August 5, 2017 Toronto Blue Jays Minor League Report
By Jay Blue
Blue Jays from Away

With a 4-3 record on Saturday, the Toronto Blue Jays' minor league affiliates got some great pitching, particularly in Dunedin and Lansing.

Buffalo Bisons 6, Lehigh Valley IronPigs 4

The Buffalo Bisons came from behind to score four runs over the seventh and eighth innings, winning 6-4 over the Lehigh Valley IronPigs at home on Saturday night. Roemon Fields was 3/4 for the Bisons, driving in two runs and stealing his 34th base of the season (in the International League) Rowdy Tellez was 1/4 with a double and an RBI but struck out three times. Gregorio Petit was 2/4 with a double and an RBI, scoring three runs and Jason Leblebijian went 1/4 with a double and two RBI. Teoscar Hernandez was 1/4 with a double and a run and Danny Jansen was 1/3 with a walk and a run. Dwight Smith Jr. was 0/1 but walked three times and scored.

Luis Santos gave up two runs, going just four innings and allowing five hits and four walks with four strikeouts. Murphy Smith got the win, allowing a solo home run in three innings, striking out two. Tim Mayza followed for a scoreless eighth, striking out a pair and Chris Smith got his seventh save of the season, allowing a solo home run in the ninth.

Player of the Game: Roemon Fields

Roster Notes: Taylor Cole was promoted to Toronto.

New Hampshire Fisher Cats, Richmond Flying Squirrels

Game postponed due to rain.

Dunedin Blue Jays 6, Charlotte Stone Crabs 4

The Dunedin Blue Jays continued their winning ways thanks to a couple of home runs from players born in Canada, beating the Charlotte Stone Crabs 6-4. Vladimir Guerrero (Montreal, Que.) hit his first home run with Dunedin, going 2/4 while Connor Panas (Toronto, Ont.) hit his 11th of the year, driving in three and going 1/4. Josh Almonte was 2/4 with a double in his first game after coming off the DL and Juan Kelly was 2/4 with a run. Bo Bichette was 0/5 with two strikeouts and D.J. Davis was 1/2 with a walk and a run, stealing his 27th base of the season.

Josh DeGraaf threw seven scoreless innings, picking up his sixth win of the year. He allowed only four hits and one walk with six strikeouts in a masterful outing. Geno Encina allowed a run on three hits in the eighth and Philip Walby was charged with three runs on a hit and three walks in 2/3 of an inning. Daniel Lietz came in with the bases loaded and allowed a walk and a hit, letting two of the three inherited runners score before he was able to get out of the inning and pick up his first save with the D-Jays.

Player of the Game: Josh DeGraaf

Lansing Lugnuts 4, Dayton Dragons 1

The Lansing Lugnuts got tremendous pitching from Yennsy Diaz in a 4-1 win over the Dayton Dragons. Diaz went six innings, allowing just a solo home run to get on the board, among five hits and two walks with nine strikeouts to pick up the win. Juliandry Higuera tore through the Dragons, retiring all six batters he faced, striking out two before Jared Carkuff came on for the ninth and retired the side in order to pick up the save.

J.B. Woodman had a terrific game, going 2/3 with a triple, a walk, two RBI and two runs. Rodrigo Orozco was 1/4 with a walk and Nash Knight was 1/3 with a walk. Both Yeltsin Gudino and Mattingly Romanin (Burlington, Ont.) were 1/4 with an RBI.

Player of the Game: J.B. Woodman and Yennsy Diaz

Vancouver Canadians 0, Hillsboro Hops 6

The Vancouver Canadians (25-23) couldn't follow up their win on Friday with another one on Saturday, getting one-hit and shutout by the Hillsboro Hops, 6-0. Norberto Obeso had the only hit for Vancouver while Riley Adams walked twice.

Juan Nunez started and gave up three runs on five hits and a walk over six innings, striking out two. Bobby Eveld allowed another three runs on two hits and a hit by pitch, giving up a home run in the seventh. Eveld, Brayden Bouchey and Yonardo Herdenez each pitched 2/3 of an inning to finish the game.

Player of the Game: None

Bluefield Blue Jays 1, Pulaski Yankees 3

The Bluefield Blue Jays fell to the Pulaski Yankees 3-1 on Saturday. Brandon Grudzielanek had a great game, going 3/4 and scored the club's only run, driven in by Antony Fuentes's sacrifice fly. Yorman Rodriguez and Ryan Gold each hit a double.

Josh Winckowski had a great outing, allowing just one unearned run on four hits and a walk with two strikeouts over six innings. Joe DiBenedetto took the loss, allowing two runs on a hit and a walk in 1 2/3 innings and Ty Tice allowed both inherited runners to score, giving up two hits and striking out one in 1/3 of an inning to finish the game.

Player of the Game: Brandon Grudzielanek

GCL Blue Jays 9, GCL Pirates 10

The GCL Blue Jays had a 6-4 lead at one point but couldn't hold on, ultimately losing 10-9 to the GCL Pirates in 12 innings. Dominic Abbadessa (2/5, BB, 2 R, SB, OF Asst) and Jonelvy Molina (2/4, BB, 2B, 2 RBI) had two hits each while Luis De Los Santos drove in two, going 1/4 with a walk and two runs, adding a sac fly and Davis Schneider drove in a pair, going 1/6 with a double and two runs. Joseph Reyes walked three times, going 1/3 with a run and Otto Lopez hit a triple, driving in a run. Ricky Negron made his professional debut, going 1/3 with a walk and two runs.

T.J. Zeuch made his second rehab outing, giving up three runs in 2 2/3 innings, allowing six hits (including a home run) and striking out one. Danilo Manzueta finished the third and pitched the fourth and Matthew Gunter took over for three innings, giving up two runs (one earned) on three hits and a walk with two strikeouts. Jonathan Cheshire got the blown save, giving up three runs on two hits (including a home run) over two innings with four strikeouts. Adams Cuevas blew a save, allowing a run on two hits and two walks in two innings and Justin Watts allowed an unearned run without allowing a hit in 2/3 innings in the 12th.

Player of the Game: Dominic Abbadessa and Jonelvy Molina

DSL Blue Jays 13, DSL White Sox 1

While the GCL Blue Jays needed extra time to decide their game, the DSL Blue Jays were perfectly happy when the umpires called their game early as they had a 13-1 win over the DSL White Sox. Yhon Perez (2/2, BB, 3B, 2 RBI, 3 R, SB, Sac Fly) and Yeison Estevez (2/4, RBI, R) each had two hits while Steward Berroa had three RBI with a triple, scoring twice and stealing a base. Leonicio Ventura was 1/2 with a triple, two walks, a stolen base, two RBI and a run.

Juan Diaz started with 4 1/3 scoreless innings, allowing only one hit and three walks with six strikeouts. Luis Pena got the win, retiring all five batters he faced, striking out two. Adolfo Molina allowed the White Sox' only run on two hits in the seventh and Alexander Molina retired both batters he faced before the game was called.

Player of the Game: Juan Diaz and Yhon Perez

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