Blue Jays Survive Rollercoaster Game, Split Series with Extra Inning Win

Bradenton, FL — The Dunedin Blue Jays (28-29) prevailed in a wild game against the Bradenton Marauders (30-27) at LECOM Park on Sunday afternoon.

The Blue Jays lineup got it going early, scoring four runs in the first three innings off Marauders starter Dominic Perachi, including solo homers by Manuel Beltre and Ryan McCarty. All the while, RHP Irv Carter was in his element, shutting down the Marauders for four and two thirds innings worth of work.

Carter was unhittable, keeping Bradenton off the run column and the hit column for the entirety of his outing before making way for MiLB-rehabber RHP Fitz Stadler to get the final out of the fifth inning. Up 4-0, the Blue Jays lineup went back to work in the top of the sixth. Angel Del Rosario reached on an error by left fielder Tanner Tredaway to start the inning in scoring position, then a ground out by Jean Arnaez and a walk to Juan Gonzalez put runners on the corner for Dunedin with just one out.

Then Tucker Toman deflected a ball off the glove of Marauders reliever Sergio Umana, reaching on an infield single to make it 5-0. Up came McCarty again, and he belted one over the left field wall for a three-run shot, his second homer of the day and fourth of the series, giving the Blue Jays an 8-0 lead.

Bradenton finally got one back in the bottom of the sixth, after a leadoff walk by Stadler and a passed ball put a man in scoring position, Nick Cimillo was finally able to record the Marauders’ first hit of the day, doubling in their first run to make it 8-1.

Then in the bottom of the seventh, nothing went right for Dunedin. Three walks in the inning, three home runs hit by the Marauders, and a slew of questionable calls on balls and strikes that Dunedin couldn’t challenge having lost all of theirs by the third inning. Bradenton ended the inning sending eleven total batters to the plate, scoring seven runs and tying the ball game after being down 8-0 an inning prior.

All momentum was lost for the Blue Jays, but the teams proceeded to trade zeroes in the eighth and ninth innings, despite the Marauders loading the bases in the final frame against LHP Harry Rutkowski, so onto extras it went.

In the top of the tenth, Dunedin started with Del Rosario on second as the automatic runner, and Arnaez moved him ninety feet closer o a groundout. Then Gonzalez stepped back up to the plate as the only Blue Jay to reach base every time, and he was able to come through again, mashing a double over the head of Rodolfo Nolasco, bringing in the go-ahead run to make it 9-8. The next two batters struck out, ending the top of the inning, but Bradenton would have their chance with a runner on second.

RHP Leam Mendez entered the game for his Blue Jays debut in a save situation. Mendez walked the first man he faced, but struck out the next on just three pitches for out number one. Then with Jack Brannigan at the plate, Bradenton attempted a double steal to try and get the tying run at third and the winning run in scoring position, but Gonzalez fired a missile to third in time to cut down Geovanny Planchant for out number two. With a 1-2 count to Brannigan, Mendez fired a fastball on the outside corner for strike three, and a collective sigh of relief was exhaled by the Dunedin dugout with the Blue Jays securing the 9-8 victory.

With the win, Dunedin salvaged a split of the series, ending the two-week long road trip on a high note before boarding the bus back to TD Ballpark. Dunedin has the day off on Monday before welcoming in the Lakeland Flying Tigers for the first time this season, beginning the final six-game series of the second half on Tuesday, June 13th with first pitch scheduled for 6:30 p.m. The series opener will begin a twelve-game homestead, with all games being available live on the Dunedin Blue Jays Radio Network.