Dunedin splits DH with Tampa on Monday
DUNEDIN, FL - The Blue Jays (24-27, 70-50) split a doubleheader with the Tampa Yankees (26-24, 59-61) on Monday night at Florida Auto Exchange Stadium. The Jays claimed Game 1 3-1, which featured a 2:01 rain delay, and the Yankees won 5-2 in Game 2.
RHP Roberto Osuna started the first game for the Jays. He allowed one run and three hits over 2.1 innings. He also hit a batter and issued walks to the last two men he faced. Osuna exited the game during the rain delay in the third inning.
The Jays took the lead on a triple by 3B Gustavo Pierre in the second inning. CF Dwight Smith, Jr. doubled, and RF Marcus Knecht walked. Pierre then drove both men in with a hit to right field, taking the 2-0 lead.
Mark Payton hit a homer to left field in the following inning, driving in the Yankees' lone run of Game 1.
DH Kevin Patterson hit a pinch-hit homerun in the third inning. His longball was Patterson's team-leading 10th of the season and gave the D-Jays their eventual final 3-1 lead. Patterson was leading off for Major Leaguer DH Edwin Encarnacion. The big leaguer led off for the second straight game for the D-Jays while on rehab assignment.
LHP Efrain Nieves (W, 3-4) relieved Osuna and earned the victory. He tossed 3.2 one-hit innings while punching out four men. RHP Arik Sikula (S, 28) pitched a perfect final frame, striking out two, and earning his FSL-leading 28th save.
Brett Gerritse (L, 3-7) surrendered two runs over 2.0 innings. Conner Kendrick allowed one run and pitched 2.0 frames, and Philip Walby contributed 2.0 scoreless frames.
The Tampa Yankees took an early lead in Game 2 with three runs in the top of the first inning. Payton led off with a triple and scored on a single by Cito Culver. Aaron Judge then hit a two-run homer. Eric Jagielo hit a solo shot in the third inning to take a 4-0 lead.
2B Christian Lopes hit an RBI single in the third inning, and Knecht hit a solo homerun in the fourth frame to cut the deficit to 4-2.
The Yankees added an insurance run in the sixth inning with three consecutive hits, topped off by Jose Rosario's RBI knock.
Cesar Vargas (W, 4-0) pitched 2.0 innings of relief, surrendering one run and earning the victory. Starter Taylor Garrison allowed one run over 3.0 innings. Alex Smith (S, 6) earned the save after pitched the final 2.0 innings.
RHP Jeremy Gabryszwski (L, 1-1) allowed four runs on six hits in 5.0 innings. He struck out five men and did not issue a walk. LHP Tony Davis ceded a run in 1.0 inning, and RHP Wil Browning pitched a scoreless frame.
The Blue Jays have an off day on Tuesday. They open a two-game series against the Clearwater Threshers at Bright House Field on Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. EST.