After dropping yesterday's series finale against the Florida Fire Frogs, the Dunedin Blue Jays fell for the second consecutive game for the first time since going on a two-plus week winning binge during which they won 14 of 15 games, losing 4-2 to the Tampa Tarpons on Thursday night at
After dropping yesterday's series finale against the Florida Fire Frogs, the Dunedin Blue Jays fell for the second consecutive game for the first time since going on a two-plus week winning binge during which they won 14 of 15 games, losing 4-2 to the Tampa Tarpons on Thursday night at Dunedin Stadium. Tampa's Angel Aguilar and Rashad Crawford combined to drive in all four Tarpons runs and hand Dunedin just their fifth loss in the month of July.
Tampa got on the scoreboard first in the second inning. Isiah Gilliam led off the inning with a double off Dunedin's RHP Maverik Buffo. After Buffo set down the next two hitters on a ground out and a pop out, Aguilar laced the first pitch he saw from the Blue Jays righty to the right field gap for a run-scoring triple. Crawford followed with a ground rule double to right field to make it 2-0 in Tampa's favor.
Facing 19-year-old Luis Rijo in his first Florida State League start, the Blue Jays battled back in the fifth to tie the game. LF Ivan Castillo and DH Nash Knight led off the inning with a pair of singles and a fielding error by Tampa allowed both runners to move into scoring position. A sacrifice fly to deep center off the bat of C Alberto Mineo cut Tampa's lead in half. A single to left by 2B Yeltsin Gudino brought home Knight and tied the game.
The Tarpons responded in the top of the sixth. Gilliam walked to lead off the inning and Dom Thompson-Williams followed with a double. After Hoy Jun Park walked to load the bases, Aguilar singled to right, bringing home a run. With the bases still loaded with no outs, the Blue Jays turned to RHP Ty Tice out of the bullpen. Tice induced a fielder's choice ground out from the first batter he faced, recording the inning's first out as a run scored. After a walk re-loaded the bases, Tice used a strike out and a fly out to escape the jam with minimal damage.
Trailing 4-2, the Blue Jays put a runner in scoring position in the sixth and seventh inning, but were unable to score against a tough Tampa bullpen. Rijo was lifted after 6.0 innings, having allowed two runs on six hits. Greg Weissert relieved and held the Blue Jays scoreless for 1.2 innings despite two walks and a hit allowed, and Matt Wivinis finished the game with 1.1 shutout innings to earn his seventh save.
Buffo took the loss for Dunedin, his first in the three Florida State League starts, going 5.0 innings and allowing four runs on eight hits while striking out five. Tice struck out three in 2.0 scoreless innings of relief and RHP William Ouellette tossed a scoreless eighth and ninth inning, striking out a pair.
The loss brings Dunedin's second half record to 19-9, still good for a 3.0 game lead in first place in the North Division. Tampa moves above .500 in the second half at 14-13 with the win. The two teams will continue their three-game set at Dunedin Stadium tomorrow evening at 6:30 PM.
