May 27 Minor League Report
By Jay Blue
Blue Jays From Away
While Wednesday was a better day for the Blue Jays’ minor league affiliates, even a Daniel Norris start couldn’t get a win for any of the highest three level teams. Only the Lansing Lugnuts picked up a win, putting them back into a tie for first place with their current opponents, the Bowling Green Hot Rods.

Buffalo Bisons 1, Indianapolis Indians 2
In a pitching duel on getaway day, the Bisons were swept by the visiting Indianapolis, losing 2-1. Starter Daniel Norris went 6 1/3 innings, throwing 94 pitches (61 strikes) and getting nine groundouts, allowing two runs on seven hits and four walks with four strikeouts. Greg Infante retired all five batters he faced including two via the strikeout and Bo Schultz finished the game with an inning of scoreless relief despite allowing two hits and a walk. The Bisons had just five hits including two from Luke Scott and Dioner Navarra was 0/1 with a sac fly and two walks.

Player of the Game: Norris

New Hampshire Fisher Cats 10, Reading Fightin Phils 12
For the second straight game, Reading scored at least 10 runs against the Fisher Cats’ pitching staff. On Wednesday, the Fisher Cats offense awoke to score 10 runs of their own but on this day, it just wasn’t enough. Dwight Smith, Jr. led the way, going 3/5 with two runs while the red-hot Shane Opitz (I’ve written that a lot lately) was 2/5 with a pair of doubles, runs scored and RBI. Ian Parmley hit his first Double-A home run, driving in three runs and going 1/5 while Kevin Nolan (2/4, R, RBI) and Jorge Flores (2/5, R, RBI) had two hits each. Jack Murphy was 1/3 with a double, a walk, two runs scored and an RBI (thanks to a sac fly).

John Anderson got the start but wasn’t at his best, allowing seven runs (six earned) on 11 hits and three walks without striking out a batter. Dustin Antolin stranded two of Anderson’s runners but allowed another four runs (three earned) on six hits over two innings. Greg Burke inherited two of Antolin’s runners and stranded them both, going on to strike out four batters over two innings and walking just one. Danny Barnes finished the game with two innings, surrendering a run on four hits.

Player of the Game: Smith and Opitz

Dunedin Blue Jays 2, Jupiter Hammerheads 3
The Blue Jays’ pitching staff was one run better on Wednesday than it was on Tuesday but still resulted in another loss for the Blue Jays’ High-A affliate. Murphy Smith had another strong outing, going six innings and allowing three runs (one earned) on seven hits and three walks with two strikeouts while Alberto Tirado finished the game with two scoreless, hitless innings with two walks and a strikeout.

There were only seven hits for the batters with everyone in the starting lineup getting one except for Alex Hassan and Matt Dean. Dawel Lugo and Dickie Joe Thon drove in a run each (with Thon taking a walk) and Roemon Fields and Mike Reeves each had a double.

Player of the Game: Smith.

Lansing Lugnuts 6, Bowling Green Hot Rods 3
The Lugnuts rebounded from a series-opening loss to Bowling Green by following up with a 6-3 victory on Wednesday. The club got contributions from up and down the lineup, getting 10 hits including two-hit days from Rowdy Tellez (2/4, RBI), D.J. Davis (2/4, R), Josh Almonte (2/4, 2 2B, RBI, R) and Tim Locastro (2/4, 2 SB, R). Dan Jansen also hit a bases-loaded double in the top of the ninth inning, putting the Lugnuts ahead and making a winner out of Mark Biggs. Anthony Alford continued his on-base streak, going 1/4 with a walk and an RBI.

While Biggs (2-2) finished the game off with three innings of one-run ball, Jesus Tinoco got the start and had a solid outing, throwing six strong innings and allowing three hits and four walks, resulting in two unearned runs, while striking out six.

Player of the Game: Tinoco and Almonte

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