August 16, 2018 Toronto Blue Jays Minor League Report
By Jay Blue
Blue Jays from Away

The Toronto Blue Jays' affiliates split their day, going 4-4 with big games from two of their up-and-coming prospects.

Buffalo Bisons 2, Gwinnett Stripers 4

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (Montreal, Que.) had a pair of hits in a losing cause as the triple-A Buffalo Bisons lost 4-2 to the Gwinnett Stripers. Guerrero was 2/3 with a walk and Tim Lopes had the Bisons' other two hits, going 2/4 with a run. Reese McGuire and Darnell Sweeney each drove in a run with a sacrifice fly.

Brandon Cumpton, who had cleared waivers and was sent to Buffalo outright, allowed four runs on eight hits (including a home run) with two walks and two strikeouts in five innings. Zach Stewart allowed a hit in two innings, striking out one and Craig Breslow walked one and struck out one in the eighth.

L: Brandon Cumpton (2-3)

Roster Notes: Brandon Cumpton was sent outright to Buffalo and Gunnar Heidt was promoted to the Bisons. Jason Leblebijian was placed on the DL.

Player of the Game: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Tim Lopes

New Hampshire Fisher Cats 7, Altoona Curve 6

Cavan Biggio celebrated along with his teammates as he had a huge day, hitting his second home run of the game in the bottom of the ninth as the double-A New Hampshire Fisher Cats walked off with a 7-6 victory over the Altoona Curve. Biggio was 3/4 with a walk, two home runs, three RBI, four runs and, playing right field, an outfield assist to cut down a run at the plate. Max Pentecost drove in two runs with a double, going 1/4, scoring a run while Santiago Espinal drove in a run, going 1/3. Bo Bichette was 1/4 with a walk, a double and a run.

T.J. Zeuch only lasted four innings, giving up five runs (four earned) on six hits and a walk before Danny Young tossed two scoreless innings, giving up just a hit and striking out three. Dusty Isaacs also threw two innings, giving up a run on a hit and two walks with two strikeouts before Travis Bergen allowed a hit and a walk but no runs in the ninth, picking up the win and lowering his ERA to 0.30.

W: Travis Bergen (3-1)
HR: Cavan Biggio 2 (26)

Roster Notes: Juan Kelly was activated off the DL and Gunnar Heidt was promoted to Buffalo.

Player of the Game: Cavan Biggio

Dunedin Blue Jays 2, Jupiter Hammerheads 8

Maverik Buffo was hit hard as the class-A Advanced Dunedin Blue Jays fell to the Jupiter Hammerheads 8-2. Buffo allowed eight runs (seven earned) on 11 hits and two walks while striking out six in 4 1/3 innings before Nick Hartman stranded two inherited runners and scattered four hits over 2 2/3 innings with two strikeouts. Connor Eller allowed a hit and struck out two in the remaining two innings.

Ivan Castillo hit his third home run of the year, going 1/4 while Rodrigo Orozco was 2/3 with a double and and a walk, scoring a run. Kevin Smith was 2/4 and Chad Spanberger added a double, going 1/4 with an RBI.

L: Maverik Buffo (3-3)
HR: Ivan Castillo (3)

Player of the Game: Rodrigo Orozco

Lansing Lugnuts 3, West Michigan Whitecaps 2

Thanks to a strong outing from Graham Spraker, the low-A Lansing Lugnuts pulled off a 3-2 victory over the West Michigan Whitecaps. Spraker tossed seven innings, giving up two runs on six hits and two walks with two strikeouts and Dany Jimenez finished the final two innings, allowing two hits and a walk with two strikeouts.

Brandon Grudzielanek had two hits, going 2/4 with a double and an RBI, adding a stolen base while Chavez Young drove in a run, going 1/4 with a stolen base. Samad Taylor walked twice, scoring once and stealing his 41st base of the year (and also getting caught once).

W: Graham Spraker (4-2)
S: Dany Jimenez (11)

Player of the Game: Graham Spraker and Brandon Grudzielanek

Vancouver Canadians 0, Tri-City Dust Devils 6

The class-A Short-Season Vancouver Canadians were shut out in afternoon action, losing 6-0 to the Tri-City Dust Devils. The Canadians' bats were quiet with just four hits though Otto Lopez (Montreal, Que.), Tanner Kirwer (Sherwood Park, Alta.) and Christopher Bec each walked twice (and Kirwer stole a base). Yorman Rodriguez, Mc Gregory Contreras, Sterling Guzman and Brandon Polizzi each had a single.

