August 24, 2017 Toronto Blue Jays Minor League Report
By Jay Blue
Blue Jays from Away

The Toronto Blue Jays' affiliates had all hands on deck, with all eight teams in action and went 5-3 on Thursday, getting stellar pitching work in Vancouver.

Buffalo Bisons 8, Pawtucket Red Sox 3

The Buffalo Bisons opened up the throttle on the offence, getting eight runs in an 8-3 victory over the Pawtucket Red Sox. Christian Lopes was 2/3 with his fifth home run of the year, adding a double, two walks, three RBI, three runs and a stolen base. Teoscar Hernandez also hit a home run, his fourth with the Bisons and his third in as many days, going 1/3 with a walk, three RBI and a run. Jason Leblebijian was 2/4 with a double, an RBI and a run while Dwight Smith Jr. and Mike Ohlman each had a hit, a walk and a run.

Brett Anderson made his second start with the Bisons, throwing 5 2/3 excellent innings, giving up just one hit and two walks with two strikeouts. Chris Smith allowed a run on a solo home run over 1 1/3 innings and Wil Browning gave up two runs on two hits and two walks in two innings.

Player of the Game: Christian Lopes

Roster Notes: Chris Rowley was optioned to Buffalo. 

New Hampshire Fisher Cats 4, Hartford Yard Goats 3

The New Hampshire Fisher Cats took 12 innings to win it in walkoff fashion but at least they didn't waste a strong start from Sean Reid-Foley in a 4-3 win over the Hartford Yard Goats. Reid Foley went seven innings plus two batters, giving up three runs on seven hits (including a home run) with eight strikeouts. Andrew Case (Saint John, N.B.) allowed both inherited runners to score in the eighth but kept the Yard Goats off the board for two innings, allowing two hits and striking out three. Danny Young tossed three one-hit innings and, despite walking five, he didn't allow a run to get the win.

Andrew Guillotte was the hero for the Fisher Cats, hitting a triple to lead off the bottom of the 12th and then, after two intentional walks, he scored on a wild pitch. Tim Lopes (2/5, 2B, BB, R), Richard Urena (2/5, 2B, BB, R, RBI), Lourdes Gurriel (2/5, 2B, RBI), Harold Ramirez (2/5, 2B, BB, R), Emilio Guerrero (2/4, RBI) and Alex Monsalve (2/5) each had two hits in a 15-hit attack. Anthony Alford was 1/5 with an outfield assist.

Player of the Game: Sean Reid-Foley

Dunedin Blue Jays 8, Florida Fire Frogs 7

The Dunedin Blue Jays also walked one off in the bottom of the ninth to beat the Florida Fire Frogs 8-7. Trailing 1-0 from the second inning to the seventh, the Blue Jays scored six runs in the bottom of the seventh, sending 10 men to the plate to give them a 6-1 lead. In the top of the ninth, however, the bullpen couldn't hold the lead, giving up six more runs before the D-Jays came back in the bottom half of the inning. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (Montreal, Que.) opened the inning with a single to right and he was followed by a single from Connor Panas (Toronto, Ont.) and sac bunt by Juan Kelly. It was Michael De La Cruz who scored Vladdy with a single to right to finish the game. Guerrero (2/4, BB, RBI, 2 R), Kelly (2/3, BB, RBI) and Edward Olivares (2/4, 2 RBI, R) each had two hits while Panas was 1/3 with two walks, an RBI and two runs and Bo Bichette and Cavan Biggio each hit a double.

Tayler Saucedo had an excellent start which almost went to waste by a rough outing by the bullpen. Saucedo gave up just one unearned run on six hits and two walks with six strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings. Nick Hartman followed with 2 1/3 innings of scoreless baseball, allowing a walk and striking out one to take the game to the ninth. Daniel Lietz started the inning, allowing two hits and two walks before Kirby Snead took over the bases loaded and one run in already. Before he was able to retire the side, with two strikeouts, the bases had been cleared of Lietz's runners and he had allowed two more runs on three hits and two walks in the ninth.

Player of the Game: Tayler Saucedo, Vladimir Guerrero and Juan Kelly

Roster Notes: The Blue Jays recalled Tom Koehler.

