Jay Blue: Diaz, Lopes, Pentecost

Denis Diaz allowed one hit and one with a walk while striking out seven in 5 2/3 innings for class-A Lansing. Photo: Jay Blue. 

    
April 20, 2017 Toronto Blue Jays Minor League Report

By Jay Blue
Blue Jays from Away
With the Buffalo Bisons rained out on Thursday evening, the Blue Jays’ minor league teams went 1-2 with the Dunedin Blue Jays rallying to win.

Buffalo Bisons, Norfolk Tides
Game Postponed due to Rain.

New Hampshire Fisher Cats 4, Trenton Thunder 5
The Fisher Cats (6-7) got down early and made a late charge but still couldn’t overcome the Thunder who beat the ‘Cats 5-4 on Thursday afternoon. Francisco Rios allowed all five of the Trenton runs over six innings but only two were earned. A fielding error by Roemon Fields in the first inning led to two runs while errors by Tim Lopes and Gunnar Heidt on the same play in the fourth inning led to a three-run fourth inning for the Thunder. Rios finished his outing with those five runs allowed on five hits and three walks with three strikeouts. Justin Shafer made his Double-A debut, throwing a scoreless seventh, walking one while Blake McFarland made his first appearance since 2015, throwing a scoreless eighth, allowing a hit and striking out a batter.

At the plate, the Fisher Cats got a strong game from Tim Lopes who was 2/4 with a triple and a walk while Harold Ramirez also hit a triple, going 1/3 with an RBI. Roemon Fields was 2/4 with an RBI, a run and a stolen base while Jonathan Davis his second home run of the season, going 1/4.

Player of the Game: Tim Lopes and Roemon Fields

Dunedin Blue Jays 6, St. Lucie Mets 4
A huge fifth inning from Dunedin (8-7) that included Max Pentecost’s second home run of the year allowed to pick up a 6-4 come-from-behind win over the Mets. J.P. Howell, rehabbing from injury actually got the start for the D-Jays, throwing a scoreless first inning, giving up a hit striking out two batters. T.J. Zeuch, who was the scheduled starter, followed with six innings, giving up three runs (two earned) on three hits and a walk with three strikeouts to pick up his first win with the Dunedin Blue Jays. Danny Young threw a scoreless eighth inning and Andrew Case got his first save of the season, despite allowing a solo home run in the ninth inning, striking out one.

Pentecost, playing first base for the D-Jays, was 2/4 with a double and a home run, driving in two runs. Andrew Guillotte, fresh off a four-hit game on Wednesday, drove in another two runs, going 1/4. Matt Dean drove in a run, going 1/3 with a stolen base.

Player of the Game: Max Pentecost

Roster Notes: J.P. Howell was assigned to Dunedin on a rehab assignment. Deiferson Barreto was assigned to Dunedin from extended spring training as Lourdes Gurriel was placed on the 7-day DL. Ryan Borucki was also placed on the DL with Conner Eller taking his place back on the roster.

Lansing Lugnuts 0, Bowling Green Hot Rods 6
Osman Gutierrez was chased early as the Lugnuts (7-7) couldn’t score at all in a 6-0 loss to open their series against the Hot Rods. Gutierrez only lasted 1 1/3 innings, allowing four runs on three hits on two walks without striking out anyone. Denis Diaz, recently promoted out of extended spring training, had a terrific outing in relief, allowing just one hit, a solo home run, along with a walk while striking out seven in 5 2/3 innings of one-run ball. Zach Jackson finished the game, throwing two more innings, giving up a run on three hits and a walk with two strikeouts.

The Lansing offense got just eight hits including two from Nash Knight (who also walked) and Yeltsin Gudino. Bo Bichette was 1/4 with a double for the club’s only extra-base hit.

Player of the Game: Denis Diaz

Roster Notes: Daniel Lietz was placed on the 7-day DL and Nick Hartman was activated.

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