Nick Allgeyer took the loss despite giving up just one run on a solo home run with one strikeout in the first two innings of the game. Juan Nunez allowed five more runs (four earned) on eight hits and a walk with three strikeouts in five innings and Fitz Stadler had a strong outing, striking out four in two innings, giving up a hit.

L: Nick Allgeyer (0-1)

Player of the Game: None

Bluefield Blue Jays 6, Elizabethton Twins 0

The Elizabethton Twins were witness to 17-year-old righty Eric Pardinho at his best as the youngster contributed to a shutout in a 6-0 Bluefield Blue Jays (rookie-class) victory. Pardinho needed just 73 pitches to go seven innings, allowing only one hit and striking out six without walking anyone. Nicolas Medina struck out another Twin in the eighth and Sean Rackoski allowed two hits but kept the shutout intact, striking out one in the ninth.

Two-way player Andy McGuire had one of his best games at the plate, going 3/4 with a double, an RBI and a run while Alejandro Kirk drove in two runs, going 2/4. Cal Stevenson walked twice, going 1/3 with a stolen base and Davis Schneider drove in two runs going 1/4 with a run.

W: Eric Pardinho (4-3)

Roster Notes: Matt Harris was assigned to the GCL Blue Jays.

Player of the Game: Eric Pardinho

GCL Blue Jays 2, GCL Phillies West 4

The GCL Blue Jays matched the GCL Phillies West with eight hits but the Phillies took advantage of an error, scoring four runs (three unearned) to come away with a 4-2 win. Ryan Thurston was victimized by Jose A. Hernandez's fielding error, allowing three runs (all unearned) on three hits with five strikeouts and no walks in five innings of work. Matt Harris allowed two hits and struck out one in the sixth and Eliezer Bello gave up a hit with one strikeout in the seventh. Alexander Molina finished it for the Jays, giving up a run on two hits with a strikeout in the eighth.

Jose Abel Hernandez had two hits and stole a base while Joseph Reyes drove in a run with a solo home run, going 1/3 with two runs. Miguel Hiraldo was 1/4 with a double and an RBI and Warnel Valdez hit a double.

L: Ryan Thurston (1-2)
HR: Joseph Reyes (5)

Roster Notes: Anderson Nunez and Roither Hernandez were placed on the 60-day DL. Matt Harris was assigned to the GCL Blue Jays; he was last seen pitching for the Bluefield Blue Jays in late June.

Player of the Game: Ryan Thurston and Joseph Reyes

DSL Blue Jays 9, DSL D-backs1 3

The DSL Blue Jays took advantage of their two games against their division's top rival, the DSL D-backs1 as they won 9-3 to creep within 5 1/2 games of the D-backs1 in first place. Newly signed shortstop Pedro Ventura, who had been signed after being released by the Mets in May, had a strong Blue Jays debut, going 3/5 with a double and four RBI. Alberto Rodriguez (2/5, RBI, 2 R), Erickvi Celedonio (2/5, 2B, 2 RBI) and Geyber Jimenez (2/3, 2B, 2 BB, 2 R) ahd two hits each while Jhon Solarte was 0/2 but walked and scored twice. Hanley Acevedo was 1/3 with a walk and an RBI.

Lazaro Estrada continues to outclass the DSL, striking out 10 in six innings, giving up just one run on three hits and a walk with only a solo home run coming in to score. Jose Brito took over, giving up a run on two hits in the seventh and Sergio Leon allowed a run on two hits and three walks with two strikeouts in two innings.

W: Lazaro Estrada (2-3)

Roster Notes: Pedro Ventura and Anthony Rodriguez were assigned to the DSL Blue Jays. Ventura, 21, had been released by the Mets in May and Rodriguez, 22, was released by the Astros last December.

Player of the Game: Lazaro Estrada and Pedro Ventura

Jay's Jay of the Day: Cavan Biggio and Eric Pardinho

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