May 26, 2016 Minor League Report
By Jay Blue
Blue Jays from Away
Another 2-2 day went by on Thursday for the Blue Jays’ affiliates. Buffalo and Dunedin took wins and New Hampshire and Lansing took losses despite excellent starting pitching performances in both games.

Buffalo Bisons 13, Columbus Clippers 10
Barnburner? Slugfest? I’m not exactly sure what to call this game as the Bisons outclubbed the Columbus Clippers to win 13-10 on Thursday. All nine Bisons had at least one hit with seven of the nine players getting at least two. Casey Kotchman had three, including two doubles, and a walk, driving in two and scoring twice. Dalton Pompey was 2/6 with two RBI and a stolen base while Andy Burns was 2/6 with a double and an RBI. Jesus Montero was 2/6 with a home run and three runs scored while Matt Dominguez was 2/4 with three runs. A.J. Jimenez continues to swing a hot bat, going 2/5 with a double, two RBI and a run and Alexi Casilla was 2/5 with an RBI and two runs, adding a stolen base. Junior Lake was 1/5 with a two-run home run, three RBI in total and two runs.

The Bisons sent Drew Hutchison to the mound for the bloodbath, and he gave up four runs on three hits (including two home runs) and five walks with four strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings. Chad Jenkins allowed six more runs (and allowed his inherited runner from Hutchison to score), five of which were earned, on six hits and one walk with three strikeouts in just one inning. Pat McCoy finished the seventh, giving up a hit (and allowing the inherited runner from Jenkins to score) and Ben Rowen earned the save, throwing two innings with one hit and two strikeouts.

Player of the Game: Casey Kotchman

New Hampshire Fisher Cats 1, Trenton Thunder 2
The Fisher Cats played with fire all game, getting six scoreless innings from starter Luis Santos but, only scored one run and were overtaken by the Trenton Thunder who scored two runs in the ninth to win 2-1. Santos was outstanding, striking out eight without walking anyone. Matt Dermody provided 1 1/3 innings of scoreless relief, giving up a hit and striking out two and Murphy Smith finished off the eighth inning, walking one and striking out one in 2/3 of an inning. Wil Browning took the loss, giving up two runs in 2/3 of an inning to allow the Trenton Thunder to walk off with a win.

Dwight Smith continues to slug, going 2/4 with a double while Matt Dean was 2/4 with the club’s only RBI. Ian Parmley was 1/3 with a walk and a stolen base.

Player of the Game: Luis Santos

Dunedin Blue Jays 8, Lakeland Flying Tigers 3
The top of the Dunedin batting order drove the offensive engine, getting at least two hits each from the top four hitters and beating the Lakeland Flying Tigers 8-3. Derrick Loveless led the way from the top, going 3/4 with a double, three runs and a walk while Richard Urena (2/4, 2 R), Jason Leblebijian (2/4, 2 R, RBI) and Jonathan Davis (2/3, 3 RBI, BB, SB) had two hits each. Anthony Alford was 1/4 with two RBI, D.J. Davis was 1/3 with a triple and L.B. Dantzler was 1/2 with two RBI coming on two sacrifice flies.

Chris Rowley moved his record to 3-0 with an excellent outing, throwing 7 1/3 innings of two-run ball, allowing five hits and two walks with six strikeouts. Alonzo Gonzalez gave up the final run, throwing 1 2/3 innings.

Player of the Game: Derrick Loveless

 
Lansing Lugnuts 3, Fort Wayne TinCaps 5
The Lugnuts built up a 3-0 lead early on in their evening matchup with the Fort Wayne TinCaps but the bullpen started giving up home runs as the TinCaps came back and eventually beat the Lugnuts 5-3. Starter Sean Reid-Foley was excellent for Lansing, giving up one run on six hits and one walk with seven strikeouts over seven innings. Starlyn Suriel gave up the second run on a solo home run (the only hit he allowed) over one inning and, the usually reliable Dusty Isaacs gave up two home runs and three runs in the ninth, taking his first loss of the season.

Max Pentecost had another two hits while Gunnar Heidt, batting in the leadoff spot went 1/2 with a home run and a walk. J.C. Cardenas was 2/3.

Player of the Game: Sean Reid-Foley

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