April 21, 2016 Minor League Report
By Jay Blue
Blue Jays from Away
The New Hampshire Fisher Cats had the night off and the Blue Jays’ minor league affiliates took two wins in three games seeing big games from two different catchers getting early action for their seasons.

Buffalo Bisons 6, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders 5
The Bisons got great work from the bullpen as well as a couple of late rallies to overcome a 5-2 deficit and win the final game of their series against the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders 6-5. Casey Lawrence gave up five runs on six hits and an uncharacteristic four walks over 4 2/3 innings while striking out two but the bullpen combined for 4 1/3 innings with Chad Jenkins allowing just one hit in 2 1/3 of those innings, earning the win. David Aardsma walked two but kept the RailRiders off the board and Ryan Tepera struck out one, giving up a hit in the ninth to earn the save.

The game featured A.J. Jimenez’s first hit of the season, a two-run home run in the third inning and he followed that up with another hit, a walk and two more RBI, giving him four on the night. Casey Kotchman also had two hits Andy Burns was 1/4 with a walk, a run and an outfield assist and Matt Dominguez scored twice, driving in a run with a 1/3 game that also included a walk.

Player of the Game: A.J. Jimenez

New Hampshire Fisher Cats
Scheduled Off Day

Dunedin Blue Jays 4, Tampa Yankees 10
The DJays were efficient, scoring four times on six hits but the crew collectively struck out 14 times in a 10-4 loss to the Tampa Yankees. Catcher Michael De La Cruz, just added to the Dunedin roster, had a great season debut, going 2/4 with a home run, driving in two runs in the DH spot. Derrick Loveless walked twice and hit a double, scoring once while Christian Lopes also walked twice and Ryan McBroom was 1/4 with an RBI.

Kyle Westwood was hammered in his second Dunedin start, giving up seven runs (six earned) on seven hits and four walks with three strikeouts over 4 2/3 innings. Jose Fernandez was very good in his 2 1/3 innings of relief, giving up just one run on four hits without walking anyone and striking out three while Brad Allen allowed two runs on a two-run home run in the eighth inning.

Player of the Game: Michael De La Cruz

Roster Notes: LHP Juliandry Higuera was sent back to extended spring training and De La Cruz was activated in Dunedin.

Lansing Lugnuts 6, Lake County Captains 4
The Lugnuts got out to a 6-1 lead against the red hot Lake County Captains and held on to win 6-4. Angel Perdomo got the start and was impressive, allowing only one run thanks to a balk in the second inning, and giving up just one hit and two walks with nine strikeouts (including striking out the side in order in the third inning). Starlyn Suriel followed and he gave up his first runs all year, allowing three runs on a three-run home run despite giving up just three hits and striking out four. Colton Turner continued his dominance of the Midwest League with two scoreless innings, allowing one hit and one walk with three strikeouts in two innings to earn the save.

Ryan Hissey (2/3, BB, 2B, 3 RBI), Justin Atkinson (2/3, 2B, BB, 3 RBI) and Andrew Guillotte (2/5, 2B, 2 R) had two-hit games while Lane Thomas was 1/3 with a walk and a double, scoring twice.

Player of the Game: Angel Perdomo

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