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Jays Fall Twice to Fire Frogs Despite Perdomo Gem

May 23, 2018 - Florida State League (FSL1) - Dunedin Blue Jays News Release


The Dunedin Blue Jays dropped both games of a doubleheader against the Florida Fire Frogs on Tuesday evening at Dunedin Stadium, falling 5-1 in extra innings in game one and 6-2 in game two.

Game One

In game one, lefty Angel Perdomo continued his excellent start to the season by turning in his most impressive outing yet, tossing 5.0 hitless innings. Little was hit hard against Perdomo as he recorded nine ground ball outs, three strike outs, a foul pop out, and two fly ball outs. After back-to-back fly outs to end the second inning, the Fire Frogs did not hit another ball out of the infield against Perdomo.

The only blemish on Perdomo's stat line was four walks that ran his pitch count up and led the Blue Jays to turn the ball over to the bullpen in the sixth despite the ongoing no-hitter. LHP Jake Fishman relieved Perdomo in the sixth and was just as dominant, striking out the side on just 11 pitches.

Opposing Perdomo on the mound for Florida, RHP Kyle Muller matched the Dunedin starter zero-for-zero. Like Perdomo, Muller threw 5.0 shutout innings. The Blue Jays knocked six hits and worked a pair of walks against the Fire Frogs starter but only advanced a runner to second base twice in the first five innings.

After Fisman's shutout sixth, the Blue Jays turned the ball and the no-hitter over to RHP Jackson McClelland. The typically dominant reliever struggled to control his high octane fastball in just his second outing since returning from the disabled list. After walking the first batter he faced on four pitches, McClelland allowed Florida's first hit, a single to right by Braxton Davidson. The next batter, Ray-Patrick Didder, reached when his bunt attempt fell out of McClelland's reach for an infield single. After an out was recorded at home on a fielder's choice ground out, Fire Frogs 2B Marcus Mooney lofted a single to short right, scoring Davidson with the game's first run. A double play helped Dunedin escape the bases loaded jam with just the one run allowed.

Trailing 1-0 in the bottom of the seventh, the game's final inning due to the doubleheader, the Blue Jays rallied. After the first two batters went down on a ground out and a line out, RF Rodrigo Orozco worked a two out walk. Josh Palacios followed by doubling into the left field corner, scoring Orozco and forcing extra innings.

McClelland returned to the mound for the eighth inning with a pace-of-play courtesy runner beginning the extra frame on second. In the eighth, the Fire Frogs knocked four hits, all singles, pushing across four runs to take a 5-1 lead.

Dunedin went down in order in the bottom of the eighth. McClelland took his first loss of the season. Troy Bacon was given the win for the Fire Frogs, throwing 2.0 innings of relief and allowing one run. Perdomo took a no decision despite his five hitless innings, lowering his season ERA to 2.08.

Dunedin had seven hits in the ballgame. CF Josh Palacios was the only Blue Jay with multiple hits, finishing 2-4, and had Dunedin's only extra base hit, a double.

Game Two

The Blue Jays dropped the second game of the doubleheader 6-2, continuing to struggle offensively despite a strong start by RHP Patrick Murphy. Dunedin had just four hits in the game, did not have multiple hits in any single inning, and only advanced one runner past first base in the first six innings.

Building off five one-run innings in his last outing, Murphy turned in another strong start for the Blue Jays. Although he went just 4.0 innings, the righty struck out six batters while allowing five hits and two runs.

The Fire Frogs scored the game's first run in the third, stringing together three singles off Murphy to go up 1-0.

A pair of walk coupled with a single by Kurt Hoekstra and a sacrifice fly pushed across a second run against Murphy in the fourth inning.

With the shortened game due to the doubleheader, the Blue Jays turned to their bullpen in the fifth. RHP Jonny Cheshire entered the game sporting an exceptional 0.71 ERA over his first six outings in Dunedin. For the first time in his Florida State League career, the sidearmer struggled, allowing two walks, a hit by pitch, and three hits in the inning while the Fire Frogs pushed across four runs to go up 6-0.

Dunedin finally got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the seventh. C Alberto Mineo and LF Nash Knight worked walks before SS Ivan Castillo drilled a two-run double with two outs.

Murphy took the loss for Dunedin, his fourth loss of the season. Cheshire and RHP Connor Law were given no decisions in relief. Law worked 2.0 shutout innings in his Dunedin debut after being promoted from Extended Spring Training earlier in the day.

RHP Connor Johnstone provided the Fire Frogs with 3.0 strong innings, allowing just one hit while striking out six in his first start of the season, dropping his 2018 ERA with Florida to 1.02. LHP Justin Kelly picked up the win in relief, allowing no runs on one hit in 2.0 innings.

The Blue Jays and Fire Frogs will finish their three-game series tomorrow evening at Dunedin Stadium. LHP Matthew Gunter (0-0, 1.13 ERA) will start on the mound for Dunedin against Florida LHP Tucker Davidson (2-4, 6.62 ERA). The game's first pitch is scheduled for 6:30 PM.


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