Jay Blue: Aleton, Anderson, Atkinson, Diamond, Guerra, Guerrero, Jones, Leblebijian

June 24, 2016 Minor League Report
By Jay Blue
Blue Jays from Away
Friday was the first day on which all of the Blue Jays’ minor league teams were in action with a full slate of games (plus one to complete last night’s false start in Bluefield). With nine games completed on Friday, the Blue Jays farm compiled a 6-3 record.

Buffalo Bisons 1, Indianapolis Indians 0
Scott Diamond dominated as the Bisons opened up their series with the Indianapolis Indians by winning 1-0. Diamond earned his fifth win with seven innings of four-hit, one-walk ball, striking out four, helping his own cause with a pickoff at first base. Ryan Tepera got his 11th save by pitching two scoreless innings, allowing three hits and a walk with two strikeouts. The defense also contributed by turning four double plays behind their pitchers.

Jesus Montero drove in the club’s only run, going 2/4 with an RBI.

Player of the Game: Scott Diamond

Roster Notes: Junior Lake moved up to the Toronto Blue Jays while Darrell Ceciliani was optioned back to Buffalo.

 
New Hampshire Fisher Cats 3, Harrisburg Senators 2
In another close game, the Fisher Cats rallied for three runs in the bottom of the ninth with two outs, as Jason Leblebijian walked things off with a two-run double. With one out in the ninth, Derrick Loveless hit a solo home run to cut the Senators’ lead to one run. Christian Lopes followed with a single and then Wilkin Castillo grounded out. A pinch-hitting Rowdy Tellez was intentionally walked and Ian Parmley replaced him on the bases. Roemon Fields took a walk, loading the bases for Leblebijian’s double. Jorge Flores (for whom Tellez pinch hit) was 2/3 and Leblebijian added two walks to his 1/3 game.

Luis Santos allowed both runs although only one was earned. He gave up four hits and struck out five over five innings. John Stilson gave up one hit in two innings of work, striking out one and Matt Dermody provided 1 1/3 innings of perfect ball, striking out two of the four batters he faced. Wil Browning got the win, allowing a hit and a walk in his 2/3 of an inning.

Player of the Game: Jason Leblebijian

Dunedin Blue Jays 3, Tampa Yankees 5
Dunedin fell behind the Tampa Yankees and, despite scoring later in the game, couldn’t surmount the Yankees in a 5-3 loss. Emilio Guerrero had a big game, going 3/4 and falling just a triple short of the cycle, hitting his fifth home run and ascoring twice. Gunnar Heidt drove in the other two runs with a double.

Francisco Rios was tagged for three runs on six hits (including a home run) and two walks over six innings without striking out anyone. Colton Turner provided two innings of scoreless relief, allowing two hits and striking out one. Adonys Cardona allowed two runs to take the loss, getting just one batter out while Connor Fisk allowed both of his inherited runners to score, allowing a hit and a walk in 2/3 of an inning.

Player of the Game: Emilio Guerrero

Lansing Lugnuts 12, West Michigan Whitecaps 7
The Lugnuts unleashed their offense and cruised to a 12-7 victory over the West Michigan Whitecaps. Jordan Romano didn’t have his best outing, going 2 2/3 innings and giving up four unearned runs on four hits and three walks, striking out two. Nate Abel got the win, allowing four hits and one walk with one strikeouts over 2 1/3 innings. Tom Robson came out of the pen to allow three runs on three hits and a walk with three strikeouts while Josh DeGraaf retired all six batters he faced to finish the game.

Five Lugnuts had two hits each with Connor Panas (2/4, HR, 3 R) and Max Pentecost (2/4, HR, BB, 2 RBI, R) going deep. Justin Atkinson was 1/2 with a double but hit two sacrifice flies and finished the day with a club-high five RBI. John La Prise (2/5, R, RBI), Josh Almonte (2/3, 3 R, SB) and Ryan Metzler (2/3, BB, 2B, RBI, 2 R, SB) also had two hits each.

