Jay Blue: Bichette, Loveless, Panas, Pruitt, Romanin, Romano, Smith, Young

Reggie Pruitt went 2-for-4, with an inside-the-park home run, for the Vancouver Canadians on Friday to help lead them to a 4-2 win. Photo Credit: Jay Blue

August 4, 2017 Toronto Blue Jays Minor League Report
By Jay Blue
Blue Jays from Away

All eight minor league teams were in action for the Toronto Blue Jays' organization and they combined for a 5-3 record on Friday.

Buffalo Bisons 8, Lehigh Valley IronPigs 2

The Buffalo Bisons took advantage of the early rainless weather to put a beating on the Lehigh Valley IronPigs and were able to defeat them 8-2 in a rain-shortened match. Dwight Smith Jr. was 3/3 with two runs and an RBI while Teoscar Hernandez made his presence felt, going 1/2 with a double and three RBI. Danny Jansen also had a productive game in his first one in triple-A, going 1/2 with a double and two RBI. Rowdy Tellez appears to be coming out of his early-season funk, going 2/3 with an RBI and two runs.

Lucas Harrell went four innings, giving up just a run on three hits and two walks while striking out five and Wil Browning vultured a win, giving up a run on two walks in an inning.

Player of the Game: Dwight Smith Jr.

Roster Notes: The Blue Jays selected the contract of catcher Raffy Lopez and sent Joe Biagini to Buffalo to stretch out into a starting role. Danny Jansen was promoted to Buffalo from New Hampshire.

New Hampshire Fisher Cats 5, Richmond Flying Squirrels 6

Jon Harris had a solid outing for the New Hampshire Fisher Cats but the relief corps wasn't able to hold on to the lead in a 6-5 loss to the Richmond Flying Squirrels. Harris tossed four scoreless innings but gave up three runs in the fifth and then allowed the first two batters in the sixth to reach and was charged with four runs overall (three earned) on eight hits and one walk with four strikeouts over five-plus innings. Danny Young allowed one of his two inherited runners to score but nothing more as he walked one and struck out three in 1 2/3 innings. Andrew Case (Saint John, N.B.) struck out a pair in 1 1/3 innings in his return to New Hampshire and Dusty Isaacs took the loss, giving up two runs on three hits in the ninth, striking out one.

Lourdes Gurriel was 2/4 with a run, as was Emilio Guerrero but Derrick Loveless had the biggest blow, going 2/4 with his first home run of the year and two RBI. Anthony Alford was 1/3 with a sac fly.

Player of the Game: Derrick Loveless

Roster Notes: Danny Jansen was promoted to Buffalo and Reese McGuire was sent back to New Hampshire following his rehab from injury.

Dunedin Blue Jays 3, Charlotte Stone Crabs 2

The Dunedin Blue Jays got behind an excellent pitching performance from Jordan Romano to beat the Charlotte Stone Crabs 3-2. Romano tossed five scoreless innings, giving up three hits and a walk with two strikeouts. Alonzo Gonzalez allowed two runs (one earned) on two hits with a strikeout in 1 1/3 innings and he was followed by Zach Jackson (1 1/3 IP, 1 H, 2 K), Kirby Snead (2/3 IP, 1 H, 3 BB, 1 K) and Jackson McClelland (2/3 IP) to finish out the game.

Bo Bichette continued his torrid hitting, going 2/4 with a double, an RBI and a run while Juan Kelly was also 2/4 with a double, scoring once. D.J. Davis was 2/3 with a double and a run and was caught stealing. Connor Panas (Toronto, Ont.) was 1/3 with a double, a walk and an RBI and Cavan Biggio was 1/3 with a walk and an RBI.

Player of the Game: Jordan Romano

Roster Notes: Josh Almonte was activated off the DL and Reese McGuire was sent up to double-A.

Lansing Lugnuts 0, Bowling Green Hot Rods 3

The Lansing Lugnuts were stymied by the Bowling Green Hot Rods, losing 3-0. The offence had just four hits including two from Mattingly Romanin (Burlington, Ont.) who was 2/4 with a double. Mitch Nay was 1/3 with a double and a walk and Nash Knight was 1/2 with two walks. Nick Sinay was 0/1 and hit by a pitch twice.

