August 2, 2018 Toronto Blue Jays Minor League Report
By Jay Blue
Blue Jays from Away

With two doubleheaders on the books, the Toronto Blue Jays' minor league affiliates split the 10 games on the docket despite a big strikeout performance in Buffalo and the Fisher Cats scoring eight runs for the fifth consecutive game.

Buffalo Bisons 4, Lehigh Valley IronPigs 6

The triple-A Buffalo Bisons finished up their home stand losing 6-4 to the Lehigh Valley IronPigs despite being bolstered by two home runs. Jonathan Davis hit his second home run of the season (and second in as many games), going 1-for-3 with a home run, walk and two runs. Tim Lopes contributed with a solo home run (his first of the year), two runs and a stolen base. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (Montreal, Que.) was 1-for-3 with a double and a walk and Anthony Alford was 2-for-4 with an RBI.

Jacob Waguespack made his Buffalo debut, taking the loss despite fanning 12 batters. He threw 6 1/3 innings, striking out the dozen and giving up four runs on eight hits (including a home run) and one walk. Craig Breslow walked the only batter he faced and he came in to score against Connor Fisk who came in with the bases loaded and allowed all three runners to score, allowing a hit and a walk, striking out two in 2/3 of an inning. Tim Mayza walked two and gave up a hit but no runs in the eighth, striking out one and Zach Stewart struck out one and gave up a hit in the ninth.

L: Jacob Waguespack (3-6)
HR: Tim Lopes (1), Jonathan Davis (2)

Roster Notes: Jacob Waguespack was assigned to the Buffalo Bisons and Gunnar Heidt was sent to the New Hampshire Fisher Cats from the Buffalo Bisons. Dwight Smith Jr. was optioned from Toronto to Buffalo.

Player of the Game: Tim Lopes and Jonathan Davis

New Hampshire Fisher Cats 8, Richmond Flying Squirrels 20

The double-A New Hampshire Fisher Cats scored eight runs for the fifth consecutive game but it still wasn't nearly enough to defeat the Richmond Flying Squirrels who came up with 20 runs to beat the Fisher Cats 20-8.

Jordan Romano (Markham, Ont.) started, allowing seven runs (two earned) on six hits with four strikeouts in four innings. Nick Hartman allowed three runs (one earned) in two innings, giving up three hits and striking out two. Zach Jackson allowed two runs on two hits and three walks with two strikeouts in two innings and Dusty Isaacs couldn't get anyone out, giving up three hits and four walks in seven batters to start the ninth. All seven came in to score as Ryan Hissey came on for the end of the game, allowing all three inherited runners to score and giving up a run of his own on three hits in an inning.

Max Pentecost was 3-for-5 with a double, two RBI and two runs while Harold Ramirez was 2-for-5 with a run and a stolen base. Gunnar Heidt was 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI, adding a stolen base. Andrew Guillotte, Bo Bichette and Cavan Biggio each had a double with Biggio walking twice, scoring twice but also making two errors in the field at third base. Jon Berti was 1-for-3 with a walk, an RBI, a run and two stolen bases but he was caught stealing once. Santiago Espinal drove in two runs, going 1/5 with a triple and a run.

L: Jordan Romano (10-5)

Roster Notes: Gunnar Heidt was assigned to the Fisher Cats and Justin Dillon was placed on the 7-day DL.

Player of the Game: Max Pentecost

Dunedin Blue Jays 2, Lakeland Flying Tigers 1

The class-A Advanced Dunedin Blue Jays kept up their string of strong pitching performances, finally scoring the winning run in the bottom of the 10th to beat the Lakeland Flying Tigers 2-1. Patrick Murphy was dominant, allowing just three hits and a walk with seven strikeouts over six innings. Jonathan Cheshire pitched a scoreless seventh but gave up back-to-back singles to start the eighth before giving way to Jake Fishman who allowed one of those runners to score despite not giving up a hit or a walk and striking out two in 1 2/3 innings. Ty Tice finished the game, giving up a hit and striking out a batter in 1 1/3 innings.

Ivan Castillo was 3-for-4 with a double while Kevin Smith was 2-for-4 and Alberto Mineo and Kacy Clemens were each 2-for-4 with a double and Kacy Clemens scored the club's first run. Rodrigo Orozco was 1-for-4 with an RBI and scored the winning run in the bottom of the 10th when Lakeland's catcher made an error trying to throw Orozco out stealing third and he came home.

W: Ty Tice (5-3)

Player of the Game: Ivan Castillo and Patrick Murphy

Lansing Lugnuts 8, South Bend Cubs 6

Red-hot Ryan Noda struck again as the Lansing Lugnuts beat the South Bend Cubs 8-6.

Noda was 1-for-3 with his 14th home run of the year, driving in three runs and adding a walk. Samad Taylor was 2-for-5 with a double, an RBI, two runs and his club-leading 37th stolen base of the year. Chavez Young was also 2-for-5 with an RBI, a run and two stolen bases, giving him 27 for the season. Jesus Navarro drove in a pair of runs, going 1-for-4 with a run.

Matt Gunter allowed four runs on six hits (including two home runs) and two walks with two strikeouts in five innings to get the win. Emerson Jimenez allowed two runs on two hits and a walk with one strikeout in 2 2/3 innings and Brayden Bouchey (White Rock, B.C.) gave up just a hit and struck out three in 1 1/3 innings to get the save.

W: Matthew Gunter (3-4)
S: Brayden Bouchey (2)
HR: Ryan Noda (14)

Player of the Game: Ryan Noda, Chavez Young and Samad Taylor

Vancouver Canadians 4, Hillsboro Hops 7

Each team scored one fewer run than they did on Wednesday, but Thursday's game had the class-A Short-Season Vancouver Canadians falling once again by a three-run margin to the Hillsboro Hops, 7-4 this time.

