Jay Blue: Alford, Kirk, Logue, Moreno, Sopko

Gabriel Moreno belted his fifth home run of the season for the low-A Lansing Lugnuts on Saturday. Photo: Jay Blue

June 8, 2019 Toronto Blue Jays Minor League Report

By Jay Blue

Blue Jays from Away

The Blue Jays' affiliates went a clean 5-0 on Saturday.

Buffalo Bisons 9, Lehigh Valley IronPigs (PHI) 2

The triple-A Buffalo Bisons got strong pitching and had their offence take flight as they beat the Lehigh Valley IronPigs for the second straight game, 9-2.

Three Bisons had two-hit games with Socrates Brito going 2/5 with two RBI and two runs and Patrick Kivlehan going 2/4 with a walk, a double, three RBI and a run. Anthony Alford was on base four times, going 2/3 with a double, two walks, an RBI, a run and stolen base. Andy Burns went yard for the second game in a row, going 1/4 with a solo home run in the eighth. Jonathan Davis was 1/5 with a double and a run while Richard Urena was 1/5 with an RBI, Jordan Patterson was 1/3 with a walk and two runs and Michael De La Cruz was 1/3 with a walk and a run.

Andrew Sopko picked up his first win with the Bisons, going five innings and giving up a solo home run among five hits with two walks and four strikeouts. Zach Jackson threw two scoreless innings, allowing a hit and a walk with one strikeout and Corey Copping allowed a solo home run in two innings, giving up two hits and striking out one.

W: Andrew Sopko (1-2)

HR: Andy Burns (5)

Player of the Game: Anthony Alford

New Hampshire Fisher Cats 5, Richmond Flying Squirrels (SF) 4

The double-A New Hampshire Fisher Cats slid off with a 5-4 win over the Richmond Flying Squirrels after Santiago Espinal stole home in the bottom of the 10th.

Espinal was 1/4 with a double and two runs, stealing home for the winning run. Joshua Palacios was 2/3 with a double, two walks, an RBI, a stolen base and a run while Forrest Wall was 2/5 with a run. Alberto Mineo was 1/3 with a double, an RBI and a run, hitting a sac fly and Brock Lundquist was 1/2 with a walk.

Zach Logue had another strong start, going seven innings and giving up just one unearned run on five hits and three walks with eight strikeouts while Danny Young blew the save, allowing three runs on two hits (including a home run) and three walks in 1 2/3 innings. Bryan Baker got the win, stranding two inherited runners from Young, walking one and striking out two in 1 1/3 innings without giving up a run of his own.

W: Bryan Baker (2-3)

Player of the Game: Zach Logue

Dunedin Blue Jays 6, Bradenton Marauders (PIT) 4

The class-A Advanced Dunedin Blue Jays were down early, giving up four runs in the first but rallied for four runs of their own in the top of the third and one more in the fourth to take a lead that the bullpen secured, beating the Bradenton Marauders 6-4.

Nick Allgeyer had his worst outing of the season, giving up four runs on six hits in one inning, striking out one before Mike Ellenbest contributed three scoreless frames, striking out three, walking one and giving up two hits. Jackson Rees allowed two hits and two walks with four strikeouts over three innings in his Dunedin debut, also picking off a runner, and Brad Wilson struck out three in two perfect innings.

"Captain" Alejandro Kirk was on base four times, going 2/3 with two walks, two RBI and a run. Bo Bichette walked three times, going 1/2 with two runs and Logan Warmoth had the exact same line, walking three times, going 1/2 with two runs. Cal Stevenson was 1/5 and Demo Orimoloye was 1/4 with a walk and two RBI.

W: Mike Ellenbest (1-1)

S: Brad Wilson (4)

Player of the Game: Alejandro Kirk

Roster Notes: Samad Taylor was activated off the 7-day IL and Cullen Large was placed on the IL.

Lansing Lugnuts 9, Lake County Captains (CLE) 3

The low-A Lansing Lugnuts held a lead through the entire game but only got some breathing room when they scored five runs in the top of the eighth on their way to a 9-3 win over the Lake County Captains.

Gabriel Moreno hit his fifth home run of the year, going 1/2 with two walks, an RBI and two runs while Rafael Lantigua hit a triple, going 1/4 with three RBI and a sac fly. Hunter Steinmetz was 1/3 with a walk, an RBI and two runs while Hagen Danner was 1/4 with a walk and a run. Reggie Pruitt was on base twice, going 1/4 with a walk and two stolen bases and Griffin Conine was 1/5 with an RBI and a run, contributing on defense as well, throwing out two runners on the bases. Jake Brodt was 1/5 with an RBI but also struck out four times.

Cobi Johnson went 4 2/3 innings, allowing two runs on four hits (including a home run) with four walks and three strikeouts. Joey Pulido stranded an inherited runner, allowing a run on two hits and two walks with two strikeouts in 2 1/3 innings and Fitz Stadler finished it off, allowing a hit and two walks with four strikeouts in two innings.

W: Joey Pulido (1-2)

HR: Gabriel Moreno

Player of the Game: Gabriel Moreno

DSL Blue Jays 5, DSL D-backs1 2

The DSL Blue Jays enjoyed playing a different team as they beat the DSL D-backs1 5-2.

The Blue Jays had just four hits (and seven walks) as Gabriel Martinez was 1/4 with a double, a walk, an RBI and a run. Amell Brazoban was on base twice, going 1/3 with a walk and a run while Gary David was 1/3 with a walk. Daniel Oliva was 1/3 with an RBI and a run.

On the mound, 16-year-old Jonatan Bernal tossed four innings, allowing two unearned runs on four hits and a walk with two strikeouts before Fernando Chacon came on to throw three scoreless innings, giving up a hit and two walks with one strikeout. Winder Garcia got the save, allowing just a hit and striking out four in two innings.

W: Fernando Chacon (1-1)

S: Winder Garcia (2)

Player of the Game: Gabriel Martinez, Fernando Chacon and Winder Garcia

If you like us here, like us on Facebook!

The 2019 Toronto Blue Jays Minor League Handbook is available now! Visit the Handbook page for more information!