Jay Blue: Clemens, Dawson, Diaz, Polizzi, Sanchez, Tellez

Right-hander Yennsy Diaz allowed just one run on two hits, while striking out eight, in five innings to lead the Lansing Lugnuts to a 4-2 win over the Bowling Green Hot Rods on Tuesday. Photo Credit: Jay Blue

June 27, 2017 Toronto Blue Jays Minor League Report
By Jay Blue
Blue Jays from Away

The minor leaguers had four wins in nine games as the offences in Buffalo and New Hampshire continue to struggle while the Vancouver Canadians needed all of the 15 runs they got to beat Everett in the Northwest League.

Buffalo Bisons 2, Rochester Red Wings 3

The Buffalo Bisons continue to suffer from a power outage despite a reinvigorated Rowdy Tellez who recently got the good news that his mom was cancer free. The Bisons had just four hits as a team in a 3-2 loss to the Rochester Red Wings. Tellez, coming off a four-hit game, was 1/4 with a home run. Roemon Fields was 2/3 with a run and a stolen base.

Lucas Harrell started the game, allowing three runs on 10 hits and three walks over 6 1/3 innings with six strikeouts. Murphy Smith provided 1 2/3 innings of scoreless relief but allowed one of two inherited runners to score. Wil Browning tossed a scoreless ninth, giving up two hits and striking out two.

Player of the Game: Rowdy Tellez and Roemon Fields

Roster Notes: Chris Smith was promoted to the Blue Jays with Dwight Smith, Jr. returning to Buffalo.

New Hampshire Fisher Cats 1, Portland Sea Dogs 2

The New Hampshire Fisher Cats had their game shortened by rain, ultimately losing 2-1 to the Portland Sea Dogs. The offence was anemic with Richard Urena accounting for two of the club's three hits with a single and a double and Jonathan Davis going 1/3 with a double.

Shane Dawson (Drayton, Valley, Alta.) was solid, tossing 5 2/3 innings and giving up two runs on six hits with two strikeouts.

Player of the Game: Richard Urena

Dunedin Blue Jays 7, Bradenton Marauders 3

The Dunedin Blue Jays came back rejuvenated after their day off, beating the Bradenton Marauders 7-3 thanks to a four-run outburst in the eighth inning. Lane Thomas went deep, going 2/5 with a double, a home run, two RBI and two runs. Cavan Biggio also had two hits including a double and scored twice. Carl Wise drove in a pair, going 1/4 and Juan Kelly was 0/1 with two walks, a sac fly and an RBI.

Aaron Sanchez was on the hill, rehabbing with the D-Jays and gave up three runs on six hits and two walks with three strikeouts in 3 2/3 innings. Ryan Cook tossed 1 1/3 innings, walking one while Ryan Borucki was dominant in securing the win, tossing four innings of one-hit, one-walk ball, striking out six.

Player of the Game: Lane Thomas and Ryan Borucki

Roster Notes: Aaron Sanchez was sent to Dunedin on a rehab assignment.

Lansing Lugnuts 4, Bowling Green Hot Rods 2

The Lansing Lugnuts got most of their scoring done in the early going, getting some great pitching to propel them to a 4-2 win over the Bowling Green Hot Rods. Yennsy Diaz was excellent, tossing five innings of one-run, two-hit ball, walking two and striking out eight. Griffin Glaude allowed a solo home run over two innings and Connor Eller gave up three hits but no runs over the final two innings, striking out three.

Four Lugnuts had two hits each including the Midwest League leading hitter, Bo Bichette, who moved his batting average closer to .400 with two singles (to finish the game at 2/4 with a .398 average). Christian Williams was also 2/4, as was Nash Knight, who was 2/3 with a double and a walk and Yeltsin Gudino who was 2/3 with three RBI. Ridge Smith was 1/3 with a walk, a double and two runs and Vladimir Guerrero, Jr. (Montreal, Que.) was 1/4.

Player of the Game: Yennsy Diaz

Vancouver Canadians 15, Everett AquaSox 13

The Vancouver Canadians had just one of the five home runs in their game against the Everett AquaSox but they got enough runs, including four in the ninth inning, to come away with a 15-13 victory. Kacy Clemens hit his first professional home run and had three hits, driving in three and scoring three times. Cullen Large (2/3, 3 BB, RBI, R, SB), Brock Lundquist (2/6, RBI, R), Riley Adams (2/5, 2B, BB, RBI, 2 R), and Norberto Obeso (2/4, BB, 2B, 2 RBI, R) all had two hits each. Owen Spiwak (Mississauga, Ont.) was on base four times with a single and three walks, driving in a run and scoring twice while Bryan Lizardo was 1/3 with two walks and three runs.

