Jay Blue: Davis, Spraker, Taylor, Winckowski

Josh Winckowski tossed seven scoreless innings for the low-A Lansing Lugnuts on Friday. Photo: Jay Blue

April 26, 2019 Toronto Blue Jays Minor League Report

By Jay Blue

Blue Jays from Away

It was Vlad Day in Toronto and three of the four minor league teams played with the fellas in New Hampshire postponed, enabling them to watch Vlad rather than play their own game! The other three teams went 2-1 for Friday.

Buffalo Bisons 2, Lehigh Valley IronPigs (PHI) 7

Without Vlad, the triple-A Bisons weren't able to muster much offence, scoring just twice and committing three errors in a 7-2 loss to the Lehigh Valley IronPigs.

The one bright spot was Jonathan Davis who hit his second home run in as many games, going 1/3 with two RBI in the leadoff spot. Jordan Patterson was 1/4, Reese McGuire was 1/3 and Michael De La Cruz was 1/2 with a double and a walk, scoring a run.

Shawn Morimando was on the mound to start and his rough season continues as he allowed seven runs (six earned) on 10 hits (including two home runs) and three walks with seven strikeouts in 4 2/3 innings. Corey Copping inherited the bases loaded and got out of the jam without any further damage, pitching 1 2/3 innings with a hit and a walk and one strikeout. Justin Shafer finished the game, lowering his ERA to 1.04 with 1 2/3 innings of two-hit ball, striking out a pair.

L: Shawn Morimando (0-2)
HR: Jonathan Davis (2)

Player of the Game: Jonathan Davis and Michael De La Cruz

Roster Notes: Vladimir Guerrero Jr.was promoted to Toronto and Richard Urena was optioned to Buffalo.

New Hampshire Fisher Cats, Reading Fightin Phils (PHI)

Game Postponed due to rain

Dunedin Blue Jays 7, Jupiter Hammerheads (MIA) 2

The class-A Advanced Dunedin Blue Jays had another strong game against the Jupiter Hammerheads giving them a second straight win with a 7-2 victory.

The pitching was solid as Graham Spraker took to the mound to start, tossing six innings of one-run ball with the only run coming on a solo home run in the third inning. He allowed five hits and two walks in six innings with three strikeouts. Emerson Jimenez gave up a run on two hits and two walks with two strikeouts in two innings and William Ouellette finished it off with a scoreless ninth, striking out two.

The Blue Jays had a fairly spread-out offense, getting two hits each from Samad Taylor (2/4, 2B, RBI, R, CS) and Christopher Bec (2/4, R, SB, CS). Ryan Noda was 1/3 with two walks, a double and two RBI while Kevin Vicuna was 1/4 with a walk, an RBI, a run, a stolen base and was caught stealing. Cullen Large was 1/4 with a walk and two runs and Cal Stevenson was 1/3 with a walk, an RBI and a run. Both Christian Williams and Demi Orimoloye (Orleans, Ont.) took the Golden Sombrero, striking out four times each as the Blue Jays struck out 18 times as a team despite the win.

W: Graham Spraker (2-0)

Player of the Game: Graham Spraker

Lansing Lugnuts 4, Bowling Green Hot Rods (TB) 0

The low-A Lansing Lugnuts shook off their series opening loss on Thursday and shut down the Bowling Green Hot Rods with a stellar pitching performance from Josh Winckowski as the Lugnuts won 4-0 to move their record to 11-10.

Winckowski dominated the Hot Rods, pitching seven scoreless frames, allowing only five hits without walking anyone and got 18 outs on the ground with none on fly balls. Winckowski also struck out eight, saving the best for last when he struck out the side in his seventh and final inning. The outing dropped his ERA to 1.04 on the season. Jackson Rees, who has also been dominant this year, struck out two and gave up just one hit in his two scoreless innings to complete the shutout.

The offence only put together four hits but walked six times along the way to the win. Jake Brodt was 1/4 with a solo home run, his third of the season, while John Aiello and Hagen Danner were each 1/4 with a double and a run. Nick Podkul was also 1/4. Reggie Pruitt was 0/3 but walked twice, stole two bases and socred while Alejandro Kirk and Dom Abbadessa were both 0/2 with two walks each.

W: Josh Winckowski (2-0)
HR: Jake Brodt (3)

Player of the Game: Josh Winckowski

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