Copeland Shines in Dunedin Debut

DUNEDIN, FL - Two weeks ago Scott Copeland reached the end of the line. A 21st round pick of the Baltimore Orioles in 2010, the righty had a 6.88 ERA after 18 starts with the Frederick Keys of the Carolina League, and he was released by the Orioles.

The Blue Jays, needing depth in the second half of the season, gave Copeland a chance, and on Friday night he started the second phase of his professional career with a bang.

Copeland scattered three hits over six shutout innings, adding eight strikeouts, and the Blue Jays took game two of a four game series with the Charlotte Stone Crabs by a final score of 7-0.

Once again it was Kevin Pillar that led the Blue Jays offense, as the center fielder went 3-3 with two RBIs and two runs scored. Pillar scored the game's first run on a Kevin Ahrens RBI double in the second inning, and he drove in the next two with a double in the fourth and a single in the sixth.

Leading 3-0 in the eighth, the Blue Jays scored four times with two outs to blow the game wide open. Ahrens drove in his second run of the night and Marcus Knecht followed with an RBI single that brought the score to 5-0. Jon Talley capped off the scoring with a two run double, and that was more than enough.

After Copelands stellar start it was the relief corps of Dustin Antolin, Alan Farina and Evan Englebrook that preserved the shutout, which was the Blue Jays third in the month of July.

The win evens the four game series at a game a piece, and guarantees the Blue Jays at least a split of the season series with the Stone Crabs which they now lead 4-2.

Game three of the series will take place on Saturday night at 6:30, and it will feature a pitching match-up of Casey Lawrence and Braulio Lara.

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