Blue Jays hang on for one-run win over Clearwater

Dunedin, FL – In a game that came down to the final pitch, the Blue hung on for a 5-4, see-saw win over Clearwater on Thursday night at TD Ballpark.

After a team scored 10 runs in each of the first two games of the series, runs came at a premium to open Thursday’s matchup.

Dunedin starter Grant Rogers faced one over the minimum through his first five innings of work. His offense backed him up by scratching across an unearned run off Threshers’ starter George Klassen in the third, as Arjun Nimmala reached on an error, moved to third on back-to-back wild pitches, and scored on Riley Tirotta’s RBI single that made it 1-0 Jays.

Rogers became the first Blue Jays starter of the season to pitch into the sixth inning, but allowed back-to-back doubles to open the frame – the second of which tied the game at one, off the bat of Keaton Anthony. Lefty Kai Peterson took over with one out and allowed Anthony to score on a wild pitch, which put Clearwater ahead 2-1. Peterson then struck out the next two batters to limit the damage to two runs.

Dunedin responded in the bottom of the inning, as the Jays opened the frame with a Tirotta walk, Yhoangel Aponte single and Manuel Beltre walk to load the bases with no outs. Edward Duran drew a bases loaded walk to tie the game at 2, and Alexis Hernandez was hit with a pitch to force in the go-ahead run.

The Threshers recorded the first two outs of the frame as Daniel Perez rolled into a double play, which allowed Beltre to score, pushing Dunedin’s lead to 4-2.

Clearwater got a run back in the top of the seventh, as Luis Caicuto grounded into a fielders’ choice to shortstop with runners on second and third. With Avery Owusu-Asiedu running from third on the play, Nikau Powaka-Grego attempted to reach third, but was cut down by Beltre on a heads-up 6-5 putout.

The play loomed large, as Keaton Anthony singled with two outs, which likely would’ve scored Powaka-Grego to tie the game. Aaron Munson was called out of the bullpen to finish the frame, and induced an inning-ending fielders’ choice to strand runners on first and second.

Tirotta delivered insurance in the bottom of the seventh, roping an opposite-field, RBI double to score Tucker Toman, making it 5-3 Jays.

After both teams went down 1-2-3 in the eighth, drama ensued in the top of the ninth. Munson retired the first batter of the inning but allowed an Owusu-Asiedu walk and Caicuto single to put the tying run on base. Both runners moved up on a wild pitch. Munson bounced back to strikeout Ricardo Rosario looking to bring the Threshers to their final out, but Anthony singled to cut the lead to 5-4.

Manager Jose Mayorga called the bullpen one more time, handing the baseball to Keiner Leon. The righty walked Devin Saltiban to load the bases for Phillies No. 3 prospect Aidan Miller. In a 2-2 count, Miller grounded towards the hole at second, where Bryce Arnold made a spinning throw to first to end the game.

The series continues tomorrow night at TD Ballpark with a 6:30 first pitch. Fans will receive a Dunedin Blue Jays 80s themed t-shirt in celebration of Throwback Night. Fans can purchase tickets on DunedinBlueJays.com.