Nimmala picks up first hit, RBI; Dunedin falls to Lakeland to open season

Dunedin, FL – The Blue Jays’ bats couldn’t get going on Opening Night, and Dunedin fell 5-1 to Lakeland on Friday night at TD Ballpark to open the 2024 campaign.

The action started early for the Flying Tigers against Jays’ starter Eduardo Perez. After Perez struck out the first batter of the ballgame, the next three reached, capped off by a Clayton Campbell RBI single that made it 1-0 Lakeland. Perez limited the damage in the frame by stranding runners on second and third.

Flying Tigers’ bats got going again in the second, as Jose De La Cruz scored on an error and Max Clark drove in David Smith on a sac fly that pushed the deficit to 3-0. The lead swelled to 4-0 when Campbell started the top of the third with a solo home run to right center.

The Blue Jays got on the board in the bottom of the third with two outs, as Victor Arias worked a walk, then stole second base with Toronto’s No. 3 prospect Arjun Nimmala at the plate. Nimmala capitalized on the opportunity, sending a single through the middle to score Arias and trim the Lakeland lead to 4-1, marking the 18-year old’s first Single-A hit and RBI.

Perez settled down to finish his outing and didn’t allow a run or hit in his final inning and a third.

Lakeland added insurance in the sixth inning thanks to an RBI single from Smith off Carson Pierce that made it 5-1 Flying Tigers.

Outside of the lone run of damage, the Dunedin bullpen was strong, as Keiner Leon (0.2), Pierce (2.0), and Aaron Munson (2.0) combined for 4.2 innings of one-run ball. The Flying Tigers’ arms matched the strong effort, as Lakeland retired 13 straight Jays following Nimmala’s third inning single.

Dunedin threatened in the ninth inning, using walks from Nimmala and Braden Barry and a Manuel Beltre hit by pitch to load the bases, engaging a loud crowd of 1,831. The rally fell short, though, as Yhoangel Aponte grounded out to first to end the game.

The three-game set with Lakeland continues Saturday night, with first pitch set for 6:30. Blue Jays No. 4 prospect Brandon Barriera is set to start on the mound for Dunedin. Fans can buy tickets at DunedinBlueJays.com.