In a battle of first-place teams, Western Division leader Dunedin thrashed the best of the East, St. Lucie, by a 15 – 4 count. This one was never close, as the Jays put up 2 in the first, 5 in the 3rd, and 4 in the 4th before the Mets answered with a 5-spot in the bottom of the 4th. The D-Jays took it easy for the next 4 innings before throwing up 3 more runs in the top of the 9th.
Ryan Patterson once again got a nice head start on his week’s work with a huge Monday, slamming a homer and a double as part of a 5-hit night. Robinzon Diaz kept pace with 5 singles. Chris Gutierrez and Ryan Klosterman smacked 2 doubles each, with Gutierrez adding a single and Klosterman a walk for good measure. Juan Peralta made it a quintet of multi-hit Jays, slapping 3 base knocks.
Eric Fowler pitched 5 shutout innings and one inning of 5-run ball. He allowed 10 hits along the way, striking out 6 and walking none. Danny Core (2 innings, 2 K) and Daryl Harang mopped up in shutout fashion.
Elsewhere, the Fort Myers Miracle prevailed 6 – 2 over Palm Beach to remain tied with Dunedin atop the West.
The Third Star: Chris Gutierrez, a single double double.
The Second Star: Robinzon Diaz, slaps out not one, not two, but FIVE singles.
The First Star: Ryan Patterson, developing a strange fondness for Mondays.