Dunedin starts season 0-2 in Tampa

Last night, the Dunedin Blue Jays dropped their second straight game to start the season with a 19-9 loss to the Tampa Tarpons. After jumping ahead 7-0 in the 2nd inning, the Blue Jays allowed five unanswered runs between the third inning to the 4th. The Tarpons blew the game open in the 6th with a nine-run inning where the pitching staff surrendered four walks.

The walks have plagued the pitching staff early allowing 10+ walks in each of the first two contests. The staff currently leads the league in walks with 23 compared to a league-low 20 strikeouts. Roither Hernandez was a bright spot on the night striking out four in his 1.2 innings of work and not allowing a run. Position player, Davis Schneider, came on in the 8th for his season debut to help save some bullpen arms for the rest of the series.

The offense did explode in the 2nd for seven runs coming in multiple different ways. Miguel Hiraldo and Addison Barger each drove in a pair of runs and the other three runs came by way of bases loaded walks by the Tarpons pitching staff. Overall, five different Dunedin Blue Jays drove in at least one run, while Jhon Solarte was the other with a multi-RBI day. Of the seven hits on the day, two went for extra bases coming from doubles by Zach Britton and Jhon Solarte. Dunedin stayed aggressive on the base paths stealing four bags in the game. Harry Ray and Eric Rivera each stole two bases in the game for their first two stolen bases of the season. Dunedin now ranks third in stolen bases with five, behind St. Lucie (10) and Tampa (6).

Dunedin returns to Tampa tonight going for their first win when Naswell Paulino takes the mound for his first start of the season.