Jays magic number down to 2 after 11-4 win

DUNEDIN, FL - The Blue Jays (44-20) defeated the Daytona Cubs (25-38) 11-4 in the opener of a three-game set at Florida Auto Exchange Stadium on Tuesday night. The Jays improved to 7-0 against the Cubs this season and now hold a 4.0 game lead over the Lakeland Flying Tigers for first place in the FSL North. Reigning FSL Player of the Week 1B K.C. Hobson went 3-for-5 with two homeruns, a double and five RBI. The Blue Jays can clinch the first half on Wednesday with a win and a Lakeland loss.

RHP Ben White (W, 3-3) got the start for Dunedin. He allowed one run on a solo homerun to Chadd Krist, and five hits over 5.0 innings of work.

Daytona starter Felix Pena (L, 1-6) took the loss. Pena, who led the FSL in ERA and opponents batting average entering the night, surrendered nine runs on 10 hits and two walks over 4.0 innings. He had not allowed more than one earned run in a start all season.

Hobson kicked off the scoring with a solo homer in the first inning. The Jays then scored five runs in the bottom of the second. C Derrick Chung and RF Nick Baligod hit consecutive doubles to begin the inning and score a run. 2B Peter Mooney singled in Baligod. Following a single by 3B Gustavo Pierre, CF Dalton Pompey hit an infield single, scoring Mooney. On the same play, Daytona second baseman Gioaskar Amaya committed a throwing error that allowed Pierre to score. Hobson then doubled to right field, scoring Pompey from first.

In the fourth inning, Hobson hit his second homer of the night, a three-run shot, and his sixth longball of the season. Pierre then led off the sixth frame with a double. After a throwing error, Pompey drove in Pierre on a groundball fielder's choice.

Daytona scored three runs in the eighth off of RHP Justin Jackson. Albert Almora hit an RBI single, and another run scored on an error by SS Emilio Guerrero. Bijan Rademacher added an RBI sac fly.

The D-Jays scored their final run when Pierre doubled and scored on a Pompey single. Chung and Pierre each went 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles, scoring a combined four runs.

Jackson allowed three runs, two earned, on two hits over just 0.2 inning. LHP Chad Girodo pitched 2.0 scoreless frames. LHP Efrain Nieves and RHP Danny Barnes combined for 1.2 hitless innings of relief.

The Blue Jays and Daytona Cubs continue their series on Wednesday at Florida Auto Exchange Stadium at 6:30 p.m. EST. LHP Matt Boyd (4-1, 0.43) will toe the rubber for the Jays. RHP Tayler Scott (3-4, 4.43) will oppose Boyd.