Aug. 25 Minor League Report
By Jay Blue
Blue Jays from Away
It was another rough day down the stretch for the Blue Jays’ affiliates, going 2-6 overall with one great pitching performance to speak of.

Buffalo Bisons 3, Lehigh Valley IronPigs 9
Despite 10 hits as a club, the Bisons only scored three runs as their offense continues to wallow and they ended up losing to Philadelphia’s top farm club 9-3. Dalton Pompey (2/4, SB, R), Matt Hague (2/4, 2B, RBI, R) and Andy Burns (2/4, RBI) had two hit each but none could charge up the Bisons’ offense. Chad Jenkins had an awful start, allowing eight runs (seven earned) over 3 1/3 innings, taking the loss. Bobby Korecky pitched 2 2/3 scoreless innings while Aaron Loup allowed a run, walking three and giving up three hits in 1 2/3 innings.

Roster Notes: RHP pitcher Donn Roach was claimed by the Blue Jays and optioned to Buffalo.

Player of the Game: Pompey, Hague and Burns

 
New Hampshire Fisher Cats 3, Portland Sea Dogs 0
Casey Lawrence was the star of the Fisher Cats, throwing eight shutout innings and allowing just three hits and two walks with five strikeouts to even his record at 12-12 on the season in a Fisher Cats’ win. Blake McFarland saved his 14th game, striking out three. On the offensive side, Dwight Smith continues to swing a hot bat, hitting his seventh home run and going 2/5 while Emilio Guerrero was 2/4.

Player of the Game: Lawrence

Dunedin Blue Jays 1, Tampa Yankees 5
Shane Dawson returned to action for the Dunedin Blue Jays but didn’t get out of the third inning, allowing four runs. Brad Allen came in to pitch three inning of one-run ball while Arik Sikula and Chris Smith combined for three innings of scoreless baseball to finish the game. Dickie Joe Thon had two hits (2/3, R).

Roster Notes: Jason Leblebijian was sent down to the Lansing Lugnuts while Shane Dawson was activated off the temporarily inactive list.

Player of the Game: Thon

Lansing Lugnuts 3, Fort Wayne TinCaps 5
The Lugnuts fell 5-3 to Fort Wayne on Tuesday as the offense continues to have good days and bad days. It was the defense that led let the club down on this occasion, however, as two errors led to three of the TinCaps’ five runs being unearned. Starter Justin Shafer was charged with four of those runs (one earned) as he allowed six hits and two walks over his 4 1/3 innings. Dusty Isaacs gave up another run in the sixth (over 2 2/3 innings of pitching) and Carlos Ramirez threw a shutout eighth. The Lugnuts only had five hits including two from David Harris (2/3, 2B, R, RBI).

Roster Notes: Jason Leblebijian was added to the Lugnuts’ roster and went 0/4.

Player of the Game: Harris

Vancouver Canadians 6, Boise Hawks 12
Jonathan Harris continues to struggle in professional baseball after being selected in the first round of the 2015 draft by the Blue Jays. Harris allowed 10 runs on Tuesday (eight earned) over 2 1/3 innings, ballooning his ERA to 6.75. Bob Wheatley gave up one run over 3 2/3 innings and Stuart Holmes was charged with an unearned run over two innings. Michael Kraft finished with a scoreless ninth.

Justin Atkinson was 2/4 with two RBI and a double while Juan Kelly also hit a double, going 1/4 with a walk and an RBI. Connor Panas drove in two runs, going 1/5 while J.C. Cardenas was 1/1 with two walks and an RBI. Andrew Guillotte was 1/5 but hit a double, stole a base, scored twice and had two outfield assists.

Player of the Game: Atkinson

Bluefield Blue Jays 2, Pulaski Yankees 5
The Blue Jays continue to limp their way to the end of the season, losing 5-2 to Pulaski on the road. Dalton Rodriguez allowed three runs in just one inning but Dan Lietz had a good outing, allowing one hit and four walks but no runs in four innings. Joe Claver allowed two runs (one earned) over 2 2/3 innings before Jackson Lowery finished the game, striking out the only batter he faced. The offense only had six hits including a double, a walk and an RBI from Christian WIlliams. Deiferson Barreto was 1/4 with a walk while Mattingly Romanin and Brett Wellman each had a single and a walk.

Player of the Game: None

GCL Blue Jays 5, GCL Pirates 4
The Blue Jays are closing in on a playoff spot with a magic number of two thanks to a 5-4 win over the GCL Pirates on Tuesday. Hansel Rodriguez allowed two runs (one earned) over four innings while Jose Espada allowed two runs over 2 1/3 innings. Juan Nunez (W, 1 1/3 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 1 K) and Mike Estevez (S, 1 1/3 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 2 K) finished the game. Edward Olivares was the start for the Blue Jays and is batting average creeps up towards the Mendoza Line (at .198) with three hits including a home run and two runs scored. Javier Hernandez also went deep, going 2/3 with a home run, two RBI, a run and a sac fly.

Player of the Game: Olivares and Hernandez

DSL Blue Jays 1, DSL Astros 2
The DSL Blue Jays were swept by the Astros in the Semi-Final B series with a 2-1 loss. The pitching was solid as Wilfri Aleton went five innings, giving up two runs on three hits and two walks with four strikeouts while Jairo Rosario finished the game, striking out five and not walking anyone over three innings with two hits allowed. Antony Fuentes had two hits including a solo home run for the Blue Jays.

Player of the Game: Fuentes and Rosario

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