Ochinko and Ahrens Homer D-Jays To Victory

The Dunedin Jays improved their record to 8-5, with a 4-2 victory over the Lakeland Flying Tigers on Tuesday. 

Sean Ochinko's two-run homer and Kevin Ahrens solo blast were all the Jays needed behind the strong pitching of Deck McGuire. 

For the Louisiana State University alum, it was his 11th homer of the season. Ochinko is hitting .249 on the year but has been steadily improving with an impressive .333 average in June. 

Ochinko was a member of the 2009 College World Series champions (LSU). In the decisive game against Texas, he went 4 for 5 with a home run and three RBIs. He hit .324 during that World Series.

The Toronto Blue Jays selected the 23-year-old in the 11th round of the 2009 First Year Player Draft. Ochinko joined the New York-Penn League (Class A Short Season). In 2010, he batted .311 for the Lansing Lugnuts in the Midwest League (Low A) before joining the D-Jays for the 2011 campaign. 

McGuire surrendered an early home run to Tony Plagman and a solo run in the sixth on a sacrifice fly. The Flying Tigers managed five hits off McGuire in seven complete innings. 

Florida State League All-Star pitcher Wes Etheridge continued to be perfect on the season with his 30th save. 

The Jays will try to make it four in a row on today (July 6) in Lakeland. 

Notes:

• Chad Jenkins and Justin Jackson helped lead the New Hampshire Fisher Cats (Double-A) to victory on Monday (July 4), in front of 6,680 fans in Manchester. Jenkins allowed one run on five hits in eight complete innings. Jackson playing left field, singled, walked and scored two runs.
• The Gulf Coast Yankees blew out the Gulf Coast Blue Jays 12-7 on Tuesday. Seth Conner, 19, accounted for all the Blue Jays offense. The Rogersville, Mo., native hit a RBI double in the fifth inning. After walking in the seventh, he stole second and third, scoring on the catcher's errant throw. In the ninth, Conner hit a three-run homer, the first in his professional career.