Jay Blue: Burns, Kirwer, Monsion, Moreno, Pearson, Podkul, Schwecke, Watson

Gabriel Moreno was 2-for-4 with a home run for the low-A Lansing Lugnuts on Tuesday. Photo: Jay Blue

July 30, 2019 Toronto Blue Jays Minor League Report

By Jay Blue

Blue Jays from Away

The Blue Jays' affiliates had an even record at 4-4 with eight games on the agenda for Tuesday.

Buffalo Bisons 8, Rochester Red Wings (MIN) 10

In a slugfest, the Rochester Red Wings came out on top with two runs in the top of the ninth to beat the Buffalo Bisons 10-8.

The Bisons had 12 hits, all but one of them was a single. Andy Burns was 3/5 with two RBI, a run and a stolen base while Rowdy Tellez was on base five times, going 2/2 with three walks, an RBI and two runs. Socrates Brito was 2/5 with a walk and two runs while Richard Urena (1/5, R), Michael De La Cruz (1/4, 2B, BB, 3 RBI), Alen Hanson (1/5, RBI) and Roemon Fields (1/5, SB) had a hit each. Patrick Kivlehan was 1/3 with two walks, an RBI and a run.

Andrew Sopko had another rough start, giving up six runs (five earned) on seven hits (including a home run) with three walks and two strikeouts in five innings. Matt Dermody allowed two runs on four hits, allowing a home run, and striking out one over two innings. Bryan Baker struck out two in the eighth and Jason Adam took the loss, giving up a two-run home run on three hits with two strikeouts.

L: Jason Adam (0-3)

Player of the Game: Rowdy Tellez

New Hampshire Fisher Cats 2, Akron Rubberducks (CLE) 1

Nate Pearson was at it again, pitching and not giving up any runs as the New Hampshire Fisher Cats beat the Akron RubberDucks 2-1.

Pearson allowed just two hits and three walks in six innings in his longest outing of the year, using 91 pitches (51 strikeouts) and striking out five. Vinny Nittoli took the win, allowing an unearned run on two hits with a strikeout in the seventh while Jake Fishman gave up two hits but no runs in the eighth, striking out one. Corey Copping got the save, striking out one in the ninth.

Kevin Smith continued his resurgent fofense, going 2/3 with a home run, a walk, an RBI and a run. Santiago Espinal drove in the club's other run, going 1/4 while Forrest Wall (1/4), Nash Knight 1/4), Vinny Capra (1/4, 2B) and Riley Adams (1/4) each had a hit.

W: Vinny Nittoli (2-2)

S: Corey Copping (1)

HR: Kevin Smith (16)

Player of the Game: Nate Pearson and Kevin Smith

Dunedin Blue Jays 6, Fort Myers Miracle (MIN) 11

The Dunedin Blue Jays' pitching staff took a beating, giving up 11 runs, taking an 11-6 loss to the Fort Myers Miracle.

Turner Larkins started, allowing five runs on seven hits (including a home run) with a walk and three strikeouts in three innings and Mike Ellenbest allowed four runs (one earned) on four hits with two walks and four strikeouts in 2 2/3 innings. Kyle Weatherly surrendered two more runs on two hits (including a home run) and a walk with two strikeouts in 1 1/3 innings and Connor Law struck out the side in the eighth.

While the Blue Jays had just five hits, they did steal five bases with Demi Orimoloye (Orleans, Ont.) (0/2, 2 BB, 2 R, SB), Chavez Young (1/3, BB, RBI, R, 2 SB), Kacy Clemens (1/3, BB, RBI, R, SB) and Nick Podkul (2/3, BB, RBI, R, SB) all contributing on the basepaths. Cullen Large was 1/5 with an RBI while Cal Stevenson drove in a run, going 0/5.

L: Mike Ellenbest (1-4)

Player of the Game: Nick Podkul

Lansing Lugnuts 5, Lake County Captains (CLE) 1

The Lansing Lugnuts were glad to see the last of the South Bend Cubs, picking up a win with a 5-1 victory over the Lake County Captains.

Troy Watson was on the hill and while he didn't strike out anyone, pitched six scoreless innings, allowing two hits and four walks. Randy Pondler allowed an unearned run on two hits with two strikeouts in the final three innings.

