Alford Taken Off on Stretcher as Jays Lose in 12
DUNEDIN, FL - CF Anthony Alford was taken off the field on a stretcher with a neck injury in the top of the 12th inning in Dunedin's 3-2 loss to the St. Lucie Mets (29-30) Friday night. A wild play on an infield fly in the 12th scored the go-ahead run for the Mets and took Alford out of the game. Alford will undergo tests at Mease Dunedin Hospital where he is talking and moving his limbs.
With the bases loaded against LHP Alonzo Gonzalez (L, 2-4), C Tomas Nido launched a high pop fly to shallow center. Alford charged from a long way away while SS Richard Urena tracked backwards from short. The two collided with Alford running at full speed. The Jays' outfielder stayed down for the better part of 15 minutes until he was taken off on a stretcher and transported to the hospital.
With the infield fly in effect, Nido was ruled out, but after the two fielder's dropped the ball, 1B Michael Katz scored from third base. The Jays went quietly in the bottom of the 12th against RHP Corey Taylor (S, 7). LHP Ben Griset (W, 1-1) picked up the win by tossing scoreless frames in the 10th and 11th. Jays' Manager Ken Huckaby was ejected shortly after Alford was taken off the field for arguing the previous play.
The first four runs of the game were scored in succession from the bottom of the third through the top of the fifth. C Jorge Saez began things with a solo home run off of starter RHP Corey Oswalt. SS Amed Rosario tied it up with a single an inning later. In the bottom of the fourth, Saez came through with another RBI, this time a single, to take a 2-1 lead. St. Lucie countered again with a CF Champ Stuart solo home run to tie things until the 12th.
The Jays (27-33) received two solid outings from RHP Francisco Rios and RHP Conor Fisk who went six and five innings respectively. Rios allowed two runs in his start while Fisk struck out seven, surrendering just one hit.
Both teams saw their best chances to score come in the seventh. In the top half, 2B Luis Guillorme triple with one out against Fisk, but the righty fanned the final two batter in the inning, striking out the side.
In the bottom of the inning, Alford stood at the plate with one out and runners at first and second. RF Derrick Loveless attempted to steal third, but was thrown out for out number two. Alford then smacked a double to left field off the top of the wall. DH Ryan McBroom tried to score on the play from first, but was thrown out at the plate, keeping the game square.
Dunedin will attempt to even the series at two in the final game between these teams this year. RHP Justin Shafer will start for Dunedin against the Mets' RHP Ricky Knapp. First pitch is set for 6:30 pm.