Jay Blue: Blue Jays minor league round-up - August 6

Kevin Vicuna had three hits - including two doubles - and four RBIs for the double-A New Hampshire Fisher Cats on Friday. Photo: Jay Blue (file photo)

August 6, 2021

By Jay Blue

Blue Jays from Away

All six of the Toronto Blue Jays' minor league teams were in action with a 2-4 record on Friday.

Buffalo Bisons 9, Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs (PHI) 10

The Buffalo Bisons (47-32) couldn't complete the comeback. down 7-0 after four innings, the Bisons charged back with three in the fifth and four in the seventh, but the Lehigh Valley IronPigs kept adding a run here and a run there, and, when the Bisons scored a run in the top of the 10th, the IronPigs walked it off with two in the bottom.

Second baseman Dilson Herrera went off, going 3-for-4 with two home runs, double, four RBI and two runs for the Bisons. Not to be outdone (by much), Tyler White was 3-for-4 with a home run, a walk and five RBI, scoring once. Kevin Smith was 1-for-5 and Cullen Large was 1-for-5 with a run. Nash Knight was 1-for-2 with a walk and two runs.

Starting was Bowden Francis who allowed seven runs (six earned) on six hits (one HR) with six hits and four walks, striking out five over four innings. Jacob Waguespack went two innings and allowed a run on two hits and two walks with two strikeouts. Jacob Barnes made a Buffalo appearance, striking out two in one inning and Kirby Snead gave up two hits but no runs in his inning, striking out one. Dany Jimenez also provided a scoreless inning, striking out two and the usually dominant Bryan Baker took the loss, giving up two runs (one earned) on a hit and a walk in 1/3 of an inning.

L: Bryan Baker (4-1)

HR: Dilson Herrera 2 (10), Tyler White (9)

Player of the Game: Dilson Herrera and Tyler White

New Hampshire Fisher Cats 8, Hartford Yard Goats (COL) 5

The New Hampshire Fisher Cats (38-40) racked up another win against the woeful Hartford Yard Goats, beating them 8-5.

The shortstop, Kevin Vicuna had a big game, going 3-for-4 with two doubles, four RBI and a run, adding a stolen base while Jordan Groshans also had three hits, going 3-for-5 with two runs. LJ Talley was 2-for-4 with two runs and Nick Podkul was 2-for-3 with a walk. Samad Taylor was 1-for-5 with an RBI and Vinny Capra was 1-for-5 with a solo home run. Chavez Young was 1-for-3 with a double, a walk, a stolen base, an RBI and two runs.

Starter Luis Quinones continues to impress with his ability to strike out batters, racking up 10 Ks in just 4 2/3 innings, allowing two runs on four hits and three walks. Marcus Reyes continues to motor along as the lefty provided 1 1/3 innings of scoreless relief, striking out one. Connor Law blew the save but got the win, allowing two runs on two hits (one HR) with two walks in the seventh. Sean Rackoski earned the save, going two innings and giving up a run on two hits with four strikeouts.

W: Connor Law (2-0)

S: Sean Rackoski (2)

HR: Vinny Capra (7)

Player of the Game: Kevin Vicuna

Vancouver Canadians 3, Hillsboro Hops (ARI) 5

The Vancouver Canadians (37-45) again couldn't score enough to top the Hillsboro Hops, falling 5-3.

With just six hits, the Vancouver offence was fairly tame, but they did get two home runs with one each from Davis Schneider (1-for-3, HR, BB, RBI, 2 R) and Zac Cook (1-for-3, 2 RBI, R). Spencer Horwitz (1-for-4, 2B) and Rafael Lantigua (1-for-4, 2B) each had a double and Phil Clarke (1-for-4) and Tanner Morris (1-for-4) each had a hit.

Paxton Schultz had a solid start, giving up just one run on four hits and a walk with five strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings. Sean Mellen allowed two runs on three hits (one HR) in 2/3 of an inning, also allowing the runner he inherited from Schultz to score. Gabriel Ponce allowed a run on two hits with two strikeouts in one inning to take the loss and Parker Caracci surrendered a run on two hits (one HR) with two strikeouts in the final two innings.

