July 25, 2018 Toronto Blue Jays Minor League Report
By Jay Blue
Blue Jays from Away

With the rookie-class Bluefield Blue Jays playing a doubleheader, the Toronto Blue Jays' affiliates had nine games on the schedule but won only three on Wednesday night.

Buffalo Bisons 2, Louisville Bats 6

The triple-A Buffalo Bisons got out to an early lead but the longball struck against Thomas Pannone and the Bisons fell to the Louisville Bats 6-2.

Former Blue Jays minor leaguer Justin Nicolino picked up the win, holding the Bisons to just two runs with Anthony Alford going 3-for-4 with a solo home run in the second inning and an outfield assist and Rowdy Tellez was 2-for-4 with a stolen base. Dalton Pompey (Mississauga, Ont.) was on base three times, going 1-for-2 with a double, two walks and a run.

Pannone allowed all six runs, on nine hits (including two home runs) and one walk with four strikeouts over five innings. Conor Fisk tossed a scoreless sixth, striking out two and Claudio Custodio added two scoreless innings to his resume, giving up a hit and striking out one.

L: Thomas Pannone (0-2)
HR: Anthony Alford (5)

Roster Notes: Jeason Leblebijian was activated off the DL.

Player of the Game: Anthony Alford

New Hampshire Fisher Cats 5, Reading Fightin Phils 2

Tayler Saucedo was fired up for late-morning action as the double-A New Hampshire Fisher Cats scored three in the eighth inning to beat the Reading Fightin Phils 5-2.

Saucedo went six innings, giving up two runs on six hits (including two solo home runs) with two strikeouts. Dusty Isaacs went 1 2/3 innings, striking out three and Travis Bergen earned his fifth save, giving up a pair of hits and striking out a pair over 1 1/3 innings.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (Montreal, Que.) had a pair of singles, going 2-for-4 with a run while Harold Ramirez continues to swing a hot bat, going 2-for-4 with an RBI. Cavan Biggio was 1-for-4 with a walk and his 21st home run of the year, driving in two and scoring twice. Eduard Pinto was 1-for-2 with a walk and a stolen base and Santiago Espinal was 1-for-3 with a walk and an RBI.

W: Dusty Isaacs (3-2)
S: Travis Bergen (5)
HR: Cavan Biggio (21)

Player of the Game: Cavan Biggio

Dunedin Blue Jays 2, Lakeland Flying Tigers 8

The class-A Advanced Dunedin Blue Jays continued to struggle with the Lakeland Flying Tigers, losing 8-2.

Maverik Buffo provided a quality start, allowing three runs on eight hits in six innings, striking out eight before Jonathan Cheshire allowed a hit and struck one batter out in the seventh. Jake Fishman ran into trouble in the eighth, giving up four runs on four hits in 1/3 of an inning and William Ouellette allowed both inherited runners to score, giving up a run of his own on three hits in 2/3 of an inning.

Joshua Palacios had a pair of hits, going 2-for-4 with a double while Kevin Smith was 1-for-3 with a walk and two stolen bases. Alberto Mineo was 1-for-4 with a double and a run and Riley Adams was 1-for-3 with a walk and a run.

L: Maverik Buffo (2-2)

Player of the Game: Joshua Palacios and Maverik Buffo

Lansing Lugnuts 4, South Bend Cubs 5

The low-A Lansing Lugnuts and South Bend Cubs spent six innings locked in a pitching duel that waiting for one team to flinch first. The Lugnuts capitalized on some runs in the seventh inning, scoring three times, but the Cubs scored four times in the eighth. The Lugnuts tied it in the ninth but it was the Cubs who walked it off in the 11th for a 5-4 win over the Lugnuts.

Brandon Grudzielanek (2-for-5, 2 R), Norberto Obeso (2-for-4, 2B, BB, 3 RBI) and Chavez Young (2-for-4, BB, 2B, RBI, R) each had two hits while Ryan Gold was 1-for-4 with a double and a walk and Samad Taylor was 1-for-3 with a triple and a walk. Ryan Noda walked twice and scored once.

Maximo Castillo was excellent, giving up just two hits and four walks in six scoreless innings, striking out three. Emerson Jimenez got through the seventh unscathed but allowed four runs on a hit and three walks in the eighth, getting just one out in the inning before Brayden Bouchey (White Rock, B.C.) came on to toss 2 2/3 scoreless innings, walking three and striking out two. Andrew Deramo came on for the 11th, giving up an unearned run on two hits with a walk and two strikeouts.

L: Andrew Deramo (2-3)

Player of the Game: Maximo Castillo

Vancouver Canadians 5, Everett AquaSox 6

The class-A Short-Season Vancouver Canadians also went into extra innings, ultimately losing 6-5 to the Everett AquaSox in 10 frames.

