Leblebijian Drives in Four to Lift Jays over Yankees
August 23, 2015 - Florida State League (FSL1)
Dunedin Blue Jays News Release
Tampa, FL - Jason Leblebijian broke open the game with a bases clearing double in the eighth and drove in another in the ninth, as the Dunedin Blue Jays defeated the Tampa Yankees at George M. Steinbrenner Field on Sunday afternoon, 8-5.
Leblebijian, who had just one run batted in through his first 30 games with Dunedin this season, became the sixth D-Jay to drive in four or more in a game. He also made a terrific diving stop to his left at third base with a pair of runners in scoring position for Tampa in the fourth.
Derrick Loveless hit his 10th home run of the season to highlight the first of two three-run innings for the Jays in the fourth. The two-out two-run shot to deep right came immediately after Matt Dean opened the scoring with an RBI single. Loveless has now gone deep four times in August, while Dean increased his team-leading RBI total to 55.
The Jays had to hold on late, as the Yankees rallied for three runs in the bottom of the ninth. Brady Dragmire, who struck out four in his first two shutout innings of work, was lifted in favor of closer Wil Browning for the final out of the game. Browning, appearing for the third straight day, recorded his league-leading 20th save when he induced a fly ball to left off the bat of Kyle Higashioka to end the game.
The Blue Jays took a 4-0 lead in the fifth when L.B. Dantzler delivered an RBI double, his third run batted in the last two games. The Yankees cut the lead in half with a pair in the bottom of the fifth, but Leblebijian's big double widened the gap to 7-2 in the eighth.
Alonzo Gonzalez started for the D-Jays and tossed four shutout innings, scattering six hits.
The series against the Yankees in Tampa continues tomorrow afternoon. Right-hander Derek Blacksher will take the hill for the D-Jays. First pitch is set for 12:00 ET and the action can be heard on DunedinBlueJays.com.
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Florida State League Stories from August 23, 2015
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- Taylor, Mets Shut out Stone Crabs 1-0 - St. Lucie Mets
- Tampa Falls to Dunedin in Opener, 8-5 - Tampa Yankees
- Leblebijian Drives in Four to Lift Jays over Yankees - Dunedin Blue Jays
- Pullin Pounds Two Homers in 10-6 Win - Clearwater Threshers
- Three-Run Eighth Inning Dooms Daytona Saturday - Daytona Tortugas
- O'Grady Homers, Drives in Three in Loss Sunday - Daytona Tortugas
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