Jay Blue: Montero, Rowley, Saez, Smith

RP Chris Rowley pitched 2 1/3 scoreless innings for the class-A Dunedin Blue Jays. Photo: Jay Blue. 

April 10, 2016 Minor League Report
By Jay Blue
Blue Jays from Away
The Blue Jays’ affiliates saw the bats come out in force at the top two levels while in the Florida State League, the Dunedin Blue Jays couldn’t get things going offensively.

Buffalo Bisons 9, Pawtucket Red Sox 1
Waiver claim Jesus Montero had a monster game as the Bisons trounced the Paw Sox in International League action on Sunday by a 9-1 margin. Montero was 4/5 with a home run and two doubles, driving in five runs and scoring twice to lead the way for The Herd. Casey Kotchman continues to hit, going 2/4 with a run and a walk while Junior Lake also had a pair of hits (including a double), driving in one and scoring one. Darrell Ceciliani was 0/3 but walked twice, drove in a run, stole a base and scored twice.

On the mound, Wade LeBlanc was strong, allowing just one run on four hits and two walks with two strikeouts over five innings, needing only 77 pitches. Ben Rowen, Ryan Tepera, Pat Venditte and Dustin Antolin each threw a scoreless inning to finish the game with Venditte striking out a pair of batters.

Player of the Game: Jesus Montero

Roster Notes: Scott Copeland was sold to the Korean Baseball Organization team, the LG Twins, where he’ll be reported to make $750,000 US to play. He was placed on the Temporarily Inactive list for the Bisons.

New Hampshire Fisher Cats 8, Binghamton Mets 1
Like the Bisons, the Fisher Cats brought the lumber, scoring eight runs on 12 hits to beat the Binghampton Mets by an 8-1 score on Sunday. The Fisher Cats had a better-distributed attack than the Bisons, getting two-hit games from Dwight Smith, Jr. (2-for-5, 4 RBI), K.C. Hobson (2-for-4, 2B, R, RBI), Jorge Saez (2-for-4, BB, RBI, 2B, R) and Jorge Flores (2-for-2, R, RBI). Rowdy Tellez was the only player who didn’t get a hit (but he did take a walk) while Shane Opitz and Ian Parmley each had a single and a walk, adding one stolen base each while Jon Berti singled and walked and Roemon Fields doubled, walked and scored twice. Saez threw out the only runner who tried to steal a base.

Lefty John Anderson got the start, needing 80 pitches (with 46 strikes) to go four innings, but he scattered five hits and three walks to allow just one run and strike out four. Murphy Smith followed with two innings of hitless, walkless ball while John Stilson, Danny Barnes and Chris Smith each threw a scoreless frame with Barnes and Smith striking out two batters each.

Player of the Game: Dwight Smith, Jr. and Jorge Saez

Dunedin Blue Jays 0, Clearwater Threshers 7
As good offensively as the Blue Jays’ two highest level affiliates were on Sunday, Dunedin was poor. The club only had three hits and three walks and were held off the scoreboard by the Clearwater Threshers in a 7-0 loss. Christian Lopes walked twice, going 0/2 while Ryan McBroom , Danny Jansen and Derrick Loveless had the only hits.

On the mound, Justin Shafer struggled, giving up five runs on seven hits and a walk in four innings while lefty Jose Fernandez allowed two runs on four hits and two walks in 2 2/3 innings. Chris Rowley provided a ray of sunshine, giving up just two hits in 2 1/3 innings of scoreless relief, striking out two.

Player of the Game: Chris Rowley

Roster Notes: OF Anthony Alford was placed on the 7-day DL after leaving the first game of the year with an injury. Ryan Metzler was assigned to Dunedin to take his roster spot.

Lansing Lugnuts, Great Lakes Loons
Postponed due to snow

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