Jay Blue: Borucki, Jones, Montero, Smith

Dwight Smith was 3-for-4 with a homer in a win for double-A New Hampshire. Photo. Jay Blue.

Sept. 1, 2016 Minor League Report

By Jay Blue
Blue Jays from Away
More rain in Florida as well as in Vancouver as there were only four games played in the Jays’ minor leagues as the season winds down. Still, the clubs were 3-1 over those four games to have a winning day.

 
Buffalo Bisons 1, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders 6
With a 6-1 loss to the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders on Thursday, the Bisons are officially in “mail-it-in” mode, losing their third in a row to the RailRiders and 10th of their last 12 games. Jason Berken got the start and gave up four runs on eight hits and three walks in 5 1/3 innings before Bo Schultz took over, allowing another two runs on two hits and two walks in 2 1/3 innings. Dustin Antolin didn’t allow a run (but allowed one of his two inherited runners to score) and gave up two hits and two walks with two strikeouts in 1 1/3 innings.

Jesus Montero hasn’t checked out yet offensively as he competes for a batting title, pushing his average to .322 (four points behind the league leader) with a 3/4 game, driving in the club’s only run. Newly signed Quintin Berry, taking Dalton Pompey’s place at the top of the order, was 0/4 with a walk and a run. Matt Dominguez had two hits.

Player of the Game: Jesus Montero

Roster Notes: Scott Diamond was placed on the temporarily inactive list and Quintin Berry was assigned to the Buffalo Bisons. There have not been any other transactions officially posted but Dalton Pompey, Ryan Tepera, Danny Barnes and Matt Dermody are expected to be promoted to Toronto with the expansion of major league rosters.
 

New Hampshire Fisher Cats 5, Trenton Thunder 3
While the Bisons are getting hammered by an affiliate of the New York Yankees, the Fisher Cats are beating another, thanks to Conner Greene and a 5-3 win over the Trenton Thunder. Greene went seven innings to pick up his sixth win, giving up three runs on four hits and two walks with three strikeouts. Alonzo Gonzalez struck out one in a scoreless eighth and Murphy Smith got the save, giving up a hit in the ninth.

With only five hits for the club, Dwight Smith, Jr. had three of them including a solo home run, going 3/4 with two runs. Ian Parmley drove in a run, going 1/4 with a run and was caught stealing while Reese McGuire drove in the other run, taking a walk but otherwise going 0/3. Roemon Fields stole his 44th base, going 0/3 with a walk and Rowdy Tellez was 1/4 with a run.

Player of the Game: Dwight Smith

Dunedin Blue Jays, Clearwater Threshers
Game postponed due to rain.
 

Lansing Lugnuts 3, Bowling Green Hot Rods 2
The Lugnuts benefited from some strong pitching to hold on to a 3-2 win over the Bowling Green Hot Rods and help themselves compete for a playoff spot in the Midwest League. Ryan Borucki went five innings and allowed just one run on three hits and a walk with five strikeouts. Tom Robson added two more innings, giving up a run on a hit and a walk with three strikeouts while Jackson Lowery struck out two in his inning of work and Andrew Case broke the double-digit save barrier with 10, striking out one in the ninth.

The new blood in the offense was on display as the three newest Lugnuts had five of the club’s seven hits. Cavan Biggio, leading off, was 1/4 with an RBI and a stolen base. Joshua Palacios was 2/4 with a double and J.B. Woodman was 2/3 with a walk. Justin Atkinson was 1/3 with a double while Lane Thomas was 0/2 with two walks and Juan Kelly was 0/0 with four walks. Ryan Metzler had an RBI.

Player of the Game: Ryan Borucki and Joshua Palacios

Vancouver Canadians 0, Salem-Keizer Volcanoes 0
Game suspended due to rain in the top of the third inning.

Roster Notes: C Owen Spiwak and 1B David Jacob have been officially assigned to the Vancouver Canadians.

 
Bluefield Blue Jays 6, Princeton Rays 4
Reggie Pruitt and Bradley Jones are on fire as the Bluefield Blue Jays wind down their season. Each had three hits in a 6-4 win over the Princeton Rays. Pruitt was 3/4 with a walk, three runs and two stolen bases while Jones was 3/4 with a double, three RBI and a run. Levi Scott hit a double and drove in a run while Andrew Florides, making a rare start, was 1/4 with a run.

Eric Veglahn picked up his first win in affiliated baseball, going 6 2/3 innings in the start and giving up two runs on five hits and two walks with four strikeouts. Kelyn Jose gave up a run over 1 1/3 innings, walking one and striking out two while Connor Eller allowed a solo home run (among two hits) with one strikeout in the ninth, earning his seventh save.

Player of the Game: Bradley Jones and Reggie Pruitt

Roster Notes: Devon Travis was “optioned” to Bluefield to make room on the major league roster for Josh Thole.

GCL Blue Jays, GCL Phillies
Double header cancelled due to inclement weather.

Roster Notes: Owen Spiwak and David Jacob were promoted to Vancouver.

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

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