May 2, 2017 Toronto Blue Jays Minor League Report
By Jay Blue
Blue Jays from Away

The Blue Jays' minor league teams went 1-2 in three games after the Buffalo Bisons got shut down due to rain. The Dunedin Blue Jays came away with the organization's only win of the night thanks to a dominant outing from their starter and a walk-off win in the bottom of the ninth.

Buffalo Bisons, Rochester Red Wings

Game postponed due to rain.

New Hampshire Fisher Cats 2, Reading Fightin' Phils 7

The New Hampshire Fisher Cats couldn't do much against the Reading Fightin Phils' starter Tom Eshelman, falling 7-2 to the Phillies' Double-A club. The hitters had just two hits among them, both by Tim Lopes who had a single and a triple, scoring one of the club's runs. Richard Urena had an RBI and a walk and Gunnar Heidt scored the club's only other run after taking a walk.

On the mound, Jon Harris got the start and had trouble with the Fightins, going 5 2/3 innings and giving up six runs on nine hits and two walks with four strikeouts. Alonzo Gonzalez was charged with a run on a hit (a home run) and two walks in 1 1/3 innings while Jose Fernandez finished the game with a scoreless eighth.

Player of the Game: Tim Lopes

Roster Notes: Carlos Ramirez was placed on the 7-day DL and Kender Villegas was promoted from Dunedin.

Dunedin Blue Jays 5, Tampa Yankees 4

The Dunedin Blue Jays fought off the feisty Tampa Yankees in a 5-4 walkoff win. Lane Thomas hit his third home run of the season, driving in three runs in the first inning to cap off an early rally that got the D-Jays on the board and into the lead. Connor Panas also went deep, with his second homer of the season, going 1/4. Max Pentecost was 2/5 with a double, a run and the game-winning single in the bottom of the ninth. That rally started with a pinch-hit single by Cavan Biggio who was forced to second when D.J. Davis was hit by a pitch. Davis was forced at second when Andrew Guillotte hit a grounder to short but that put Biggio on third base. Juan Kelly was intentionally walked and Pentecost hit a weak single to center field, scoring the winning run.

Ryan Borucki started for the Blue Jays and came out of the game after 3 2/3 innings without giving up a hit or a walk and striking out eight of the 11 batters he faced. He came out of the game after 45 pitches because of a low pitch count after coming off the DL. Ryan Cook gave up his first run of the year, allowing one run (on a solo home run) on two hits and two walks with three strikeouts in three innings of relief. Philip Walby allowed a walk but stranded two inherited runners in 1 1/3 innings and Andrew Case blew the save, allowing three runs in the ninth inning to allow the Yankees to tie the game but earned the win after the Blue Jays walked it off.

Player of the Game: Ryan Borucki and Max Pentecost

Roster Notes: Kender Villegas was promoted to the New Hampshire Fisher Cats and Philip Walby was promoted to Dunedin from Lansing.

Lansing Lugnuts 6, Peoria Chiefs 8

The Lansing Lugnuts got a strong outing from their starter but this time, it was their bullpen that gave up the ghost as they fell 8-6 to the Peoria Chiefs. Mike Ellenbest was on the hill to start the game and he was excellent, going five innings and giving up just one run on four hits and three walks with six strikeouts. Griffin Glaude took the loss, allowing four runs in two innings, giving up a home run among his four hits. Denis Diaz threw a scoreless eighth and Nick Hartman allowed three runs (two earned) on three hits in the ninth.

The Sluggin' Lugnuts teamed up for six runs on nine hits as a group with Edward Olivares smacking three more hits, going 3/4 with a triple and two runs while Bo Bichette slammed his third home run, going 1/5 and driving in three while seeing his batting average fall to .360. Joshua Palacios was 2/4 with a walk, a run and an RBI. Jake Thomas took two more walks, going 1/2. The infielders were the authors of three errors on the night, with Vladimir Guerrero making his first one of the season on a throw from third, Bo Bichette making his fifth, a fielding error, and Christian Williams at first base committing his second.

Player of the Game: Mike Ellenbest and Edward Olivares

Roster Notes: Philip Walby was promoted to the Dunedin Blue Jays while Michael De La Cruz was activated off the DL and Nash Knight was placed on the DL.

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