Jays Sweep Homestand With Huge Comeback Win

The Dunedin Blue Jays scored 13 unanswered runs on Sunday afternoon at Dunedin Stadium, coming back from an early 9-1 deficit for a 14-9 win. The victory was Dunedin's eighth straight win and gives them a 3.0 game cushion in first place as they head out on the road for the next week.
Charlotte scored first this afternoon, putting up a two-spot in the top of the first on a solo home run by 1B Brendan McKay and a sacrifice fly from DH Tristan Gray. Both McKay and Gray would go on to have monster days, as McKay finished a triple short of the cycle and Gray drove in seven runs with a pair of homers.
The Blue Jays got one back in the home half of the first, stringing together singles from SS Kevin Smith, LF Brock Lundquist, and C Alberto Mineo to cut Charlotte's lead to 2-1.
The Stone Crabs scored four more in the third, using a double by CF Josh Lowe, singles by McKay and 2B Robbie Tenerowicz, and a three-run shot from Gray to extend their lead.
Charlotte put up three more in the fifth to take a commanding 9-1 lead. McKay led off with a double and Tenerowicz followed with a single. Gray launched his second three-run shot of the afternoon, and it looked like the rout was on. 
Dunedin, though, wasn't about to give up despite the daunting deficit on the scoreboard. With Smith on first and two outs in the home half of the fifth, Mineo lined a double to make it 9-2. 1B Kacy Clemens followed with a two-run shot to right to make it 9-4. The Blue Jays quickly loaded the bases thanks to a single by RF Rodrigo Orozco, a hit by pitch to DH Nash Knight, and a walk to 3B Yeltsin Gudino. 
With the bases full, CF Joshua Palacios drilled a double over the centerfielder's head, clearing the bases and pulling Dunedin within two at 9-7. 2B Ivan Castillo traded places with Palacios with a double just inside the line in right to make it a one-run ballgame. A walk to Smith put two runners on, and Lundquist followed with another double, scoring two and putting Dunedin up 10-9.
The nine-run inning, all with two outs, was Dunedin's highest scoring inning of the season, surpassing their eight-run outburst five days ago against Lakeland. Ironically, RHP Maverik Buffo was on the mound for Dunedin during both big innings. Today, Buffo wasn't at his sharpest, allowing 9 runs on 12 hits over 4.0 innings pitched, but the big offensive comeback allowed him to leave with a no-decision.
RHP Ty Tice followed Buffo on the mound, taking over in the fifth inning with a one-run lead. For the fourth straight game, Tice was masterful, throwing 3.0 shutout innings of relief and striking out three batters, tying his longest outing of his professional career. Over his last four appearances, Tice has thrown 9.1 shutout innings and struck out 10 batters.
The Dunedin offense wasn't finished, adding three runs of insurance for Tice in the seventh on singles by Smith and Lunquist and doubles from Mineo and Orozco. Singles by Palacios, Lundquist, and Mineo in the eighth inning added an additional run to the scoreboard, making it 14-9 in Dunedin's favor, the eventual final score.
Dunedin had 21 hits in the game, their most in a game this season, surpassing the 18 hits they had on April 26th against Clearwater. Their 14 runs tied their season-high from April 21st against Daytona. The Blue Jays knocked six doubles in the game, a season-high as well.
Lundquist (4-6, 2B, 2 RBI, R) and Mineo (4-5, 2 2B, 4 RBI, 2 R) each had four hits. Palacios (3-5, 2B, 3 RBI, 2 R), Smith (3-4, 4 R), and Orozco (3-5, 2B, RBI, R) had three hits apiece. 
Tice picked up his sixth win of the season in relief. RHP Nick Hartman finished the game on the mound for Dunedin, throwing 2.0 shutout innings in his return from AA-New Hampshire.
With the win, Dunedin improves to 60-51 overall, becoming the first team in the Florida State League to 60 wins. Their second-half record moves to 29-14, best in the league and 3.0 games above Clearwater for first place in the North. The Blue Jays will head on the road tomorrow to begin a three-game series in Daytona against the Tortugas (57-52, 20-23) before playing four games in Charlotte against the Stone Crabs (58-50, 24-17).