Blue Jays fall short despite Toman’s homer
Jupiter, FL – Things started promising for Dunedin on Saturday night, but the Hammerheads finished on top with a 5-1 victory at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium. Jupiter has won the first five games of the six-game series to push Dunedin’s losing streak to eight games. Tucker Toman put the Blue
Jupiter, FL – Things started promising for Dunedin on Saturday night, but the Hammerheads finished on top with a 5-1 victory at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium. Jupiter has won the first five games of the six-game series to push Dunedin’s losing streak to eight games.
Tucker Toman put the Blue Jays on the board in the first inning, turning a 95-mile-per-hour fastball on the inside corner into a solo homer down the right-field line against Marlins No. 1 prospect Noble Meyer.
Lazaro Estrada took the baseball for Dunedin, making his second appearance on rehab from High-A Vancouver. After a scoreless first, Jupiter tied the game at one with a double steal that allowed Yeral Martinez to score from third.
Jerry Huntzinger relieved Estrada with two outs and Brock Vradenburg on second base in the third inning. John Cruz then sent a tapper to the third base side that Huntzinger threw past first baseman Cristian Feliz, which allowed Vradenburg to score, to give the Hammerheads the lead.
Following Toman’s first-inning homer, Meyer didn’t allow another run despite issuing four walks and striking out just two.
Still trailing 2-1, the Jays threatened in the top of the seventh inning. After Feliz struck out to open the frame, Jean Joseph and Ricardo Balogh drew back-to-back walks and then moved into scoring position on a wild pitch. However, the inning ended on a double play, as Alexis Hernandez chopped a pitch to third, where Joseph got caught in a rundown and was eventually tagged out. Balogh attempted to make a late break for third and was thrown out there to end the inning.
Jupiter tacked on breathing room in the bottom of the eighth, scoring on two wild pitches and a Tony Bullard RBI single to grow the lead to 5-1.
Arjun Nimmala drew a leadoff walk to open the top of the ninth but was stranded there to end the game.
With the defeat, Dunedin is 9-11. The Jays will attempt to avoid the sweep in Sunday’s series finale, with first pitch set for noon.
The Blue Jays return to TD Ballpark on Tuesday night to host Tampa for a six-game series. Tickets are available now at DunedinBlueJays.com.