TAMPA, Fla. – The Tampa Tarpons (42-19) saw their 10-game winning streak come to an end Friday night, falling to the Dunedin Blue Jays (31-30), 6-3, on Latin Heritage Night at George M. Steinbrenner Field.
Justin West was solid on the mound, fresh off being named the Florida State League Pitcher of the Month for August. The lefthander tossed 5.0 innings, allowing just two earned runs on two hits.
Runs were at a premium to begin Friday night’s matchup. Dunedin struck first with an RBI double and an RBI single, giving the Blue Jays a 2-0 lead after four innings.
Tampa was able to scratch across a run in the bottom of the fifth when a Dunedin error allowed Blake Schaaf to come home, cutting the deficit to one.
The Blue Jays added an insurance run in the top of the seventh on an RBI single, but the Tarpons immediately responded. Luke Pettitte led off the bottom half by launching a 391-foot homer over the left-field wall, making it a 3-2 game in favor of the visitors.
Dunedin built up some breathing room in the top of the eighth, using a solo home run and a pair of Tampa miscues to extend its lead to 6-2.
That score held into the bottom of the ninth, when Luis Escudero brought the Tarpons within three with his 10th homer of the season. Unfortunately, that was as close as Tampa would get as the Blue Jays handed the Tarpons their first loss since August 24.
Tampa and Dunedin will be back in action tomorrow for Fan Appreciation Night, with first pitch slated for 6:30 p.m.