Kyle Weatherly had a decent start, allowing only two runs on three hits (including a home run) and four walks with a strikeout over five innings. Mike Ellenbest gave up a run on two hits and a walk with three strikeouts coming out of the bullpen for the first time this year. Andrew Deramo allowed two hits in the eighth.

Player of the Game: Mattingly Romanin

Vancouver Canadians 4, Hillsboro Hops 2

Reggie Pruitt led the Vancouver Canadians to a 4-2 win over the Hillsboro Hops on Friday night. Pruitt was 2/4 with an inside-the-park home run, two runs and a stolen base. Kacy Clemens also had two hits, going 2/3 with a walk, a double, an RBI and a run. David Jacob was 1/3 with a double, a walk and an RBI and Brock Lundquist added to the double parade, going 1/4 with the two-bagger.

Zach Logue started for Vancouver, giving up a run on four hits and a walk with two strikeouts in three innings. Justin Dillon allowed two hits and a walk with two strikeouts in two scoreless innings and Angel Alicea allowed Hillsboro's second run over two innings of work. Orlando Pascual tossed two perfect innings, getting three ground ball outs in the eighth and three strikeouts (all swinging) in the ninth.

Player of the Game: Reggie Pruitt

Bluefield Blue Jays 8, Pulaski Yankees 3

The Bluefield Blue Jays beat up on the Pulaski Yankees, despite making four errors in the field, winning 8-3. Brandon Grudzielanek drove in four runs, going 2/4 with a walk and a run while Chavez Young was 2/3 with a walk and two runs, adding a stolen base. To illustrate the case of Ryan Noda not getting anything to hit as the season has a month left, he walked three times, going 0/2 and Samad Taylor was 1/4 with a walk. Antony Fuentes hit the game's only home run, going 1/4 with two runs.

Jordan Barrett started for the Blue Jays and gave up three runs (all unearned) on just two hits and two walks with six strikeouts in 3 2/3 innings. Turner Larkins got the win and allowed only one hit but walked four and struck out five in 4 1/3 innings. Graham Spraker finished the game, giving up just a hit in the ninth.

Player of the Game: Brandon Grudzielanek and Chavez Young

GCL Blue Jays 6, GCL Pirates 5

The GCL Blue Jays held on to beat the GCL Pirates by a 6-5 score in Friday's action. Jose Theran was 2/4 with a triple and two RBI, scoring once in his strong debut in the GCL. Joseph Reyes pushed his batting average to .318 with a 2/3 game, adding a walk and a run as he continues his professional debut season. Hagen Danner was 1/4 with two RBI and a run and Luis De Los Santos hit a triple.

Travis Bergen gave up two home runs in 1 1/3 innings in the start, allowing three runs (two earned) on three hits with two strikeouts. Juan Meza took over the second and gave up an unearned run on a hit and a walk. Joi Concepcion went six strong innings to get the win, allowing just two hits and one run, striking out six. Connor Law got the save, finishing the game with a 1-2-3 ninth, striking out one.

Player of the Game: Joi Concepcion and Jose Theran

Roster Notes: Minor league free agent Ricky Negron was assigned to the GCL Blue Jays.

DSL Blue Jays 1, DSL White Sox 4

The DSL Blue Jays dropped their Friday game to the DSL White Sox 4-1. The Blue Jays had just three hits including one from Rafael Lantigua (1/3, BB, R, 2 SB), Andres Martinez (1/4) and William Saavedra (1/3).

Nathanael Perez pitched well enough to win, throwing five shutout innings, giving up three hits and a walk with seven strikeouts. Nicolas Medina gave up three runs on four hits and a walk with four strikeouts in 2 1/3 innings and Luis Mendoza, allowing both inherited runs to score, allowed a fourth run on two hits in 2/3 of an inning.

Player of the Game: Nathanael Perez

If you like us here, like us on Facebook!

The 2017 Toronto Blue Jays Minor League Handbook is now available! Check out the Handbook page for more information!