Lansing Lugnuts 2, Great Lakes Loons 5

The Lansing Lugnuts continue their slide, losing 5-2 to the Great Lakes Loons. The offence put together seven hits, getting two from David Jacob while Nash Knight had a double and a walk. Rodrigo Orozco brought home both Lansing runs, going 1/5 while Nick Sinay was 1/3 with a walk and a run.

Mike Ellenbest went 5 1/3 innings, giving up five runs on 11 hits and a walk with six strikeouts before Yonardo Herdenez (1 2/3 IP, 1 BB, 2 K) and Juliandry Higuera (1 IP, 2 H, 3 K) finished off the game.

Player of the Game: None

Vancouver Canadians 3, Everett AquaSox 1

Blue Jays' first-round pick Nate Pearson continues to dominate the Northwest League as the Vancouver Canadians shut down the Everett AquaSox in a 3-1 win. Pearson, whose innings are being carefully managed, threw 60 pitches (39 strikes), striking out five batters in four innings of no-hit work, walking one. Travis Bergen followed and had his best outing of the year, tossing four innings of one-hit ball, striking out five without walking anyone. Orlando Pascual gave up two hits, including a solo home run, striking out two in the ninth.

Norberto Obeso scored one of the Cs' three runs, going 3/3 while Bryan Lizardo was 2/4 and Deiferson Barreto was 2/4 with a triple and a run. Riley Adams was 1/3 with a triple, an RBI and a run.

Player of the Game: Nate Pearson, Travis Bergen and Norberto Obeso

Bluefield Blue Jays 11, Kingsport Mets 10

The Bluefield Blue Jays came out on top of a big-time slug fest in Kingsport, beating the Mets 11-10 despite being out-homered four to two. Ryan Noda hit his first home run in quite a while, going 2/5 with a walk, three RBI and three runs. McGregory Contreras led the club with three hits, going 3/5 with a home run, a walk and two runs. Chavez Young (2/5, 2B, BB, 2 R), Kevin Smith (2/6, 3B, 3 RBI, R), Brandon Grudzielanek (2/6, 2B, RBI, R), Ryan Gold (2/4, RBI) and Reilly Johnson (2/4, 2 RBI, R) also had two hits each while Antony Fuentes was 1/3 with a double and a walk.

Josh Winckowski had a rough start, giving up seven runs (six earned) on eight hits, including three home runs, and a walk, striking out four in five innings. Kelyn Jose pitched a no-hit inning, walking two and striking out one and Graham Spraker allowed an unearned run over two innings, striking out three. Ty Tice got the save, his 11th, despite allowing two runs on three hits (including a home run) in the ninth.

Player of the Game: McGregory Contreras and Ryan Noda

GCL Blue Jays 3, GCL Braves 4

The GCL Blue Jays got out to a 3-0 lead after the second inning but the relief pitching collapsed, allowing the GCL Braves to come back and win 4-3. Joi Concepcion was strong as the starter, going five innings with only a solo home run scoring among five hits while he struck out four. Emmanuel Reyes gave up two runs on three hits (including a home run) and a walk in two innings while Adams Cuevas allowed a run on two hits in two innings, striking out two.

The Blue Jays had just six hits including a double and a walk from Jose Theran and a single and two RBI from D.J. Daniels. Aldo Ovando was 1/2 with a walk and a sacrifice fly.

Player of the Game: Joi Concepcion

DSL Blue Jays 1, DSL Padres 7

The DSL Blue Jays lost in a big way to the DSL Padres, falling 7-1. The club had just five hits although Andres Martinez walked three times and Rafael Lantigua was 1/2 with two walks.

Elixon Caballero went 1 2/3 innings, striking out one and Brayan Mejia allowed a run on three walks over three innings without giving up a hit. Adolfo Molina gave up a run on three hits and two walks in 1 2/3 innings and Alexander Molina allowed three runs on two walks and a hit in 1 1/3 innings. Juan Jimenez finished the game, giving up two runs on three hits in 1/3 of an inning.

Player of the Game: Andres Martinez and Rafael Lantigua

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