Juan Nunez got into trouble with the long ball, giving up five runs on eight hits (including two home runs) but only one walk and he struck out three in 4 1/3 innings. Chris Hall allowed two runs on four hits (one home run) in 2 2/3 innings, striking out three and Bobby Eveld got the win despite allowing six runs on five hits (one home run) and two walks in just one inning. Orlando Pascual earned the save, throwing a perfect ninth, striking out one.

Player of the Game: Kacy Clemens and Cullen Large

Bluefield Blue Jays 4, Burlington Royals 16

The Bluefield Blue Jays completed their suspended game against the Burlington Royals, ultimately losing 16-4. Colton Laws started and was solid in his one inning of work, allowing a hit and striking out one. Alvaro Galindo only lasted 1 1/3 innings, allowing nine runs (eight earned) on seven hits and two walks. Yonardo Herdenez controlled the bleeding a little, allowing three runs over three innings, giving up seven hits and striking out three. Tyler Olander finished the sixth with 2/3 of an inning and Graham Spraker finished the game, tossing three innings upon completion, giving up four runs on six hits.

Brandon Polizzi was 2/4 with a double and two runs, keeping his batting average at .500 while McGregory Contreras was 2/4 with a run. Sterling Guzman was 1/2 with a walk, an RBI and a run and Ryan Gold, subbing in for Guzman was 1/1 with a double and an RBI.

Player of the Game: Brandon Polizzi and McGregory Contreras

Bluefield Blue Jays 2, Burlington Royals 4

In their regularly scheduled game, the Bluefield Blue Jays lost 4-2 to the Burlington Royals. The offence combined for 10 hits including two from Kevin Smith (2/4, 2B, RBI, R, SB), Brandon Polizzi (2/4, 3B, RBI) and Sterling Guzman (2/4).

Jordan Barrett got the start, tossing two innings of one-hit ball, striking out two before Joel Espinal took over, giving up three runs on three hits and two walks with three strikeouts in four innings. Joe DiBenedetto allowed an unearned run on two hits and two walks with two strikeouts in 1 2/3 innings and Ty Tice finished the game with 1 1/3 innings of perfect ball.

Player of the Game: Kevin Smith and Brandon Polizzi

GCL Blue Jays 7, GCL Tigers West 3

The GCL Blue Jays evened their record to 1-1 with a 7-3 win over the GCL Tigers West. Roither Hernandez made a strong professional debut, allowing one run on four hits in four innings with four strikeouts. Connor Law was awarded the win, giving up an unearned run on three hits with a strikeout over two innings. Jonathan Cheshire tossed two scoreless, giving up a hit and striking out a pair and Justin Watts allowed a run on three hits in the ninth.

Joseph Reyes was 2/3 with a double, a walk, an RBI and a run while adding a stolen base. Aldo Ovando was 2/3 with a double, a walk, an RBI and two runs. Otto Lopez hit a double, going 1/3 while Jose Theran was 1/4 with a double, a run and two RBI. Andres Guerra was 1/3 with a double, a run, a walk and an RBI.

In another note, the game was umpired by two Canadians, Matt Whipple (who's dad is the National Director of Umpires for Softball Canada) and Steven Jaschinski.

Player of the Game: Roither Hernandez, Joseph Reyes and Aldo Ovando

DSL Blue Jays 2, DSL Reds 3

The DSL Blue Jays have a rare losing streak, losing for their second time in a row, the first time they've done that all season after a 3-2 loss to the DSL Reds. Emanuel Vizcaino took the loss, allowing three unearned runs in three innings, walking two and giving up just one hit with four strikeouts. Jhon Victorino threw two scoreless innings while Yohandy Martir added another one. Juan Diaz struck out four batters, walking two in two innings while Juan Jimenez walked two in the ninth.

Steward Berroa was 2/4 with a run and was caught stealing while Andres Martinez was 2/4 with a run. Gabriel Moreno drove in a run, going 1/3.

Player of the Game: None

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