DUNEDIN, Fla. -- For the third-straight game, the Tarpons produced double-digit hits and got a quality start from a starting pitcher, but the Blue Jays scored five runs off the Tampa bullpen and evened the series with a 7-5 walk-off win on Friday night at Dunedin Stadium.RHP Rony Garcia retired
DUNEDIN, Fla. -- For the third-straight game, the Tarpons produced double-digit hits and got a quality start from a starting pitcher, but the Blue Jays scored five runs off the Tampa bullpen and evened the series with a 7-5 walk-off win on Friday night at Dunedin Stadium.
RHP Rony Garcia retired the first five batters he faced before Kacy Clemens doubled and scored on a base hit by Nash Knight in the second. Dunedin (20-9, 51-46) added another run in the third when Rodrigo Orozco doubled and tagged up twice on back-to-back fly outs for a 2-0 lead.
After a scoreless first inning by rehabbing RHP Roberto Osuna, the Blue Jays brought in RHP Connor Eller. The 24-year-old extended his scoreless innings streak to 18 and two-third innings before Tampa (14-14, 49-48) scored in the fifth.
Angel Aguilar appeared to be hit on the left bicep by Eller's first pitch of the frame, but home plate umpire Brandon Mooney ruled "foul ball." After Tampa manger Patrick Osborn argued, Mooney ejected Osborn.
Aguilar worked a walk and Ben Ruta reached on an error by shortstop Logan Warmoth. Keith Skinner followed with a single to right, scoring Aguilar. Ruta the scored as Estevan Florial reached on a fielder's choice, tying the game at 2-2.
Garcia retired 12 of the last 13 batters he faced, tossing a perfect sixth to complete his outing. The 20-year-old allowed two earned runs on four hits in six innings and struck out five without issuing a walk, throwing 50 of 79 pitches for strikes.
Eller lost his command and walked three-straight batters with one out in the sixth. RHP Andy Ravel entered in relief and got a 5-4-3 double play from Aguilar to end the frame.
Skinner lined a one-out triple off Ravel in the seventh and scored on a go-ahead RBI single by Florial. After a base hit by Diego Castillo , Ravel got a strikeout and a pop out to limit the damage.
The Blue Jays answered in the bottom of the seventh, taking the lead off LHP Trevor Lane (BS, 4). Ivan Castillo reached on an infield single and, one out later, scored on a two-run home run by Knight, giving Dunedin a 4-3 lead.
The Blue Jays added an insurance run when Joshua Palacios hit a leadoff single in the eighth and later scored on an RBI double by David Jacob.
RHP Jackson McClelland (BS, 3)(W, 1-2) got the final out in the eighth and searched for a four-out save in the ninth. Skinner drew a leadoff walk and, one out later, Castillo singled to right. Brandon Wagner then singled into center, scoring Skinner. A bobble by centerfielder Palacios allowed the runners to advance to second and third and Castillo then scored on a game-tying sacrifice fly by Isiah Gilliam .
RHP Matt Frawley (L, 0-5) relieved Lane in the ninth and Clemens worked a leadoff walk. One out later, Brock Lundquist ended the game with a two-run homer to right.
Aguilar (2-for-3, BB, R) is batting .375 (12-for-32) during an eight-game hitting streak. Castillo (2-for-5, R) has hit safely in six-straight games. Wagner (2-for-5, RBI) and Skinner (2-for-3, 3B, BB, RBI, 2R) also had multi-hit games.
The series concludes with a rubber game on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. LHP Dalton Lehnen (0-1, 2.45) will make the start against RHP Patrick Murphy (7-4, 2.77). Live play-by-play audio will be available on the Tarpons Radio Network.
