The Dunedin Blue Jays are down one game to nothing to the Tampa Yankees in their best of three first-round series in the Florida State League playoffs.  In other news, the Jays signed a pair of Player Development Contracts by extending one and beginning a new partnership.  Also, the Jays paid tribute to the Pacific Coast League's MVP and shone the spotlight on the team's top four draft picks in 2010 on JaysVision during Monday's game.

Tampa 3 Dunedin 0 - Game 1

Tampa, FL - The Yankees broke a scoreless tie with two runs in the fourth and another run in the sixth.

Batting - Dunedin was limited to three hits, three walks and a hit by pitch.  Brian Van Kirk was the one who was plunked and he had the lone extra-base hit with a double.  Ryan Goins and Moises Sierra had the other hits.  Ryan Schmipf, Mike McDade and Mark Sobolewski each drew a walk.  The D-Jays struck out 11 times with Goins getting the hat trick and Yan Gomes being rung up twice.  Gomes was 0-for-4, Welinton Ramirez and Kenny Wilson were 0-for-3.  Dunedin was 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position and six men were left on base.

Running - Ramirez stole his first base of the post-season.

Pitching - Lefty Chuck Huggins allowed two runs on three hits and two walks over five innings.  He struck out seven in a losing cause.  Henderson Alvarez was nicked for a solo home run in 1 1/3 innings as he gave up two hits and a walk.  Lefty Evan Crawford pitched two-thirds of a scoreless inning with a strikeout and a wild pitch.  Lefty Dan DeLucia got two ground ball outs in a perfect inning of work.

Defence - Sobolewski had trouble handling one at third.  There were a couple of outfield assists as Wilson threw out a runner at third from center field and Ramirez pegged a runner at second from left field.

Of Note - Game 2 of this series goes tonight at Dunedin Stadium beginning at 7:05 p.m. ET.  If necessary, Game 3 will be played in Dunedin at 7:05 p.m. Thursday.

*** 3 Stars!!! ***

3.  Dan DeLucia

2.  Brian Van Kirk

1.  Chuck Huggins

Extra Innings..........

• As mentioned in yesterday's minor league thread, the Jays have a new affiliate in the Bluefield Blue Jays in the Appalachian League.  The Jays and the West Virginia-based club came to terms on a four-year Player Development Contract.  WTRF-TV out of West Virginia has a video clip of the press conference in the linked story and features comments from Charlie Wilson, the Jays director of minor league operations and new manager Dennis Holmberg.
• The Jays also signed a two-year PDC with the Midwest League's Lansing Lugnuts that will take both sides into the 2012 season.  Still up in the air is the Jays future with Auburn of the New York-Penn League and the Las Vegas 51's of the Pacific Coast League.  Speculation is the Jays are leaving Auburn and would love to make like Elisabeth Shue and be "Leaving Las Vegas" but the betting is the Jays may be stuck for at least another two years in Sin City.  With Charlotte and the Chicago White Sox re-upping for another four years, all International League teams are spoken for except for Pawtucket.  It would be a stunner if Pawtucket did not renew its long-time affiliation with the Boston Red Sox.
• The Jays are locked in for another two years with New Hampshire.  Speaking of the Fisher Cats, they begin their best-of-five first round series tonight in Trenton against the Thunder.  Kyle Drabek, the Eastern League's pitcher of the year, gets the ball for the Fisher Cats, Dellin Betances throws for the Yankees affiliate in a 7:05 p.m. start.  Game 2 goes Thursday in Trenton where the F-Cats will deal with the re-habbing Andy Pettite.  Game 3 is in New Hampshire Friday night.  If necessary, Game 4 is in Manchester Saturday and Game 5 is in Trenton on Sunday.

J.P. Arencibia is honoured on JaysVision during Monday's game for winning Most Valuable Player honours in the Pacific Coast League.  The 24 year-old batted .301/.359/.626 with Las Vegas and racked up hit 36 doubles, one triple, 32 home runs and 85 runs batted in.  So far, the 6-foot-1 catcher is off to a .217/.217/.522 start with the Jays with a double, two homers and four RBI.

The Jays 2010 first round pick, Deck McGuire, is profiled during a "Jays Looking Forward" segment on JaysVision.  The 6-foot-6 right-hander was selected with the 11th overall pick from Georgia Tech.  The 21 year-old was 28-7 with a 3.28 ERA in three seasons with the Yellow Jackets.

Aaron Sanchez began his pro career with the Gulf Coast League Jays this season where he was 0-2 with a 1.42 earned run average.   The 6-foot-4 righty pitched 19 innings and posted a 28-12 K-BB ratio.  He was promoted to Auburn for a couple of appearances where he was 0-1 with a 4.50 ERA and his K-BB mark was 9-5 in six innings.

Noah Syndergaard is a 6-6 righty who went 11-3 with a 1.27 ERA at his Texas high school where he struck out 135 batters and walked just 24 in 88 innings.

Asher Wojociechowski made three appearances with Auburn and put up an ERA of 0.75 in 12 innings.   The 21 year-old righty, who stands 6-foot-4,  struck out 11, walked four and only allowed six hits.