Tampa Powers Its Way Past Dunedin, Blue Jays Fall 12-7

Tampa, FL — In the opener of a six-game set between the Dunedin Blue Jays and the Tampa Tarpons, offense wasn’t tough to come by for either team.

The Tarpons started the scoring in the first inning, plating two after Dunedin had left runners on first and second. But the Blue Jays answered right back in the second on an Abiezel Ramirez two-run homer, tying the game with his second home run of the year. Dunedin would take their first lead of the night in the very next inning on a Peyton Williams double, driving in his team-leading twenty sixth RBI of the year.

From then on, the two teams would trade seemingly knockout blows back and forth. Tampa scored three in the third to retake the lead, and Dunedin would score three of their own in the fourth to retake it again. But Tampa was able to outlast the Blue Jays by consistently getting runs across the plate, scoring in six of their eight offensive innings.

The back end of the Tarpons’ bullpen shut the Blue Jays’ lineup down with Manny Ramirez and Cole Ayers combining for three shutout innings and just one hit allowed, putting a bow on a 12-7 win.

With the win, Tampa improved to 12-22, and the Blue Jays fell to 18-16 on the year. The two teams will go at it again on Wednesday, with game two of the series scheduled for a 6:30 p.m. first pitch. Wednesday’s game will be available live on the Dunedin Blue Jays Radio Network, with coverage beginning at 6:15 p.m.