Otto Lopez (Montreal, Que.) hit a pair of doubles, going 2-for-5 with an RBI and two runs while Jake Brodt also hit two doubles, going 2-for-4. Bryan Lizardo drove in a pair of runs, going 2-for-4 with a double and Jesus Severino and Nick Podkul each had a double with Severino adding a walk.

Jose Espada started, giving up five runs (three earned) on six hits (including a home run) and four walks with four strikeouts in five innings. Denis Diaz allowed a solo home run among two hits with a walk in two innings and Connor Law finished, striking out three batters in the ninth but giving up a run on a hit.

L: Jose Espada (2-4)

Player of the Game: Jake Brodt, Otto Lopez and Bryan Lizardo

Bluefield Blue Jays 9, Bristol Pirates 2

In the first game of a doubleheader, the rookie-class Bluefield Blue Jays erupted for nine runs while holding the Bristol Pirates to just one hit in a 9-2 win. Rafael Lantigua was 2-for-3 with a double, a walk, three RBI and two runs as the entire offence was strong. Hagen Danner was 2-for-3 with two runs and and a walk and Andy McGuire, playing first base, was 2-for-4 with a double and two RBI, scoring once. Dominic Abbadessa was 1-for-3 with a double, a walk, an RBI and a run while D.J. Neal was 1-for-4 with his first home run of the season and two RBI.

Troy Watson didn't allow a hit through four innings, walking three and striking out three to get the win. Cre Finfrock walked five batters in 1 2/3 innings, allowing two runs on just one hit. Alvaro Galindo allowed an inherited runner to score but stranded the other two he inherited from Finfrock finishing the sixth inning, hitting a batter before getting one out. Jackson Rees finished the game, walking one and striking out one in the seventh.

W: Troy Watson (2-0)
HR: D.J. Neal (1)

Player of the Game: Rafael Lantigua

Bluefield Blue Jays 6, Bristol Pirates 1

In Game 2 of the doubleheader with the Bristol Pirates, the Bluefield Blue Jays did pretty much the same thing they did in Game 1, beating the Pirates 6-1 and holding them to just two hits. Adams Cuevas allowed a solo home run and two walks with three strikeouts in four innings and Nicolas Medina walked three but didn't allow a hit or a run in two innings, striking out two. Grant Townsend finished the game, striking out two and giving up a hit in the seventh.

Dominic Abbadessa had two hits including a triple and added an RBI and a run while Rafael Lantigua had another multi-hit game, going 2-for-2 with a double and a walk, scoring once. Alejandro Kirk was 1-for-3 with a walk and his team-leading seventh home run while Cal Stevenson was on base three times, going 1-for-2 with two walks and a run. Jose Theran drove in two runs, going 1-for-3.

W: Nicolas Medina (2-0)
HR: Alejandro Kirk (7)

Player of the Game: Alejandro Kirk, Rafael Lantigua and Cal Stevenson

GCL Blue Jays 4, GCL Yankees East 5

The GCL Blue Jays tied the game in the top of the eighth with two runs but the Yankees East broke the tie in the bottom of the 10th to win 5-4. Starter Rafael Monsion had a solid start, giving up three runs on five hits and a walk with six strikeouts in five innings. Eliezer Bello allowed an unearned run in 1 2/3 innings, giving up three hits and a walk with two strikeouts before Brayan Mejia stranded two runners, getting the final out of the seventh. He pitched two more scoreless frames, allowing three hits and two walks with one strikeout in 2 1/3 innings. Meliton Reyes pitched 1/3 of an inning, allowing the winning run to score (unearned), walking two and giving up a hit.

Warnel Valdez had a huge game, going 3-for-5 with a double and four RBI while Gabriel Moreno (1-for-3, 2B, 2 BB) and Joseph Reyes (1-for-3, 2B, 2 BB, R) each were on base three times. Addison Barger walked twice and Adrian Ramos was 1-for-4 with a walk and a stolen base but also committed an error. The Yankees East ran wild on Gabriel Moreno, stealing six bases but getting caught twice.

L: Meliton Reyes (0-3)

Player of the Game: Warnel Valdez

DSL Blue Jays 7, DSL Reds 5

Opening their doubleheader with the DSL Reds, the DSL Blue Jays provided Ronald Govea with plenty of offence in the fifth inning, scoring six runs and winning 7-5.

Jhon Solarte was 3-for-3 with a triple and two runs while Erickvi Celedonio drove in two runs, going 1-for-3 with an outfield assist. Kenny Mauricio was 1-for-2 with a walk and Miguel Hiraldo was 1-for-3 with an RBI and a run.

Govea tossed five innings, giving up three runs (two earned) on four hits and two walks with three strikeouts to earn the win. Jose Brito allowed a hit and a walk in the sixth, striking out one and William Gonzalez allowed two runs (one earned) in the seventh but held on to the win, striking out two.

W: Ronald Govea (3-0)

Player of the Game: Jhon Solarte

DSL Blue Jays 2, DSL Reds 3

The DSL Blue Jays weren't able to get enough offence together and made two more errors than the DSL Reds, losing 3-2 in the second game of their doubleheader. Jhon Solarte was 1-for-3, driving in both runs while Jose Rivas was 1-for-3 with a triple. Rainer Nunez, Jose Ferrer and Gustavo Ruiz each had a hit.

Adrian Hernandez struck out six in five innings, giving up three runs (two earned) on seven hits and two walks, taking the loss and Pedro Padilla threw the sixth inning, allowing just a hit.

L: Adrian Hernandez (2-1)

Player of the Game: None

Jay's Jay of the Day: Rafael Lantigua

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