Jay Blue: Dominguez, Flores, Font, Kelly, Sinay, Williams, Young

Former Ottawa Champions RHP Wilmer Font pitched seven innings allowing two hits on four hits and one walk while fanning four..  

Aug. 20, 2016 Minor League Report
By Jay Blue
It was a .500 type of day for the Blue Jays minor leaguers as they won four games and lost four on Saturday.

 
Buffalo Bisons 8, Charlotte Knights 3
The Bisons got a big offensive performance on Saturday to win the opener of their series with the Charlotte Knights 8-3. Matt Dominguez went 3/5 with a team-leading 17th home run, driving in two and scoring twice to the lead the way. Jio Mier also had a home run among his three hits and drove in four, adding a triple. Casey Kotchman (2/5, 2B, HR, 2 RBI, 2 R), Alexi Casilla (2/5) and Erik Kratz (2/4, 2 R) also had two hits for the Bisons.

Scott Copeland got through 5 2/3 innings on the mound, striking out four but also walking four and giving up six hits and two runs in the process. Dustin Antolin allowed a hit and struck out three, stranding two runners on base in 1 1/3 innings and Matt Dermody finished the game, giving up a run on four hits with two strikeouts in two innings.

Player of the Game: Matt Dominguez and Jio Mier

 
New Hampshire Fisher Cats 3, Altoona Curve 2
The Fisher Cats’ pitching staff continued to give the Altoona Curve fits, limiting them to just two runs on five hits on their way to their second win against the Curve 3-2. Wilmer Font allowed both runs over seven innings, giving up four hits and one walk with four strikeouts. Brady Dragmire allowed a walk in his inning of relief, earning the win and Chris Smith saved the game with a hit against, striking out one, in the ninth.

Despite getting just six hits, the Fisher Cats managed to score their three runs, thanks to a two-run home run from Jason Leblebijian in the eighth inning. Rowdy Tellez provided the club’s other run with a solo home run, his 17th of the year, in the fifth inning. Derrick Loveless added a triple and came home on Leblebijian’s blast.

Player of the Game: Wilmer Font and Jason Leblebijian

 
Dunedin Blue Jays 10, Lakeland Flying Tigers 9
After a ninth-inning collapse by the bullpen, the Dunedin Blue Jays managed to score once in the 11th and again in the 12th to fight off a pesky Lakeland Flying Tigers club to win 10-9 in extras. Jon Harris allowed five runs in his six innings of work, giving up eight hits and two walks with four strikeouts. Jose Fernandez was solid through two innings of relief but when manager Ken Huckaby sent him out for the ninth, and he promptly gave up back-to-back home runs followed by a double, leaving Fernandez charged with three runs (including one who scored after Dusty Isaacs came into the game) on four hits with three strikeouts in two-plus innings. Isaacs blew the save, allowing one run of his own (in the 11th inning), but got the win, going three innings with five strikeouts despite the one run allowed on three hits and two walks. Tim Mayza got the save in the 12th, but it wasn’t easy as he allowed a hit and a walk before retiring the side.

A visitor to the Blue Jays was the club’s best hitter as Kevin Pillar began his rehab assignment with a 4/5 game that included a double and two RBI. Dickie Joe Thon drove in three, going 1/6 with a home run while Max Pentecost was 2/5 with a home run and, a walk and a stolen base and Jonathan Davis hit his 14th of the year to go ahead in the 11th and was 1/4 with two walks, and two runs. Jorge Flores was the ultimate hero, hitting his first home run with the Dunedin Blue Jays this year in the top of the 12th inning and he added a single, two walks and two runs. Aaron Attaway was 2/6 with an RBI, a stolen base and two runs.

Player of the Game: Jorge Flores

Roster Notes: Kevin Pillar was sent to the Dunedin Blue Jays to begin his rehab assignment.

Lansing Lugnuts 9, South Bend Cubs 12
Lansing starter Angel Perdomo got hit hard in the first and the bullpen couldn’t calm the South Bend Cubs, leading to a 12-9 loss by the Lugnuts, despite a valiant effort to come back late in the game. Perdomo threw 37 pitches in the first inning, giving up four runs on two hits (including a home run) and three walks with two strikeouts. Tayler Saucedo took the loss, allowing another seven runs on 11 hits and a walk in 4 1/3 innings. Kirby Snead gave up a run on three hits in 1 2/3 innings before Daniel Young (1 IP) and position player Austin Davis (1 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 2 K) each threw a scoreless inning to finish the game.

