Christian Lopes Powers Dunedin over Jupiter
DUNEDIN, FL - Christian Lopes tallied three hits and scored twice in powering the Dunedin Blue Jays (38-49, 6-11) offense to a 6-3 win over the Jupiter Hammerheads (40-47, 5-12) on Saturday night.
The D-Jays outhit the Hammerheads 13-7 during the contest. Matt Dean and Mitch Nay gave Jupiter some problems early in the second inning after singling and walking, respectively. Lopes then sent Dean home for the game's first run.
Jupiter evened the score at one in the third, but the tie proved temporary as the Blue Jays jumped on the Hammerheads for two fourth-inning runs. Nay made a very strong throw at third to first while straddling the foul line to retire the side in the top half and immediately led off the bottom half with a double. Lopes subsequently drew a walk and Derrick Loveless scored the pair on a loud double to right-center field.
Lopes continued to be a nuisance for the Hammerheads in the sixth, singling in the sixth with one out in the frame. Loveless forced Lopes to second by drawing a walk and Martin Medina got into the mix with a single, extending the Jays lead to 4-1 as Lopes trotted home.
The Jays put two more on the board in the seventh to put the game to bed. Dean picked up his second hit of the game, scoring J.D. Davis on the play. L.B. Dantzler followed with an RBI single, plating Dean. Davis doubled in the frame, he and Dean each had two hits.
Aaron Sanchez went two and two-thirds innings for Dunedin during his MLB rehab start. He struck out two and allowed one run. Jeremy Gabryszwski was spectacular in relief of Sanchez. Gabryszwski held Jupiter scoreless over his first four and a third inning of work. He allowed two in the eighth prior to Alberto Tirado entering the game. Tirado earned his third save by holding the Hammerheads scoreless over his inning and a third of work.
Dunedin and Jupiter will get together for game three of their four-game set tomorrow, Sunday, July 12th at 5:00PM. Toronto Blue Jays third ranked prospect, Jeff Hoffman, is slated to make the start for Dunedin against Drew Steckenrider for Jupiter.
To purchase tickets or to learn more about the Dunedin Blue Jays, visit DunedinBlueJays.com.