Rain Dampens Series in Lakeland, But Blue Jays Still Shine with Three Wins

Game 1
Lakeland, FL--- It was a slow start for both clubs offenses, but the pitching was dominate early especially from Josh Winckowski. Since he has been called up from A-Lansing, he hasn't given up a run in his 16.0 innings of work. This has led to a 0.38 WHIP, and a .077 opponent batting average. Winckowski gave up just one hit in his seven innings of work with six strikeouts. Dunedin notched one hit in the first four innings, but the team turned it on in the 5^th.
The Blue Jays started the inning with a single from Chavez Young and a Ryan Noda walk to put runners on first and second with no outs. A sacrifice bunt from Kevin Vicuña turned into a scoring play after a throwing error from Tom de Blok scored Chavez Young. Nick Podkul came through in a big spot with a single to the right field gap to score Noda and Vicuna and bring the lead to 3-0.
Dunedin kept their foot on the gas coming up to bat in the 6^th trying to match their production from the prior inning. Demi Orimoloye got the inning going with a one-out double down the left-field line. Young then brought him home with a single to right field part of his 3-5 day. Ryan Noda walked to keep the inning going, and Kevin Vicuna took a double into left field to bring the game to 6-0.
The offense didn't relax with their 6-0 cushion, and the runs came again in the 8^th. Noda, Stevenson each drove in a run off of singles. Cullen Large gave the big blow of the frame with a double into left field that closed out the scoring for the game at 10. The Flying Tigers did scratch a run back in the bottom of the inning with a A.J. Simcox groundout, but Connor Law kept Lakeland in check for his two innings of work to finish off the series opener win.
Game 2
The Blue Jays notched their season high eighth win in a row with a 4-0 victory in Lakeland on Friday night.
After a 1:46 rain delay, the two teams got underway and Demi Orimoloye ripped a two run bomb to left with two outs in the top of the first to give Dunedin the 2-0 lead.
RHP Maximo Castillo started and bounced back after giving seven earned runs last Sunday by tossing 5.2 innings scoreless. Castillo had a no-hitter going into the fourth until Brady Policelli singled back up the middle to give Lakeland their first hit of the game.
Chavez Young and Nick Podkul drove in runs with a sacrifice fly and single in the fifth and seventh innings respectively to push the Blue Jays lead to 4-0. Righty Mike Ellenbest came on in relief and tossed 3.1 innings scoreless to notch his first save of the year.
Meanwhile, Lakeland managed to get just one runner in scoring position on the night and registered just two hits a night. On the other side of things, Cal Stevenson doubled in his third plate appearance of the night to extend his hitting streak to a career high 19 games.
Game 3
Dunedin defeated the Lakeland Flying Tigers by the final score of 4-1 in a rain-shortened scheduled doubleheader.
RHP Joey Murray made his 10^th start of the season for Dunedin and held Lakeland out of the hits column in the first three frames. On the flip side, RHP Garrett Hill made the start for Lakeland and walked the tight rope in the first and second innings but managed to escape damage.
In the top of the fourth, Demi Orimoloye dropped down a bunt single to kick-start a rally. The next hitter Kacy Clemens drilled a two-run homer to right to give Dunedin the 2-0 lead.
That was all Murray needed as the righty held the Flying Tigers to just one hit over the next 3.2 innings. In the top of the seventh, Cal Stevenson grounded a two-run single back up the middle to give Dunedin the 4-0 lead and extend his hitting streak to a career best 20 games.
RHP Kyle Weatherly came on in relief for Murray in the bottom and the seventh with two on and two out and despite giving up a run, closed the door and notched his first save of the year.
The second game of the doubleheader was postponed due to inclement weather in the forecast and will be made up as part of a doubleheader on Tuesday, July 16^th at Jack Russell Memorial Stadium.
The Blue Jays continue their eight game road trip tomorrow with a visit to Steinbrenner Field to take on the Tampa Tarpons in game one of a four game set. The first pitch is set for 6:30 and can be heard across the Dunedin Blue Jays Baseball Network powered by TuneIn with coverage beginning at 6:30 PM.