Jay Blue: De La Cruz, Dillon, Kirwer, Lopez, Nolan, Romano

Tanner Kirwer (Sherwood Park, Alta.) went 4-for-5 with two doubles, two RBIs, two runs and a stolen base for low-A Lansing Lugnuts on Friday. Photo: Jay Blue

August 16, 2019 Toronto Blue Jays Minor League Report

By Jay Blue

Blue Jays from Away

With six completed games in the Toronto Blue Jays' minor league system, the clubs went 4-2 on the day including a huge win for the Lansing Lugnuts.

Buffalo Bisons 7, Durham Bulls (TB) 3

With four runs in the sixth, the Buffalo Bisons went ahead and beat the Durham Bulls 7-3.

Socrates Brito was 2/5 with a double and a triple, driving in two and scoring twice while Richard Urena was 2/4 with a walk, a double and two RBI. Santiago Espinal was 2/4 and Michael De La Cruz was 2/2 with two walks and a run. Roemon Fields was 2/3 with a walk, two RBI and a run. Anthony Alford hit a double, going 1/3 with a run before coming out of the game for Jordan Patterson in the sixth inning. Andy Burns also had a hit, going 1/4 with two runs.

Anthony Kay had a solid start, giving up two runs on four hits and three walks in five innings, striking out eight. Zach Jackson blew the save, allowing a run on a solo home run among two hits with a walk and a strikeout in the sixth but picked up the win when the club bailed him out in the bottom half. Kirby Snead provided a scoreless seventh, giving up a hit with two strikeouts while Jason Adam struck out one in the eighth. Jordan Romano (Markham, Ont.) struck out two in the ninth to finish the game.

W: Zach Jackson (9-0)

Player of the Game: Michael De La Cruz

Roster Notes: Beau Taylor was claimed on waivers by the Blue Jays and optioned to Buffalo.

New Hampshire Fisher Cats 4, Portland Sea Dogs (BOS) 2

The New Hampshire Fisher Cats got another strong outing from Justin Dillon as they beat the Portland Sea Dogs 4-2.

Dillon tossed six innings, allowing just two unearned runs on five hits with one walk and five strikeouts to get the win. Brad Wilson struck out three, allowing just a hit in two innings and Dany Jimenez struck out a pair in the ninth to earn his fifth save.

Brock Lundquist went deep for the Fisher Cats, going 1/2 with a home run, a walk, three RBI and a stolen base. Vinny Capra had two hits, going 2/3 with a double, an RBI and a run while Riley Adams was 1/3 with a walk and a stolen base. Logan Warmoth was 1/3 and Cullen Large was 1/3 with a walk. Chad Spanberger was 1/4 with a run.

W: Justin Dillon (5-2)

S: Dany Jimenez (5)

HR: Brock Lundquist (5)

Player of the Game: Justin Dillon

Dunedin Blue Jays, Tampa Tarpons (NYY)

Game suspended in the fourth inning with Tampa leading 4-0.

Lansing Lugnuts 19, Fort Wayne Tin Caps (SD) 1

The Lansing Lugnuts’ offence exploded to provide a 19-run outbust, getting eight runs in the sixth and five in the eighth while, on the mound, they only allowed a run in a 19-1 win over the Fort Wayne TinCaps.

Despite being at the bottom of the order, Tanner Kirwer (Sherwood Park, Alta.) led the club with four hits, going 4/5 with two doubles, two RBI, two runs and a stolen base. John Aiello had just one hit (one of two Lugnuts to only have one hit) but walked twice and scored twice. Griffin Conine had one hit but it was his 20th home run of the year as he drove in three, adding a sac fly. Otto Lopez (Montreal, Que.) was 2/5 with a walk, an RBI and two runs while Yorman Rodriguez was 2/5 with a sac fly, two RBI and a run. Gabriel Moreno was 2/5 with a double, two RBI and two runs and Rafael Lantigua was 2/4 with a walk, a home run, two RBI, four runs and a stolen base. Ryan Gold also had a big game, going 2/4 with a home run, a triple, a walk, three RBI and three runs and L.J. Talley was 2/4 with a double, four RBI, two runs and a sac fly.

Troy Miller had a strong start, allowing a run on seven hits with two walks and three strikeouts over five innings. Marcus Reyes didn't allow a hit or a walk but hit a batter and struck out three in two innings. Brody Rodning finished the game, giving up two hits with two strikeouts in the final two innings.

W: Troy Miller (6-7)

HR: Ryan Gold (6), Rafael Lantigua (2), Griffin Conine (20)

Player of the Game: Tanner Kirwer

Vancouver Canadians 1, Spokane Indians (TEX) 2

In another low-scoring game, the Vancouver Canadians fell 2-1 to the Spokane Indians.

The Canadians had just five hits, getting singles from Tanner Morris (1/4), Trevor Schwecke (1/4), Ronny Brito (1/4), Cameron Eden (1/3, BB, R) and Luis De Los Santos (1/3, RBI).

Canadian Alex Nolan (Burlington, Ont.) started and allowed two solo home runs that would prove to be the difference in the game. He gave up two runs, five hits and a walk with two strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings. Joey Pulido allowed a hit and struck out one in 1 1/3 innings and Parker Caracci struck out three in one inning of work.

L: Alex Nolan (1-2)

Player of the Game: Alex Nolan

Roster Notes: Joey Pulido was sent to the Vancouver Canadians from the Lansing Lugnuts.

Bluefield Blue Jays 4, Greeneville Reds (CIN) 0

The Bluefield Blue Jays reversed their fortunes against the Greeneville Reds, shutting them out and winning 4-0.

Roither Hernandez was dominant on the mound, tossing six shutout innings and giving up only three hits and one walk with nine strikeouts for the win. Julian Valdez threw two scoreless frames, striking out one and Kyle Huckaby pitched a scoreless ninth to finish the game.

Ryan Sloniger hit his seventh home run of the year, going 2/3 with a walk, an RBI and a run while Patrick Morris was 2/3 with a walk and a run. Steward Berroa was 1/3 with a walk, as was Davis Schneider. Leonardo Jimenez was 1/4 with two RBI and Miguel Hiraldo was 1/4 while Justin Ammons (1/5, R, SB) and Eric Rivera (1/5, R) had a hit each.

W: Roither Hernandez (3-4)

HR: Ryan Sloniger (7)

Player of the Game: Roither Hernandez

GCL Blue Jays, GCL Tigers East

Game postponed by rain.

DSL Blue Jays 5, DSL Orioles1 6

The DSL Blue Jays fell 6-5 to the DSL Orioles1.

The Blue Jays had 11 hits including two from Leonel Callez who had a single and a double and scored a run while Gabriel Martinez was 3/5 with two doubles. Emmanuel Sanchez was 2/4 with a walk and two runs while Daniel Oliva was 1/4 with a walk. Marcos De La Rosa was 0/2 but walked twice and Junior Ramos was 1/4 with an RBI. Willfrann Astudillo was 1/2 with an RBI and Adrian Montero was 1/3.

Jonatan Bernal went four innings to take the loss, allowing all six runs (two earned) on five hits and a walk with one strikeout. Jose Quintana threw threw no-hit innings, walking two and striking out four and Joneivy Polonia struck out two in the eighth.

L: Jonatan Bernal (1-3)

Player of the Game: Gabriel Martinez

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