Jay Blue: Fields, Harris, Leblebijian
May 23, 2016 Minor League Report
By Jay Blue
Blue Jays from Away
With the Buffalo Bisons off on Victoria Day, the Blue Jays’ minor league clubs won two out of three games and got some big performances from a former Australian Baseball League player and a former first-round pick.
Buffalo Bisons
Scheduled Off Day
Roster Notes: David Aardsma opted out of his contract and became a free agent.
New Hampshire Fisher Cats 6, Trenton Thunder 7
The Fisher Cats have been getting into some barn burners lately, trying to ride the offense, but they couldn’t get enough on Monday, dropping a 7-6 game to the Trenton Thunder. Shane Dawson had the start and was rocked for six runs on six hits and three walks in 1 2/3 innings with two strikeouts. Daniel Schlereth stranded Dawson’s left runner and provided two shutout innings, allowing three hits and three walks and leaving two runners of his own on for Chris Smith. Smith stranded those two runners in the fifth but was touched for a run in the sixth, giving up a hit and two walks with a strikeout over 2 1/3 innings. Murphy Smith threw two hitless innings, walking one and striking out two in two innings.
After being named the Eastern League Player of the Week, Dwight Smith, Jr. went 0/4. Roemon Fields, however, was 2/4 with a walk, a run and three RBI to lead the club. Wilkin Castillo drove in two runs, going 1/4 while Rowdy Tellez was 0/4 with a walk, a run and an RBI.
Player of the Game: Roemon Fields
Dunedin Blue Jays 6, Bradenton Marauders 2
Dunedin turned the tables on the Bradenton Marauders by beating them 6-2 on Monday. The Pirates’ Advanced-A affiliate couldn’t stop Jason Leblebijian who went 4/5 with a home run, two RBI, two runs and a stolen base. Derrick Loveless went 2/4 with a run while Dickie Joe Thon was 1/2 with a double, an RBI and two runs. Michael De La Cruz also drove in a pair of runs, going 1/4 with a double and Anthony Alford was 1/2 with a walk, an RBI and a run.
On the mound, Kyle Westwood scattered eight hits, giving up just one run (on a solo home run) with one walk and three strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings. Alonzo Gonzalez picked up the win, giving up two hits but nothing else in 1 1/3 innings. Tim Mayza allowed an unearned run on a hit and two walks with two strikeouts over two innings.
Player of the Game: Jason Leblebijian
Lansing Lugnuts 3, Great Lakes Loons 0
In some morning action, the Jonathan Harris came with his A-game, needing only 84 pitches over seven innings to keep the Great Lakes Loons off the board and pitch the Lugnuts to a 3-0 win. Harris was dominant, striking out 11 Loons and giving up only three hits and one walk. Harris hasn’t given up an earned run since April 9 and now has a 0.83 ERA with 34 strikeouts over 32 2/3 innings with the Lugnuts. Ryan Cook relieved Harris in the eighth, giving up two hits and striking out two batters and Dusty Isaacs continued his 2016 without an earned run by throwing a scoreless inning, striking out one and earning his eighth save.
The offense didn’t do too much, getting two hits each from Andrew Guillotte and Lane Thomas (Thomas had a double and a stolen base). Max Pentecost was 1/3 with the team’s only RBI and Connor Panas was 1/3 with a walk.
Player of the Game: Jon Harris
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