On Friday night in Clearwater, the Threshers looked to continue their winning ways, but the hitting duo of top catching prospect Danny Jensen and Derrick Loveless, who both recorded three hits in the game, were enough to help the Dunedin Blue Jays to their first victory of the season.
Both teams were scoreless until the top of the third inning when the Blue Jays scored first after Juan Kelly singled home Cavan Biggio.
Dunedin added a run in the fifth on a wild pitch scoring Andrew Guillotte from third to go up 2-0. But the Threshers battled back in their half of the frame scoring two runs to tie the game, highlighted by a two RBI single off the bat of Phillies Top Prospect Jose Pujols.
In the bottom of the seventh, the Threshers broke through to grab the lead after a two-run home run off the bat of Top Prospect Cornelius Randolph, putting Clearwater up 4-2.
But the Blue jays would not be denied their first win of the season, as they added five runs in the eighth on RBI singles from Loveless, Matt Dean, and Guillotte, along with RBI doubles from Lane Thomas and J.C. Cardenas putting Dunedin up for good at 7-4. Relief pitchers Andrew Case and Kender Villegas combined for 2.2 scoreless innings, shutting the door to preserve the victory.
Both teams will be at it again on Saturday evening at 6:30 PM ET.
Game Notes
Dunedin Blue Jays
Danny Jensen has second straight 3-hit game and is 6 for 9 to start the season.
Derrick Loveless – 3 for 5, R, 2 Doubles, RBI
Juan Kelly – 2 for 5, R, Double, RBI
Jordan Romano – 4.2 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 9 K
Clearwater Threshers
Jose Pujols – 2 for 5, 2 RBI
Cornelius Randolph – 1 for 4, R, HR, 2 RBI
Drew Stankiewicz – 2 for 4, R
Jose Taveras – 4.1 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 9 K
Rest of the League Scores
Jupiter Hammerheads 11, Fort Myers Miracle 8
The Hammerheads survive a late rally from the Miracle and hold on for the victory to improve to 2-0 on the young season. The Miracle drop their second straight to remain winless at 0-2.
Top Performers
Jupiter Hammerheads
Kyle Barrett – 2 for 5, 2 R, Double, Triple, 2 RBI
Dustin Geiger – 2 for 3, 2 R, HR, 3 RBI
Roy Morales – 3 for 4, R
Scott Squier – 4 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 5 K
Ryan Newell (W, 1-0) – 3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
Fort Myers Miracle
Luis Arraez – 3 for 5, R
Zander Wiel – 1 for 4, Double, 3 RBI
Brian Navarreto – 1 for 4, HR, RBI
Palm Beach Cardinals 3, St. Lucie Mets 2
The Cardinals improved to 2-0, behind starting pitcher Zac Gallen‘s 5.1 IP, alowing just one run on two hits, three walks and nine strikeouts. The Mets pitchers allowed just three runs, but it wasn’t enough as teh offense was a no show for second straight night, dropping the St. Lucie to 0-2.
Top performers
Palm Beach Cardinals
Thomas Spitz – 2 for 4, Double
Chris Chinea – 1 for 4, R, Double, RBI
Zac Gallen – 5.1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 3 BB, 9 K
St. Lucie Mets
Vinny Siena – 1 for 3, R, Double
Jhoan Urena – 1 for 4, Double, RBI
Enmanuel Zabala – 2 for 4
Kevin Canelon – 3 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 5 K
Bradenton Mauraders 9, Charlotte Stone Crabs 3
The defending champs continued their winning ways by winning their second game of the season improving to 2-0, after thumping the Stone Crabs 9-3. Charlotte was actually in teh game as thei trailed 4-2 in the 6th inning, but Bradenton pulled away late for the lopsided victory.
Top Performers
Bradenton Marauders
Cole Tucker – 2 for 5, R, Triple, 2 RBI
Jordan George – 3 for 4, 4 RBI
Pedro Vasquez – 4 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 4 K
Charlotte Stone Crabs
Jake Cronenworth – 2 for 4, R
Brett Sullivan – 2 for 5, R, Double, Triple, RBI
Lakeland Flying Tigers 5, Tampa Yankees 0
The Flying Tigers held the Yankees to just two hits in the shutout victory, improving to 2-0 on the young season. After a lead-off double in the bottom of the first from the Yankees #1 prospect Jorge Mateo, Lakeland’s starter A.J. Ladwig retired the next 18 batters he faced, finishing the game having tossed six shutout innings, allowing just one hit, while striking out six.
Top Performers
Lakeland Flying Tigers
Ross Kivett – 1 for 4, R, Double
Wade Hinkle – 1 for 4, R, HR, 2 RBI
Quincy Latimore – 2 for 5, 2 R, HR, 2 RBI
A.J. Ladwig (W, 1-0) – 6 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 6 K
Jairo Labourt – 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K
Tampa Yankees
Jorge Mateo – 1 for 4, Double
Florida Fire Frogs 5, Daytona Tortugas 4
The Fire Frogs won their first game of their Inaugural season, scoring four runs in bottom of the third inning to take a 4-2 lead and never looked back.
Top Performers
Florida Fire Dogs
Austin Riley – 1 for 4, R, HR, 3 RBI
Alex Jackson – 1 for 4, HR, RBI
Ronald Acuna – 2 for 4, R, Triple, RBI
Daytona Tortugas
Chris Okey – 2 for 4, 3 R, Double, Triple
Reydel Medina – 2 for 3, Double, 2 RBI
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