June 4, 2016 Minor League Report
By Jay Blue
Blue Jays from Away
The Dominican Summer League began their season on Saturday, marking the opening of the short-season leagues, and the DSL Blue Jays got good pitching to win their first game of the season. Only the Buffalo Bisons were able to do the same yesterday.

 
Buffalo Bisons 13, Syracuse Chiefs 4
With the Syracuse Chiefs getting three runs in the bottom of the fourth inning (on a three-run home run off of starter Chris Leroux), the Bisons’ offense got a run in each the fifth and sixth innings to tie up the game. Clearly not wanting to go extra innings, the Bisons opened the floodgates and picked up another five runs over the last three innings to pile on the Chiefs with a 13-4 win. Dalton Pompey led the club with four hits (one of which was a double) and three RBI with two runs. Casey Kotchman hit a solo home run in the sixth inning and added a single and had three RBI on the night, taking a walk and scoring twice. Alexi Casilla drove in two, going 2/4 with a double and two runs also taking a walk. Tony Sanchez was also 2/4 with a double and two runs while Jesus Montero was 2/6 with a run. Andy Burns was on base four times with three singles and a walk.

Starting pitcher Leroux allowed the three runs on the one home run and five hits with three walks and two strikeouts over six innings and hung around long enough to earn his fourth win. Pat McCoy was charged with another run as the leadoff man of the eight inning came around to score but McCoy only pitched the seventh and to the one batter in the eight. Ben Rowen allowed the inherited runner to score but wasn’t charged with any runs himself in the eighth and Chad Girodo worked a clean ninth.

Player of the Game: Dalton Pompey

 
New Hampshire Fisher Cats 5, Reading Fightin Phils 6
The Fisher Cats hung in there with the 38-18 Reading Fightin Phils but, in the end, lost 6-5 in 10 innings on Saturday. Casey Lawrence was the starter and allowed five runs to the Fightins, giving up 11 hits (including two solo home runs) but just one walk and striking out six in six innings. Brady Dragmire allowed only a hit in two innings and Danny Barnes took the loss, giving up a walkoff solo home run to the first batter in the 10th afte rpitching a perfect ninth.

Melky Mesa was the offensive star, hitting two home runs, going 2/5 with three RBI. Matt Dean was 2/4 with a double and a walk and Christian Lopes was 2/5 with an RBI. Roemon Fields also had two hits, going 2/5 with a run.

Player of the Game: Melky Mesa

Roster Notes: Jon Berti was placed on the DL and Jason Leblebijian was called up from Dunedin. Luis Santos was also placed on the 7-day DL retroactive to June 1.

Dunedin Blue Jays 4, Palm Beach Cardinals 9
Dunedin’s offense wasn’t firing on all cylinders as the Palm Beach Cardinals got to starter Justin Shafer in a 9-4 win. Shafer only made it through four innings, giving up seven runs on nine hits and three walks with just one strikeout and Conor Fisk surrendered another two runs on six hits and two walks in three more innings. Adonys Cardona walked on in his inning of work.

Emilio Guerrero was responsible for all of the scoring, hitting a two-out grand slam in the third inning. Derrick Loveless was on base three times, getting a single and two walks while Jonathan Davis was 1/4 with a walk and an outfield assist and Dickie Joe Thon was 1/3 with a double, a walk and a stolen base.

Player of the Game: Emilio Guerrero

Roster Notes: Jason Leblebijian was promoted to New Hampshire.

 
Lansing Lugnuts 2, Bowling Green Hot Rods 5
The Lugnuts have not been able to solve the Bowling Green Hot Rods, falling 5-2 in Saturday’s action. Ryan Borucki was not as effective as in his last outing, giving up four runs (three earned) on eight hits and three walks in 5 2/3 innings with four strikeouts. Ryan Cook finished the game, throwing 3 1/3 innings, giving up a solo home run and a walk with three strikeouts.

Andrew Guillotte led the club with two hits but Lane Thomas drove in both runs with a two-run homer in the second inning. Juan Kelly was on base three times with a double and two walks.

Player of the Game: Lane Thomas and Juan Kelly

DSL Blue Jays 4, DSL D-backs 1
With four runs in the first inning, the DSL Blue Jays opened their first game with a bang but didn’t need (or get) any runs the rest of the way for a 4-1 win over the DSL D-backs. Dany Jimenez threw four one-hit innings, striking out three without walking anyone and Alvaro Galindo followed with three one-hit innings, walking one and striking out four. Maximo Castillo gave up the only run despite striking out two batters in the eighth and Orlando Pascual picked up the save with a clean ninth.

Victor Figuereo hit his first home run of the year, going 1/3 with two RBI while Antonio Concepcion was 1/4 with a double and an RBI.

Player of the Game: Dany Jimenez, Alvaro Galindo and Victor Figuereo

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