Jay Blue: Bichette, Greene, Petit, Romano

Dante Bichette went a combined 7-for-8 in two games for the Lansing Lugnuts on Thursday to raise his batting average to .400 on the season. Photo Credit: Jay Blue

June 15, 2017 Toronto Blue Jays Minor League Report
By Jay Blue
Blue Jays from Away

As the Vancouver Canadians opened their season on Thursday night, playing professional baseball in another city in Canada may have provided some good karma as the Blue Jays' minor league affiliates won all eight of their games including sweeps of doubleheaders by New Hampshire and Lansing. The big story was Bo Bichette who is now hitting .400 after going 7/8 in the Lugnuts' two games last night.

Buffalo Bisons 4, Lehigh Valley IronPigs 2

The Buffalo Bisons (34-30) got another great pitching performance, beating the Lehigh Valley IronPigs 4-2 on Thursday. Cesar Valdez gave up two runs in the first inning but stymied the IronPigs from there on out, allowing just four hits and two walks with 10 strikeouts over seven innings. Wil Browning got one out and Chad Girodo pitched a scoreless inning with Chris Smith picking up the save with 2/3 of an inning in the ninth.

Gregorio Petit accounted for all four of the Bisons' runs, going 1/3 with a three-run home run and a sacrifice fly. Shane Opitz was 2/2 with two doubles and a run while Christian Lopes was on base three times, going 1/1 with two walks, a run and a stolen base.

Player of the Game: Cesar Valdez and Gregorio Petit

New Hampshire Fisher Cats 4, Richmond Flying Squirrels 1

The New Hampshire Fisher Cats beat the Richmond Flying Squirrels 4-1 in the first half of their doubleheader. Conner Greene started and allowed just one unearned run despite walking four and allowing five hits in six innings, striking out three. Jose Fernandez got his fourth save after pitching a scoreless seventh.

The offense had just four hits but six walks with Jonathan Davis driving in two runs, going 1/3 with a walk, a run and a stolen base. Jake Thomas walked twice, going 0/1 with a run and Derrick Loveless was 1/2 with a walk and an RBI.

Player of the Game: Jonathan Davis and Conner Greene

New Hampshire Fisher Cats 4, Richmond Flying Squirrels 3

The Fisher Cats completed their sweep of the doubleheader, beating Richmond 4-3 thanks to three RBI from Jonathan Davis (who had five on the day). Davis was 1/4 with a double. Andrew Guillotte was 2/3 with an RBI and a run while Ryan McBroom was 1/2 with a double and an RBI, scoring a run. Richard Urena was on base twice, going 1/3 with a walk.

Francisco Rios started and gave up two runs on five hits with four strikeouts in three innings. Chris Rowley allowed a run on two hits and two walks in two innings and Kender Villegas gave up two walks and a hit but no runs in an inning. Andrew Case (Saint John, N.B.) saved the game with a scoreless seventh.

Player of the Game: Jonathan Davis and Andrew Guillotte

Dunedin Blue Jays 5, Palm Beach Cardinals 2

The Dunedin Blue Jays got another strong pitching performance from Jordan Romano (Markham, Ont.) and the bullpen but this time, provided enough offense to beat the Palm Beach Cardinals 5-2. Romano went five innings, giving up two runs on six hits and two walks with five strikeouts. Kirby Snead, Adonys Cardona, Tom Robson (Richmond, B.C.) and Jackson McClelland each tossed a scoreless inning of relief to seal the victory.

Juan Kelly was 3/5 with an RBI and a run while Cavan Biggio got two hits and scored once. Michael De la Cruz walked three times and was 1/2 while D.J. Davis drove in two runs, pinch hitting and going 1/1.

Player of the Game: Juan Kelly and Jordan Romano

Lansing Lugnuts 8, South Bend Cubs 5

Bo Bichette was instrumental in the Lansing Lugnuts' 8-5 victory in the first game of their double header against the South Bend Cubs. Bichette was 4/4 with two singles, a double, a home run, two RBI, and a stolen base, scoring twice. Rodrigo Orozco was 2/4 with an RBI and Christian Williams was 2/4 with a run and a stolen base. Edward Olivares was 1/4 with a double, an RBI and a run while Nick Sinay was 1/3 with an RBI, a run and a stolen base. Yeltsin Gudino and J.B. Woodman were both 1/3 with a double.

Denis Diaz went four innings, giving up five runs (four earned) on four hits and four walks with four strikeouts and Tayler Saucedo got the win, tossing three innings of one-hit, one-walk ball with two strikeouts.

Player of the Game: Bo Bichette

Lansing Lugnuts 6, South Bend Cubs 1

In Game 2 of their doubleheader with the South Bend Cubs, the Lugnuts won again 6-1, again led by Bo Bichette. Bichette pushed his batting average to an even .400 with a 3/4 game in which he hit a double and drove in three runs. J.B. Woodman was 2/3 with two doubles, two RBI and two runs and Ridge Smith was 1/3 with a double and a run.

Yennsy Diaz went 4 2/3 innings with eight strikeouts and allowing a run on three hits and three walks but it was Connor Eller who earned his first win as a Lugnut, finishing the game with 2 1/3 innings of one-hit ball.

Player of the Game: Bo Bichette

Vancouver Canadians 6, Eugene Emeralds 1

The Vancouver Canadians opened their season with a 6-1 victory over the Eugene Emeralds on Thursday night. The offense kicked things off with 13 hits, getting two from catcher Yorman Rodriguez (2/5, 2B, R), Owen Spiwak (2/4, 2B, RBI), Deiferson Barreto (2/4, R, RBI), Kevin Vicuna (2/4, R) and Lance Jones (2/3, OF Asst.). Reggie Pruitt was 1/4 with a walk and two RBI, Mattingly Romanin was 1/3 with a walk and a run and Bryan Lizardo was the only starter who didn't get a hit.

On the mound, fireballer Juan Nunez tossed five scoreless innings, allowing three hits and a walk with three strikeouts. William Ouellette went a scoreless seventh and Jose Espada struck out five in two innings but also gave up a solo home run. Orlando Pascual struck out one in the ninth.

Player of the Game: Juan Nunez and Owen Spiwak

DSL Blue Jays 8, DSL White Sox 1

The DSL Blue Jays rolled on, defeating the DSL White Sox by an 8-6 score thanks to six runs over the last three innings. Ronald Magdaniel allowed a run on two hits and two walks over three innings and Juan Jimenez allowed five runs (three earned) over 1 1/3 innings. Brayan Mejia shut things down over 2 2/3 innings, allowing just a walk and striking out one while Nicolas Medina got the save, giving up one hit over the last two innings.

DH Gabriel Moreno was 3/5 with a double and a run while catcher William Saavedra was 2/4 with a double and an RBI. Hector Guerrero was 1/3 but walked twice and scored twice. Yhon Perez, playing second base was 1/2 with a double and two walks.

Player of the Game: Brayan Mejia and Gabriel Moreno

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