Jays Swept by Hammerheads at Home
August 16, 2018 - Florida State League (FSL1)
Dunedin Blue Jays News Release
Just a week removed from first place in the North Division, the Dunedin Blue Jays' late-season slide continued on Thursday evening at Dunedin Stadium, as the Jupiter Hammerheads finished a three game sweep of the D-Jays with an 8-2 win. The loss tonight continues a terrible stretch of games for the Jays, who have lost 10 of their last 11 games, erasing the momentum of an eight-game winning streak to open the month and dropping them from first place to third.
After three straight one-run finishes and back-to-back extra innings affairs, Jupiter wasted no time taking a big early lead tonight. The Hammerheads used three doubles and two walks to score four times in the top of the first inning. Bryson Brigman knocked the first double, the first of two hits on the night and one of eight he had against Dunedin in the series. After a walk, Riley Mahan drove in two with a double to center. After another walk, Cameron Baranek, last night's defensive hero for Jupiter, plated two more with a double to center.
Singles by RF Rodrigo Orozco and SS Kevin Smith and a double by 1B Chad Spanberger put a run on the board for Dunedin in the home half of the first, making it 4-1.
For a brief period at dusk each night at Dunedin Stadium, a strong glare sets over the left side of the infield from the setting sun behind the field, much to the consternation of third basemen and left fielders around the league. The stadium quirk bit Dunedin in the second inning, as a high hopping grounder from Lazaro Alonso disappeared in the sun and scooted past 3B Nash Knight, falling in for Jupiter's fifth single of the inning and allowing them to increase their lead to 7-1.
After the second, Dunedin starter RHP Maverik Buffo recorded a pair of 1-2-3 innings, but a trio of singles and a Dunedin error in the fifth allowed Jupiter to score their eighth run of the game and forced Buffo from the game. He finished with a line of 4.1 innings pitched, 11 hits and eight runs allowed (seven earned), two walks, and six strikeouts.
RHP Nick Hartman followed Buffo on the mound and threw 2.2 innings of shutout relief. RHP Connor Eller, bumped from his start by rehabbing Aaron Sanchez yesterday, allowed just one hit over 2.0 scoreless innings of relief, striking out a pair.
After a third inning single by Smith, Dunedin didn't have another hit off the Jupiter staff until the seventh inning when 2B Ivan Castillo lined a solo home run over the tall wall in right. Finishing the night 1-4, Castillo batting average sits at .300 even for the season, a point behind league leaders Jesus Sanchez and Jose Pujols in the Florida State League batting title chase.
Esmerling De La Rosa went 4.0 innings for Jupiter, allowing one run on five hits while striking out a pair. Vincenzo Aiello picked up the win in relief with a pair of hitless innings, his third of the season.
The loss drops Dunedin's record to 30-24 in the second half, 5.5 games behind the seemingly unbeatable Clearwater Threshers (35-18), who have won eight of their last 10, in the North Divsion. Overall, Dunedin's record falls even at 61-61 for the season. Tomorrow evening, the St. Lucie Mets (49-70, 22-30) will come to town with a pair of rehabbing former All-Stars on their roster (David Wright and Jay Bruce). First pitch tomorrow evening is set for 6:30 with RHP Yennsy Diaz on the hill for Dunedin.
Florida State League Stories from August 16, 2018
- Daytona Suffers First 4-Game Sweep in 13 Months - Daytona Tortugas
- Florimon on Fire in 5-0 Victory - Clearwater Threshers
- Losing Streak Stretches to Double Digits for Marauders - Bradenton Marauders
- Jays Swept by Hammerheads at Home - Dunedin Blue Jays
- Miracle Back In First With 2-1 Victory Over Crabs - Fort Myers Mighty Mussels
- Borkovich Continues Domination for First Advance-A Win - Florida Fire Frogs
- Fire Frogs Blank Mets, 4-0 - St. Lucie Mets
- Stone Crabs Fall out of First with 2-1 Loss - Charlotte Stone Crabs
- Tampa Tarpons Game Notes: at Palm Beach - Tampa Tarpons
- Clearwater Beach Chamber of Commerce Night on August 24 - Clearwater Threshers
- Largest & Last Fireworks Show of the Season on August 25 - Clearwater Threshers
- Florida Fire Frogs Game Notes: August 16, 2018 - Florida Fire Frogs
- Dollar Tuesday by Regions Bank on August 21 - Clearwater Threshers
- Concert by the Black Honkeys on August 24 After the Beach Dogs Game - Clearwater Threshers
- Taps and Tacos by Tijuana Flats on August 16 - Clearwater Threshers
- Miracle League of Manasota - Lukas Hack - Bradenton Marauders
- Stone Crabs Game Notes - Thu, Aug 16 at Fort Myers - Charlotte Stone Crabs
- Dunedin Falls in Extras by a Run for Second Straight Night - Dunedin Blue Jays
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