Gabriel Moreno was 2/4 with a walk, a home run, two RBI and a run while Hunter Steinmetz was 2/4 with a walk, an RBI, three runs and two stolen bases. Tanner Kirwer (Sherwood Park, Alta.) was 2/4 and Otto Lopez (Montreal, Que.) was 1/5 with a double and a run. Rafael Lantigua (1/5, RBI) and D.J. Neal (1/4) each added a single.

W: Troy Watson (5-2)

S: Randy Pondler (1)

HR: Gabriel Moreno (9)

Player of the Game: Troy Watson and Gabriel Moreno

Vancouver Canadians 1, Boise Hawks (COL) 5

The Boise Hawks had the Vancouver Canadians' number, beating the C's 5-1.

Trevor Schwecke had two of the Canadians' six hits, going 2/4 with a stolen base while Yorman Rodriguez had the only extra-base hit, going 1/3 with a solo home run and a walk. Jesus Lopez (1/4), Will Robertson (1/4) and Mc Gregory Contreras (1/4) had the club's other hits, all singles.

Juan Diaz started, giving up four runs on nine hits with three walks in 4 1/3 innings, striking out two. Grant Townsend allowed just two hits and struck out two in two innings of relief and Mike Pascoe allowed a run on a hit and two walks in 1 2/3 innings.

L: Juan Diaz (1-4)

HR: Yorman Rodriguez (4)

Player of the Game: Yorman Rodriguez

Bluefield Blue Jays 5, Kingsport Mets (NYM) 1

Despite allowing nine hits to the Kingsport Mets, the Bluefield Blue Jays' pitching staff held the Mets to just one run, allowing the Jays to come away from the season opener with a 5-1 win. Jol Concepcion scattered six hits over four innings without giving up a run and striking out four while Luis Alvarez allowed a hit and struck out one in two innings. Yunior Hinojosa walked one and struck out two in two innings while Kyle Huckaby allowed a run on two hits with one strikeout in the ninth.

The Blue Jays had just five hits with Eric Rivera going 2/4 with a double, two RBI and a run and Justin Ammons was 1/2 with two walks and a double, scoring a run. Spencer Horwitz was 1/3 with a walk, an RBI, a run and a stolen base and Patrick Morris was 1/4. Leonardo Jimenez was 0/2 but walked, got an RBI and scored a run. Joseph Reyes was 0/3 but walked and scored.

W: Luis Alvarez (2-1)

Player of the Game: Jol Concepcion and Eric Rivera

GCL Blue Jays 1, GCL Phillies West 2

The GCL Blue Jays got a well-pitched game, holding the Phillies West to just one run in nine innings but the Blue Jays' offense couldn't get anything done after the third inning, finally losing 2-1 to the Phils in 10 innings.

Rafael Monsion allowed five hits and two walks in five scoreless innings, striking out five before Jiorgeny Casimiri allowed a run on two hits with two strikeouts in one inning. Adrian Hernandez walked one and struck out one in two innings and Williams Moreno took the loss, giving up an unearned run on two hits and two walks, striking out one in 1 1/3 innings.

Alberto Rodriguez was 2/4 with an RBI while Hugo Cardona was 1/3 with a walk and Pedro Hurtado was 1/4. Dasan Brown was 0/2 but walked, stole two bases and scored.

L: Williams Moreno (2-2)

Player of the Game: Rafael Monsion

DSL Blue Jays 5, DSL Reds 3

The DSL Blue Jays played a clean game defensively, beating the DSL Reds, who made three errors, 5-3.

Glenn Santiago was 2/4 with a stolen base while Adrian Montero was 1/2 with two RBI. Daniel Oliva was 1/2 with a double, a walk and an outfield assist while Amell Brazoban also hit a double, going 1/4 with a run. Juan Pizarro was 1/3 with a walk, a run and a stolen base and Willfrann Astudillo was 0/1 but walked twice and stole a base. Francisco Fajardo was 1/2 with a run.

Jonatan Bernal allowed a run on a solo home run, allowing just two hits with six strikeouts in four innings. Ronald Govea allowed two hits and two walks in 1 2/3 innings and Jose Quintana got the save, tossing 3 1/3 innings, allowing two runs on two hits (including a home run) with two strikeouts.

W: Ronald Govea (1-0)

S: Jose Quintana (2)

Player of the Game: Jonatan Bernal and Glenn Santiago

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