Jay Blue: Blue Jays minor league round-up - June 11

Catcher Gabriel Moreno went 4-for-5 with two doubles, a home run and three RBIs for the double-A New Hampshire Fisher Cats on Friday. Photo: Kristen Basnett

June 11, 2021

By Jay Blue

Blue Jays from Away

The Toronto Blue Jays minor league affiliates swept their opponents, winning all four games, including two in extra innings.

Buffalo Bisons 4, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (NYY) 2

The Buffalo Bisons (17-15) got another big game from Cullen Large and some solid pitching performances in a 4-2 win over the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders.

Large had three of the club's eight hits, going 3-for-4 with a sac fly and two RBI and a run while Richard Urena had two hits of his own, going 2-for-4. Dilson Herrera was 1-for-3 with two walks and Kevin Smith was 1-for-2 with a double, a walk, and two RBI. Logan Warmoth was 1-for-2 with a walk and two runs, adding a stolen base.

Rehabbing Thomas Hatch was on the mound to start, logging two-plus scoreless innings, giving up a hit and a walk while striking out three. Kirby Snead was also excellent in two innings, facing only five batters (he got a double play to retire an inherited runner from Hatch) and struck out three. Nick Allgeyer threw four innings, allowing seven hits (one HR) and two walks, but only one run came in to score as he struck out six. Bryan Baker got his third save, allowing an unearned run on one hit, and he struck out two.

W: Kirby Snead (1-0)

S: Bryan Baker (3)

Player of the Game: Cullen Large

Roster Notes: Santiago Espinal was optioned to Buffalo.

New Hampshire Fisher Cats 14, Portland Sea Dogs (BOS) 6

The New Hampshire Fisher Cats (12-21) brought their lumber, scoring 14 runs on 20 hits on their way to beating the Portland Sea Dogs 14-6, thanks to an eight-run 10th inning that saw 10 batters come to the plate.

The heart of the order logged four hits each with Gabriel Moreno (4-for-5, 2 2B, HR, BB, 3 RBI, 3 R) leading the way, blasting a couple of doubles and a home run. LJ Talley followed him in the order, going 4-for-6 with a couple of doubles, three RBI and a run and Kevin Vicuna followed Talley, going 4-for-6 with two RBI and two runs. Nick Podkul was 2-for-6 with a double and a home run, driving in two and scoring twice, while Samad Taylor was 2-for-6 with an RBI and a run. Jordan Groshans was 1-for-5 with a walk and a run and Otto Lopez (Montreal, Que.) was 1-for-5 with a walk and two runs. Demi Orimoloye (Orleans, Ont.) was 1-for-6 with a run and Reggie Pruitt was 1-for-5 with a double, an RBI, a run and was caught stealing and picked off.

On the mound, Zach Logue had a rough start, giving up three home runs among nine hits, totalling six runs but he didn't walk anyone and struck out seven over four innings. Kyle Johnston allowed two hits and a walk but held the Sea Dogs where they were, striking out three in three innings. Curtis Taylor (Port Coquitlam, B.C.) pitched the eighth, walking one and striking out three while Mike Ellenbest picked up the win, throwing a perfect ninth and an unbelievable 10th inning in which he struck out the side on just 12 pitches with only one ball thrown. He finished with two innings and five strikeouts.

W: Mike Ellenbest (1-2)

HR: Gabriel Moreno (5), Nick Podkul (2)

Player of the Game: Gabriel Moreno

Vancouver Canadians 9, Spokane Indians (COL) 4

The Vancouver Canadians' (20-14) put together a very solid game overall, beating the Spokane Indians 9-4.

The club was very efficient, scoring nine runs on just eight hits with two hits from Tanner Morris (2-for-4, RBI, R) and Sebastian Espino (2-for-4, R) while Cameron Eden went deep, going 1-for-4 with a walk, four RBI and a run. Tanner Kirwer (Sherwood Park, Alta.) (1-for-4, BB, 2 R, SB), Phil Clarke (1/4, BB, 2 R) and Ronny Brito (1/3, 2B, SF, 2 RBI, R) had a hit each.

Starting was Adam Kloffenstein who allowed just one run on three hits and three walks in five innings, striking out six. Marcus Reyes was his usual self, allowing just a walk over two innings, striking out one. Justin Maese allowed three runs on three hits with two walks and a strikeout in one-plus inning and Parker Caracci, inherited the bases loaded and didn't allow anyone to score, earning the save in one inning of work.

W: Adam Kloffenstein (2-3)

S: Parker Caracci (4)

HR: Cameron Eden (2)

Player of the Game: Cameron Eden and Adam Kloffenstein

Dunedin Blue Jays 8, Lakeland Flying Tigers (DET) 7

The Dunedin Blue Jays (13-21) needed 10 innings but broke the tie and held on for the win as they beat the Lakeland Flying Tigers 8-7.

Leonardo Jimenez was again dominant, going 4-for-5 with an RBI and a run while Mack Mueller was 2-for-5 with his first professional home run, a triple, two RBI and one run. Harry Ray also had two hits, going 2-for-4 with a double, a walk and a run. Miguel Hiraldo was 1-for-3 with a double, two walks and a run while Orelvis Martinez flashed his power, hitting his fifth home run in the first inning, going 1-for-5 with three RBI. Steward Berroa was 1-for-5 with a triple and a run but struck out four times and PK Morris was 1-for-5 with two runs. Ryan Sloniger was 1-for-5 with a double and an RBI.

Starter Lazaro Estrada went four innings, giving up two runs on six hits with five strikeouts while Rafael Ohashi allowed five runs (one earned) on four hits (one HR) and a walk with three strikeouts in 2 2/3 innings. Sean Mellen got the win with 2 1/3 scoreless innings, giving up two hits and striking out three and Gabriel Ponce pitched a scoreless fourth, hitting a batter and getting the save.

W: Sean Mellen (1-0)

S: Gabriel Ponce (2)

HR: Orelvis Martinez (5), Mack Mueller (1)

Player of the Game: Leonardo Jimenez

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