August 23, 2017 Toronto Blue Jays Minor League Report
By Jay Blue
Blue Jays from Away

With two doubleheaders on the slate, the Toronto Blue Jays' minor league affiliates had a 5-5 record on Wednesday, racking up the wins in the lower levels with the DSL Blue Jays sweeping their twin bill.

Buffalo Bisons 3, Pawtucket Red Sox 5

The Buffalo Bisons matched the Pawtucket Red Sox in the number of hits they got (six) but couldn't match them in runs, losing 5-3. Jon Berti drove in two runs, going 1/3 with a double while Rowdy Tellez was 1/3 with a double, a walk and a run. Christian Lopes drove in the other run with a double.

Murphy Smith had a solid start, giving up two solo home runs among four hits over five innings and Chad Girodo took the loss, giving up two runs on a hit and a walk in 1/3 of an inning. Mike Bolsinger finished the game, giving up just a home run, but it was a three-run shot that drove in the two runners left on by Girodo. Still, Bolsinger mopped up the game well, striking out six in 2 2/3 innings of work.

Player of the Game: None

Roster Notes: Wil Browning was activated off the DL and John Stilson went on the DL in his place.

New Hampshire Fisher Cats 1, Binghamton Rumble Ponies 2

The New Hampshire Fisher Cats opened their doubleheader with the Binghamton Rumble Ponies, losing 2-1 in 10 innings. Thomas Pannone was excellent, allowing just one run on a solo home run among six hits with just one walk and six strikeouts over six innings. Dusty Isaacs provided three scoreless innings, striking out three and allowing a walk and a hit. Jose Fernandez took the loss, giving up a run on three hits and a walk in 2/3 of an inning.

Despite 12 hits, the offence could only come up with one run as all the hits were singles. Lourdes Gurriel and Harold Ramirez were 2/5 with Ramirez scoring the club's only run while Reese McGuire and Andrew Guillotte were both 2/4. Tim Lopes drove in the Fisher Cats' only run, going 1/3 with a walk.

Player of the Game: Thomas Pannone

New Hampshire Fisher Cats 2, Binghamton Rumble Ponies 3

The New Hampshire Fisher Cats rebounded to win the second half of the doubleheader with the Binghamton Rumble Ponies by a 3-2 score. Richard Urena was 2/4 while Anthony Alford was 0/2 but walked twice, stole a base and drove in a run. Derrick Loveless (1/2, R, RBI) and Lourdes Gurriel (0/2, RBI) each hit a sacrifice fly.

Francisco Rios got the start and went four innings, giving up just one unearned run on a hit and a walk with two strikeouts. Shane Dawson (Drayton Valley, Alta.) finished up with three innings, getting the win, giving up an unearned run on four hits and a walk with three strikeouts.

Player of the Game: Francisco Rios and Shane Dawson

Dunedin Blue Jays 7, Florida Fire Frogs 2

The Dunedin Blue Jays (67-61) got a solid all-around performance in a 7-2 win over the Florida Fire Frogs. Bo Bichette returned to the lineup, going 2/5 with two RBI and a stolen base but he also made an error in the field (one of four by the D-Jays). Juan Kelly was 2/3 with an RBI and a run but also an error while Michael De La Cruz was 1/4 with two RBI and a run. Edward Olivares was 1/3 with a walk and a run and Connor Panas (Toronto, Ont.) was 1/3 with a hit-by-pitch, two runs and an error.

Josh DeGraaf was excellent on the mound, going five innings and giving up just one unearned run on two hits and a walk with six strikeouts. Philip Walby gave up an unearned run on a hit in two innings and Zach Jackson struck out two, allowing a hit in the eighth. Jackson McClelland gave up two hits in the ninth, striking out one.

Player of the Game: Josh DeGraaf

Roster Notes: Patrick Murphy got a promotion to Dunedin from the Lansing Lugnuts and Tom Koehler was placed on the reserve list (with a report that he'll be activated on the Blue Jays' roster with Chris Rowley going down to the minors).

Lansing Lugnuts 2, Great Lakes Loons 7

The Lansing Lugnuts mustered just seven hits, losing to the Great Lakes Loons 7-2. Ridge Smith was 2/4 with a double, an RBI and a walk while Nick Sinay was 2/3 with an RBI. J.B. Woodman was 1/4 with a double.

Three pitchers made their Lansing debut on Wednesday with Dalton Rodriguez starting and giving up six runs on eight hits and three walks with two strikeouts over 4 2/3 innings. Jake Fishman gave up a run in the sixth on a solo home run after stranding two runners in the fifth and struck out three batters in 1 1/3 innings. Miguel Burgos struck out three, giving up two hits and two walks over two innings.

