Lakeland falls in 2-1 pitchers’ duel in series finale with Dunedin 

The Lakeland Flying Tigers (49-56, 18-22) dropped the series finale with the Dunedin Blue Jays (50-54, 20-19) with a 2-1 defeat on Sunday afternoon at Joker Marchant Stadium.

Dunedin began the scoring with one run in the second off starter Kelvis Salcedo. Juan Sanchez led off the inning with a double followed by a single from Ryan Cooney. Aldo Gaxiola drove in Sanchez with a sacrifice fly to give the Blue Jays a 1-0 lead.

Lakeland tied the game with one run in the fifth off starter Denis Samudio. Nick Dumesnil hustled out an infield single, stole second and scored on an RBI single from Anibal Salas to knot the game at 1-1.

Dunedin took the lead with one run off reliever Cash Kuiper in the seventh. Gaxiola led off the inning with a double, moved to third on a flyout and scored on an RBI double from Jake Bennett to put the visitors in front, 2-1.

Lakeland put the tying run on third base in the ninth inning but failed to score as the Blue Jays took the series finale, 2-1.

Samudio (2-1) earned the win, tossing 6.0 innings of one-run ball while striking out five and walking one. Kuiper (1-5) took the loss, surrendering one run on two hits over 1.1 innings. Dax Dathe (1) earned his first career professional save, pitching a hitless ninth inning while punching out one.

Lakeland continues its two-week homestand as it hosts Bradenton on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. Both teams’ starters are to be determined.