Globe iconLogin iconRecap iconSearch iconTickets icon
Single-A Affiliate
The Official Site of the Dunedin Blue Jays Dunedin Blue Jays

Grichuk Gets On Four Times, But Jays Fall 6-5 To Lakeland

Dunedin strands tying and go ahead runs in the ninth
Rehabbing OF Randal Grichuk reached base in all four at bats (single, three walks) in Dunedin's 6-5 Friday night loss. (Allasyn Lieneck)
May 25, 2018

Dunedin's defensive woes continued on Friday evening at Dunedin Stadium as a trio of errors led to three unearned runs and a 6-5 loss to the Lakeland Flying Tigers. Dunedin rallied to tie the game with a three-run seventh, but left the tying and go ahead runs on base in

Dunedin's defensive woes continued on Friday evening at Dunedin Stadium as a trio of errors led to three unearned runs and a 6-5 loss to the Lakeland Flying Tigers. Dunedin rallied to tie the game with a three-run seventh, but left the tying and go ahead runs on base in the ninth to fall by one run for the twelfth time this season.
After an afternoon of heavy rain in Dunedin, the Blue Jays and Flying Tigers were able to begin their game on time, but wet field conditions appeared to lead to multiple Dunedin errors in the top of the first. After LHP Tayler Saucedo recorded a ground out to open the game, Lakeland RF Daz Cameron tripled to right on a liner that RF Randal Grichuk started in on and then leapt and missed as it sailed over his head. Saucedo struck out the next hitter, but Isaac Paredes knocked a two-out single to score the game's first run. The next two batters each reached, the first on an errant throw by SS Ivan Castillo and the second on a fielding error by 3B Nash Knight. With the inning extended, Cole Bauml singled up the middle, increasing Lakeland's lead to 3-0.
Lakeland extended their lead further in the fifth. Cameron led off the inning with a single and stole second. A wild pitch moved him to third and a sacrifice fly by Danny Pinero brought him home.
Dunedin got on the scoreboard in the home half of the fifth. With two outs, Grichuk worked a walk, one of three walks he'd take in the game, and advanced on a wild pitch. 1B Bradley Jones doubled to the wall in right center, bringing in Grichuk and cutting the Lakeland lead to 4-1.
After five innings of work, Saucedo was relieved by RHP Jonny Cheshire in the sixth. Over 5.0 innings, Saucedo allowed four runs, but just two were earned and one was deserved. Cheshire worked two hitless, scoreless innings in relief, striking out a pair and walking none, keeping the game close for the Dunedin bats to break out in the bottom of the seventh.
CF Josh Palacios and Grichuk each walked with one out in the seventh. Jones knocked a single up the middle, his second hit of the game, to bring home Palacios. After C Alberto Mineo walked, DH Riley Adams grounded into a fielder's choice that brought home pinch runner Rodrigo Orozco. Knight knocked a single to right to plate Mineo and tie the score at 4-4.
 Another fielding miscue by Dunedin allowed the Flying Tigers to take the lead back in the eighth. Hard throwing RHP Jackson McClelland entered in relief for Dunedin to open the eighth and allowed a leadoff single to Paredes. After striking out the next hitter and inducing a fly ball for out number two, McClelland allowed a base hit into the left field corner off the bat of Bauml. The ball skipped past Davis into the corner, turning a single into extra bases and bringing Paredes home from first. 
Lakeland pushed home an insurance run in the ninth, using a two out hit-by-pitch and a double to go up 6-4.
Dunedin rallied again in the bottom of the ninth. Orozco led off with a single to right. After a ground out and a strike out, singles by Adams and Knight scored Orozco and put runners on first and third with two outs. Lakeland closer Eduardo Jiménez locked down his seventh save by striking out 2B John La Prise looking to end the game.
The loss drops Dunedin's record to 19-28 on the season, dropping them back into last place after a brief stay in fifth. Lakeland pulls even at 22-22 with the win. RHP Yennsy Diaz will make his Dunedin debut tomorrow evening for the Blue Jays after going 5-1 with a 2.08 ERA in Lansing over 9 starts. He will be opposed on the mound by LHP Gregory Soto (1-1, 4.67 ERA). Tomorrow's evening game is also scheduled to be Dunedin's second Bark in the Park event of the season to raise money for the Dunedin Doggie Rescue's animal welfare projects.