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

With a 5-4 record on Monday, the Toronto Blue Jays' minor league clubs had a mediocre day, and one of the club's top prospects faced potential injury after getting hit by a pitch.

Buffalo Bisons 3, Durham Bulls 12

The Buffalo Bisons followed their three-game winning streak by dropping their opener against the Durham Bulls 12-3. Murphy Smith got the start and allowed seven runs (six earned) on eight hits (including a home run) and one walk with just one strikeout in three innings. Wil Browning followed with three more innings, allowing two runs on two hits and three walks with three strikeouts. Andrew Case (Saint John, N.B.) allowed three more runs over two innings and Taylor Cole had a strong outing, striking out two of the three batters he faced in the ninth.

Jon Berti drove in a pair of runs, going 2/4 and Dwight Smith was 2/4 with a double and a run, getting an outfield assist but also making a throwing error. Rowdy Tellez drove in a run with a sac fly and Raffy Lopez was 1/3 with a double and a walk while Shane Opitz also hit a double.

Player of the Game: Jon Berti and Dwight Smith Jr.

Roster Notes: Andrew Guillotte was sent back to New Hampshire.

New Hampshire Fisher Cats 4, Portland Sea Dogs 8

The New Hampshire Fisher Cats dropped their series opener against the Portland Sea Dogs, losing 8-4. Harold Ramirez did his best to help the Fisher Cats to victory, going 3/3 with a home run and four RBI. Jonathan Davis, Richard Urena and Tim Lopes each had two hits and a walk and all three scored a run. Emilio Guerrero returned to New Hampshire, going 2/3.

Jon Harris had a strong start, tossing five innings and giving up three runs (one earned) on seven hits and one walk with seven strikeouts. John Straka took the loss, giving up five runs on seven hits (including a home run) with three strikeouts in two innings. Dusty Isaacs pitched the final two innings, walking two batters and striking out three.

Player of the Game: Harold Ramirez

Roster Notes: Andrew Guillotte was sent back from Buffalo to New Hampshire and Jake Thomas was moved back down to Dunedin.

Dunedin Blue Jays 12, Lakeland Flying Tigers 4

Toronto-born Connor Panas had a great day as the Dunedin Blue Jays trounced the Lakeland Flying Tigers 12-4 on Monday. Panas was 2/5 with his ninth home run of the year and two RBI and he also threw two runners out on the bases from the outfield. Bo Bichette was 1/1 with a walk and left the game after getting hit on his hand with a pitch. J.C. Cardenas came in for him, driving in two runs and going 1/1 with a triple. Juan Kelly was 2/4 with a walk, a double, an RBI and a run and D.J. Davis was 2/3 with a walk, a double, three runs and a stolen base. Andres Sotillo actually had the most hits, going 3/4 with an RBI and two runs and Cavan Biggio was 1/2 but walked twice, drove in a run and scored twice.

Jordan Romano (Markham, Ont.) was on the mound to start and needed 92 pitches to throw four innings, giving up two runs on six hits and three walks with two strikeouts. Alonzo Gonzalez pitched two scoreless innings in relief, giving up two hits and a walk in taking the win while Kirby Snead added a scoreless frame to his resume. Jackson McClelland gave up two runs on three hits over two innings to finish the game.

Player of the Game: Connor Panas and D.J. Davis

Roster Notes: Jake Thomas was assigned to Dunedin from New Hampshire.

Lansing Lugnuts 3, Cedar Rapids Kernels 1

The Lansing Lugnuts beat the Cedar Rapids Kernels 3-1 in afternoon action, getting a great outing from Mike Ellenbest. Ellenbest tossed six scoreless innings, allowing four hits and two walks with three strikeouts to pick up his fourth win. Nick Hartman threw a scoreless seventh and Juliandry Higuera got just one out (via strikeout) but walked three, getting charged with a run in the eighth. Griffin Glaude finished the eighth, stranding both inherited runners and pitched a perfect ninth to earn his first save as a Lugnut.

The Lugnuts scattered nine hits including two from Mitch Nay (2/4) and two from Yeltsin Gudino (2/3, RBI). Nash Knight drove in two, going 1/3 with a walk.

