Threshers Take Series-Opener Over Blue Jays, 4-1

Clearwater, FL — The Dunedin Blue Jays (50-59, 18-25) dropped their series-opener at Baycare Ballpark, 4-1, to the Clearwater Threshers (72-36, 28-15).

Both starters were excellent Tuesday night. RHP Giussepe Velasquez cruised through six complete innings, with his only mistake coming on a leadoff home run in the third inning by Angel Del Rosario, his fourth of the season to give the Blue Jays a 1-0 lead. The home run turned out to be the last hit Velasquez would allow, facing the minimum through his final four innings, while totaling six strikeouts on the night.

And for Dunedin, RHP Davis Feldman held Clearwater scoreless through his first four innings, but an infield single put the leadoff man aboard, and a wild pitch followed by a groundout moved him ninety feet away with just one out. A full-count walk to his next batter put runners on the corners, and an RBI-single by Jordan Viars tied it up with Ryan Leitch advancing to third, and Viars then to second on a controversial call at the bag. The Threshers would take the lead on a groundout to first before Feldman could get out of the inning, now down 2-1.

Then in the bottom of the sixth, Feldman came back out to keep working. After a strikeout and a groundout, Feldman looked right back in his groove, but Zach Arnold hit a hanging slider the other way for a opposite-field home run, giving the Threshers a 3-1 lead before Feldman could get the final out of the inning.

Clearwater would tack another run on in the seventh, and the bullpen would lock it down. Danny Wilkinson and Wen Hui Pan combined for three shutout innings, just on hit allowed while fanning another six DJays. Pan recorded the final six outs for his seventh save of the season, and his third at Dunedin’s expense.

With the loss, Dunedin falls to 18-25 in the second half, improving Clearwater to 28-15. The teams will meet again for game two of the series on Wednesday night, with first pitch scheduled at 6:30 p.m. with live coverage available on the Dunedin Blue Jays Radio Network starting at 6:15 p.m.