April 23, 2017 Toronto Blue Jays Minor League Report
By Jay Blue
Blue Jays from Away
The Blue Jays’ minor league teams had a rare clean sweep, winning all four of their games on Sunday, most in very convincing fashion. In addition to the four wins, the clubs blasted 12 home runs in total.

Buffalo Bisons 5, Columbus Clippers 4
The Bisons opened up a three-game lead on their three closest rivals in the International League North division and hold the best record in the league after defeating the Clippers 5-4. The ball was flying out of Coca-Cola Field in Buffalo on Sunday afternoon as the two teams combined for six home runs including four from The Herd. Mike Ohlman went deep twice, going 3/4 with three RBI and a walk while Jason Leblebijian also had three hits including a solo home run in the second inning and a stolen base. Dwight Smith, Jr. also hit a home run, a solo shot, and was 2/4 with a walk and a stolen base. Christian Lopes was 2/4 with a run and a stolen base.

Brett Oberholtzer held the Clippers to three runs over seven innings, giving up six hits and a walk with four strikeouts. Wil Browning blew the save but picked up the win, giving up a olo home run in 1 1/3 innings while Murphy Smith earned his second save, finishing the game with two strikeouts and a walk.

Player of the Game: Mike Ohlman and Jason Leblebijian

Roster Notes: Wil Browning was activated off the temporarily inactive list.

New Hampshire Fisher Cats 7, Hartford Yard Goats 2
Sean Reid-Foley got his first win in Double-A and Anthony Alford continued his torrid hitting as the Fisher Cats soundly trounced the Yard Goats. Reid-Foley was much stronger in this outing, using 77 pitches to throw five innings and hold the Yard Goats to one run on three hits and three walks with five strikeouts. Alonzo Gonzalez gave up a solo home run but struck out three in 1 2/3 innings and Blake McFarland kept his ERA at 0.00 in his second outing, tossing 1 1/3 innings, walking one and striking out a pair. Jose Fernandez finished the game, walking three in his inning of work but not allowing a hit or run.

Alford had a monster game, going 2/4 with a home run, three RBI and a stolen base. Tim Lopes was 1/2 but walked twice, drove in a run, scored three times and stole a base. Roemon Fields also stole a pair of bases, going 0/2 with a walk.

Player of the Game: Anthony Alford

Dunedin Blue Jays 7, Fort Myers Miracle 1
Dunedin (9-9) made Florida Auto Exchange Stadium its launching pad, going one better than their big brothers in Buffalo and hitting five home runs on the way to a 7-1 victory over the Miracle. Danny Jansen was only 1/4 but hit his first home run of the year, as did Juan Kelly who was 1/3 with a walk and two runs scored. Lane Thomas was 2/4 with his second home run of the year and two RBI while Andrew Guillotte also hit his second, going 1/3 with a walk, two runs and an outfield assist. Max Pentecost hit his third of the year, going 2/4 with two RBI. Deiferson Barreto was also 2/4, hitting a double.

J.P. Howell made his second rehab appearance for the D-Jays, striking out the side in a perfect first inning. Jordan Romano came on to throw 4 1/3 innings of scoreless ball, allowing three hits and two walks and striking out six for the win. Connor Eller went 1 2/3 innings of hitless ball while Josh DeGraaf allowed the Miracle’s only run in his inning. Andrew Case finished the game with a scoreless ninth, allowing one hit.

Player of the Game: Jordan Romano, Max Pentecost and Lane Thomas

Lansing Lugnuts 11, Bowling Green Hot Rods 2
The Sluggin’ Lugs reappeared as Lansing scored 11 more runs on the way to an 11-2 victory over Bowling Green. Four different Lugnuts had two hits each including Vladimir Guerrero, who was 2/3 with a double, two walks, two RBI and two runs. Bradley Jones went deep again for his sixth home run of the year (tying him for the league lead), going 2/4 with a walk and three RBI. Ryan Hissey also hit a home run, going 2/4 with three RBI, a walk, and two runs while Nash Knight was 2/4 with a walk and a run. Bo Bichette also contributed, going 1/5 with a double and two RBI while Jake Thomas was 1/1 with three walks and an outfield assist.

Justin Maese was on the hill and had his best outing of the year, going 5 1/3 innings with just one unearned run allowed on five hits and a walk with three strikeouts and a seven-to-three groundout-to-flyout ratio. Chris Hall made his Lansing debut, giving up a run on three hits and three walks in two innings with two strikeouts. Philip Walby threw 2/3 of an inning, giving up a hit and striking out one while Zach Jackson walked one but kept the Hot Rods off the scoreboard, striking out one in a scoreless ninth.

Player of the Game: Ryan Hissey and Bradley Jones

Roster Notes: Geno Encina and Nick Hartman are both on the Lugnuts’ suspended list after their roles in a bench-clearing brawl a week ago.

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The 2017 Toronto Blue Jays Minor League Handbook is now available! Check out the Handbook page for more information!