Jay Blue: Blue Jays minor league round-up - September 17

Right-hander Julian Valdez was promoted to the double-A New Hampshire Fisher Cats on Friday. Photo: Jay Blue

September 17, 2021

By Jay Blue

Blue Jays from Away

The Toronto Blue Jays' minor league affiliates were all in action and split their Friday games 3-3.

Buffalo Bisons 3, Rochester Red Wings (WAS) 7

The Buffalo Bisons (70-45) fell 7-3 to the Rochester Red Wings, despite clinching the Northeast Division Championship.

Catcher Juan Graterol was 3-for-4 with a home run, an RBI and two runs while Otto Lopez was 2-for-5 with a double and two RBI. Gregory Polanco had the club's two other hits, going 2-for-3 with a run.

Starter Bowden Francis took the loss, giving up just three runs (two earned) on three hits (one HR) with two walks and four strikeouts. Hobie Harris surrendered three more runs on three hits and a walk with one strikeout and Travis Bergen allowed a run on a hit (one HR) with a walk and two strikeouts in one inning. Trent Thornton finished it, allowing a hit and striking out one.

L: Bowden Francis (9-6)

HR: Juan Graterol (2)

Player of the Game: Juan Graterol

New Hampshire Fisher Cats 4, Harrisburg Senators (WAS) 0

The New Hampshire Fisher Cats (50-55) won their 50th game of the season with a 4-0 shutout of the Harrisburg Senators.

A piecemeal pitching staff did a heroic job with Adrian Hernandez getting all five of his outs by strikeouts, walking two batters in 1 2/3 innings. Andrew Bash went five innings, allowing three hits and a walk with four strikeouts and Sean Rackoski gave up two hits and struck out one in his inning of work. Graham Spraker allowed a walk and struck out one in his inning and Brandon Eisert got the final out, allowing a hit.

The Fisher Cats spread out their offence with only Reggie Pruitt getting more than one hit. Pruitt was 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI, throwing out a runner at second base while Chavez Young was 1-for-2 with a double, two walks and a stolen base. Vinny Capra was 1-for-3 with an RBI and Spencer Horwitz was 1-for-4 with his first double-A home run, a solo shot in the eighth inning. Ryan Gold was 1-for-3 with a walk and a run while Hugo Cardona was 1-for-3 and Steward Berroa was 1-for-2 with an RBI, a run and two stolen bases.

W: Andrew Bash (1-0)

HR: Spencer Horwitz (1)

Player of the Game: Andrew Bash

Roster Notes: Connor Law was placed on the 7-day IL and Julian Valdez was promoted from Dunedin.

Vancouver Canadians 2, Hillboro Hops (ARI) 4

The Vancouver Canadians (54-64) lost again to the Hillsboro Hops, falling 4-2.

Starter Paxton Schultz was on the mound, allowing two runs on two hits with two walks and seven strikeouts in five innings. Willy Gaston allowed two more runs on two hits with three walks and a strikeout in two innings and Thomas Ruwe struck out four in the final two innings, facing the minimum six batters.

Third baseman Trevor Schwecke had a pair of hits including a double and an RBI while Philip Clarke was 1-for-4 with an RBI and Zac Cook was 1-for-3 with a walk and a run. Will Robertson was 1-for-3 with a walk and Addison Barger was 1-for-4. Eric Rivera was 0-for-3 but walked, stole a base and scored a run.

L: Paxton Schultz (5-7)

Player of the Game: Trevor Schwecke

Dunedin Blue Jays 7, Clearwater Threshers (PHI) 6

The Dunedin Blue Jays (56-62) held off a late-charging Clearwater Threshers club to beat them 7-6.

Left fielder Gabriel Martinez, recently up from the FCL, was 3-for-4 in his first game in full-season ball, taking a walk and driving in a run while also scoring one. Dasan Brown (Oakville, Ont.) was 1-for-4 with a run and Leonardo Jimenez was on base three times despite going 0-for-1. He had three walks and two runs. Miguel Hiraldo was 1-for-4 with a double and an RBI while Riley Tirotta was 1-for-4 with a walk and a run, stealing a base. Rainer Nunez was 1-for-4 with two runs and Mackenzie Mueller was 1-for-4 with an RBI.

Starter Nathanael Perez went five innings, allowing two runs on six hits (two HRs) with two walks and six strikeouts. Jiorgeny Casimiri allowed two runs on a hit and two walks in 1 1/3 innings, leaving the bases loaded for Jimmy Burnette who allowed one of the inherited runners to score. Burnette allowed two runs of his own (one earned) on a hit and two walk swith two strikeouts in 1 2/3 innings and Matt Svanson cleaned things up in the ninth, striking out a pair for the save.

W: Nathanael Perez (4-3)

S: Matt Svanson

Player of the Game: Gabriel Martinez

Roster Notes: RHP Julian Valdez was promoted to the New Hampshire Fisher Cats.

FCL Blue Jays 0, FCL Phillies 13

The FCL Blue Jays (25-28) were shut out by the FCL Phillies, falling 13-0 on Friday.

The Blue Jays had just three hits with a double by Darlin Guzman (1-for-3) and singles from Amell Brazoban (1-for-3) and Emmanuel Sanchez (1-for-3).

Starter Jonatan Bernal allowed two runs on four hits with a walk and five strikeouts in four innings and Brayan Mejia allowed five runs on two hits with three walks and one strikeout in 1 2/3 innings. Jackxarel Lebron inherited two runners and allowed both to score, giving up four runs of his own on a hit (one HR) and three walks without getting an out. Edgar Castro finished it, allowing two runs on a hit (one HR) and a walk with two strikeouts in 1 1/3 innings.

L: Jonatan Bernal (0-3)

Player of the Game: None

DSL Blue Jays 12, DSL White Sox 0

The DSL Blue Jays (28-16) bounced back against the DSL White Sox, scoring as many runs on Friday as were scored on them on Thursday and shutting their opponents out with a 12-0 win.

First baseman Cristian Feliz was 4-for-5 with two doubles, three RBI and two runs to lead the offence. Endri Garcia was 3-for-4 with a double, two RBI and a run. Catcher Jommer Hernandez was 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run while shortstop Manuel Beltre was 2-for-5 with a double, a walk and three runs scored. Robert Robertis was 2-for-4 with a walk and two runs and Yeuni Munoz was 1-for-3 with a walk, two RBI and a run. Victor Arias was 1-for-4 with a walk and Francisco Fajardo was 1-for-4 with a triple, an RBI and a run. Luis Garcia was 1-for-4 with a run.

Starter Angel Santana went three scoreless innings, allowing a hit and three walks with three strikeouts while Pedro Acosta allowed two walks and struck out one in his inning of work. Robin De Jesus allowed two walks and struck out two over three shutout innings and Pedro Munoz finished it to complete the shutout despite walking three in two innings.

W: Robin De Jesus (2-2)

Player of the Game: Cristian Feliz

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