June 29, 2016 Minor League Report
By Jay Blue
Blue Jays from Away
While the bottom of the organization didn’t fare well in their games, the top of the system was very strong with wins from all of the full-year affiliates on a 5-3 day.

Buffalo Bisons 4, Louisville Bats 3
It’s as if the Bisons can’t lose, scoring two runs in the top of the eighth and another two in the top of the ninth to come out with a 4-3 late-inning victory over the Louisville Bats to win their ninth straight. Scott Diamond gave up two runs early but held the Bats to just two through seven innings, allowing only four hits (including a home run) with five strikeouts. Colt Hynes earned the win but actually allowed the Bats’ third run on two hits (including a solo home run) with two strikeouts while Aaron Loup earned his first save of the year, giving up a hit and striking out one in the ninth.

The batters had eight hits including a solo home run from Darrell Ceciliani (2/4), while Melky Mesa was 2/4 with an RBI and Casey Kotchman pinch-hit for Jio Mier in the eighth inning and hit a two-run double.

Player of the Game: Darrell Ceciliani and Scott Diamond

Roster Notes: A.J. Jimenez was placed on the DL and Wilkin Castillo was called up to Buffalo from New Hampshire.

 
New Hampshire Fisher Cats 14, Hartford Yard Goats 3
The Fisher Cats found their hitting strokes on Wednesday, scoring 14 runs and getting two home runs from Dwight Smith, Jr. and another from Rowdy Tellez. Smith was 2/5 with six RBI and three runs scored while Tellez was 2/4 with a walk and two runs. Christian Lopes actually led the club with three hits, hitting two doubles and driving in a pair. Jason Leblebijian was 2/5 with an RBI and two runs while Jorge Flores was 2/4 with a double and three RBI, scoring twice.

Luis Santos had a strong start, giving up only two runs over seven innings, allowing seven hits (including a home run) with one walk and seven strikeouts. Matt Dermody allowed an unearned run on a hit with a strikeout in 1 1/3 innings while Wil Browning finished the final 2/3 of an inning, striking out one.

Player of the Game: Dwight Smith, Jr.

Roster Notes: Wilkin Castillo was promoted to Buffalo and Jorge Saez was brought back up to New Hampshire from Dunedin.

Dunedin Blue Jays 8, Clearwater Threshers 1
Francisco Rios and Mike Reeves were the stars for Dunedin as they rode to an 8-1 win over the Clearwater Threshers, making it their fifth straight win. Rios went six innings, allowing a solo home run but no other runners to score, walking two and giving up four hits with four strikeouts. Adonys Cardona faced the minimum in his inning of work while Brad Allen walked one over two innings with a strikeout.

Mike Reeves was on base three times, walking twice and hitting a two-run home run in the eighth inning, scoring twice. Josh Almonte (2/3, 2 R), Richard Urena (2/5, RBI) and Ryan McBroom (2/4, 2B, RBI, R) all had two hits while Anthony Alford was 1/2 with two walks, an RBI and a run.

Player of the Game: Mike Reeves and Anthony Alford

Roster Notes: C Jorge Saez was promoted to the New Hampshire Fisher Cats.

Lansing Lugnuts 2, Great Lakes Loons 1
The Lugnuts won their second game in a row over the Great Lakes Loons while Canadian Connor Panas hit his team-leading ninth home run, which was his seventh since June 13. Panas was 1/4 with the home run, but also struck out three times. Jake Thomas (2/4), Ryan Hissey (2/4, R) and J.C. Cardenas (2/4, 2B, RBI) all had two hits in the win.

Jordan Romano returned to form but needed 84 pitches to get through 4 1/3 innings, allowing a run on four hits and two walks with six strikeouts. Nate Abel got the win with 2 2/3 innings of scoreless relief, walking one and striking out two while Starlyn Suriel earned the save with two innings of two-hit ball, striking out two.

Player of the Game: Jordan Romano and Connor Panas

 
Vancouver Canadians 1, Tri-City Dust Devils 10
The Canadians scored as many times on Wednesday as they did on Tuesday (once) but the Tri-City Dust Devils blasted the Cs’ pitching as Vancouver fell 10-1. Juliandry Higuera was the starter and he wasn’t all that bad, throwing four innings and allowing two runs on four hits and a walk with two strikeouts. Matt Smoral had a solid first inning of work, getting some help from his defense to bail him out but three walks and two wild pitches by Smoral in the sixth inning chased him from the game. Gabe Noyalis walked the first batter he faced and eventually allowed both of Smoral’s runners to score while he allowed three runs of his own completing the inning. Stuart Holmes was charged with two unearned runs over 2/3 of an inning but Evan Smith stranded two runners and pitched a scoreless eighth to finish the game for the Canadians, striking out two.

The offense didn’t put up much of a fight on Wednesday with just three hits including a double from Javier Hernandez. Jacob Anderson was 1/4 with a run and Gabriel Clark was 1/4 with an RBI.

Player of the Game: None

 

Bluefield Blue Jays 5, Kingsport Mets 2
Bluefield is still finding hits hard to come by but managed to score five runs against the Kingsport Mets in a 5-2 victory. Nash Knight had two of those hits, going 2/4 with a double and a run. Ridge Smith was on base twice, going 1/3 with a walk. Juandy Mendoza drove in a pair with a double and added a walk while Edward Olivares was 1/5 with a double and an RBI. Levi Scott his his first home run of the year, a solo shot in the sixth inning.

Navy’s Luke Gillingham threw 2 2/3 scoreless innings, allowing three hits and two walks with one strikeout and Hunter Barnett finished the third inning, stranding two runners. Osman Gutierrez threw five innings, allowing two runs (one earned) on five hits and a walk with just one strikeout while Chris Hall got his first save, allowing a hit and striking out one.

Player of the Game: Nash Knight and Osman Gutierrez

GCL Blue Jays 1, GCL Tigers East 9
The GCL Blue Jays couldn’t stop a charging Tigers offense, losing 9-1 in GCL play. The club had only two hits with Bo Bichette hitting a double and driving in Freddy Rodriguez who was 1/4.

Maximo Castillo got tagged for the first five runs on six hits and a walk through two innings while Juan Meza allowed four more over 2 2/3 innings on seven hits and three walks. Brayden Bouchey was strong in relief, throwing 2 1/3 innings with one hit and four strikeouts. Joel Espinal and Jared Carkuff each threw a scoreless innings to finish the game.

Player of the Game: Brayden Bouchey

Roster Notes: Catcher Brett Wellman was assigned to the Vancouver Canadians

 
DSL Blue Jays 3, DSL D-backs 5
The DSL D-backs had the Blue Jays’ number over the past couple of games and they swept their home-and-home series with a 5-3 win over the Jays on Wednesday. Jose Dominguez got the start and allowed two runs on seven hits (including a home run) in 4 1/3 innings but struck out five. Emmanuel Reyes walked the only two batters he faced but Luis Mendoza allowed only one of three inherited runners to score (charged to Dominguez). Mendoza gave up three unearned runs over 2 2/3 innings and Oscar Brito finished the game with one inning of scorless ball despite allowing an inherited runner from Mendoza to score.

The batters had six hits including two each from Yeison Estevez (2/3, 2B, BB, 2 R) and Yorman Rodriguez (2/4, 2B, RBI).

Player of the Game: Yeison Estevez and Yorman Rodriguez

 

The 2016 Toronto Blue Jays Minor League Handbook is now available in e-book and print formats! Visit the Handbook page for more information!

Now is a great time to subscribe to the Blue Jays from Away Premium Content Section!

All photos are copyright Blue Jays from Away (2013-2016) and may not be used without permission.