Jay Blue: Bichette, Conine, Guerrero Jr., Kirwer, Lopez, Palacios, Pruitt, Stevenson

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (Montreal, Que.) homered in his fourth straight game for the triple-A Buffalo Bisons on Saturday. Photo Credit: Jay Blue

August 11, 2018 Toronto Blue Jays Minor League Report
By Jay Blue
Blue Jays from Away

The Toronto Blue Jays' affiliates were 3-5 on Saturday.

Buffalo Bisons 3, Toledo Mud Hens 6

Even though Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (Montreal, Que.) blasted his fourth home run in as many games, the triple-A Buffalo Bisons fell to the Toledo Mud Hens 6-3. Guerrero was 2/4 with the solo blast while Tim Lopes was 2/3 with an RBI. Danny Jansen was 1/3 with a double and a run but came out of the game early with Reese McGuire pinch hitting late in the game. Anthony Alford was 1/3 with a double, an RBI and a run.

Brandon Cumpton took the loss, giving up two home runs among 10 hits and allowing five runs (four earned) with a walk and five strikeouts in five innings. Taylor Guerrieri allowed an unearned run on two hits and a walk with two strikeouts in two innings and Craig Breslow (1 IP, 1 H, 2 K) and Conor Fisk (1 IP, 1 H) each threw an inning to finish out the game.

L: Brandon Cumpton (2-2)
HR: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (4)

Roster Notes: Gift Ngoepe was activated off the temporarily inactive list

Player of the Game: Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

New Hampshire Fisher Cats 2, Richmond Flying Squirrels 5

The double-A New Hampshire Fisher Cats could only score two runs, losing to the Richmond Flying Squirrels 5-2. Bo Bichette was on base three times, going 1/2 with two walks but was caught stealing. Cavan Biggio was 1/3 with a walk and a stolen base while Max Pentecost drove in a run, going 1/4 with a run. Santiago Espinal hit a double, the club's only extra-base hit.

Tayler Saucedo took the loss, giving up only two runs (one earned) on four hits and four walks with two strikeouts in his 5 2/3 innings. Andrew Case (Saint John, N.B.) allowed two runs on four hits (including a home run) with a strikeout in 1 1/3 innings and Danny Young gave up a run on a hit and a walk in the eighth.

L: Tayler Saucedo (3-2)

Roster Notes: Patrick Cantwell was placed on the DL and Ryan Hissey was activated.

Player of the Game: Bo Bichette

Dunedin Blue Jays 8, Charlotte Stone Crabs 10

The class-A Advanced Dunedin Blue Jays mounted a late comeback but it wasn't enough as they lost 10-8 to the Charlotte Stone Crabs. Starter Connor Eller took the brunt of the damage, allowing eight runs (seven earned) on nine hits and two walks with four strikeouts in four innings. William Ouellette allowed a run on three hits and two walks with one strikeout in two innings and Nick Hartman struck out three in two innings, allowing a run on three hits.

Joshua Palacios was 4/6 with a triple, three RBI and a run while Nash Knight was 3/5 with a double, an RBI and a run. Kacy Clemens was 2/5 with a double and a run and Rodrigo Orozco was 2/5 with two RBI and a run. Brock Lundquist also had two hits, going 2/4 with a run and a walk.

L: Connor Eller (6-5)

Player of the Game: Joshua Palacios

Lansing Lugnuts 6, Bowling Green Hot Rods 8

The low-A Lansing Lugnuts opened their series with the Bowling Green Hot Rods, losing 8-6. Reggie Pruitt hit his first home run of the season, going 2/5 with a double, a home run, three RBI and two runs. Norberto Obeso was 2/4 with a triple and a run while Vinny Capra was 2/3 with a walk and two runs and Jesus Navarro was 2/2 with two walks, a double, an RBI and a run.

Graham Spraker allowed five runs (four earned) on five hits and five walks with two strikeouts in five innings. Matt Shannon picked up three innings of work, giving up two runs on two hits with three strikeouts, taking the loss while Brayden Bouchey (White Rock, B.C.) gave up a run on a hit in the ninth.

