June 29, 2018 Toronto Blue Jays Minor League Report
By Jay Blue
Blue Jays from Away

The Toronto Blue Jays' minor league organization had some epic offensive days as well as some strong pitching performances in a 4-4 overall day.

Buffalo Bisons 4, Syracuse Chiefs 5

The triple-A Buffalo Bisons let victory slip away after giving up four runs in the bottom of the eighth, losing to the Syracuse Chiefs 5-4.

Murphy Smith had his best start of the year, putting the Bisons in good position to pick up the win, leaving after five innings with just one run allowed on three hits with two strikeouts. Conor Fisk went two more innings without getting into trouble but when he came out for the eighth inning, he allowed a single, struck a batter out, then gave up two more singles and a walk before he came out of the game. Coming in the with the bases loaded, Justin Shafer allowed all three inherited runners to score, leaving Fisk charged with all four runs on four hits and a walk with two strikeouts in 2 1/3 innings. Shafer didn't give up a run of his own but walked three in 2/3 of an inning.

Anthony Alford went 3-for-5 with a double, a home run and two RBI while Lourdes Gurriel Jr. was 2-for-5 with a double, an RBI and a run. Roemon Fields was on twice, picking up a single, a walk, two runs and a stolen base. Rowdy Tellez was 1-for-3 with two walks and an RBI.

L: Conor Fisk (2-2)
HR: Anthony Alford (3)

Roster Notes: Darnell Sweeney's contract was selected by the Blue Jays.

Player of the Game: Anthony Alford

New Hampshire Fisher Cats 6, Trenton Thunder 7

Despite three hits from Bo Bichette, the double-A New Hampshire Fisher Cats lost 7-6 to the Trenton Thunder in 10 innings.

Bichette was 3-for-5 and, like Anthony Alford for Buffalo, was a triple short of the cycle, hitting his eighth home run along with his 21st double, driving in two runs and scoring three times. Harold Ramirez was 2-for-3 with a home run, two RBI and a stolen base while Juan Kelly was 2-for-4. Cavan Biggio was 0-for-3 but walked twice and Connor Panas was 1-for-4 with a walk, a double and a run.

Justin Dillon had another rough start, allowing five runs on six hits and two walks with four strikeouts over six innings. Dusty Isaacs allowed a run on two hits with two strikeouts in 1 2/3 and Zach Jackson gave up just a hit in 1 1/3 innings, striking out two. Travis Bergen allowed the final run in the 10th and it was unearned, on a hit and a walk in 1/3 of an inning.

L: Travis Bergen (1-1)
HR: Harold Ramirez (4), Bo Bichette (8)

Player of the Game: Bo Bichette

Dunedin Blue Jays 11, Bradenton Marauders 1

In a fairly uncharacteristic offensive explosion, the class-A Advanced Dunedin Blue Jays broke out for 11 runs on 17 hits to beat the Bradenton Marauders 11-1 behind Tayler Saucedo's excellent outing.

Saucedo went seven innings, allowing just a run on three hits and a walk with seven strikeouts. William Ouellette allowed a hit in the eighth and Jonathan Cheshire allowed a hit in the ninth with one strikeout.

The attack was led by Eduard Pinto who went 3-for-4 with an RBI and a run (and was caught stealing) before being subbed for in the eighth inning by Yeltsin Gudino who was 1-for-1. Kevin Smith also had three hits, scoring twice, driving in a run and stealing two bases. Joshua Palacios was on base three times, going 2-for-4 with a walk, an RBI and two runs but was caught stealing. David Jacob drove in two runs, going 2-for-4 with a double and two runs scored and Alberto Mineo was 2-for-5 with two RBI and a run. John La Prise had two singles and two runs.

W: Taylor Saucedo (6-4)

Player of the Game: Tayler Saucedo

Lansing Lugnuts 3, Great Lakes Loons 1

The low-A Lansing Lugnuts had another great night on the mound, allowing just one run again as the the defeated the hapless Great Lakes Loons by a 3-1 score.

Starter Maverik Buffo went seven scoreless frames, allowing only six hits and a walk with six strikeouts to pick up his ninth win of the season. Dalton Rodriguez tossed a scoreless eighth, striking out one and Brayden Bouchey (Vancouver, B.C.) gave up an unearned run in the ninth, allowing a hit and a walk with one strikeout.

Kevin Vicuna was 2-for-4 with an RBI (and an error) and Jesus Navarro was 2-for-4 with a double and a run. Brock Lundquist was on twice, going 1-for-3 with a walk and Brandon Grudzielanek drove in a run, going 1-for-3 with a sacrifice fly.

W: Maverik Buffo (9-2)
S: Brayden Bouchey (1)

Roster Notes: The Lugnuts put Matt Shannon on the DL and assigned pitcher Graham Spraker to the GCL for a rehab assignment. Dalton Rodriguez and Reilly Johnson were promoted from Vancouver.

Player of the Game: Maverik Buffo

Vancouver Canadians 11, Salem-Keizer Volcanoes 1

The class-A Short Season Vancouver Canadians also exploded for an unlikely double-digit night for runs, scoring 11 times on 16 hits while the pitching staff two-hit the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes in an 11-1 victory.

