Buffo, Blue Jays Win Seventh Straight
July 9, 2018 - Florida State League (FSL1)
Dunedin Blue Jays News Release
If Maverik Buffo had any nerves as he took the mound for his Florida State League debut on Monday night at Dunedin Stadium, they didn't show. The young righty turned in his longest and finest outing as a professional, throwing 8.0 shutout innings against the Clearwater Threshers, allowing just three hits and striking out five in a 7-0 Blue Jays win.
"Honestly, everything worked tonight," Buffo said after the game. "I had my slider. I had my changeup. I had my four-seam and my two-seam fastball. It's nice to have everything, obviously. Great group of guys here, I've played with some earlier this year and last year, and that's nice. It helps you calm down and get comfortable."
Buffo wasted no time getting comfortable, setting down the Threshers in order in the first inning, recording his first Florida State League strikeout for the final out of the inning. In the home half of the first, 2B Kevin Smith spotted him a run, knocking a solo home run to left field to put Dunedin up 1-0.
"The mental preparation I had for today was awesome. I didn't want to make it any bigger than it is. Obviously, it's an honor to be promoted to a higher level, but I wanted to stay with my same game plan, the same reasons that got me here. I wanted to be aggressive and take it to them."
Take it to them, he did. The Threshers put two runners on in the second on a single and a walk, but Buffo used two strikeouts and a ground out to end the inning. He allowed just two additional base runners the rest of the game, setting down Clearwater in order in five of his eight innings.
On the offensive end, the Blue Jays put up a crooked number in the third to back their starter. 3B Ivan Castillo, who was named Florida State League Player of the Week earlier in the day, led off the inning with a triple. RF Rodrigo Orozco plated him with a single, the first of three hits on the day for Orozco. After a strikeout for the first out, Orozco stole second and a walk to SS Santiago Espinal put two on. Smith drilled a double to score Orozco. DH David Jacob was then hit by a pitch, loading the bases.
With the bases loaded, C Riley Adams stepped to the plate and turned a 3-0 game into a blowout, drilling a grand slam off the batter's eye in straightaway centerfield.
With a 7-0 lead, Buffo cruised through eight before handing the ball off to LHP Jake Fishman. Fishman allowed a single to lead off the ninth, but quickly induced a double play ball and then struck out the game's final batter to complete the victory.
"Tonight was awesome," Buffo said in closure after the win. "It's a great feeling to have a debut like that here."
The win was Dunedin's seventh straight, extending their longest winning streak of the season. As a team, the Jays had 12 hits, improving their league-best team batting average in the month of July to .299. Smith, Adams, Lundquist, Castillo, and Orozco each had multiple hits. With a 2-4 day today, Castillo now has two hits in eight of his last 10 games.
The win improves Dunedin's second half record to 12-6 and brings their full season record even at 43-43. The Threshers are now 10-7 with the loss in the second half and one game under .500 (42-43) on the season. The two teams will continue their four-game set at Dunedin Stadium tomorrow evening at 6:30 PM with RHP Connor Eller (3-2, 3.60 ERA) on the mound for Dunedin.
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Florida State League Stories from July 9, 2018
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- Stone Crabs Fend off Mets, 3-2 - St. Lucie Mets
- Clearwater Shut Out, 7-0 at Dunedin - Clearwater Threshers
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- Florida Fire Frogs Game Notes: July 9, 2018 - Florida Fire Frogs
- Ian Anderson Named FSL Pitcher of the Week - Florida Fire Frogs
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