Blue Jays Bring Bats, Beat Flying Tigers 9-3 in Series-Opener

Dunedin, FL – The Dunedin Blue Jays (29-29) had no shortage of offense in the third and fourth innings of Tuesday night’s game against the Lakeland Flying Tigers (22-36), scoring four runs in each of those frames to coast to a 9-3 victory.

RHP Davis Feldman had some struggles in his first two innings, giving up three runs and four hard hit (95 MPH+) balls in the early frames, but starting in the third, he settled down. In just his second minor league start, Feldman went five and a third innings, only the three runs allowed while striking out five. Feldman showed his stamina as well, throwing a total of 101 pitches, the most by any Blue Jay this year, qualifying for his first win.

All the while, after getting down 3-1 early, the bats came alive. Cole Patten entered the game in the second after delaying his scheduled start by an inning with MiLB-rehabber Trey Wingenter getting the nod. Patten looked solid in his first inning of work, but the Dunedin lineup got to him in the third.

Three straight singles to lead off the inning loaded up the bases for Ryan McCarty, who’s done nothing but hit over the last week or so. McCarty rocketed a double to the wall I center field, bringing in two runs. Glenn Santiago sacrificed himself on a fly ball to right to score MiLB rehabber Addison Barger from third, and Robert Robertis then singled to bring in McCarty to make it 5-3.

Then in the fourth, Nic Deschamps drew a lead off walk, and Tucker Toman doubled to left-center field, giving the Blue Jays another scoring threat. Manuel Beltre stepped in and launched to the Orange Trail Boardwalk in left for his third homer of the year, a three-run shot to put Dunedin up 8-3. Later on, McCarty walked, advancing two bags on a groundout and a wild pitch, with Jaden Rudd singling him in to cap off another four-run inning.

Up 9-3, the Blue Jays staff coasted the rest of the way. After Feldman, RHP Darwin Cruz and RHP Felipe Bello combined for the final three and two thirds, allowing just one hit, and striking out three.

It was a complete performance by both sides of the ball for the Blue Jays, with 8/9 spots in the order recording a hit, and all nine spots reaching base. Dunedin will host the Flying Tigers again on Wednesday night, with first pitch for game-two scheduled for 6:30 p.m. and available live on the Dunedin Blue Jays Radio Network starting at 6:15 p.m.