Jay Blue: Alford, De La Cruz, Johnson, Oberholtzer, Orozco, Urena, Vicuna

Michael De La Cruz. Photo Credit: Jay Blue

August 6, 2017 Toronto Blue Jays Minor League Report
By Jay Blue
Blue Jays from Away

The Toronto Blue Jays' minor league affiliates had a great day, winning six out of their seven games with the only loss being the opening half of a double header for the New Hampshire Fisher Cats.

Buffalo Bisons 1, Lehigh Valley IronPigs 0

The Buffalo Bisons played a tough game with a tough strike zone but managed to find a run in the bottom of the 10th inning, beating the Lehigh Valley IronPigs 1-0. Both the Bisons and the IronPigs had trouble with plate umpire Ryan Wills's strike zone but starter Brett Oberholtzer didn't let it phase him as he worked six strong innings, getting in and out of jams all game long but didn't give up a run despite allowing five hits and three walks, striking out four. Chad Girodo worked a scoreless seventh and Jeff Beliveau came in for 1 2/3 innings, walking three but striking out two. Leonel Campos earned the win with 1 1/3 innings of scoreless ball.

Mike Ohlman delivered the game winning hit in the bottom of the 10th, capping off a 2/3 game in which he also walked twice. Jake Elmore was 3/5 and Gregorio Petit was also striking the ball well, going 2/4 with a double and a walk.

Player of the Game: Mike Ohlman and Brett Oberholtzer

Roster Notes: Chad Girodo was assigned to Buffalo from Dunedin and John Stilson was activated off the DL. Wil Browning was placed on the 7-day DL.

New Hampshire Fisher Cats 0, Richmond Flying Squirrels 5

In the first game of their doubleheader with the Richmond Flying Squirrels, the New Hampshire Fisher Cats were on the wrong end of a 5-0 score. The Fisher Cats had just two hits: a double from Jonathan Davis and a single from Tim Lopes who also stole a base.

Thomas Pannone, making his Fisher Cats debut, allowed five runs on six hits, including two home runs, and three walks with six strikeouts in 4 1/3 innings, taking the loss. Jose Fernandez struck out two in a perfect inning and Francisco Rios retired all five batters he faced to finish the game.

Player of the Game: None

New Hampshire Fisher Cats 5, Richmond Flying Squirrels 3

Sean Reid-Foley got the start in the second half of the doubleheader, helping the Fisher Cats to a 5-3 win over the Flying Squirrels of Richmond. Reid-Foley tossed 93 pitches, throwing six innings and giving up three runs (two earned) on seven hits (including a home run) and just one walk, striking out five along the way. Carlos Ramirez earned his third save, despite allowing two hits. He struck out two batters in the seventh and has yet to be tagged with an earned run all season.

Richard Urena broke out with three hits, going 3/4 with an RBI and a run while Anthony Alford was 2/4 with a double and two RBI. Lourdes Gurriel was 2/3 with a double and a run and Emilio Guerrero was 2/3 with a run. Reese McGuire returned with a 1/2 game that included a walk, a double, an RBI and a run while Gunnar Heidt was 2/2 with a walk, an RBI and a stolen base.

Player of the Game: Richard Urena and Anthony Alford

Dunedin Blue Jays 6, Charlotte Stone Crabs 3

The Dunedin Blue Jays have won eight of their last nine thanks to a 6-3 win over the Charlotte Stone Crabs on Sunday. Conor Fisk picked up the win, giving up three runs on five hits (including a home run) and three walks with three strikeouts over six innings. Alonzo Gonzalez walked one and gave up a hit, striking out one in two innings of scoreless relief and Jackson McClelland picked up his fifth save with a scoreless ninth.

Michael De La Cruz was 2/4 with a double, a home run, three RBI and two runs and Juan Kelly was 2/4 with an RBI. Jake Thomas also had two hits and Vladimir Guerrero (Montreal, Que.) pushed his batting average to .300 with a 1/2 game that included a double, two walks and two runs.

Player of the Game: Michael De La Cruz

Roster Notes: Tayler Saucedo was activated from the temporarily inactive list and Chad Girodo was assigned back to Buffalo.

Lansing Lugnuts 5, Dayton Dragons 3

The Lansing Lugnuts also needed extra innings and, like the Buffalo Bisons, they too won in 10 innings, beating the Dayton Dragons 5-3. The Lugnuts had nine hits but it was just four players who accounted for all of them. Rodrigo Orozco was 3/5 with a home run (his first of the year) in the top of the 10th, two RBI and two runs. J.B. Woodman also hit a home run (his sixth), going 2/4 with the solo blast.

Patrick Murphy was strong in his start, tossing six innings of two-run ball, allowing four hits and two walks with four strikeouts. Connor Eller allowed just one hit and one walk over two innings with one strikeout and Nick Hartman got the win despite giving up the tying run in the ninth, blowing the save but giving up just the one run over two innings with three strikeouts.

Player of the Game: Rodrigo Orozco

Vancouver Canadians 5, Hillsboro Hops 3

The Vancouver Canadians scored three runs in the eighth inning and another in the ninth for good measure, defeating the Hillsboro Hops 5-3. The Canadians amassed 13 hits, getting two each from Kevin Vicuna (2/4, 2B, BB, R), Kacy Clemens (2/5, RBI), David Jacob (2/5, RBI, R), Logan Warmoth (2/4, 2B, 2 RBI, R) and Cullen Large (2/3, RBI). Reggie Pruitt was 1/5 with a triple and Riley Adams was 1/4 with a double and a run.

Colton Laws got the start, giving up two runs in two innings, allowing two hits and striking out three. Dalton Rodriguez threw five strong innings, allowing an unearned run on three hits and three walks with one strikeout to pick up the win and William Ouellette threw the last two innings without allowing a runner, getting his seventh save.

Player of the Game: Kevin Vicuna, Logan Warmoth and Dalton Rodriguez

Bluefield Blue Jays 8, Elizabethton Twins 3

The Bluefield Blue Jays got a solid win against the Elizabethton Twins, beating them 8-3 on Sunday and taking advantage of four Elizabethton errors. Catcher Reilly Johnson led the offence, going 2/4 with two runs and a stolen base while Yorman Rodriguez was 1/4 with a walk and a run. Chavez Young was 1/5 with a triple and a run and Samad Taylor drove in a run with a 1/4 game, scoring as well. Brandon Grudzielanek was 1/3 with a walk and an RBI and Jesus Severino was 0/1 but walked three times.

Randy Pondler gave up all three runs (two earned) on four hits and two walks with three strikeouts in four innings. Kelyn Jose got the win, going two hitless innings, walking one and striking out two while Mitch McKown, Tyler Olander and Miguel Burgos each threw a scoreless inning.

Player of the Game: Reilly Johnson

GCL Blue Jays

Scheduled Off Day

DSL Blue Jays

Scheduled Off Day

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