June 14, 2016 Minor League Report
By Jay Blue
Blue Jays from Away
As we approach the beginning of short-season baseball, the Blue Jays clubs won two of their five games seeing some roster upheaval with the Buffalo Bisons and Lansing Lugnuts.

Buffalo Bisons 5, Durham Bulls 1
Wade LeBlanc rebounded from his relatively weak start last time out to notch another gem, pitching the way to a 5-1 victory for the Buffalo Bisons. LeBlanc allowed just one unearned run on five hits and two walks with a whoppping 11 strikeouts over eight innings, lowering his ERA to 1.51. With two pitchers sent down from the Blue Jays (well, Scott Diamond was DFA and Loup was sent down), LeBlanc has been charging for a big league roster spot. Unfortunately, as a starter, he likely will not be the one to get the call in this round of promotions. Bo Schultz finished the game off, striking out one in a perfect inning.

On the offensive side, Matt Dominguez had a huge game, going 2/3 with a grand slam, a sac fly and all five Buffalo RBI.

Player of the Game: Wade LeBlanc

Roster Notes: Aaron Loup was optioned to Buffalo and Pat McCoy was placed on the DL. Andy Burns was scratched from the game, leading some to surmise that he’s in got a call up in store.

New Hampshire Fisher Cats 3, Altoona Curve 11
Opening up their series against the Pittsburgh Pirates’ Double-A affiliate, the Fisher Cats got hit hard and dropped the game 11-3. Casey Lawrence allowed the first five runs, giving up nine hits and striking out two over 4 2/3 innings. Brady Dragmire allowed a solo home run and two other runs (all three were earned) over two innings, giving up four hits and a walk with one strikeout. John Stilson was victimized for three runs (one earned) on two hits in his inning while Danny Barnes finished off the game, allowing the runner left by Stilson to score.

The offense had eight hits including two each by Rowdy Tellez (2/4) and Shane Opitz (2/4, 2B). Jason Leblebijian was 1/3 with a walk, Dwight Smith, Jr. was 1/4 with an RBI and Melky Mesa was 1/4 with a double. Ian Parmley, now hitting .319, was 1/4 with an RBI.

Player of the Game: Rowdy Tellez and Shane Opitz

Dunedin Blue Jays 8, Charlotte Stone Crabs 5
Dunedin scored early but allowed the Charlotte Stone Crabs to tie the game in the fourth before coming back to take a permanent lead with three runs in the sixth. In his third start of the year, Taylor Cole was still finding his touch, allowing five runs on seven hits and two walks in 5 1/3 innings, striking out two but it was enough to get the win. Alonzo Gonazalez (1 2/3 IP, 2 K), Jose Fernandez (1 IP, 2 K), Colton Turner (1 IP, 2K, S) all pitched perfectly in retiring the final 11 batters in order.

The Blue Jays batters were up for this one, rapping out 16 hits including at least one from every player and getting contributions all up and down the lineup. Emilio Guerrero had three hits, scored a run and drove one in while Ryan McBroom hit his club-leading 10th home run, going 2/5 with two RBI and two runs. L.B. Dantzler (2/5, 2 R, RBI), Richard Urena (2/5, R), D.J. Davis (2/5, 2B, RBI) and Gunnar Heidt (2/5, R, SB) all had two hit games while Dickie Joe Thon (1/4, BB, RBI, SB) and Jorge Saez (1/4, BB) were both on base twice and Jonathan Davis’s two walks and a single had him on base three times.

Player of the Game: Emilio Guerrero and Ryan McBroom

Lansing Lugnuts 4, Great Lakes Loons 11
The Lugnuts got hit hard, losing to the Great Lakes Loons by an 11-4 score on Tuesday. Angel Perdomo had possibly his worst start of the year, getting hammered for six runs on seven hits and three walks but still struck out seven in 4 1/3 innings. Nate Abel finished the fifth inning, allowing both inherited runners to score and leaving three of his own on the following. Abel was eventually charged with four runs (three earned) on four hits (including a home run) and two walks with two strikeouts in 1 2/3 innings. Josh DeGraaf relieved Abel, who left the bases loaded, but all three runners scored despite DeGraaf striking out four batters over two innings. He allowed one hit and a walk and a run of his own. Danny Young made his Midwest League debut, allowing two hits and striking out two in one inning.

Juan Kelly led the offense, going 2/4 with a double while Connor Panas was 1/4 with his second home run in as many games.

Player of the Game: Juan Kelly and Connor Panas

Roster Notes: Lane Thomas was placed on the 7-day DL while Ryan Metzler was assigned to Lansing from extended spring training.

 
DSL Blue Jays 7, DSL White Sox 9
The DSL Blue Jays took the DSL White Sox to extra innings after tying the game up in the bottom of the ninth and matched the White Sox with a run in the 10th. They couldn’t match the three runs the White Sox scored in the top of the 12th, however, and ended up losing by two runs (although the six errors the club made also had a role in the loss). The Blue Jays took advantage of only 10 hits but took 13 walks and could only score seven times. Victor Figuereo had three hits and one RBI while Jesus Navarro was 2/5 with two RBI, a run, two stolen bases and a walk and Yorman Rodriguez was 2/4 with two runs, three walks and an RBI. Sam Buelens made his season debut, going 0/3 but walking four times and scoring twice, stealing a base.

Orlando Pascual threw three innings and allowed two unearned runs on two hits but struck out four while Emmanuel Reyes allowed a solo home run among three hits with three strikeouts and no walks in two innings. Oscar Brit gave up two runs on two hits and a walk with two strikeouts in two innings and Wilton Mueses threw a perfect eighth. Juan Bautista allowed an unearned run, striking out three and giving up four hits in two innings and Luis Mendoza took the loss, allowing three runs on four hits in two innings.

Player of the Game: Victor Figuereo and Yorman Rodriguez

 
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