Blue Jays Drop Home Run Derby Against Tampa
The Dunedin Blue Jays dropped the opening game of a three-game series that may well be a North Division playoff preview against the Tampa Yankees at home on Friday evening. Dunedin hit three solo home runs in the game, but fell 4-3 thanks to a pair of homers off the
The Dunedin Blue Jays dropped the opening game of a three-game series that may well be a North Division playoff preview against the Tampa Yankees at home on Friday evening. Dunedin hit three solo home runs in the game, but fell 4-3 thanks to a pair of homers off the bats of Yankee batters.
The Blue Jays struck first in the bottom of the second when LF Connor Panas launched a no doubt solo homer well beyond the tall fence in right field at Florida Auto Exchange Stadium. The homer was Panas' fifteenth of the year and eleventh of the second half.
Tampa answered in the top of third, scoring three times on three hits. Estevan Florial singled to lead off the inning, and Kyle Holder followed with a single of his own to move Florial to third. The following batter, rehabbing major leaguer Matt Holliday, lofted a fly ball to right fielder Almonte. Florial did not initially attempt to score on the fly ball from third, however, when he saw Almonte lob the ball back to the infield after the catch, he broke for the plate and scored standing up. The following batter, Chris Gittens, launched a two-run homer to put Tampa up 3-1.
Connor Panas answered in the fourth, hitting a second towering home run to right field to pull Dunedin within one, his sixteenth this season . SS Bo Bichette tied the game an inning later with a home run of his own.
Blue Jays starter Jordan Romano exited after the fifth, having allowing three earned and struck out six in five innings complete. Yankees 3B Angel Aguilar hit a solo home run off Dunedin reliever Alonzo Gonzalez to lead off the sixth inning, providing the Yankees with what would prove to be the winning run.
The Jays theatened to tie the game in the eighth inning. Bichette walked to lead off the inning and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by 2B Cavan Biggio. After 3B Vladimir Guerrero Jr. popped out for the second out, Panas stepped to the plate looking to continue his torrid day at the plate.
He wouldn't get the chance as a controversial interference call took the bat out of his hands and handed the Yankees the third out of the inning. Facing reliever Caleb Frare, Panas popped a pitch into foul territory. As Tampa catcher Wes Wilson chased after the foul ball, Blue Jays on-deck batter Juan Kelly attempted to retreat behind the bat boy's protective screen in foul territory. Wilson bumped into the retreating Kelly while the ball landed far out of reach and out of play in the Blue Jays dugout. The home plate umpire ruled that Kelly had impeded the catcher's ability to attempt to make a play on the ball and called Panas out on interference, ending his at bat, the inning, and the Blue Jays threat.
Blue Jays manager John Schneider vociferously protested the interference call at home plate and was ejected after a lengthy and animated argument.
Jays reliever Adonys Cardona set down the Yankees in order in the top of the ninth, including striking out Holliday swinging for his third strikeout in two perfect frames, but the Jays were unable to tie the game in the bottom of the ninth despite putting two batters on.
Yankees starter Erik Swanson was credited with his seventh win of the season. Joe Harvey earned his third save. Alonzo Gonzalez took the loss, his first with Dunedin, allowing one run in two innings of relief.
The loss drops the Blue Jays 7.0 games behind the Yankees for first place in the North Division with just nine games to play in the regular season. It also pulls the Clearwater Threshers, who were rained out tonight, a half game closer behind the Jays for the wild card playoff spot. The Jays will enter tomorrow's game against the Yankees with a 3.0 game lead in the wild card race. RHP Conor Fisk (7-11, 3.81 ERA) will take the mound looking to continue his strong second half (2.85 ERA in 72.2 innings in second half play).