Player of the Game: Ridge Smith and Nick Sinay

Roster Notes: Patrick Murphy was sent to Dunedin and Dalton Rodriguez was promoted to Lansing from Vancouver.

Vancouver Canadians 1, Everett AquaSox 3

The Vancouver Canadians outhit the Everett AquaSox with seven hits to their four, but still lost, dropping their Wednesday night game 3-1. Riley Adams had three of the Canadians' seven hits, going 3/4 with two doubles and a run. Samad Taylor drove him in , going 1/4 with an RBI but struck out three times.

Juan Nunez took the loss, throwing six innings and limiting the AquaSox to just three hits but two were home runs as he allowed three runs (two earned) with one walk and eight strikeouts. Joe DiBenedetto finished the game off, allowing a hit and a walk over two innings and striking out a pair.

Player of the Game: Riley Adams

Roster Notes: Dalton Rodriguez was promoted to Lansing and Dany Jimenez was moved up to Vancouver from the GCL.

Bluefield Blue Jays 6, Kingsport Mets 4

The Bluefield Blue Jays opened their series with the Kingsport Mets by winning 6-4 and giving themselves a nice and tidy 40-20 record so far for the season. Despite the six runs, the Blue Jays had just four hits and took eight walks and took advantage of three errors for their win. McGregory Contreras had the biggest hit, a double, going 1/4 with a stolen base, while Kevin Smith drove in a run going 1/5 and Jesus Navarro was 1/3 with a run, two RBI and a walk. Ryan Noda took two walks, with an RBI while Chavez Young was 1/4 with a walk and a run and was caught stealing. Antony Fuentes was 0/2 with two walks and a run.

The Blue Jays got a great outing from Turner Larkins who went five innings, giving up a run on three hits with five strikeouts. Jordan Barrett got the win, despite giving up three runs (one earned) on five hits and two walks with four strikeouts in 3 1/3 innings and Ty Tice allowed a hit but stranded a runner in 2/3 of an inning to earn his 10th save.

Player of the Game: Turner Larkins

GCL Blue Jays 1, GCL Braves 2

The GCL Blue Jays dropped a tight game, losing 2-1 to the GCL Braves. D.J. Daniels led the offence's five hits by getting two of his own, going 2/3 with a double and a run. Otto Lopez was 1/4 with a double and Hagen Danner and D.J. Neal each had a single.

Felipe Castaneda was solid on the mound, giving up just one run on five hits with two walks and five strikeouts over five innings. Gaudy Ramirez held the Braves off the scoreboard over two innings, striking out a pair and Bobby Eveld took the loss, giving up a run on two hits and two walks in the eighth.

Player of the Game: D.J Daniels and Felipe Castaneda

Roster Notes: Yunior Hinojosa and Rafael Monsion were promoted to the GCL from the DSL and Dany Jimenez was sent up to Vancouver from the GCL.

DSL Blue Jays 14, DSL Padres 2

The DSL Blue Jays hammered the DSL Padres in their makeup of a game from August 8, beating them 14-2 in the first half of a doubleheader. Hector Guerrero hit his first professional home run, having a tremendous day, going 3/5 with five RBI, a stolen base and four runs. Yhon Perez was 1/1 with four walks and four runs while Andres Martinez and Hugo Cardona were both 1/3 with two walks and two runs with Martinez driving in a run. Victor Figuereo was 1/4 with a walk and two RBI and Kenny Mauricio was 1/2 with a walk and a run.

Luis Alvarez allowed both runs, giving up five hits in two innings and Jeison Contreras allowed just one hit in three innings, striking out two. Nicolas Medina struck out two in the sixth and Moises De La Cruz struck out one in the seventh.

Player of the Game: Hector Guerrero

Roster Notes: Yunior Hinojosa and Rafael Monsion were promoted to the GCL.

DSL Blue Jays 5, DSL Padres 1

The DSL Blue Jays completed the sweep of the DSL Padres with a 5-1 win and have just about sewn up first place in the DSL Baseball City division. Emanuel Vizcaino went 4 2/3 innings, giving up one unearned run on six hits and two walks with three strikeouts while Jhon Victorino got the win with 1 1/3 innings of two-hit, one-walk ball. Ronald Magdaniel pitched a 1-2-3 seventh.

Andres Martinez was 2/2 with a walk, an RBI and an outfield assist while Yhon Perez was 1/2 with a double, a walk and two RBI. Leonicio Ventura was 1/3 with a double and a walk, driving in a run and scoring one.

Player of the Game: Andres Martinez and Emanuel Vizcaino

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