Nimmala and Beltre go back-to-back; Jays take series finale
Fort Myers, FL – Dunedin finished their six-game series in Fort Myers on a high note, defeating the Mighty Mussels 4-3 on Sunday afternoon at Lee Health Sports Complex. With the win, Dunedin improves to 14-19. The Blue Jays received a jolt out of the gate in the top of
Fort Myers, FL – Dunedin finished their six-game series in Fort Myers on a high note, defeating the Mighty Mussels 4-3 on Sunday afternoon at Lee Health Sports Complex. With the win, Dunedin improves to 14-19.
The Blue Jays received a jolt out of the gate in the top of the first. After Fort Myers starter Cesar Lares retired the first two batters, Yhoangel Aponte worked a walk to extend the inning for Arjun Nimmala.
Nimmala barreled up a 2-0 pitch for a two-run home run to left field that put the Jays in front. Manuel Beltre made it back-to-back longballs with a high arching shot to left, pushing the lead to 3-0. The set of back-to-back homers is Dunedin’s first this season.
Gage Stanifer protected the lead, throwing three scoreless innings to start the game for the Blue Jays.
Juanmi Vasquez followed Stanifer, making his Single-A debut. The 20-year-old lefty picked up where Stanifer left off, working around four hits and a walk to turn in three scoreless frames.
In the seventh, Fort Myers’ offense came to life. Isaac Pena opened the frame with a double, followed by a Gregory Duran single. Payton Eeles put the Mussels on the board with an RBI double. Duran then scored on an RBI ground out, and Fort Myers knotted the game at three with Poncho Ruiz’s sac fly.
Dunedin came through with clutch hitting in the ninth. Bryce Arnold used a leadoff single to put the go-ahead run on base. Daniel Perez laid down a successful sacrifice bunt, which allowed Arnold to race all the way to third base after the throw to first.
After a Jean Joseph walk, Tucker Toman broke the deadlock with a sac fly to left to drive in Arnold.
In the bottom of the ninth, Sebastian Espino retired the first two batters, but issued a two-out walk. Dunedin then handed the ball to JJ Sanchez, who finished the game by inducing a groundout.
The Blue Jays return to TD Ballpark on Tuesday to open a six-game series against Jupiter. First pitch is set for 6:30. Fans can buy tickets now at DunedinBlueJays.com.