Yennsy Diaz gave fans at Dunedin Stadium a tantalizing glimpse at his potential in his Florida State League debut, hitting 97 on the radar gun and allowing just one hit through the game's first five innings, but Diaz hit a wall in the sixth and the Blue Jays bats were
Yennsy Diaz gave fans at Dunedin Stadium a tantalizing glimpse at his potential in his Florida State League debut, hitting 97 on the radar gun and allowing just one hit through the game's first five innings, but Diaz hit a wall in the sixth and the Blue Jays bats were unable to back their pitcher as Dunedin fell 3-2.
After posting a 5-1 record and 2.08 ERA in 9 starts at Lansing, Diaz joined Dunedin this week looking to stabalize a rotation that has been in flux due to a string of call-ups. He was dominant early, striking out six and allowing just one hit and one walk through five. In the sixth, Diaz labored, allowing four hits and a walk while three runs scored. He had an opportunity to limit the damage with one out and the bases loaded when Luke Burch laid down a suicide squeeze bunt back to Diaz. While it appeared Diaz had a play at home, he turned to take the sure out at first, but no one was covering allowing Burch to reach on an infield single and the bases to stay loaded.
A walk to Danny Pinero ended Diaz's day and the team turned to RHP Connor Law with the still bases loaded. Zac Shepherd worked the count full, laying off a two-strike pitch that just missed the corner to take a walk and force in another run, putting Lakeland up 3-1. A double play ended the inning, but the damage was done.
After scoring in the second inning on an RBI single by SS Ivan Castillo, Dunedin didn't register another hit until the seventh. 3B John La Prise opened the home half of the seventh with a single and moved to second on a single by RF Rodrigo Orozco. A sac bunt by LF Eduard Pinto put both runners in scoring position and a ground out by DH Nash Knight plated La Prise.
Four of Dunedin's last seven batters struck out to end the game and hand Dunedin a 3-2 loss, their 13th one-run loss of the year.
Offensively, Dunedin had just four hits, all by the bottom three hitters in their order. Diaz finished his FSL debut with a line of 5.1 innings pitched, five hits, three runs, two walks, and six strikeouts. Law tossed 1.2 scoreless in relief and RHP Ty Tice struck out two over the game's final two innings.
For Lakeland, LHP Gregory Soto was credited with the win, allowing one hit and one run over 5.0 innings. RHP Alfred Gutierrez earned the save, throwing 2.2 scoreless innings to close out the game.
The Blue Jays and Flying Tigers will finish their four-game series at Dunedin Stadium tomorrow afternoon starting at 1:00 PM. LHP Angel Perdomo will take the mound for Dunedin aiming to build off his impressive start to the season (2.08 ERA over 6 starts). RHP Spenser Watkins (3-0, 1.09 ERA) is scheduled to start for Lakeland.
