Inciarte Ignites Third-Inning Rally in Setback to Dunedin, 11-3
Published on July 2, 2019 under Florida State League (FSL1)
Florida Fire Frogs News Release
CLEARWATER, FLA.: Braves outfielder Ender Inciarte looked impressive in his second rehab start with the Florida Fire Frogs, but an eight-run second inning did the trick for the Dunedin Blue Jays in their 11-3 series-clinching win on Tuesday at Jack Russell Memorial Stadium.
Inciarte led off and played center for the first time since his injury. The three-time Gold Glove winner didn't have an opportunity for a putout in the field but did make the most of his two plate appearances. He singled to left in his first at-bat and drew a walk to start off what turned out to be a very productive fourth frame for Florida. Andrew Moritz pinch-ran for him in that same inning.
The second stanza doomed RHP Matt Hartman and the Fire Frogs. The Blue Jays sent 12 men to the plate, capitalizing on six hits and an error to take an 8-0 lead. Chavez Young and Ryan Noda recorded back-to-back doubles for the first run. Nick Podkul singled in another. Cullen Large reached on a Drew Lugbauer fielding error for the third tally. Noda's three-run triple off new pitcher RHP Kurt Hoekstra inflicted most of the damage and capped the inning.
Noda was one of four Blue Jays with two hits and was the team-leader with 4 RBIs.
Hartman (0-3) surrendered seven runs, only four of them were earned, with five hits and a pair of walks over four outs.
Hoekstra gave up an unearned run and two hits with four strikeouts in 2 and 2/3's.
Inciarte was the first of four straight Florida batters to reach and start the fourth inning rally against RHP Graham Spraker. Riley Delgado and Kevin Josephina singled to load the bases. A two-run RBI knock from Lugbauer sent in Moritz and Delgado. Josephina would score later in the inning on a Logan Brown base hit tor trim Dunedin's lead to 8-3.
Delgado went 2-3 for the Fire Frogs, notching his fifth multi-hit effort in his last eight contests. Moritz came off the bench to go 2-2 with a run and snap out of an 0-13 skid.
Spraker (6-2) settled in after the fourth, scattering seven hits and three runs in six innings of work. RHP Kyle Weatherly and RHP Mike Ellenbest backed him by not surrendering a tally the rest of the way.
The Blue Jays added two runs in the seventh versus RHP Daysbel Hernandez. A triple from Young brought in Demi Orimoloye. Young scored on a knock from Samad Taylor to put Dunedin into double digits, 10-3.
Norberto Obeso had the second of his two hits come in the eighth, a double that permitted Cal Stevenson to touch home for an 11-3 edge.
Taylor and Young each swatted 2-4 with an RBI and at least one run scored; Young came across twice.
Hernandez yielded two hits, two runs, two walks, and fanned a career-best six Blue Jays across eight outs. RHP Sean McLaughlin contributed 1 and 1/3's frames, allowing two hits and a run.
Kevin Josephina went 1-4 and has now reached base in an impressive 15 of his last 17 games.
NEXT UP: RHP Nolan Kingham (4-6, 4.73) will make his 14th start as a member of the Fire Frogs rotation on Wednesday in the series finale at 6:30 p.m. LHP Nick Allgeyer (6-3, 2.70) is scheduled to start for the Blue Jays.
Florida State League Stories from July 2, 2019
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- Big First Inning Holds Up In 8-5 Win - Fort Myers Mighty Mussels
- Stone Crabs Even Series vs. Mets with 9-3 Win - St. Lucie Mets
- Inciarte Ignites Third-Inning Rally in Setback to Dunedin, 11-3 - Florida Fire Frogs
- 2019 Flying Tigers First Half Recap - Lakeland Flying Tigers
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