JB: Bibens-Dirkx, Burl, Hoffman, McBroom,

RHP Jeff Hoffman pitched into the seventh allowing only one run for class-A Dunedin. Photo: Jay Blue.

    
July 12 Minor League Report
By Jay Blue
Jay Blue from Away
With one of the club’s top prospects, Jeff Hoffman, on the mound in Dunedin, the Blue Jays’ affiliates lurched towards the middle of July with a 2-4 record on the day. Hoffman had a great start while the New Hampshire Fisher Cats continue their strong month.

Buffalo Bisons 1, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders 8
One of the Yankees’ top pitching prospects, Luis Severino, cut a swath through the Buffalo order as the Bisons were two hit in their loss. On the other side, Daniel Norris was shelled by the RailRiders, giving up six runs over 4 2/3 innings, allowing nine hits and two walks. Chad Jenkins gave up an unearned run as well as allowing an inherited runner to score and Greg Burke surrendered the other run. Greg Infante pitched a scoreless ninth, striking out the side. The two hits came from Matt Hague and Alex Hassan with Hague taking a walk in addition to his double.

Player of the Game: None

New Hampshire Fisher Cats 4, New Britain Rock Cats 1
With just one game to go until the All-Star break, the Fisher Cats won another game to bring their July record to 9-3, thanks to another strong pitching performance. Austin Bibens-Dirkx got the start, going five innings and allowing six hits with two strikeouts. Jimmy Cordero put in two perfect innings, striking out one while Scott Barnes gave up New Britain’s only run, on  a solo home run, going two innings to finish the game.

The bottom two hitters in the order were the most prolific, with Shane Opitz and Jorge Flores both swatting two singles but two runs were accounted for by another home run off the bat of Matt Newman who was 1/4. Jon Berti drove in a run with a sac fly and also hit a triple while Dalton Pompey was 1/5 with an RBI.

Player of the Game: Bibens-Dirkx

Dunedin Blue Jays 5, Jupiter Hammerheads 2
Last year’s No. 1 pick in the draft, Jeff Hoffman, had one of his best outings as a pro, going 6 2/3 innings and giving up just one run on a solo home run while allowing six hits and no walks, striking out six. Brady Dragmire allowed Jupiter’s second run in 1 2/3 innings before Arik Sikula closed it out for his third save.

The offense got great games from Christian Lopes (2/4, 2B, RBI, R) and Matt Dean (2/4, 2B, R) whiel Mitch Nay was 1/3 with a walk and two RBI and Anthony Alford was 1/3 with a walk and two stolen bases.

Player of the Game: Hoffman

Lansing Lugnuts 9, Dayton Dragons 10
In a game that had everything, the Lugnuts finally fell to Dayton in 13 innings after scoring twice in the top of the inning, only to see Phil Kish continue to struggle in allowing three runs to score in the bottom half. Chase Mallard wasn’t sharp, allowing five runs on five hits and two walks in six innings and Mark Biggs gave up another run over 2 1/3 frames. Carlos Ramirez followed suit with an unearned run allowed in 2 1/3 while Jose Fernandez, allowing one of Ramirez’s inherited runners to score, also picked up a blown save despite striking out four batters in 1 1/3 innings.

In the mean time, the offense churned out 16 hits including a home run from Ryan McBroom who leads the Midwest League in batting average at .345. McBroom was 6/6 with three runs, two doubles, a home run, a walk and four RBI. Only missing the triple for the cycle, McBroom’s monster day wasn’t enough for the Lugnuts to actually win the game. D.J. Davis, Dawel Lugo and Chris Carlson each had two hits with Lugo driving in a pair and Davis driving in one and taking a walk. Jason Leblebijian was also 2/7 with a double and two runs scored.

Player of the Game: McBroom

Vancouver Canadians 5, Salem-Keizer Volcanoes 10
While the Canadians scored more runs than they have in a while, the pitching staff couldn’t keep the Volcanoes in check and the club fell to 8-17 with a 10-5 loss. Earl Burl III had two hits including a single and a double, driving in a run while James Lynch was 2/4 with an RBI and a run.

Jon Wandling allowed four runs over 6 2/3 innings, giving up two home runs while Stuart Holmes took the loss, allowing two runs in 1 1/3 innings. Daniel Young couldn’t keep it close either, allowing four runs on five hits and a walk over one inning of work.

Player of the Game: Burl and Lynch

Bluefield Blue Jays 1, Princeton Rays 2
With another one-run loss to Princeton, the Blue Jays saw their record dip to 7-13. The club was offensively anemic, getting just two hits: a double from Rodrigo Orozco and a pinch-hit home run from D.J. McKnight. On the mound, Juliandry Higuera continues to be stellar as he added another 5 2/3 scoreless innings to his resume, lowering his ERA to 0.44. Tayler Saucedo allowed an unearned run in 3 1/3 innings after stranding two runners that he inherited from Higuera while Zach Rodgers took the loss, giving up another unearned run over two innings, striking out three.

Player of the Game: Higuera

GCL Blue Jays
Scheduled Off Day

DSL Blue Jays
Scheduled Off Day

If you like us here, “like” us on Facebook!

Get your 2015 Toronto Blue Jays Minor League Handbook now! All the up-to-date information on the Blue Jays minor league system with 250 player profiles, team information and more! You can find it at the BJfA Shop or at our distribution partner, Smashwords.com!

The All-New Blue Jays from Away Premium Content section is here! Combined with the 2015 Toronto Blue Jays Minor League Handbook, it will be your best resource to the Toronto Blue Jays minor league system for just $1.99 per month or $15 for a full year (and get the 2015 Toronto Blue Jays Minor League Handbook free with a yearly subscription)!

All photos are copyright Blue Jays from Away (2013-2015) and may not be used without permission.