July 29, 2017 Toronto Blue Jays Minor League Report
By Jay Blue
Blue Jays from Away

With doubleheaders in the Dominican Republic and Bluefield, there were 10 games on the schedule for the Toronto Blue Jays' minor leaguers on Saturday and their final record of 5-5 reflected a higher level of success at the lower levels.

Buffalo Bisons 2, Louisville Bats 5

Despite outhitting the Louisville Bats, the Buffalo Bisons scored only two runs, losing 5-2 on Saturday night. Jake Elmore drove in a run, going 3/5 in the leadoff spot and Raffy Lopez continued his career year, going 3/3 with a walk. Mike Ohlman was 2/3 with a walk and a run. Jason Leblebijian was 1/4 and drove in the Bisons' other run.

Newly-traded-for righty Nick Tepesch started for the Bisons, going five innings of one-run ball, giving up just three hits and striking out three. Murphy Smith took the loss, giving up four runs (one earned) on four hits in one inning. Taylor Cole provided two perfect innings, striking out two and Jeff Beliveau allowed a hit and a walk and nothing more in the ninth.

Player of the Game: Jake Elmore and Raffy Lopez

Roster Notes: Rob Refsnyder was promoted to Toronto and Chris Smith was sent back down to Buffalo.

New Hampshire Fisher Cats 2, Binghamton Rumble Ponies 7

With just five hits overall, the New Hampshire Fisher Cats couldn't overcome the Binghamton Rumble Ponies, losing 7-2, giving them their fourth consecutive loss. Danny Jansen was 1/4 with the club's only extra-base hit, a double, and scored a run while Richard Urena and Lourdes Gurriel each had an RBI; Urena was 1/4 and Gurriel 0/3 with a sacrifice fly.

Jon Harris allowed all seven Binghamton runs on seven hits (including two home runs) and three walks over 4 2/3 innings. Danny Young went 2 1/3 innings, not allowing anyone on base and striking out three and Justin Shafer walked one in the eighth to finish the game.

Player of the Game: Danny Young

Dunedin Blue Jays 7, Florida Fire Frogs 5

The Dunedin Blue Jays opened their series with the Florida Fire Frogs by beating them 7-5 thanks to a six-run eighth inning that put them on top. D.J. Davis had a tremendous game, going 3/4 with two RBI while Michael De La Cruz was 2/3 with a double, a walk, an RBI and two runs. Connor Panas (Toronto, Ont.) continues to swing a hot bat, bringing his batting average up to .272 with a 2/4 game, driving in a run and scoring once. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (Montreal, Que.) was 1/4 with a double and a walk and Juan Kelly was 1/4 with a triple, two RBI and a run.

Jordan Romano (Markham, Ont.) was on the hill to start, giving up five runs (two earned) on seven hits and three walks with six strikeouts in five innings. Daniel Lietz went two innings, giving up just one hit and striking out one and Jackson McClelland ran into some trouble, allowing three hits over two innings but was able to strike out five batters to strand them all.

Player of the Game: D.J. Davis and Michael De La Cruz

Lansing Lugnuts 2, Great Lakes Loons 6

The Lansing Lugnuts let another game get away as the Great Lakes Loons scored four runs in the top of the eighth to take a lead and defeat the Lugnuts 6-2. Kyle Weatherly had one of his best starts, giving up just one run on five hits and two walks in five innings, striking out four. Juliandry Higuera allowed another run, throwing 1 2/3 innings and giving up two hits and a walk with three strikeouts. Connor Eller took the loss, getting charged with four runs (two earned) on just one hit and two walks with one strikeout in one inning and left the bases loaded for Andrew Deramo who escaped without further damage, pitching 1 1/3 innings with one hit against and two strikeouts.

The Lugnuts had just four hits including two singles from Joshua Palacios and a double and walk from Ridge Smith. Rodrigo Orozco hit a double, going 1/4.

Player of the Game: Kyle Weatherly

Roster Notes: Yonardo Herdenez was promoted to Lansing from Vancouver.

Vancouver Canadians 5, Tri-City Dust Devils 4

The Vancouver Canadians scored five runs in the third inning and that was enough to hold off the Tri-City Dust Devils who scored single runs in four consecutive innings, giving the Canadians a 5-4 final score. Nate Pearson allowed just a hit and struck out two in two innings of work to start the game. Brody Rodning allowed two runs (one earned) on four hits with four strikeouts in three innings to get the win while Grayson Huffman allowed two runs on three hits and two walks with two strikeouts in 1 2/3 innings. Brayden Bouchey finished the seventh, stranding a pair of runners by striking out the only batter he faced and Chris Hall struck out five batters over the final two innings, giving up a walk and two hits to get the save.