L: Matt Shannon (3-3)
HR: Reggie Pruitt (1)

Player of the Game: Reggie Pruitt

Vancouver Canadians 8, Salem-Keizer Volcanoes 5

The class-A Short-Season Vancouver Canadians picked up another win, beating the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes 8-5. Griffin Conine had three hits, going 3/5 with a double and a run while Tanner Kirwer (Sherwood Park, Alta.) was 1/3 with a double, three RBI and a run. Mc Gregory Contreras was 2/4 with a run and Yorman Rodriguez hit his first home run of hte year, going 2/5 with two RBI. Otto Lopez (Montreal, Que.) was on base three times, going 2/4 with a walk and a run and Brandon Polizzi was 1/3 with a walk and two runs. Brett Wright hit his fourth home run of the year, going 1/4 with the solo blast.

Jose Espada got the win, allowing just a run on two hits and two walks with five strikeouts in five innings. Troy Miller gave up four runs on four hits and a walk in one-plus innings and Joey Pulido allowed a walk and his inherited runner to score but no runs of his own in two innings, striking out two. Cobi Johnson struck out three in the ninth for the save.

W: Jose Espada (3-4)
S: Cobi Johnson (8)
HR: Yorman Rodriguez (1), Brett Wright (4)

Roster Notes: Ronald Magdaniel was assigned to the GCL Blue Jays from the Vancouver Canadians.

Player of the Game: Yorman Rodriguez, Griffin Conine and Jose Espada

Bluefield Blue Jays 7, Elizabethton Twins 1

Seven was the Bluefield Blue Jays' lucky number as they opened their double header with a 7-1 win in, yup, seven innings. Cal Stevenson was 3/4 with a walk and an RBI while Hagen Danner was 1/2 with two walks and an RBI. Gabriel Moreno pinch hit for Davis Schneider and was 1/1 with three RBI and a sacrifice fly. Rafael Lantigua and Patrick Morris each had a single and a walk and both scored twice.

Nathanael Perez went five innings to get the win, giving up just a run on two hits and three walks with five strikeouts. Andy McGuire struck out one in the sixth and Brad Wilson struck out a pair in the seventh.

W: Nathanael Perez (3-1)

Player of the Game: Cal Stevenson

Bluefield Blue Jays 7, Elizabethton Twins 5

Lucky seven came up big for the rookie-class Bluefield Blue Jays again as they defeated the Elizabethton Twins 7-5 to sweep their double header. D.J. Neal was 2/4 with his third home run of the season and Gabriel Moreno was 3/4 with two doubles, two RBI and two runs to cap off his excellent day. Jose Theran was 2/3 with a triple, two RBI and a run and Luis De Los Santos was 1/2 with an RBI on a sacrifice fly and he added a sac bunt. Andy McGuire turned around to the other side of the ball, playing first base and going 1/3 with a walk.

Adams Cuevas went five innings, giving up two runs on six hits (including a home run) and a walk with four strikeouts. Mike Pascoe walked one in 2/3 of an inning and Nicolas Medina allowed a run on a hit in 2/3 of an inning, striking out two. Sean Rackoski allowed his inherited runner to score and gave up two unearned runs of his own, striking out three and giving up two hits to get the win in 1 2/3 innings.

W: Sean Rackoski (6-2)
HR: D.J. Neal

Player of the Game: D.J. Neal and Gabriel Moreno

GCL Blue Jays , GCL Yankees East

Game suspended due to rain.

Roster Notes: Gaudy Ramirez was placed on the 60-day DL and Ronald Magdaniel was assigned to the GCL Blue Jays from Vancouver.

DSL Blue Jays 5, DSL Orioles 9

After nine innings, the score of the DSL Blue Jays' game with the DSL Orioles was 4-4 but the Orioles scored five runs in the top of the 10th inning and the Blue Jays could only counter with one, leaving the score a 9-5 final as the Blue Jays booted the ball, committing seven errors. Jhon Solarte was 3/4 with a walk and was caught stealing and Rainer Nunez was 2/5 with a run and two errors at third base. Kenny Mauricio drove in a run and was 1/4 with a run but he also made two errors at shortstop. Alberto Rodriguez was 1/5 with an outfield assist and an error while Jesus Hernandez made an error as the catcher despite going 1/3 with a walk.

Starter Juan Acosta threw the first nine innings, dominating and giving up five runs (all unearned) on six hits and striking out eight (and yes, making an error). Pedro Guzman was charged with four runs on four hits in 2/3 of an inning and Jhoan Dominguez got the last out in the top of the 10th, stranding an inherited runner.

L: Juan Acosta (1-1)

Player of the Game: Jhon Solarte

Jay's Jay of the Day: Joshua Palacios

If you like us here, like us on Facebook!

The 2018 Toronto Blue Jays Minor League Handbook is now available!