Jays Fight Back, Alford's 1st HR Flies Past Lakeland
May 24, 2016 - Florida State League (FSL1)
Dunedin Blue Jays News Release
DUNEDIN, FL - The Dunedin Blue Jays (20-26) overcame an early three run deficit against the Lakeland Flying Tigers (25-20) to take the first of a three game set with a 7-5 victory. CF Anthony Alford boomed his first home run of the season, part of a five-run seventh inning for the Jays.
Lakeland jumped out to the tune of three runs in the first two innings against RHP Justin Shafer. CF Ross Kivet began the game with a home run, and 1B Wade Hinkle added a solo shot of his own an inning later. Shafer allowed four runs, three earned, over five innings in which he battled all night long.
In the bottom of the second, a pair of leadoff singles by Alford and LF D.J. Davis, and a SS A.J. Simcox throwing error, put runners at second and third against starter RHP A.J. Ladwig (L, 6-3). A groundout and sac fly later, it was a one run game.
The Flying Tigers added one more in the fourth, going up 4-2, and that is how the score would stay until the bottom of the seventh inning. Ladwig allowed Alford to pull the Jays within one with an opposite field home run. With one out, RF Derrick Loveless reached on an infield single, then stole second base. 2B Dickie Joe Thon followed by taking a two-strike curveball to the opposite field, scoring Loveless and tying the game.
Ladwig's night was done after Thon's at-bat, going 6.1 and allowing five runs, four earned, on seven hits with a season-high seven strikeouts. RHP Adam Ravenelle began his relief appearance by loading the bases with a pair of walks. SS Richard Urena stepped up and delivered a bases clearing triple to left-center, putting Dunedin up 7-4.
LHP Colton Turner's (W, 1-0) two scoreless innings in relief of Shafer earned him his first win of 2016. RHP Adonys Cardona (H, 6) held serve in the eighth for a pair of outs, while RHP Carlos Ramirez (S, 6) found the tying run at the plate two separate times, but earned a four-out save.
Dunedin throws out RHP Conner Greene on Wednesday night against Lakeland in game two. RHP Jeff Thompson goes for the Flying Tigers with first pitch at 6:30 pm.
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