Jay Blue: De La Cruz, Hatch, Orimoloye, Robertson, Stadler, Woods Richardson

Fitz Stadler allowed just one run in six innings in his start for the low-A Lansing Lugnuts on Thursday. Photo: Jay Blue

August 29, 2019 Toronto Blue Jays Minor League Report

By Jay Blue

Blue Jays from Away

With two leagues finishing their schedule early with Hurricane Dorian bearing down on Florida, the Blue Jays' affiliates were 4-2 on Thursday.

Buffalo Bisons 6, Rochester Red Wings (MIN) 7

The Buffalo Bisons had a lead after the fifth inning but couldn't hold on as the Rochester Red Wings came back for a 7-6 win.

Michael De La Cruz had a big game, going 3/4 with a double and a home run, driving in two runs and scoring twice. while Socrates Brito hit his 16th home run, going 1/4 with two outfield assists. Santiago Espinal was 1/4 with a run and Patrick Kivlehan was 1/4 with his 29th home run, a solo shot, and three strikeouts. Forrest Wall was 1/3 with a stolen base and a run.

T.J. Zeuch was solid on the mound, allowing two runs (one earned) on five hits with a walk and 10 ground ball outs with no fly outs over five innings. Brock Stewart came on in the sixth, giving up five runs on seven hits with two home runs allowed and four strikeouts in 2 2/3 innings. Ty Tice finished it, stranding an inherited runner and giving up three hits and striking out two in 1 1/3 innings.

L: Brock Stewart (1-1)

HR: Patrick Kivlehan (29), Socrates Brito (16), Michael De L Cruz (5)

Player of the Game: Michael De La Cruz

New Hampshire Fisher Cats 8, Trenton Thunder (NYY) 2

After their Wednesday game was cancelled, the New Hampshire Fisher Cats and Trenton Thunder were back at it on Thursday with the Fisher Cats coming out on top 8-2.

Josh Palacios drove in three runs, going 1/3 with a three-run home run, a walk, two runs and a stolen base while Riley Adams also hit a home run, going 2/4 with a double, an RBI and a run. Brock Lundquist was 2/4 with a run and Chad Spanberger was 1/2 with a double, two walks and an RBI. Vinny Capra hit a double, going 1/2 with a sac fly and was hit by a pitch, scoring a run and driving one in. Nash Knight was 1/4 with a walk and two runs and Cullen Large was 1/5 with an RBI and a run.

Thomas Hatch started and was dominant, allowing just two runs on three hits (including a home run) without walking anyone and striking out 11 over seven innings. Corey Copping gave up a hit and a walk in the eighth and Dany Jimenez finished it off, striking out two and giving up a hit in the ninth.

W: Thomas Hatch (2-3)

HR: Joshua Palacios (5), Riley Adams (10)

Player of the Game: Thomas Hatch

Roster Notes: Patrick Murphy was placed on the 7-day injured list and Adams Cuevas was promoted to New Hampshire from Bluefield.

Dunedin Blue Jays 3, Fort Myers Miracle (MIN) 0

The Dunedin Blue Jays spun a shutout to finish their season as the rest of the FSL season has been cancelled because of Hurricane Dorian bearing down on Florida. That gave them their 80th win and bragging rights as they had won their division in both halves of the season.

Simeon Woods Richardson tossed five scoreless innings, allowing just two hits and striking out three, needing only 58 pitches to get through 16 batters (just one over the minimum). Maverik Buffo allowed a walk in the sixth, striking out one and Kyle Johnson got an inning of work in, striking out one in the seventh. Jackson Rees struck out the side in the eighth and Cre Finfrock struck out two and allowed a hit in the ninth.

On the offensive side of the ball, Demi Orimoloye (Orleans, Ont.) had two hits, including a double and an RBI while Ryan Noda was 1/3 with a double and a walk. Kevin Vicuna was 1/4 with an RBI and a run and Kacy Clemens was 1/4. Samad Taylor was 1/4 with a triple and a run and Jesus Navarro was 0/1 with two walks and a run.

W: Simeon Woods Richardson (3-2)

S: Cre Finfrock (1)

Player of the Game: Simeon Woods Richardson

Roster Notes: Graham Spraker and Mike Ellenbest were placed on the 7-day IL while Javier Hernandez was activated off the IL. Hunter Steinmetz was sent to Dunedin from Lansing.

