Jay Blue: Alvarez, Bichette, Carrera, Ellenbest, Lopes, Tellez
Rowdy Tellez. Photo Credit: Jay Blue
June 26, 2017 Toronto Blue Jays Minor League Report
By Jay Blue
Blue Jays from Away
It was a rough day in Blue Jays Land as the Toronto Blue Jays' minor league affiliates lost six games (with just one win, one team off and one suspended game) on the day the GCL Blue Jays opened their season.
Buffalo Bisons 2, Rochester Red Wings 4
The Buffalo Bisons opened up their doubleheader with a loss to the Rochester Red Wings, losing 4-3. The Bisons jumped out to an early, 3-0 lead, getting RBI from Ezequiel Carrera (1/2, 2 BB, RBI, SB), Christian Lopes (1/3, 2B, RBI) and Jake Elmore (2/3, RBI, R) and Jason Leblebijian was 2/3 with a run, a walk and a stolen base, and Gregorio Petit had a pair of singles and a run.
Luis Santos was charged with three runs, going 4 2/3 innings but giving up only four hits and a walk with five strikeouts. Matt Dermody took the loss, allowing the winning run on three hits over 2 1/3 innings with three strikeouts.
Player of the Game: Jason Leblebijian and Ezequiel Carrera
Roster Notes: Ezequiel Carrera was sent to Buffalo on a rehab assignment.
Buffalo Bisons 2, Rochester Red Wings 4
The Buffalo Bisons were unable to right the ship in the second half of the doubleheader, losing again the Rochester Red Wings 4-2. Rowdy Tellez found his bat in a big way, going 4/4 with a double and a run while Shane Opitz was 2/3 with two doubles and an RBI.
Cesar Valdez allowed all four runs throwing a seven-inning complete game and giving up 10 hits and a walk with four strikeouts.
Player of the Game: Rowdy Tellez
New Hampshire Fisher Cats 1, Portland Sea Dogs 5
The New Hampshire Fisher Cats couldn't do much against the Portland Sea Dogs, losing 5-1 to open their series. The offense had just two hits including a triple from Jonathan Davis, who scored the club's only run. Danny Jansen and Tim Lopes walked twice each with Lopes getting the Fisher Cats' only other hit.
Francisco Rios had a decent start, allowing three runs (one earned) on four hits and two walks in four innings but striking out seven. Jose Fernandez went two scoreless innings, giving up just a walk and striking out two while Tim Mayza allowed two runs in two innings, giving up five hits and a walk with two strikeouts.
Player of the Game: Tim Lopes
Dunedin Blue Jays
Scheduled Off Day
Lansing Lugnuts 4, Bowling Green Hot Rods 3
The Lansing Lugnuts were relieved to see the backs of the West Michigan Whitecaps, beating the Bowling Green Hot Rods 4-3 to open their series on Monday. Mike Ellenbest was outstanding, tossing six innings of three-hit ball, walking two and striking out three without surrendering a run. Juliandry Higuera, freshly up from Vancouver, allowed all three Bowling Green runs, blowing the save but getting the win as the Lugnuts won in walkoff fashion.
Vladimir Guerrero, Jr. (Montreal, Que.) got the rally started that scored the winning run in the bottom of the ninth by singling to center field. He was removed from the game for pinch runner Rodrigo Orozco after he took second on a wild pitch and Mitch Nay grounded out, moving Orozco to third. After intentional walks to Christian Williams and Nash Knight to load the bases, J.B. Woodman struck out, setting things up for Javier Hernandez, recently recalled from Vancouver, to single home the winning run. Bo Bichette was 2/4 with an RBI, bringing his batting average to .396 and Christian Williams was 2/3 with a double, a triple, an RBI, a run and the intentional walk.
Player of the Game: Mike Ellenbest
Roster Notes: Nick Sinay and Andy Ravel were both placed on the DL while Javier Hernandez was promoted to Lansing.
Vancouver Canadians 2, Everett AquaSox 9
The Vancouver Canadians had their collective noses bloodied a bit, losing 9-2 to the Everett AquaSox. Jose Espada struck out six over 4 1/3 innings but gave up two runs on two hits (including a home run) and three walks. Brayden Bouchey allowed another run in 2/3 of an inning, finishing off the fifth for Espada, allowing his inherited runner to score. Justin Dillon allowed a run on three hits in an inning and Miguel Burgos got into trouble in the seventh, getting charged with three runs on two hits and two walks with William Ouellette allowing one of his two inherited runners to score. Ouellette also allowed two runs of his own to score in 1 1/3 innings.
The batters came away with six hits including a double and a walk from Norberto Obeso while Cullen Large hit a double and Brock Lundquist was 1/2 with a walk.
Player of the Game: None
Roster Notes: Javier Hernandez was promoted to Lansing.
Bluefield Blue Jays, Burlington Royals
The Bluefield Blue Jays (3-1) had their game suspended due to a loss of power. The Blue Jays were getting destroyed 12-3 by the Burlington Royals in the sixth inning.
GCL Blue Jays 1, GCL Tigers West 5
The GCL Blue Jays opened their season with a 5-1 loss to the GCL Tigers West. Elieser Medrano started, allowing a run on four walks but no hits in two innings and Anderson Nunez gave up three more runs in three innings, taking the loss, allowing two hits and two walks. Matthew Gunter got just one out before leaving the game and Maverik Buffo allowed a run on two hits with two strikeouts in 1 1/3 innings. Danilo Manzueta finished the game with 1 1/3 scoreless innings, striking out one.
The Blue Jays had just four hits including a double and RBI from Luis De Los Santos, playing shortstop. Otto Lopez, D.J. Neal and Jonelvy Molina had a single each.
Player of the Game: None
DSL Blue Jays 3, DSL D-Backs1 4
The DSL Blue Jays lost their Monday game 4-3 to the DSL D-Backs1 squad, allowing two runs in the ninth inning for the loss. Ronald Magdaniel gave up two runs in 3 2/3 innings, allowing three hits and a walk with four strikeouts. Luis Alvarez went 4 1/3 innings, giving up just two hits and striking out one. Yunior Hinojosa blew the save and took the loss, giving up two runs in the top of the ninth, on two hits.
Rafael Lantigua was 2/4 with an RBI and Gabriel Moreno was 2/4. Steward Berroa was 1/4 with a double and two RBI.
Player of the Game: Luis Alvarez
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