L: Gabriel Ponce (0-1)

HR: Davis Schneider (6), Zac Cook (2)

Player of the Game: Paxton Schultz, Davis Schneider and Zac Cook

Roster Notes: On August 5, Anthony Morales was sent to Vancouver from Buffalo.

Dunedin Blue Jays 3, Fort Myers Mighty Mussels (MIN) 4

The Dunedin Blue Jays (36-45) were narrowly beaten by the Fort Myers Mighty Mussels, losing 4-3.

The Blue Jays had just four hits including singles from Dasan Brown (Oakville, Ont.) (1-for-3, R, SB), Steward Berroa (1-for-4, R), Miguel Hiraldo (1-for-3, RBI, R, SB, SF) and PK Morris (1-for-2, BB, RBI, SF).

Michael Dominguez was on the mound to start, allowing two runs on three hits and a walk with two strikeouts in 3 1/3 innings. Jefferson Herrera allowed another two runs on a hit (one HR) and three walks with a strikeout. Julian Valdez finished it with 1 1/3 scoreless innings.

L: Jefferson Herrera (1-1)

Player of the Game: None

FCL Blue Jays 6, FCL Tigers East 11

The FCL Blue Jays (13-11) got their whole game in, but lost to the FCL Tigers East 11-6.

Making his minor-league debut was Quebec minor leaguer, 18-year-old J.C. Masson. Masson, who came out of CEGEP was drafted in 2019 as the youngest player in that draft and is still 18 as he begins his pro career. Masson was 3-for-5 with two doubles, an RBI and a run while Emmanuel Sanchez also had three hits, going 3-for-4 with an RBI. Marcos De La Rosa was 2-for-5 playing centre field while Adriel Sotolongo was 2-for-2 with a run. Juan Gonzalez was 2-for-2 with a double and two RBI and Leonel Callez was 1-for-3 with a double and a run. Yhon Perez was also 1-for-3 as was Garrett Spain, making his pro debut.

On the mound was Dahian Santos who tossed four innings of one-run ball, allowing two hits and three walks with four strikeouts. Wilgenis Alvarado allowed four runs (three earned) on four hits and a walk with two strikeouts in 1 2/3 innings and Stephen Vargas couldn't get an out, allowing his inherited runner to score, giving up a run of his own on three walks and a hit. Kelvin Perez allowed another four runs on two hits and two walks with a strikeout in 2/3 of an inning and Jiorgeny Casimiri allowed both inherited runners to score, but didn't give up a run of his own, walking two and striking out one in 2/3 of an inning. Brayan Mejia finished it, giving up a run on a hit and a walk in the eighth.

L: Wilgenis Alvarado (1-1)

Player of the Game: J.C. Masson

DSL Blue Jays 4, DSL Orioles1 3

The DSL Blue Jays (9-7) won their second in a row against the DSL Orioles1 4-3.

Manuel Beltre continues to show signs of coming out of his funk going 2-for-2 with two walks, a stolen base, and a double, driving in a run and scoring one, bringing his batting average up to .220 and his OPS to .698 for the season. Francisco Fajardo was 1-for-4 with an RBI and Victor Arias, playing centre field, was 1-for-3 with a walk. Luis Garcia was 1-for-4 with a run and a stolen base and Cristian Feliz was 1-for-3 with a walk. Luis Bullon, at catcher, was 1-for-3 with a run.

Sergio Caruci struck out seven in three innings but gave up a pair of runs on three hits (one HR) with a walk in just three innings. Nathanael Perez went one scoreless inning, walking one and Neiyerbe Obeso walked three and allowed an unearned run in his inning. Keiner Leon allowed a hit and struck out three in two innings of work.

W: Keiner Leon (2-1)

Player of the Game: Manuel Beltre

Roster Notes: On August 5, the Blue Jays released Livan Chaviano.

If you like us here, like us on Facebook!