Lakeland splits twin bill with Dunedin to open series
After dropping the first game of the doubleheader 11-0, the Lakeland Flying Tigers (48-54, 17-20) responded with a 6-3 win over the Dunedin Blue Jays (48-53, 18-18) in game two on Wednesday night at Joker Marchant Stadium. In game one, Dunedin scored five runs in the first, with the first
After dropping the first game of the doubleheader 11-0, the Lakeland Flying Tigers (48-54, 17-20) responded with a 6-3 win over the Dunedin Blue Jays (48-53, 18-18) in game two on Wednesday night at Joker Marchant Stadium.
In game one, Dunedin scored five runs in the first, with the first three charged to MLB rehabber Brant Hurter and the next two to reliever Xiomer Guacache. Jake Cook led off the game with a single and moved to second on a Blaine Bullard fielder’s choice. After an Adrian Pinto walk, Juan Sanchez laced a two-run double down the line, scoring Cook and Bullard. The next hitter, Aldo Gaxiola, smashed a three-run blast to give the Blue Jays a 5-0 first-inning lead.
Dunedin added one run in the third off reliever Caleb Leys. Sanchez walked, stole second and scored on an RBI from Gaxiola, extending the lead to 6-0.
The Blue Jays scored two more in the fourth off reliever Caleb Leys on a two-run double from JoJo Parker, pushing the advantage to 8-0.
Dunedin added three more runs off reliever Bryce Alewine in the seventh. Giaconino Lasaracina crushed a two-run blast and Bullard drove in a run on a fielder’s choice to cap the scoring at 11-0.
Reliever Edwin Veras (1-0) got the win, going 3.1 shutout innings while allowing two hits and striking out five. Hurter (0-1) took the loss, allowing three runs on one hit while walking one and striking out one over 0.1 inning.
Lakeland opened the scoring in game two with three runs in the second off starter Brayden Heidel. Jesus Pinto tripled and Anibal Salas drove him in on an RBI single. Zach MacDonald followed with a two-run blast to extend the lead to 3-0.
Dunedin countered with three runs in the third off starter Paul Wilson. Ryan Cooney, Bullard and Parker all walked to begin the inning. Gaxiola drew an RBI walk, Bullard scored on a wild pitch and the Blue Jays tied the game at 3-3 on an RBI single from Owen Carapellotti.
The Flying Tigers took the lead back with two runs in the fourth off reliever Josbel Garcia. Salas doubled and MacDonald tallied his second two-homer game in five contests, smashing a two-run shot to put Lakeland ahead, 5-3.
The Flying Tigers added one more run in the sixth off reliever Gavin Seebold. Pinto reached on an infield single, moved to second on a Salas single, advanced to third on a MacDonald walk and scored on a wild pitch, capping the scoring at 6-3.
In game two, reliever Grayson Grinsell (6-4) took the win, throwing 3.0 shutout innings while allowing two hits and three walks while punching out five. Garcia (4-3) went 3.0 innings while surrendering two runs on two hits while collecting four strikeouts. Donye Evans (2) notched the save, recording the final three outs while striking out two.
Lakeland looks for the 2-1 series lead as they host Dunedin on Thursday at 6:30 p.m. Flying Tigers RHP Cale Wetwiska (1-0, 3.09) will face off against Blue Jays RHP Carson Messina (0-1, 3.91)