Brett Wright, a 26th-round pick in the 2018 draft hit his first professional home run, going 2-for-4 with two RBI and two runs while Bryan Lizardo was 4-for-4 with a double, three RBI and three runs, adding his first stolen base of the year. Griffin Conine was 3-for-5 with a triple and two RBI, scoring twice and Brnadon Polizzi was 2-for-4 with a triple and an RBI. Nick Podkul came out of the game after one at bat and Mc Gregory Contreras was 2-for-4 with two runs subbing for him. Vinny Capra was 1-for-4 with a double, a walk, an RBI and a run.

Jordan Barrett allowed just a solo home run despite walking five batters in 4 2/3 innings, striking out eight. Will McAffer (North Vancouver, B.C.) got the win with 3 1/3 innings of perfect relief, striking out three. Justin Watts finished the game, giving up a hit and striking out two.

W: Will McAffer (3-0)
HR: Brett Wright (1)

Roster Notes: RHP Dalton Rodriguez and C Reilly Johnson were promoted from Vancouver to Lansing.

Player of the Game: Bryan Lizardo

Bluefield Blue Jays 21, Greeneville Reds 11

In a nine-inning game that took almost four hours, the Rookie-ball Bluefield Blue Jays demolished the Greeneville Reds by a 21-11 score.

Otto Lopez had five of the Blue Jays' 20 hits, going 5-for-6 with two doubles, a triple, three RBI and two runs, adding a stolen base. D.J. Neal was 3-for-7 with a double, two triples, three RBI and two runs and Cal Stevenson was on base five times, going 1-for-3 with four walks, a stolen base, an RBI and five runs. Dominic Abbadessa was 2-for-4 with three walks, scoring three times. Alejandro Kirk drove in four runs, going 2-for-5 with a double, a walk and two runs while John Aiello was 2-for-4 with two walks, his first professional home run, two runs and three RBI. Patrick Morris also had two hits and a walk, driving in one and scoring twice while Luis De Los Santos also hit a home run, going 2-for-5 with a walk, a triple and three runs.

On the pitching side, things weren't so rosy as Felipe Castaneda lasted three innings, striking out four but allowing four runs (two earned) on six hits and three walks. Josh Almonte had a strong outing, striking out three in two innings. Joe DiBenedetto gave up five runs (four earned) in 1/3 of an inning, allowing two hits and two walks with a strikeout and Mike Pascoe allowed a solo home run of his own but also allowed his two inherited runners from DiBenedetto to score, giving up one hit and one walk with one run in 1 2/3 innings, striking out two. Adams Cuevas finished the game, pitching the final two innings, allowing a run on two hits with two strikeouts.

W: Mike Pascoe (2-0)
HR: Luis De Los Santos (4), John Aiello (1)

Player of the Game: Otto Lopez

GCL Blue Jays 4, GCL Phillies West 6

The GCL Blue Jays had a three-run lead heading into the bottom of the seventh but the Phillies West rallied for five in the seventh and defeated the Jays 6-4.

Steward Berroa had two hits, going 2-for-5 with a run while Leonardo Jimenez was 2-for-4 with a double and a walk, scoring twice. Jordan Groshans returned to action, going 1-for-3 with a double and two RBI but didn't last the whole game, coming out for Hector Guerrero. Yorman Rodriguez was 1-for-4 with an RBI on a sacrifice fly and Addison Barger was 1-for-3 with a double and a walk.

Graham Spraker, rehabbing from Lansing, went two innings, allowing two hits and Meliton Reyes allowed a run on three hits in the third. Rafael Monsion walked one and gave up a single over three innings but got into trouble in his fourth, giving up a double, a single, a home run and a double to the first four batters he faced in the seventh inning, coming out of the game with three runs allowed (he was later charged for a fourth) on five hits with one walk and a strikeout. Gaudy Ramirez allowed a run of his own on a hit and a walk with one strikeout and Jackson Rees walked one in the eighth.

L: Rafael Monsion (1-1)

Roster Notes: Graham Spraker was sent to the GCL for rehab.

Player of the Game: Leonardo Jimenez and Steward Berroa

DSL Blue Jays 4, DSL D-backs1 9

The DSL D-backs1 put up eight runs in the sixth inning, which were more than enough to defeat the DSL Blue Jays 9-4. The D-backs1 ran roughshod over catcher Jesus Hernandez, stealing eight bases without being caught as Hernandez had a rough day at the plate as well, going 0-for-4 with two strikeouts. Miguel Hiraldo was 2-for-5 with two RBI and a run and Erickvi Celedonio was 2-for-4 with a walk and an RBI and each stole a base. Jose Rivas was 1-for-4 with a walk and an RBI.

Lazaro Estrada pitched five very strong innings, allowing just two hits and three walks with eight strikeouts. Moises De La Cruz walked two batters and hit one, leaving the bases loaded after he was pulled without getting an out. William Gonzalez took the loss, allowing all three of De La Cruz's runners to score and gave up five of his own (three earned) on two hits and three walks in 2/3 of an inning and Pedro Padilla stranded a runner in 1 1/3 innings, striking out one. Christian Reyes allowed an unearned run on two walks in one inning, striking out two and Jose Brito walked one in the ninth, striking out one.

L: William Gonzalez (1-2)

Player of the Game: Lazaro Estrada

Jay's Jay of the Day: Otto Lopez

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