Blue Jays, Marauders Split Sunday’s Doubleheader, Split Series

DJays offense rebounded from Friday night’s shutout, beating down on Bradenton 18-2

Peyton Williams #40 of the Dunedin Blue Jays during the game between the Bradenton Marauders and the Dunedin Blue Jays at TD Ballpark on Sunday, April 30, 2023 in Dunedin, Florida. (Cliff Welch/MiLB.com))

By Dunedin Blue Jays

April 30, 2023

Dunedin, FL – The Blue Jays and Marauders split a doubleheader on Sunday, walking away with a split of the six-game series as well. Game one was an offensive onslaught by Dunedin. The DJays offense rebounded from Friday night’s shutout in a big way, putting up their best performance at

Dunedin, FL – The Blue Jays and Marauders split a doubleheader on Sunday, walking away with a split of the six-game series as well.

Game one was an offensive onslaught by Dunedin. The DJays offense rebounded from Friday night’s shutout in a big way, putting up their best performance at the plate this season, beating down on Bradenton 18-2, while knocking fifteen hits, and four long-balls.

Heading into the bottom of the fifth, up 3-2, Marauders reliever J.P. Massey was an out away from ending the inning, but a two-run home run by Peyton Williams, his first of the season, flipped a switch for the offense. Williams was the first of ten, yes ten, consecutive Blue Jays to reach base, all with two outs. In total, Dunedin sent fourteen hitters to the plate, scoring ten runs, recorded four extra-base hits, and mashed three two-run home runs (Williams, Angel Del Rosario, and Glenn Santiago), ending the inning up 13-2.

And it didn’t stop there. The Blue Jays tacked on another five runs, including a grand slam by Santiago, his second home run of the day and first career grand slam. Dunedin set new season-highs in both runs (18) and hits (15) as they clinched a split of the series.

But in the second game of the double matinee, Bradenton came back swinging. The Marauders jumped on Blue Jays starter Eliander Alcalde, tagging him for three runs in the first inning, and later adding a fourth on Nick Cimillo’s first home run of the year.

However, Dunedin answered right back in the bottom of the first, as Williams mashed his second homer of the day, another two-run shot. But down 4-2 headed to the seventh, Dunedin couldn’t squeeze enough offense out for a comeback, coming up just short for a 4-3 loss.

With both teams taking a game on Sunday, Bradenton and Dunedin both had to settle with a split of the series. The Blue Jays will have a travel day on Monday before beginning a series in Fort Myers against the Mighty Mussels on Tuesday, May 1^st, and return home on Tuesday, May 9^th to begin a series against the Clearwater Threshers.