June 16 Minor League Report
By Jay Blue
Blue Jays From Away
The Blue Jays’ affiliates didn’t have a particularly successful day as they lost four out of the six games played. The Lansing Lugnuts are nearing a clinch of a playoff spot, however, as they wind down the first half of the season.

Buffalo Bisons 1, Lehigh Valley IronPigs 3
In the completion of Monday’s game, the Bisons couldn’t rally to overcome the two run deficit and fell to Lehigh Valley 3-1. Felix Doubront started and, thanks to the suspension of the game, only went three inning, allowing two runs on three hits and two walks but with four strikeouts. Andrew Albers relieved as the game resumed and was strong, allowing just one run on six hits and a walk in 4 1/3 innings with three strikeouts. Greg Infante finished the game with 2/3 of an inning with a strikeout. The club had just five hits but rehabbing Steve Tolleson got a hit and an RBI in four trips to the plate. Caleb Gindl, Andy Burns, Alex Hassan and Jonathan Diaz had the other hits. Diaz, playing center field, walked twice and was one for one.

Roster Moves: Scott Copeland was recalled from Buffalo to replace Aaron Sanchez on the 25-man roster.

Player of the Game: Albers and Diaz

Buffalo Bisons 3, Lehigh Valley IronPigs 1
In the regularly scheduled game that was now reduced to seven innings, the Bisons turned the tables, handing the ball to Jeff Francis who stifled the IronPigs very effectively. Francis earned his second win as a Bison, throwing six innings of three-hit, one-run ball, striking out five and not walking a man. Bobby Korecky earned his third save of the season with a scoreless inning. Matt Hague found his bat in this one, going 3/4 with an RBI.

Player of the Game: Francis

New Hampshire Fisher Cats 3, Erie SeaWolves 6
Dalton Pompey continued to swing a hot bat and Ryan Schimpf went deep but it wasn’t enough as the New Hampshire Fisher Cats fell to 29-35 in a loss to the Erie SeaWolves. Taylor Cole was on the mound for New Hampshire and had a solid start, going six innings and allowing three runs (two earned) on eight hits but didn’t walk anyone. He struck out four but gave up a home run. Danny Barnes took the loss but all three of his runs allowed were unearned (despite the fact that he made two throwing errors) as he gave up three hits and a walk in two innings of work. Pompey was 2/4 and Schimpf was 1/3 with a walk and three-run home run.

Roster Notes: Devon Travis was added to the Fisher Cats for his rehab assignment.

Player of the Game: Schimpf

Dunedin Blue Jays 1, Palm Beach Cardinals 6
After showing signs of breaking out last week, the Blue Jays’s offense has languished again as the club dropped its second straight to Palm Beach. Jeff Hoffman was on the mound and threw five scoreless innings before going out for the sixth in which he allowed a leadoff walk followed by a single, a sac fly, two more singles, a line out and another single. That added up to three runs before Phil Kish came in and stranded two runners on first before pitching a scoreless inning of his own. Matt Smoral struggled in the eighth inning, allowing another three runs while Justin Shafer cleaned up after him, allowing one inherited runner to score but staunching the flow of runs.

The batters managed eight hits with Roemon Fields getting a pair. Jonathan Davis (J.D.) drove in the club’s only run and L.B. Dantzler was on twice with a 1/3 game that included a walk.

Player of the Game: None

Lansing Lugnuts 13, Bowling Green Hot Rods 3
Back when the season opened and I visited the Lugnuts, I told their radio voice Jesse Goldberg-Strassler that this team was going to hit. (For a change) my prediction turned out to be right as the Lugnuts continued to add to their Midwest League-leading offense by scoring 13 runs against Bowling Green, who are tied for second place (behind Lansing) in the Eastern Division. The Lugs got phenomenal games from Chris Carlson and Anthony Alford, both of whom went 4/5 with Alfor missing the cycle by a home run and Carlson missing it by a double. Carlson hit his first professional home run, adding two singles and a triple, driving in a pair and scoring three times. Alford also drove in two runs, hitting two singles, a double and a triple and scoring twice. Richard Urena added to his team-leading 11 home runs (1/4, 2 RBI, 2 R, BB) and Jason Leblebijian went yard not once, but twice, and is now up to five home runs in just 11 games back with the Lugnuts. His 3/5 game brought him three RBI and two runs scored. Josh Almonte had two hits and Rowdy Tellez drove in a pair, going 1/4 with a walk, to continue to lead the team with 47 RBI.

Things weren’t bad on the pitching side either as Starlyn Suriel delivered a great performance on the mound, going six scoreless innings, allowing six hits and a walk with one strikeout. Dusty Isaacs allowed all three Bowling Green runs (two were earned) on four hits and a walk over two innings. Carlos Ramirez went a scoreless inning to finish the game.

Player of the Game: Alford, Carlson and Leblebijian

DSL Blue Jays 9, DSL D-backs 10
The Blue Jays made a late charge, scoring four runs in the bottom of the ninth but they just couldn’t overcome the early lead that the D-backs had. The Blue Jays only had eight hits on the game. Yorman Rodriguez made his count, going 1/2 with a double and a walk and three RBI. Cristian Peguero hit a triple and Andres guerra also had a double and an RBI. Jesus Navarro was 1/4 with a walk, an RBI and two runs while Sam Buelens was 1/1 before leaving the game for Antony Fuentes who was 1/2. Jesus Severino was 1/3 with two walks and two runs.

On the mound, things were pretty ugly as Yonardo Herdenez was chased in the third inning after logging 2 1/3 innings and giving up six runs (four earned) on eight hits. Ruben Ventura threw 1 2/3 scoreless innings (but allowing Herdenez’s inherited runner to score), giving up two walks and a hit with two strikeouts. Wilmin Lara allowed two hits and a run over three innings and Joel Espinal allowed two runs (one earned) on two hits in his inning of work. Alvaro Galindo finished the game, allowing a run in his inning.

Player of the Game: Severino

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