Jay Blue: Alford, Ceciliani, Maese, McKnight, O’Brien, Tellez

Cam O’Brien had four hits, including a pair of doubles and a homer as he knocked in a pair for Bluefield. Photo: Jay Blue.

Aug. 7, 2016 Minor League Report
By Jay Blue
Blue Jays from Away
The six active teams in the Blue Jays’ system played seven games (with the Bisons playing a double header) and won five games, getting a big comeback in Bluefield and one-run games for the Dunedin Blue Jays and Lansing Lugnuts.

Buffalo Bisons 0, Pawtucket Red Sox 6
The Bisons opened their double header with the Pawtucket Red Sox with a bit of a whimper, getting only five hits and falling in a shutout 6-0. The limited offense was highlighted by doubles from Andy Burns and Jio Mier.

Mike Bolsinger made his first start for the Bisons, giving up two run son three hits with two strikeouts over 2 2/3 innings. Jason Berken returned to the Herd, allowing four more runs on five hits and three walks with three strikeouts over 3 1/3 innings.

Player of the Game: None

 
Buffalo Bisons 6, Pawtucket Red Sox 3
The Bisons turned things around for Game 2 of the double header, salvaging a split with a 6-3 win over the Paw Sox. The Bisons were bolstered by two home runs -- solo shots from Chris Colabello and Darrell Ceciliani -- with Ceciliani going 2/2 with a walk and two runs (adding a stolen base) and Dalton Pompey going 2/4 with a double, a run and an RBI. Jio Mier also had two hits, going 2/3 with a single and a double, but is still hitting just .179 on the season.

Casey Lawrence picked up his third win in a Bisons uniform, throwing five innings and giving up three run son seven hits and a walk with six strikeouts. Dustin Antolin and Ryan Tepera each added a perfect inning, striking out two.

Player of the Game: Darrell Ceciliani

New Hampshire Fisher Cats 7, Erie SeaWolves 4
The Fisher Cats followed up their loss on Saturday with a win on Sunday, getting a huge game from Rowdy Tellez who has been slugging since his return from the DL on July 28. Since then (not including yesterday’s game), Tellez had hit .343/.378/.486 with two doubles and a home run. In Sunday’s win, Tellez bashed two home runs, going 2/4 with four RBI. Christian Lopes also had a great game, going 4/4 with a double, a stolen base and two runs while Dwight Smith, Jr. (2/4) and Ian Parmley (2/3, 2B, SB, 2 R) had two-hit games.

On the mound, Jeremy Gabryszwski threw seven innings, giving up three runs but none were earned. He allowed six hits and four walks and struck out four, needing 105 pitches. Chris Smith finished the game, going two innings and giving up a run on two hits and a walk with a strikeout.

Player of the Game: Rowdy Tellez

Dunedin Blue Jays 2, Brevard County Manatees 1
In another low-scoring game, the Dunedin Blue Jays got a run in the top of the ninth to edge out the Brevard County Manatees 2-1 on Sunday. Despite the low-scoring affair, the D-Jays’ hitter had 12 hits including three each from Jonathan Davis (3/5, 2 2B) and Ryan McBroom, who was 3/5 and drove in the game-winning run in the ninth. Anthony Alford was 2/5 with two runs and his sixth home run of the season.

Justin Shafer had one of his best starts of the year, scattering nine hits for one run with three strikeouts over seven innings. Adonys Cardona earned the win, giving up a hit and a walk in an inning while Dusty Isaacs saved his second game of the year with Dunedin by pitching a clean ninth.

Player of the Game: Anthony Alford, Ryan McBroom and Jonathan Davis

 
Lansing Lugnuts 1, Fort Wayne TinCaps 0
Justin Maese was stellar in limiting the Fort Wayne TinCaps’ offense on a day in which his own offense was stunted. Maese threw five innings of two-hit, two-walk ball, striking out two and getting 12 ground-ball outs, keeping his club close. Daniel Lietz, however, walked away with the win (a well-vultured sixth), throwing 2 1/3 innings of one-hit, one-walk ball, striking out two and getting six ground-ball outs. Andrew Case earned his fifth save of the year, striking out out three batters and giving up just one hit in 1 2/3 innings.

Ryan Hissey was 2/2 with a walk and drove in the club’s only run while Andrew Guillotte was 2/4 with a double and a stolen base.

Player of the Game: Justin Maese and Ryan Hissey

Vancouver Canadians 2, Eugene Emeralds 6
The Vancouver offense struggled to put anything together and the Eugene batters chipped away at the Canadians’ pitching, tallying six runs. Mike Ellenbest took the loss, giving up two runs in 2 1/3 innings on four hits and a walk while Andy Ravel, his piggy-back partner, allowed one run on a hit and two walks over 3 2/3 innings, striking out three. Evan Smith finished the game with two innings and gave up three runs on three hits (including a solo home run) and a walk with three strikeouts.

D.J. McKnight was 1/3 with a walk, a triple and two RBI while Cavan Biggio was 1/4 with a double and a walk and Bryan Lizardo hit a double, going 2/4 with a run. Christian Williams was 1/3 with a walk.

Player of the Game: D.J. McKnight

Bluefield Blue Jays 12, Princeton Rays 8
Bluefield staged a huge comeback, using the last three innings to tally 11 runs to overtake a seven-run lead and beat the Princeton Rays 12-8. Cam O’Brien had a monster game, going 4/5 with two doubles, a home run, two RBI and three runs. Every other starter for the Blue Jays had at least one hit except for Nick Sinay with Vladimir Guerrero also hitting a home run and going 1/4 with the two-run blast and a walk, scoring twice. Lance Jones and Matt Morgan were both 2/3 with an RBI and two walks and Jones scored three times. Jesus Severino drove in two runs, going 1/4 with a walk.

The Rays got to Joel Espinal early, scoring seven runs in three innings and hitting four home runs off of him. Kelyn Jose staunched the bleeding somewhat, giving up just one run over 1 2/3 innings, striking out three and allowing two hits and a walk. Christian Cox followed with 2 1/3 innings of two-hit ball with two strikeouts and Chris Hall picked up his second win of the season with two innings of one-hit ball, striking out two.

Player of the Game: Cam O’Brien

GCL Blue Jays
Scheduled Off Day

DSL Blue Jays
Scheduled Off Day

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.