Kacy Clemens drove in two runs with a double, going 1/4 while Logan Warmoth (1/3), Riley Adams (1/4) and David Jacob (1/4) each drove in another run in the five-run third. Reggie Pruitt was 1/3 with a walk and a run but was picked off and caught stealing.

Player of the Game: Kacy Clemens and Chris Hall

Roster Notes: Yonardo Herdenez was promoted to Lansing and Miguel Burgos was sent to Bluefield.

Bluefield Blue Jays 3, Pulaski Yankees 4

The Bluefield Blue Jays dropped the opener of their doubleheader to the Pulaski Yankees 4-3 on Saturday. Chavez Young and Yorman Rodriguez were each 2/4 with a double with Young scoring twice and Rodriguez driving in one. Ryan Noda was 2/3. McGregory Contreras hit his third home run of the year, going 1/2.

Alvaro Galindo allowed all four runs, giving up five hits (including a home run) and two walks with three strikeouts in four innings. Colton Laws pitched two almost perfect innings, striking out four and hitting a batter. Ty Tice had a 1-2-3 seventh.

Player of the Game: Chavez Young, Yorman Rodriguez, McGregory Contreras and Colton Laws

Roster Notes: Miguel Burgo was assigned to the Bluefield Blue Jays from Vancouver and Mike Estevez was sent to the GCL Blue Jays from Bluefield.

Bluefield Blue Jays 4, Pulaski Yankees 5

In Game 2 of their doubleheader, the Bluefield Blue Jays (24-12) were swept by the Pulaski Yankees who came from behind to win 5-4 in eight innings. Turner Larkins had a strong start, going five innings and giving up just one run on five hits with four strikeouts. Jordan Barrett went 2 2/3 innings, allowing four runs (three earned) on two hits (both home runs) and two walks with four strikeouts while Marcus Reyes allowed a hit in 1/3 of an inning to finish the game.

The Blue Jays knocked out 11 hits including two each from Chavez Young, Yorman Rodriguez, Reilly Johnson and Freddy Rodriguez. Kevin Smith drove in two runs with his fifth home run of the year.

Player of the Game: Turner Larkins

GCL Blue Jays 5, GCL Tigers West 4

The GCL Blue Jays needed 12 innings to defeat the GCL Tigers West but did so, scoring two runs in the bottom half of the inning to win 5-4. Justin Maese started for the GCL Blue Jays and threw four solid innings, allowing a run on five hits with three strikeouts. Mike Estevez followed with a scoreless inning, allowing a hit and striking out one. Matthew Gunter gave up an unearned run on two hits and a walk with three strikeouts in three innings while Jonathan Cheshire tossed two scoreless innings of his own, striking out a pair and allowing a hit and a walk. Adams Cuevas, gave up two unearned runs over the final two frames, getting the win.

Dominic Abbadessa was 2/5 with a walk while Reese McGuire was 2/3 with a walk and Yhordegny Kelly was 2/3 with a walk and a double, scoring a run. D.J. Daniels was 2/5 with an RBI.

Player of the Game: Dominic Abbadessa, Reese McGuire, Yhordegny Kelly and D.J. Daniels

Roster Notes: Mike Estevez was sent back to the GCL Blue Jays.

DSL Blue Jays 3, DSL D-backs1 2

The DSL Blue Jays opened their doubleheader with the DSL D-backs1 with a 3-2 walk-off win, scoring in the bottom of the seventh. Yhon Perez was brought home by a Jose Briceno single to win the game. Leonicio Ventura had a pair of singles and a run, as did Yeison Estevez who added a walk and a stolen base. Hugo Cardona drove in two runs, going 1/3.

Elixon Caballero started and threw three innings, giving up a run on five hits and two walks with four strikeouts. Alexander Molina gave up a run on three hits in two innings and Yohandy Martir finished by completely shutting down the D-backs by striking out five of the six batters he faced, picking up the win.

Player of the Game: Yohandy Martir, Leonico Ventura and Yeison Estevez

DSL Blue Jays 6, DSL D-backs1 1

The DSL Blue Jays finished their day with a 6-1 win over the DSL D-backs1 club. Rafael Lantigua was 3/4 with two RBI and a run while Andres Martinez was 2/4 with an RBI and William Saavedra was 2/3 with a double and a run.

Nathanael Perez was very strong, allowing a run on seven hits and striking out one in five innings. Luis Mendoza walked one and struck out one in the final two innings.

Player of the Game: Rafael Lantigua

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The 2017 Toronto Blue Jays Minor League Handbook is now available! Check out the Handbook page for more information!