May 20, 2018 Toronto Blue Jays Minor League Report
By Jay Blue
Blue Jays from Away

The Toronto Blue Jays' affiliates played five games on Sunday, winning three including a huge walk-off win in Manchester, New Hampshire for the Fisher Cats.

Buffalo Bisons 4, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders 3

Buffalo's Sunday game against the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders was a bit of a see-saw but they managed to hold off the RailRiders for a 4-3 win.

Taylor Guerrieri had a solid start, going four innings and giving up just one run on two hits with three walks, striking out two. Murphy Smith was the long man, going 2 1/3 innings, giving up another run on three hits and a walk with two strikeouts. Tim Mayza got the win, retiring all five batters he faced, striking out a pair and Justin Shafer, just up from double-A New Hampshire, gave up a run in the ninth, allowing two hits and earning the save.

The Bisons spread out their offence, getting one hit from eight different players (everyone except for Anthony Alford who was 0/3 with a run, a walk and a stolen base). Rowdy Tellez was 1-for-3 with a walk and an RBI while Danny Jansen was 1-for-3 with a walk and a run. Lourdes Gurriel (1-for-4) and Reese McGuire (1-for-4) each drove in a run and Jason Leblebijian was 1-for-3 with a walk and his fourth home run of the year.

W: Tim Mayza (2-0)
S: Justin Shafer (1)
HR: Jason Leblebijian (4)

Player of the Game: Jason Leblebijian and Taylor Guerrieri

New Hampshire Fisher Cats 6, Binghamton Rumble Ponies 5

In the first game of their doubleheader, the New Hampshire Fisher Cats got behind at a couple of points in the game before finding their power in the bat of Vladimir Guerrero (Montreal, Que.), walking off with a 6-5 win over the Binghamton Rumble Ponies.

While some of his teammates were struggling against knuckleball throwing Mickey Jannis, Vladdy had no troubles, going 4-for-4 with the walk-off, opposite-field home run, three RBI and two runs. Bo Bichette showed some of the best swings of the weekend, going 2-for-4 with a double, an RBI and a run while Jonathan Davis scored twice, going 1-for-4 with a double. Cavan Biggio also contributed a double and Max Pentecost had a single while Andrew Guillotte contributed with an outfield assist and a sacrifice fly.

Jon Harris worked through five solid innings but got into trouble in the sixth, giving up hits to the first four batters before Danny Young came on to retire the side, allowing one of the two inherited runners to score. Harris was charged with five runs on eight hits and a walk and he gave up two solo home runs, one to start the second and one to start the third. Danny Young allowed two hits in two innings, picking up the win.

W: Danny Young (1-0)
HR: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (8)

Roster Notes: Brayden Bouchey (Vancouver, B.C.) was added to the roster from extended spring training.

Player of the Game: Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

New Hampshire Fisher Cats 8, Binghamton Rumble Ponies 10

The Fisher Cats didn't roll over in the second half of the doubleheader against the Binghamton Rumble Ponies, but ultimately, they couldn't come back a third time after tying the game in the bottom of the sixth and scoring three to tie in the bottom of the eighth, ultimately losing 10-8 in nine innings.

Vladimir Guerrero (Montreal, Que.) got his fifth hit of the doubleheader, driving in a run early in the game but was walked and hit by a pitch, going 1-for-3. Patrick Cantwell had an excellent game, going 2-for-5 with a double and home run, driving in three runs. Connor Panas (Toronto, Ont.) had a big pinch-hit double to drive in a run in the eighth and Andrew Guillotte scored twice, going 1-for-4.

Nick Tepesch allowed four runs on seven hits (including a home run in the first inning), striking out three in 4 2/3 innings. Andrew Case (Saint John, N.B.) came in and gave up a walk but nothing else, striking out two in 1 1/3 innings. Kirby Snead tossed a perfect seventh, striking out a pair but Zach Jackson walked four in 2/3 of an inning, getting charged with three runs (two earned). Jose Fernandez relieved Jackson, allowing three runs (one earned), striking out two and giving up a home run to take the loss.

L: Jose Fernandez (3-1)
HR: Patrick Cantwell (2)

Player of the Game: Patrick Cantwell

Dunedin Blue Jays 9, Daytona Tortugas 3

The class-A Advanced Dunedin Blue Jays were pleased to see the Tampa Tarpons leave and celebrated with a 9-3 win over the Daytona Tortugas.

Tayler Saucedo provided seven innings of solid pitching, giving up three runs on six hits and two walks with four strikeouts while Travis Bergen finished the game with two hitless innings, walking two batters and striking out three.

Nash Knight led the offensive charge that combined for 14 hits, going 3-for-5 with two runs and two RBI. Riley Adams had two hits including a double and scored twice while Eduard Pinto was 2-for-5 with a double, two RBI, two runs and a stolen base. John La Prise was 2-for-5 with a double, an RBI and a run and Kacy Clemens was on base four times, going 2-for-3 with two walks. Josh Palacios was 1-for-4 with a walk and a run while Logan Warmoth was 1-for-3 with a double, two walks, an RBI and a run. Bradley Jones was 1-for-5 with a double, two RBI and three strikeouts.

W: Tayler Saucedo (3-2)

Player of the Game: Nash Knight and Kacy Clemens

Lansing Lugnuts 6, Bowling Green Hot Rods 9

The Bowling Green Hot Rods got on the board early in Lansing, scoring eight runs over the first two innings and, despite a late charge but the Lansing Lugnuts, the Hot Rods were able to hand on for a 9-6 win.

Samad Taylor had a top-notch offensive day, going 2-for-5 with a home run and three RBI while Ryan Noda creeps his batting average closer to the Mendoza line (despite having a .474 OBP), going 1-for-1 with a double and three walks. Brandon Grudzielanek had his first hit as a Lugnut, going 1-for-4 with a double.

Maximo Castillo gave up eight runs on five hits and two walks, leaving the game in the second inning before Andrew Deramo tossed 3 1/3 innings of relief, allowing just one run on one hit and two walks with three strikeouts. Colton Laws pitched four scoreless innings, allowing four hit and striking out four batters.

L: Maximo Castillo (2-1)
HR: Samad Taylor (3)

Player of the Game: Samad Taylor

Jay's Jay of the Day: Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

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