Bryan Lizardo had a strong game, going 2-for-3 with a home run, a walk and three RBI. Tanner Kirwer (Sherwood Park, Alta.) was 3-for-4 with a double, an RBI and a stolen base while Christopher Bec was 2-for-4 with a run and Griffin Conine was 2-for-5 with an RBI and a run. Mc Gregory Contreras was 1-for-5 but doubled and scored twice.

Sean Wymer starter, giving up two runs on two hits and three walks with a strikeout in three innings before Joey Murray gave up just a hit and a walk in two innings striking out three. Justin Watts gave up three runs in his inning of relief, allowing four hits and a walk despite striking out three. Denis Diaz provided two scoreless innings, giving up a hit and striking out two and Fitz Stadler took the loss, allowing the unearned run in the 10th, tossing 1 1/3 innings with two hits and a walk, striking out two.

L: Fitz Stadler (0-1)
HR: Bryan Lizardo (4)

Player of the Game: Bryan Lizardo

Bluefield Blue Jays 6, Bristol Pirates 3

The rookie-class Bluefield Blue Jays opened their doubleheader with the Bristol Pirates by beating them 6-3 on the backs of two home runs.

Alejandro Kirk was 1-for-3 with a solo blast and Patrick Morris was 1-for-3 with a two-run shot. Luis De Los Santos was 2-for-3 with a run while Cal Stevenson was on base twice, going 1-for-3 with a triple, a walk and two runs. Davis Schneider drove in a run, going 1-for-3 with a double.

Felipe Cataneda started, going five innings and giving up just a run on two hits and two walks with a strikeout to get the win. Andy McGuire allowed a hit and struck out two in the sixth. Joe DiBenedetto walked the first two batters he faced, coming out of the game but Brad Wilson allowed both runners to score, giving up a hit as he came on in the seventh to finish the game.

W: Felipe Castaneda (1-0)
HR: Alejandro Kirk (6), Patrick Morris (2)

Player of the Game: Felipe Castaneda, Alejandro Kirk and Patrick Morris

Bluefield Blue Jays 2, Bristol Pirates 5

The Bluefield Blue Jays split their doubleheader, losing 5-2 in the second game to the Bristol Pirates. Nathanael Perez was cruising until the fifth inning and he was ultimately charged with all five runs the Pirates scored (four earned) on six hits (including a home run) with two walks and three strikeouts in 4 1/3 innings. Nicolas Medina pitched 1 2/3 perfect innings and Brennan Price gave up two hits and two walks in the seventh but got two double plays behind him to keep the Pirates from scoring.

The Blue Jays had just four hits (and seven walks) with Luis De Los Santos going 1-for-2 with a double, two walks and two RBI. Jose Theran was 1-for-2 with a walk and Dominic Abbadessa was 1-for-3 with a walk and a run.

L: Nathanael Perez (2-1)

Player of the Game: Luis De Los Santos

GCL Blue Jays 3, GCL Yankees West 4

The GCL Yankees West built a lead early and, despite a late home run by Addison Barger, they hung on to beat the GCL Blue Jays 4-3.

Barger was 1-for-5 with two RBI on the back of his home run but Steward Berroa, hitting at the top of the lineup was the offensive engine for the club, going 3-for-5 with a double, two runs and a stolen base. Jordan Groshans was 2-for-5 with a double and an RBI and both Jonelvy Molina and Francisco Ruiz each hit a double, going 1-for-4.

Juan Diaz allowed all four runs, giving up five hits and two walks over 3 2/3 innings, striking out six. Franniel Polanco pitched 1 1/3 innings before Ryan Thurston shut things down for an inning and Luis Alvarez did the same with each of them striking out one. Meliton Reyes struck out three in two perfect innings.

L: Juan Diaz (1-1)
HR: Addison Barger (2)

Player of the Game: Steward Berroa

DSL Blue Jays 4, DSL White Sox 3

Despite allowing the DSL White Sox to out-hit them 10 to four, the DSL Blue Jays put four runs on the board, beating the Sox 4-3. Jhon Solarte had two of the four hits, going 2-for-4 with a double, a stolen base and a run while Kenny Mauricio and Pedro Hurtado each had a single with Mauricio stealing two bases.

Lazaro Estrada was dominant again, tossing seven scoreless innings, allowing five hits and striking out five. Jeison Contreras allowed three runs in the eighth, giving up four hits and Pedro Guzman allowed just one hit in the ninth, earning the save.

W: Jeison Contreras (2-2)
S: Pedro Guzman

Player of the Game: Lazaro Estrada

Jay's Jay of the Day: Anthony Alford

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