Player of the Game: Justin Atkinson

Vancouver Canadians 2, Hillsboro Hops 12
The Canadians got beaten up by the Hillsboro Hops in a day game, with the defense letting the pitching down. Juliandry Higuera allowed six runs (two earned) on five hits and two walks with two strikeouts in 2 2/3 innings. Daniel Lietz gave up just a hit and a walk in 2 1/3 innings, striking out three. Gabe Noyalis allowed three runs (two earned) on a hit and two walks in 1 1/3 innings, leaving the bases loaded for Stuart Holmes who allowed all three runners to score and gave up three runs of his own (one earned), giving up four hits in 1 2/3 innings. Matt Smoral faced three batters and retired them all.

Jacob Anderson had himself another good day, going 2/3 with a double and an RBI. Cavan Biggio was 1/3 with a walk and Bryan Lizardo was 1/4 with the club’s other RBI.

Player of the Game: Jacob Anderson

Roster Notes: Pitcher Miguel Burgos was assigned to the GCL Blue Jays from Vancouver.

Bluefield Blue Jays 9, Bristol Pirates 4
Bluefield completed its first game of the season and got a big surge of power from the hitters in a seven-run seventh inning to take a 9-4 win. Edward Olivares and Bradley Jones were each 2/4 with two RBIs and a home run while Earl Burl III added a solo shot, going 1/3 with two runs and a walk. Vladimir Guerrero, Jr. drove in two runs, going 1/4 with a run while Jesus Severino hit a double, drove in a run, scored and walked twice.

Hansel Rodriguez finished the first three innings when the game was suspended and he allowed a hit and a walk with a strikeout. Luke Gillingham gave up two runs on two hits and a walk with two strikeouts over two innings. Christian Cox got the win, allowing two unearned runs over two innings with two hits and a walk while Angel Alicea pitched to six batters and allowed only one runner on a hit by pitch, striking out two.

Player of the Game: Edward Olivares and Bradley Jones

Bluefield Blue Jays 2, Bristol Pirates 4
In Friday’s regularly scheduled game, Bluefield lost but it marked the first pro home run of 17-year-old phenom Vladimir Guerrero, Jr. Guerrero was 1/3 with a two-run blast in the third inning and the Blue Jays only only had five hits overall, getting doubles from Olivares and Bradley Jones.

Osman Gutierrez started and allowed four runs (two earned) on seven hits (including two home runs) and a walk with six strikeouts over five innings. Mike Estevez finished the game, going two innings and allowing a hit with three strikeouts.

Player of the Game: Vladimir Guerrero, Jr.

 
GCL Blue Jays 5, GCL Tigers West 4
The GCL Blue Jays kicked off their season with a 5-4 win over the GCL Tigers West, getting a dominant performance from tall lefty Wilfri Aleton. Aleton didn’t allow a hit and walked only one batter over five innings, striking out a whopping 10 batters. Jake Fishman allowed four runs in 2 1/3 innings, giving up a home run among four hits and a walk. Mitch McKown got the save, striking out one and walking one over 1 2/3 innings.

Kevin Vicuna had the best day with the stick, going 3/4 with a double and a run while Bo Bichette, one of the Jays’ two second-round picks this season, was 2/4 with an RBI and a walk. Kalik May drove in three runs with a triple. Norberto Obeso was 1/3 with a walk.

Player of the Game: Wilfri Aleton

 
DSL Blue Jays 10, DSL Reds 2
The DSL Blue Jays rocked the Reds, picking up another win by a 10-2 score. Of the club’s 15 hits, Yorman Rodriguez had three, hitting two singles, a double and taking a walk, driving in two runs. Catcher Andres Guerra drove in four, going 2/3 with a double and a triple while Mc Gregory Contreras was 3/4 with two runs. Jose Bricen was 2/4 with two runs and a stolen base.

Elio Silva was the starter for the Jays, going six innings and dominating the Reds’ lineup, allowing only three hits and striking out nine. Emmanuel Reyes got the save, going the final three innings and giving up two runs on three hits and a walk.

Player of the Game: Elio Silva, Yorman Rodriguez and Andrew Guerra

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