After shutting out the Threshers in the first two games of this week's four-game series against Clearwater at Dunedin Stadium, the Blue Jays were well on their way to a third straight shutout before a four-run ninth inning halted their scoreless streak and eight-game winning streak.RHP Patrick Murphy took the
After shutting out the Threshers in the first two games of this week's four-game series against Clearwater at Dunedin Stadium, the Blue Jays were well on their way to a third straight shutout before a four-run ninth inning halted their scoreless streak and eight-game winning streak.
RHP Patrick Murphy took the mound for the Blue Jays having allowed just seven total runs in seven starts since June 1st and continued his stellar streak. He allowed just two hits to the Threshers over 7.0 innings, walking one and striking out eight. With tonight's start, his ERA over the past two months drops to 1.29, the lowest in the Florida State League.
Murphy made quick work of the Threshers early, striking out four of the game's first six batters. He held Clearwater hitless until the fifth inning when a Mickey Moniak single and Raul Rivas double put two runners in scoring position. A fly out and a pair of strikeouts helped Murphy escape the jam, the only one he'd find himself in during the game as he proceeded to sit the Threshers down in order in the sixth and the seventh.
For Clearwater, Felix Paulino was equally stingy on the mound, allowing just three hits over 5.0 innings. Behind him, Jakob Hernandez allowed one hit over 2.0 scoreless inning. The Blue Jays had few chances to score, putting just three runners in scoring position in the first eight innings and failing to convert each time.
After RHP William Ouellette worked a shutout eighth for Dunedin in relief of Murphy, stretching the pitching staff's scoreless streak to 32.0 innings over the past four games, RHP Ty Tice entered in the ninth. Tice recorded the first out on a flyout to center, but Luke Williams topped a high-hopping grounder over Tice's head for a single with one out. A wild pitch moved Williams to second. After recording the second out of the inning on a grounder that advanced Williams to third, Jose Pujols worked a walk. A wild pitch allowed Williams to score the game's first run.
From there, the wheels came off for Dunedin. Moniak singled to score Pujols and then the next two batters doubled to put Clearwater up 4-0.
3B Ivan Castillo knocked a single in the ninth inning, but Clearwater reliever Kyle Dohy proceeded to strike out the side, giving him five K's in 2.0 innings of work on the night, ending the game and Dunedin's eight game winning streak.
Castillo's single in the ninth was his second hit of the game, giving him multiple hits in 9 of his last 12 games. As a team, Dunedin hit .294 during their winning streak and their staff posted a 1.16 ERA.
The loss drops Dunedin's second half record to 13-7, leaving them with a half game lead over Lakeland for first place in the North Division. The Blue Jays will don special Dunedin Orange Jerseys tomorrow evening for the finale of their series with Clearwater at 6:30 at Dunedin Stadium.
