Jay Blue: Adams, Castillo, Guerrero, Kelly, Pompey, Smith

Right-hander Maximo Castillo pitched five shutout innings for the Bluefield Blue Jays on Friday. Photo Credit: Jay Blue

June 30, 2017 Toronto Blue Jays Minor League Report
By Jay Blue
Blue Jays from Away

With the New Hampshire Fisher Cats rained out on Friday, the rest of the Toronto Blue Jays' affiliates posted a 4-3 record in seven games.

Buffalo Bisons 1, Syracuse Chiefs 8

The struggling Buffalo Bisons opened up their series at home against the Syracuse Chiefs with an 8-1 loss on Friday. T.J. House allowed six runs on nine hits over six innings while Wil Browning tossed two scoreless frames to follow. John Stilson allowed the final two runs in the ninth inning, giving up three hits.

The Bisons had only three hits including a double from Gregorio Petit and a triple from Raffy Lopez.

Player of the Game: None

Roster Notes: The Blue Jays released catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia and optioned Chris Smith back to Buffalo.

New Hampshire Fisher Cats, Trenton Thunder

Game postponed due to rain.

Dunedin Blue Jays 9, Daytona Tortugas 5

The Dunedin Blue Jays scored nine runs and then withstood a late charge to beat the Daytona Tortugas 9-5. Juan Kelly, playing third base, had a huge game, going 3/3 with a walk, a home run (in his second consecutive game), four RBI and two runs while Cavan Biggio was 3/5 with a triple, two RBI and two runs. Josh Almonte also had a triple, going 2/3 with a walk and Lane Thomas was on twice, going 1/3 with a walk, a sacrifice fly, an RBI and two runs. Dalton Pompey (Mississauga, Ont.) started again, playing DH, and was 1/2 with a walk and two runs. Lourdes Gurriel came in for him and was 1/2.

Conor Fisk had a solid start, giving up just one run on five hits and three walks in 5 1/3 innings, striking out four. Jackson McClelland followed and his 1 2/3 innings was only marred by a hit batter as he struck out two. Adonys Cardona allowed four runs on four hits and a walk in 1 1/3 innings and Ryan Cook came in to finish the game, getting the final two outs.

Player of the Game: Juan Kelly

Roster Note: Bradley Jones was placed on the 7-day DL.

Lansing Lugnuts 6, South Bend Cubs 4

Bo Bichette only had one hit for the Lansing Lugnuts (40-35) but the club got big games from some other big names in a 6-4 win over the South Bend Cubs. Vladimir Guerrero went 3/5 with a run and Ridge Smith was 3/4 with three RBI. Yeltsin Gudino was 2/4 and Javier Hernandez was 2/4 with an RBI. Also on the two-hit train was Edward Olivares who was 2/4 with a double, two runs, a stolen base, a hit-by-pitch and two assists from the outfield.

Andy Ravel tossed seven strong innings despite getting himself into trouble with runners on throughout the entire game. Ravel allowed two runs on eight hits and one walk and struck out only one batter. Juliandry Higuera allowed two more runs in the eighth inning and Geno Encina picked up his second save with a one-walk, one-hit ninth.

Player of the Game: Ridge Smith, Vladimir Guerrero, Jr. and Edward Olivares

Roster Notes: The Lugnuts placed 1B Christian Williams on the DL and activated Andy Ravel.

Vancouver Canadians 1, Eugene Emeralds 2

The Vancouver Canadians mustered just two hits in their 2-1 loss to the Eugene Emeralds on Friday afternoon. Riley Adams had both hits, going 2/3 with a double, a walk and the club's only RBI. Brock Lundquist walked and scored and also had two outfield assists.

Wilfri Aleton threw five scoreless innings, allowing three hits and three walks with two strikeouts. Donnie Sellers had two strong innings out of the bullpen with a hit and a walk against, striking out four. Justin Dillon blew the save and took the loss, allowing two runs (one earned) on two hits with a strikeout in the eighth and Orlando Pascual retired the side in the ninth in order.

Player of the Game: Riley Adams and Wilfri Aleton

Bluefield Blue Jays 2, Pulaski Yankees 0

The Bluefield Blue Jays got some stellar pitching in a 2-0 shutout win over the Pulaski Yankees. Maximo Castillo tossed five scoreless innings, allowing five hits and a walk with four strikeouts while Joe DiBenedetto earned the save, throwing the last four innings and dominating the Yankees, giving up just one hit and one walk with seven strikeouts.

Kevin Smith (2/5, 2 R), Ryan Noda (2/5) and Yorman Rodriguez (2/5, 2 RBI, SB, CS) had two hits each and Francisco Rodriguez (1/3, BB, 2B), Tanner Kirwer (Sherwood Park, Alta.) (1/3, BB) and Jesus Navarro (1/4) had a hit each.

Player of the Game: Maximo Castillo and Joe DiBenedetto

GCL Blue Jays 2, GCL Tigers East 1

In another low-scoring game, the GCL Blue Jays beat the GCL Tigers East club 2-1. Otto Lopez accounted for two of the club's five hits, scoring a run. Joseph Reyes (0/3, BB, RBI) and Hagen Danner (0/2, RBI, SF) each had an RBI.

Joi Concepcion made his GCL debut (after starting the season in the DSL) with five scoreless frames, giving up only three hits and striking out five. Juan Meza allowed a run in the sixth and Connor Law tossed two scoreless innings, giving up a hit and a walk, striking out one. Jonathan Cheshire earned the save, walking one in the ninth.

Player of the Game: Joi Concepcion

DSL Blue Jays 5, DSL Mariners 7

The DSL Blue Jays fell to the DSL Mariners 7-5 in Dominican Summer League action. Yhon Perez had another strong game, driving the offence with two singles and a triple and three RBI. Andres Martinez also had three hits, driving in a run. Hugo Cardona was 2/4 with a run and Rafael Lantigua was 1/2 with three walks, three runs and a triple.

Naswell Paulino allowed just one run on four hits and a walk in 3 1/3 innings and Juan Diaz added 1 2/3 scoreless frames with three hits allowed. Yohandy Martir gave up four runs (just one earned), getting one out and Juan Jimenez inherited two runners but allowed both to score, walking two in 2/3 of an inning. Geremy Jimenez gave up another run in the seventh on two hits and a walk and Brayan Mejia tossed the eighth and ninth, giving up a run on two hits and a walk with one strikeout.

Player of the Game: Yhon Perez, Rafael Lantigua and Andres Martinez

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