Juan Kelly had an excellent game for the Lugnuts, going deep in the first inning for his 11th home run and going 2/4 with a walk, two runs and four RBI. Juan Tejada provided some more fireworks, hitting a home run in the seventh inning and going 1/3 with a walk and three RBI. Lane Thomas was 2/3 with an RBI but was ejected in the fifth inning and Andrew Guillotte was 2/5 with a triple and two runs.

Player of the Game: Juan Kelly

 
Vancouver Canadians 4, Boise Hawks 5
After putting up a four spot in the bottom of the first inning, the Canadians couldn’t muster any more runs and eventually fell to the Boise Hawks 5-4. Luis Sanchez, staked to the early lead, couldn’t hold off the Hawks, giving up four runs in 4 2/3 innings on six hits and two walks before giving way to Grayson Huffman who allowed the winning (unearned) run (and took the loss), giving up three hits and striking out one in 3 1/3 innings. Gabe Noyalis finished the game, striking out one in the ninth.

Joshua Palacios was 3/4 with a triple and a run while Christian Williams was 2/4 with a home run and two RBI. D.J. McKnight also had two hits including a double.

Player of the Game: Christian Williams and Joshua Palacios

Bluefield Blue Jays 3, Pulaski Yankees 5
Another magical comeback wasn’t in the cards for Bluefield as it lost 5-3 to the Pulaski Yankees. Yennsy Diaz walked five and gave up three hits (including a home run) but allowed just two runs, taking the loss and working four innings for the Blue Jays. Kelyn Jose gave up three more runs (two earned) over 1 2/3 innings, giving up three hits and a walk with a strikeout. Hunter Barnett (1 1/3 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 1 K) and Andrew Deramo (1 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 2 K) finished the game on the mound

Nick Sinay (2/4, R, BB) and Juandy Mendoza (2/4, 2B, 2 RBI) had two hits each while Levi Scott walked twice and scored.

Player of the Game: Nick Sinay and Juandy Mendoza

Roster Notes: Jake Fishman was promoted to the Bluefield Blue Jays from the GCL.

 
GCL Blue Jays 6, GCL Pirates 5
While they’re not destroying their opposition as much as they were in one stretch of the season, the GCL Blue Jays are getting wins, going 36-12 on the season thanks to a ninth-inning rally to tie (and a 10th-inning run to beat) the GCL Pirates in a 6-5 win. Mitch Nay continued his rehab and continues to be hitless after going 0/3. Chavez Young is still red hot, going 3/4 with two doubles and a triple, adding a walk, a stolen base, an RBI and a run and was responsible for half of the GCL Blue Jays’ hits. Anony Fuentes walked three times and Sterling Guzman walked twice, drove in a run and scored.

It took five pitchers to complete the 10 innings for the Blue Jays as Yonardo Herdenez went two innings, walking three before Juan Meza provided two more innings, allowing an unearned run on a hit and a walk. Recently traded-for Richard Reina (who came to the Jays for cash) made his Blue Jays debut giving up a run on two hits over two innings while Gregor Mora, a 20-year-old free agent who was recently signed after being released by the Dodgers, gave up three unearned runs on two hits and a walk over one inning. Jared Carkuff picked up his fourth win, throwing three perfect innings, striking out three.

Player of the Game: Chavez Young

Roster Notes: Richard Reina and Gregor Mora were assigned to the GCL Blue Jays while Bobby Eveld was placed on the 60-day DL and Jake Fishman was promoted to Bluefield.

DSL Blue Jays 1, DSL Orioles1 5
After a victory on Friday, the DSL Blue Jays lost 5-1 to the DSL Orioles1 squad on Saturday. Anderson Nunez took the brunt of the damage, allowing all five runs (three earned) on a hit and three walks with one strikeout pitching the first inning and to the first six batters in the second inning. Felix Cornelius allowed two of the three inherited runners to score, allowing a hit and two walks in 1 1/3 innings. Danilo Manzueta did a Herculean job, pitching 4 2/3 innings of one-walk relief, stranding both inherited runners and striking out four. Wilton Mueses walked three in the eighth but didn’t give up a run and struck out one.

The Blue Jays had three hits as a club including an RBI from Yhordegny Kelly. Sam Buelens was 0/3 but scored a run, took a walk and stole a base while Andres Guerra was 1/3 with a walk.

Player of the Game: Danilo Manzueta

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