Copeland gets complete game victory

Two first inning runs provided all of the necessary offense for the Blue Jays, who extended their first-place lead to two games

By Patrick Kurish

April 15, 2013

Through the first 10 games of the season, the buzz around the Florida State League was about the pitching prowess of the Dunedin Blue Jays.

Game 11 was no different.

Scott Copeland -- who entered the game leading the league in quality starts (2) and ranked second in innings pitched (14) and batters faced (54) -- one-upped himself, pitching the first nine-inning complete game of his three-year career and the first from any Florida State League pitcher in 2013 as the Blue Jays topped the Yankees, 3-1, at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa.

Copeland found himself in trouble early, allowing one run on a pair of hits in the first inning, including a leadoff single to Mason Williams, who later came around to score on an RBI sac fly to right field. However, that would be the extent of the damage all night for the 25-year-old right hander, as he allowed just four hits (all singles) the final eight innings, striking out five and walking just one.

No out was more impressive than the final out of the game, a phenomenal sliding grab by CF Jonathan Jones. After the first two batters were quickly retired by Copeland, Yankees catcher and highly-touted prospect Gary Sanchez ripped a liner into deep left-center field, for which Jones had to range a long distance to his right and back towards the wall. As the ball appeared to be headed towards the base of the left-centerfield fence, Jones slid feet first into the wall, making a sensational catch to seal the complete game for Copeland.

Offensively, the D-Jays got two of their three runs in the first inning, capitalizing on the slow start of Yankees starter Bryan Mitchell. With one down in the frame, Andy Burns laced a ball into right field off the glove of RF Eduardo Sosa, reaching second on a two-base error. Brett Lawrie immediately made the Yankees pay, grooving a triple over the centerfielder's head and off the wall. Lawrie would later come around to score on a Gabe Jacobo single to center.

The Blue Jays plated their third and final run in the sixth inning after Matt Newman hit a one-out double to right field and, after consecutive walks to Pierce Rankin and Derrick Chung, scored on a fielder's choice from Nick Baligod.

The D-Jays will look to clinch their fourth consecutive series to open the season tomorrow in Tampa as they face off with the Yankees in game two of the three game set. Blue Jays top prospect Aaron Sanchez will take the hill for the Jays and will be opposed by Corey Black. First pitch is scheduled for 7:00 PM ET.