Wentz Stellar in Extra-Inning Loss on Wednesday
Published on June 27, 2018 under Florida State League (FSL1)
Florida Fire Frogs News Release
KISSIMMEE, Fla. - Joey Wentz continued to roll from his previous outing with six shutout innings against the Dunedin Blue Jays on Wednesday morning, but the southpaw's effort was not enough in the Fire Frogs' 3-2 loss in 10 frames at Osceola County Stadium. The defeat sets Florida's record in series play at 0-2 to start the second half.
Wentz allowed a two-out triple to Kevin Smith in the opening inning, but went on to retire the next nine men he faced before back-to-back knocks from Alberto Mineo and Riley Adams in the fourth. The Atlanta Braves' 10th-ranked prospect (MLB.com) then set down the final six batters to dig in against him to finish out the day.
Over his last two starts, Wentz has not allowed a run to cross the plate, while scattering four hits to go along with a walk and five strikeouts. Wednesday lowered the 6-foot-5 hurler's ERA at home from 0.84 to 0.66 across six games.
Dunedin (2-4, 33-41) broke through the scoreboard against Florida's (1-5, 30-42) bullpen in the eighth to take the late lead. Rodrigo Orozco doubled to start the frame against Mauricio Cabrera, moved up to third on a ground out to second from Yeltsin Gudino, and scored on a wild pitch to Josh Palacios to put the visitors ahead by a run.
The Fire Frogs immediately responded in the bottom half of the inning when Braxton Davidson (2x4, R, HR, RBI) teed off on the third pitch from Jackson McClelland for a solo blast to knot the game at a run apiece.
The home team had a chance to walk off in regulation by loading the bases in the ninth, but Davidson's line drive to right was snagged by Eduard Pinto, and Garrison Schwartz's (2x5, R) strikeout ended the threat.
The Blue Jays plated two runs against Josh Graham (1-3) with a two out rally in the extra frame. Gudino's infield single to short pushed Kacy Clemens up to third and kept the inning alive for Palacios, who stroked a run-scoring single to center to bring home the runner. Pinto followed with an RBI single to center.
Jordan Rodgers (3x4, 2 2B, RBI) brought Florida within a run with a double to the wall in left-center, scoring Schwartz from second. Ray-Patrick Didder (1x5, 3B) and Kevin Josephina (0x3, 2 BB) both went down on strikes, and Lucas Herbert (1x5) grounded out to short to end the contest and top the Braves' affiliate's extra-inning record to 3-7.
The Fire Frogs had chances to break the game open throughout the contest, but left the bases loaded in the second, sixth and ninth innings, and also left runners in scoring position in the third and fourth. Through the first six games of the second half, Florida has just eight hits 52 chances with runners in scoring position.
The Fire Frogs will look to avoid the series sweep in the finale on Thursday night. LHP Kyle Muller (3-1, 3.12) takes the mound for Florida against Dunedin's RHP Yennsy Diaz (0-2, 3.46). First pitch is scheduled for 6:31 p.m., with coverage starting at 6:15 p.m. with the Florida Fire Frogs Pre-game Show on the Florida Fire Frogs Broadcasting Network.
Thursday is Free Beer Thursday at the ballpark, where fans 21-and-older can have free bee from first pitch until the opposing team scores!
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