Lansing Lugnuts 7, West Michigan Whitecaps (DET) 3

The Lansing Lugnuts picked up another win, beating the West Michigan Whitecaps 7-3.

The Lugnuts hit four home runs including the 21st of the season from Griffin Conine who was 1/4 with two RBI and three strikeouts. L.J. Talley was 1/4 with two RBI and a his sixth home run while John Aiello hit a solo shot, going 1/3. Rafael Lantigua also hit a solo shot, going 1/3. Tanner Kirwer (Sherwood Park, Alta.) was 1/3 with a double and a run while Otto Lopez (Montreal, Que.) was 1/4 and Yorman Rodriguez was 1/4 with an RBI and a run. Gabriel Moreno was 2/4 with a run and Ryan Gold was 1/3.

Fitz Stadler was on the mound, allowing only one run on five hits with three strikeouts in six innings. Andy McGuire surrendered two runs on four hits in two innings with three strikeouts and Juan Nunez pitched a scoreless ninth.

W: Fitz Stadler (6-7)

HR: L.J. Talley (6), John Aiello (8), Rafael Lantigua (4), Griffin Conine (21)

Player of the Game: Fitz Stadler

Roster Notes: Hunter Steinmetz was promoted from Lansing to Dunedin and Jesus Lopez was promoted from Vancouver to Lansing.

Vancouver Canadians 12, Tri-City Dust Devils (SD) 13

The Vancouver Canadians lost a slugfest, falling 13-12 to the Tri-City Dust Devils in 11 innings.

Will Robertson did his best to help the team win, going 4/5 with a home run, a walk, three RBI and two runs while Mc Gregory Contreras was 2/5 with three RBI, a run and a sac fly. Philip Clarke was 2/3 with three walks, an RBI and a run and Tanner Morris was 2/4 with three walks, an RBI and three runs. Spencer Horwitz was 2/7 with a run while Dom Abbadessa was 2/4 with a walk, a run and a stolen base. Ryan Sloniger was 1/5 with a walk, an RBI and a run and Luis De Los Santos was 0/4 but walked twice, drove in a run and scored and stole home.

Alex Nolan (Burlington, Ont.) started, allowing four runs on six hits and two walks, striking out four in five innings and Josh Almonte allowed three runs on a hit and two walks with three strikeouts in 1 2/3 innings. Mike Pascoe allowed three run son two hits and two walks without retiring a batter and Grayson Huffman allowed a run on two hits and three walks with two strikeouts in two innings. Parker Caracci took the loss, striking out five in 2 1/3 innings but he also allowed two unearned run son two hits.

L: Parker Caracci (2-3)

HR: Will Robertson (4)

Player of the Game: Will Robertson

Roster Notes: Jesus Lopez was promoted to the Lansing Lugnuts.

Bluefield Blue Jays

Scheduled off day.

Roster Notes: Adams Cuevas was promoted to the New Hampshire Fisher Cats.

GCL Blue Jays 7, GCL Phillies East 2

The GCL Blue Jays finished off their season with a win, beating the GCL Phillies East 7-2 as the GCL season will conclude without playoffs because of the threat of Hurricane Dorian bearing down on Florida.

Jose Zepeda took advantage by hitting his first home run of the year, going 2/4 with a double, four RBI and a run. Jhon Solarte was 2/4 with an RBI and two runs and Hugo Cardona was 2/4 with a double, a stolen base and a run. Yhon Perez was 0/3 with an RBI and Erickvi Celedonio was 1/3 with a run and an outfield assist.

On the mound, Kendall Williams gave up just one unearned run on two hits and a walk with four strikeouts in four innings. Jackxarel Lebron also allowed an unearned run on one hit and two walks with two strikeouts in 2 1/3 innings and Miguel Olivo threw 2 2/3 innings of no-hit ball, striking out four.

W: Jackxarel Lebron (2-2)

HR: Jose Zepeda (1)

Player of the Game: Jose Zepeda

If you like us here, like us on Facebook!

The 2019 Toronto Blue Jays Minor League Handbook is available now! Visit the Handbook page for more information!