Player of the Game: Mike Ellenbest

Vancouver Canadians 3, Salem-Keizer Volcanoes 4

The Vancouver Canadians dropped the finale of their series with the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes 4-3 in a tightly contested game on Monday. Cullen Large was 2/5 with a double, Bryan Lizardo was 2/3 and Norberto Obeso was 2/4 with two RBI. David Jacob was on base twice, going 1/2 with a walk and two runs while Deiferson Barreto was 1/3 with a walk.

Wilfri Aleton allowed four runs (three earned) on five hits and two walks with four strikeouts over four innings before Yonardo Herdenez was excellent, giving up just one hit in three innings. Bobby Eveld pitched a scoreless eighth.

Player of the Game: Norberto Obeso, Cullen Large and Bryan Lizardo

Bluefield Blue Jays 7, Bristol Pirates 4

The Bluefield Blue Jays needed an extra inning but got three runs in the 10th to beat the Bristol Pirates 7-4. McGregory Contreras was 3/5 with two RBI and a run and Chavez Young hit his first professional home run, going 2/5. Freddy Rodriguez was 2/4 with a walk and an RBI, also scoring a run. Ryan Gold drove in two runs, going 1/5 with a double.

Randy Pondler was strong on the mound, allowing just two hits, including a solo home run (accounting for his only run against) while striking out six in seven innings. Jose Nova gave up three runs on two hits and a walk, pitching one plus innings, and Graham Spraker got the win, despite blowing the save (by allowing both runners inherited from Nova to score), walking two and striking out one over two innings of relief.

Player of the Game: McGregory Contreras and Randy Pondler

GCL Blue Jays 6, GCL Yankees East 3

The GCL Blue Jays completed their game that was started on July 8, beating the GCL Yankees East 6-3. Taylor Cole started and threw a clean inning and Elieser Medrano got the win, throwing 4 2/3 innings, allowing one unearned run on three hits and five walks despite seven strikeouts. Juan Meza threw 1 1/3 innings without giving up a hit or walk and Justin Watts gave up two runs (one earned) on two hits and a walk in two innings.

Dominic Abbadessa was 3/5 with a run while Luis De Los Santos was 2/4 with a double, an RBI and a run. David Jacob hit a home run on July 8, driving in two but was lifted for Reese McGuire (0/1, BB, RBI, R) after the game resumed. Joseph Reyes was 2/4 with a double.

Player of the Game: Dominic Abbadessa

GCL Blue Jays 3, GCL Yankees East 7

The GCL Blue Jays lost their regularly scheduled game for July 24, falling to the GCL Yankees East by a 7-3 score. Justin Maese started, giving up a home run and two runs (one earned) with one walk and four strikeouts in three innings. Angel Alicea gave up three runs in 2/3 of an inning before Connor Law came on to allow both inherited runners to score, walking three and giving up one unearned run of his own in 1 1/3 innings. Danilo Manzueta allowed a run on a hit and a walk with one strikeout in the final inning.

Dominic Abbadessa pushed his batting average to .350 with a 2/4 day, scoring a run and Otto Lopez was also 2/4 with a run. Luis De Los Santos was 2/3 while Davis Schneider (1/3, RBI), Reese McGuire (1/2, RBI, R) and Patrick Morris (1/3, RBI) each drove in a run.

Player of the Game: Dominic Abbadessa and Otto Lopez

DSL Blue Jays 7, DSL Orioles 1

The DSL Blue Jays had their bats and eyes blazing as they took advantage of a couple of errors and seven walks in a 7-1 victory over the DSL Orioles. Andres Martinez was 1/4 with a walk, Victor Fiuereo was 1/3 with a double, a walk, two RBI and two runs and Kenny Mauricio was 1/3 with a double, a walk, an RBI and a run. Rafael Lantigua drove in two with a double, also scoring while Steward Berroa (1/4, BB, SB) and Andres Martinez (1/4, BB, CS) were on base twice.

Nathanael Perez tossed seven scoreless innings, walking one and giving up just one hit while striking out six. Elixon Caballero escaped harm despite giving up a hit and walking two in the eighth and Jeison Contreras gave up a run on two hits and a walk in the ninth.

Player of the Game: Nathanael Perez

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