July 16 Minor League Report
By Jay Blue
Blue Jays from Away
The Blue Jays’ affiliates had an even record at 4-4 on Friday as the teams settle in for the rest of the minor league season now that the All-Star Break is over.

Buffalo Bisons 1, Columbus Clippers 8
Coming off the All-Star break, the Bisons only mustered five hits including a single and a double (with an RBI) from Andy Burns. Aaron Sanchez got the start for the Bisons as he continues his rehab and he threw 63 pitches over 3 1/3 innings, only throwing 32 strikes and allowing two runs on five hits and two walks with three strikeouts. Joel Pineiro allowed five runs (four earned) in 3 1/2 innings before Todd Redmond calmed things down with a scoreless eighth. In the ninth, Blake McFarland allowed a run on two hits.

Roster Notes: Aaron Sanchez was moved to Buffalo to continue rehabbing from injury.

Player of the Game: Burns

New Hampshire Fisher Cats 7, Portland Sea Dogs 2
Casey Lawrence had his usual strong start and the Fisher Cats continued their July surge, beating the struggling Portland Sea Dogs by a 7-2 score. Lawrence went six innings with just four hits and one walk allowed while striking out six and giving up one run. Dustin Antolin and Wil Browning pitched a scoreless inning each while Chad Girodo gave up a run on three hits.

The top of the order was in the groove for the Fisher Cats as the club got hits from the first five members of the batting order and no one else. Jon Berti, batting second, was 3/4 with two stolen bases while Dalton Pompey (batting leadoff) was 2/4 with a walk, a triple, an RBI and two runs. Dwight Smith, Jr. scored twice, going 1/3 with two walks and a home run, driving in a pair. K.C. Hobson was 1/3 with a walk and an RBI and Matt Newman was 1/3 with a double and a sac fly.

Roster Notes: Murphy Smith was sent back down to Dunedin while Luis Perez was activated off the DL. Jeff Hoffman was formally assigned to New Hampshire, along with catcher Martin Medina and Pierce Rankin was released. Derrick Chung appears to be over his injury and he was assigned to the GCL on a rehab assignment.

Player of the Game: Lawrence, Berti and Smith

Dunedin Blue Jays 6, St. Lucie Mets 2
The Blue Jays got back on the right side of the ledger after a 6-2 in over St. Lucie in Florida State League action. Sean Reid-Foley showed dominant stuff, striking out five in 3 2/3 innings, allowing just two hits but was also plagued by the walk, putting four men on with free passes. Alberto Tirado stranded the bases loaded but gave up a pair of his own runs, walking three in 2/3 of an inning. Brady Dragmire picked up his first win of the season, striking out four over 2 2/3 innings of work, giving up two hits and a walk. Arik Sikula finished the game with two scoreless innings.

Richard Urena was 4/5 with a triple and an RBI for the D-Jays while Derrick Loveless hit a three-run home run. Mitch Nay and Anthony Alford each had two hits.

Roster Notes: Murphy smith was sent down from New Hampshire back to Dunedin while Jackson Lowery was sent back to the GCL. Mike Reeves was brought back to Dunedin from Lansing while Jeff Hoffman and Martin Medina were promoted to New Hampshire.

Player of the Game: Urena

Lansing Lugnuts 6, South Bend Cubs 10
It was a day that Conor Fisk likely wants to forget as he gave up nine runs on 12 hits over 3 1/3 innings. Colton Turner allowed just one run on two hits over 3 2/3 innings with three strikeouts and Phil Kish recovered from a rough outing with two scoreless innings.

The Lugnuts’ offense was spread out as seven different lugnuts had at least one hit. Boomer Collins had the biggest blow, a three-run home run in the eighth inning as the comeback fell short. Collins had two hits, as did D.J. Davis (2/5, 2B) and Chris Carlson (2/3, 2 BB, R, RBI, SB). Dawel Lugo was 1/4 with two RBI and a walk.

Roster Notes: Josh Almonte was activated off the DL and Mike Reeves was promoted to Dunedin.

Player of the Game: Collins and Carlson

Vancouver Canadians 5, Everett AquaSox 4
The Canadians repeated the score of their previous victory, beating Everett 5-4. In this one, Ryan Borucki returned to the Cs, showing some rust by allowing one run over 2 2/3 hits, allowing two hits and three walks with three strikeouts. Bob Wheatley finished the third inning and Evan Smith went five innings, allowing just one hit and three walks with five strikeouts before Stuart Holmes, Michael Kraft and Turner Lee combined to pitch the ninth inning, giving up three more runs.

The Canadians only had five hits but one of them was a three-run home run by Lane Thomas while Connor Panas hit a triple.

Roster Notes: Ryan Hissey was assigned to the Vancouver Canadians from the GCL.

Player of the Game: Smith

Bluefield Blue Jays 7, Bristol Pirates 0
In Game 1 of a double header with the Briston Pirates, the Blue Jays got a fantastic outing from Nick Wells. The 2014 third rounder threw six innings, allowing just two hits and two walks with eight strikeouts before Grayson Huffman came on to close it out, giving up two walks but striking out the side. Yeltsin Gudino had three hits including a double and two RBI while D.J. McKnight had a three-run home run in the sixth inning.

Player of the Game: Wells

Bluefield Blue Jays 3, Bristol Pirates 4
Game 2 of the double header produced a victory for Bristol as they walked off in eight innings. Jake Brentz was on the mound for the Blue Jays, striking out four in 3 2/3 innings but allowed three walks and three hits, accumulating for two runs. Daniel Lietz allowed a run in 1 1/3 innings and Joe Claver finished the sixth inning. Tyler Burden went 1 1/3 innings to before John Kravetz allowed the game-winning run in the bottom of the eighth inning. Andres Sotillo was 3/3 with a home run and two RBI for the Blue Jays.

Player of the Game: Sotillo

GCL Blue Jays, GCL Tigers
Game postponed due to rain

DSL Blue Jays 6, DSL Reds 9
Despite hitting three home runs as a club, the DSL Blue Jays lost to the Reds on Thursday. Enmanuel Moreta led the way with his third home run, going 3/5 with three RBI. Francisco Rodriguez and Antony Fuentes were both 2/4 with a solo home run and Jesus Navarro and Norberto Obeso added two hits each.

Yonardo Herdenez went five innings, allowing three runs on six hits while Jairo Rosario was victimized by his defense, allowing six runs on five hits and a walk in just two innings. Alvaro Galindo struck out the side in the eighth.

Player of the Game: Moreta

 

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