Aug, 21 Minor League Report
By Jay Blue
Blue Jays from Away
Friday was a much better day for the Blue Jays’ minor league affiliates, going 3-4 over four games but getting some big games in Buffalo and with the Lansing Lugnuts snapping an eight-game losing streak.

Buffalo Bisons 9, Syracuse Chiefs 0
The Bisons cranked both their offense and their defense into high gear, supporting Scott Copeland and helping him get his 10th win of the season. Copeland threw seven innings, allowing four hits and got 13 outs via the ground ball. Chad Jenkins thew two innings of scoreless ball to complete the victory.

The pitching didn’t need to be quite so stingy as the offense rapped out 18 hits, scoring nine times. Dalton Pompey (3/5, 2 R, RBI), Andy Burns (3/4, BB, 2 R, 2 RBI), Alex Hassan (3/5, 2B, RBI) and Josh Thole (3/5, 2 2B, 2 R, RBI) all had three hits and Munenori Kawasaki (2/4), Ty Kelly (2/4, BB, 2 RBI, R) and Jonathan Diaz (2/4, 2B, RBI, R) all had two hits.

Player of the Game: Burns and Copeland

New Hampshire Fisher Cats 5, Binghamton Mets 9
The Fisher Cats mounted a comeback in the ninth but two runs weren’t enough to knock off Binghamton in a 9-5 loss. Melky Mesa was 3/4 with a double, a walk and a run while Derrick Chung drove in three, going 1/4 with a double and a sac fly. Scott Barnes continues to struggle in a starting role, giving up six runs over 4 2/3 innings but striking out five. Cory Burns surrendered three more runs over 2 1/3 innings while Greg Infante retired all six batters he faced.

Player of the Game: Mesa

Dunedin Blue Jays 0, Lakeland Flying Tigers 4
The Blue Jays were hit despite a solid outing from Brad Allen who went four innings in his first start since May 2. Allen took the loss but allowed only one run on four hits and a walk with three strikeouts. Lendy Castillo made his first appearance as a Blue Jay, allowing two runs on four hits and a walk in just one inning. Matt Dermody gave up another run over two innings and Wil Browning pitched a perfect eighth. Christian Lopes had two hits for the Blue Jays.

Player of the Game: Lopes and Allen

Lansing Lugnuts 4, Bowling Green Hot Rods 3
Chase Mallard had a very solid outing for the Lugnuts and offense scored just enough to emerge victorious and snap an eight-game losing streak. Mallard gave up three runs on eight hits over 6 2/3 innings but only walked one and struck out two while Colton Turner came to the rescue, giving up just a hit over 2 1/3 innings and striking out two.

Chris Carlson had a 3/4 game, hitting a double and two singles and scoring twice while D.J. Davis was 2/3 with a double and an RBI, Ryan McBroom had two hits, a run and an RBI and Josh Almonte was 2/4 with a double.

Roster Notes: RHP Clinton Hollon was suspended for 50 games after testing positive for Amphetamines.

Player of the Game: Carlson

Vancouver Canadians, Spokane Indians
Game postponed.

Bluefield Blue Jays 2, Kingsport Mets 3
After allowing one run in the first, the Blue Jays’ pitching staff was outstanding through seven innings but couldn’t close the game out, due to an error by Aaron Attaway that led to Kingsport scoring two unearned runs in the top of the ninth and losing 3-2. Miguel Burgos had a solid start, allowing just one run on four hits and three walks with five strikeouts in four innings. Dan Lietz had a great outing, giving up just one hit and two walks through three innings and Alberto Guzman was victimized in his second inning of relief, getting tagged with the loss.

The offense had seven hits, including two from Christian Williams (2/3, BB) while Rodrigo Orozco had the club’s only extra-base hit, going 1/4 with a double.

Player of the Game: Williams and Lietz

GCL Blue Jays 4, GCL Phillies 8
It wasn’t a great day for the starting pitching as the Blue Jays were doubled 8-4 by the Phillies on Friday night. Denis Diaz had a rough outing, allowing five runs on five hits and five walks in 2 2/3 innings while Kelyn Jose allowed another three runs on three hits and a walk in 2 1/3 innings. Gunner Eastman, Nate Abel and Juan Nunez combined for three hitless innings to keep the game somewhat in reach for the offense. Speaking of the offense, Levi Scott (2/2, RBI) and Cliff Brantley (2/4) had two htis each.

Player of the Game: Scott and Brantley

DSL Blue Jays 14, DSL Reds 5
The DSL Blue Jays’ offensive machine went a bit nuts again, scoring 14 runs on nine hits and 12 walks on Friday against the DSL Reds, taking advantage of six errors by the Reds and stealing eight bases without getting caught. Norberto Obeso pushed his batting average to .351 with a 3/6 game, hitting a double, stealing a base and driving in three. Sterling Guzman was 2/5 with a double, a walk, two runs and four RBI to lead the club in runs batting in. Jesus Navarro was 1/3 with two walks, two stolen bases, an RBI and three runs while Kevin Vicuna was 1/3 with a walk, two RBI, a stolen base and three runs.

On the mound, Orlando Pascual made his first start, going two innings and giving up a run. Dany Jimenez gave up just one run on two hits and two walks with four strikeouts in four innings while Jose Acosta allowed three runs in 1 2/3 innings. Ruben Ventura pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings with four strikeouts to finish the game.

Player of the Game: Guzman and Obeso

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