JB: Atkinson, Clark Davis, Dean, Hague, Hobson,

K.C. Hobson hit his 11th home run of the season at double-A New Hampshire. Photo: Jay Blue.

July 17 Minor League Report

By Jay Blue
Blue Jays from Away
It was a good day in the Blue Jays’ minor leagues with five wins and two losses on Friday. Daniel Norris was outdueled by a familiar face but most of the minor league clubs found ways to win.

Buffalo Bisons 2, Columbus Clippers 3
In a clash of titans, Daniel Norris went up against former Blue Jays Shaun Marcum and was beaten as Marcum held the Bisons to two unearned runs and picked up his seventh win of the season for the Columbus Clippers. Norris went six innings, matching Marcum but allowed three runs on four hits and four walks with three strikeouts. Greg Burke, Rob Rasmussen and Chad Jenkins combined to pitch the final three innings for the Bisons without giving up a run or a hit.

The Bisons had only six hits including two from International League batting leader Matt Hague (2/4). Andy Burns was 1/4 with a double.

Roster Notes: Dalton Pompey was promoted to Buffalo from New Hampshire and Ryan Schimpf went on the DL.

Player of the Game: Hague

New Hampshire Fisher Cats 2, Portland Sea Dogs 1
Roemon Fields came off the DL to lead a 10-hit, seven-walk attack that only managed to score twice. Fields was 2/4 as was Emilio Guerrero but both were caught stealing. The Fisher Cats got on the board thanks to K.C. Hobson’s 11th home run of the season in the fourth inning. Hobson walked in addition to hitting the solo blast. After the bases were loaded on walks in the bottom of the ninth inning, Kevin Nolan took a free pass to literally walk off the diamond with a win for the home squad.

Taylor Cole had his third straight strong start, giving up just one run over six innings. It wasn’t all rosy for Cole as he needed 87 pitches after walking five and striking out another but he only allowed three hits. Jimmy Cordero walked another two over 1 2/3 innings but struck out two as well while Colt Hynes picked up the win with 1 1/3 innings to finish the game, giving up just one hit.

Roster Notes: Dalton Pompey was promoted to Buffalo and Roemon Fields was activated off the DL.

Player of the Game: Hobson

Dunedin Blue Jays 10, St. Lucie Mets 3
Matt Dean roused the Dunedin offense as they clubbed their way to a 10-3 victory over St. Lucie. Dean was 2/4 with two home runs, six RBI and a walk on the game while Rowdy Tellez (2/4, 2B, BB, 2 R, RBI, SB) and Mitch Nay (2/5, R) also had two hits each. Anthony Alford was 1/2 with two walks, a run and an RBI and Jorge Saez was 1/4 with an RBI.

All of this offense provided a huge cushion for Jeremy Gabryszwski who went seven innings, allowing just five hits and a walk, culminating in two runs allowed (one earned). Matt Dermody finished the game off with two innings, allowing a run on two hits.

Player of the Game: Dean

Lansing Lugnuts 3, South Bend Cubs 10
The Lugnuts surrendered 10 runs to South Bend for the second game in a row, making three errors and costing the club any chance for a victory. Starlyn Suriel was charged with six of those runs (five earned) over 5 2/3 innings while Tim Mayza gave up two over 2 1/3 innings and Jose Fernandez allowed two runs (one earned) in the ninth inning.

D.J. Davis had himself a day, going 3/4 while Dawel Lugo was 1/3 with two RBI.

Player of the Game: Davis

Vancouver Canadians 10, Everett AquaSox 2
The Canadians won their second game in a row, beating the Everett AquaSox on the back of strong pitching performances and great offense from the entire lineup. 2015 first-round pick Jonathan Harris had his best outing yet, giving up just one unearned run on four hits in four innings of work. Daniel Young allowed a run on four hits (including a home run) in 1 2/3 innings and Canadian Sean Ratcliffe picked up the win with 2 1/3 perfect innings of relief with one strikeout. Bob Wheatley struck out the side in the ninth.

The offense generated 17 hits including three home runs as Justin Atkinson announced his presence with authority. Atkinson, a native of British Columbia, was 4/6 with two home runs, three runs and four RBI and, in one game, set a new career high for home runs in a season (2). Ryan Metzler also had four hits (including two doubles) and scored twice. Catcher Ryan Hissey (2/5, 2B), Earl Burl III (2/5, R), Sean Hurley (2/4, HR, BB, 3 RBI, R) and Gunnar Heidt (2/4, 2B, 2 BB, 3 R, 2 RBI, SB) all had mutli-hit games.

Player of the Game: Atkinson

Bluefield Blue Jays 10, Bristol Pirates 9
The Blue Jays took another game against Bristol into extra innings but came out on top this time, responding to a single run by the Pirates in the top of the 11th innings with two of their own in the bottom. Gabe Clark’s second double of the night brought home both runs for the win as Clark finished with a 2/3 night that included three RBI, two runs and four walks. Rodrigo Orozco walked three times and went 2/4 with a double and three runss cored. Christian Williams (2/6, RBI, R), Deiferson Barreto (2/6, RBI), Yeltsin Gudino (2/6, BB) and Freddy Rodriguez (2/4, HR, RBI, R, 2 BB) also had two hits each.

Dalton Rodriguez got the start, giving up six runs over five innings while striking out four. Geno Encina allowed two runs (one earned) over two innings while Zak Wasilewski (1 IP, 2 BB) and Alberto Guzman (2 IP, 1 H, 2 K) provided scoreless relief. Zach Rodgers came in for the 11th and gave up an unearned run on two hits.

Player of the Game: Clark

GCL Blue Jays, GCL Yankees2
Game postponed due to rain

DSL Blue Jays 8, DSL Reds 0
The DSL Blue Jays played an outstanding all around game, blanking the DSL Reds by a score of 8-0. Jose Nova lowered his season’s ERA to 1.74, giving up just four hits and striking out four over six shutout innings. Juan Nunez finished the game off with a three-inning save, allowing just two hits and one walk with three strikeouts.

Sterling Guzman was 4/5, hitting a double, scoring twice and driving in two. Manuel Herazo was 3/4 with a double, two runs and an RBI and Kevin Vicuna was 2/4 with a run but also committed an error. Norberto Obeso drove in a pair and Sam Buelens was 1/4 with two stolen bases.

Player of the Game: Moreta

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