavan Biggio also had a pair of hits and drove in two.
The win evens Dunedin's second half record at 11-11 while Bradenton remains in second place in the FSL South with a 13-8 record. The two teams will play again tomorrow night with RHP