Jay Blue: Diaz, Lopez, Lundquist, Pruitt, Sopko

Reggie Pruitt had three hits for the low-A Lansing Lugnuts on Tuesday. Photo: Jay Blue (file photo)

May 14, 2019 Toronto Blue Jays Minor League Report

By Jay Blue

Blue Jays from Away

The Blue Jays' affiliates got through four of the scheduled six games on Tuesday with the Fisher Cats splitting a double header, the Buffalo Bisons losing and the Lansing Lugnuts winning.

Buffalo Bisons 3, Gwinnett Stripers (ATL) 11

The triple-A Buffalo Bisons got a great start from first-time triple-A starter Andrew Sopko but a nine-run seventh inning for the Gwinnett Stripers gave the visitors an 11-3 win over the Bisons.

Sopko allowed two runs in the sixth after five scoreless innings and both runs were unearned as the Bisons went on to commit four errors in the game and catcher Reese McGuire (who made a throwing error) also had two passed balls. Sopko allowed just three hits and two walks, with four strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings, getting charged with the two unearned runs. Jordan Romano (Markham, Ont.) came on to finish the sixth, stranding two runners left on by Sopko, but he allowed two singles and two walks before giving up a grand slam in the seventh. Romano then had a fielding error by Richard Urena turn into a runner and hit the next batter before being relieved by Tayler Saucedo. Saucedo gave up a single, a walk, got a force out but then a throwing error by McGuire led to another run and that was followed by a single and a wild pitch before he got a strikeout and a ground out to stop the bleeding. Ultimately, Romano was charged with six runs (five earned) on three hits (including the grand slam) and two walks in 1/3 of an inning and Saucedo pitched one inning, giving up three runs (two earned) on two hits and a walk. Zach Jackson finished the game, striking out two in the final two innings, giving up a hit.

The offence was quite slow for the Bisons with Reese McGuire going 2/4 with a run and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. was 1/4 with a double and a run and Andy Burns was 1/4 with a triple, an RBI and a run and stole home on a double steal with Roemon Fields in the fifth inning. Fields was on base twice, going 1/3 with a walk and a stolen base. Anthony Alford was 1/4 but struck out three times and Richard Urena was 1/3 with an RBI while Alen Hanson was 1/5.

L: Jordan Romano (1-2)

Player of the Game: Andrew Sopko

New Hampshire Fisher Cats 4, Reading Fightin Phils (PHI) 0

In Game 1 of their doubleheader with the Reading Fightin Phils, the doiuble-A New Hampshire Fisher Cats got a stellar pitching performance, shutting the Fightins out on just two hits in a 4-0 win.

Yennsy Diaz was on the mound for the opener and wound up pitching all seven innings, allowing only two hits and four walks with two strikeouts, needing just 84 pitches (50 strikes) for the complete game shutout.

Brock Lundquist led the offense, going 3/3 with a double and two RBI while Vinny Capra was 2/3 with a double and an RBI. Patrick Kivlehan made his New Hampshire debut going 1/3 with a run while Christian Williams made his double-A debut, going 1/3 with a double, an RBI and a run. Nash Knight was 1/2 with a walk and a run.

W: Yennsy Diaz (3-3)

Player of the Game: Yennsy Diaz and Brock Lundquist

Roster Notes: Christian Williams was promoted from Dunedin to New Hampshire.

New Hampshire Fisher Cats 1, Reading Fightin Phils (PHI) 8

While Nate Pearson was his usual self in his abbreviated start for the New Hampshire Fisher Cats in Game 2 of their doubleheader, the Reading Fightin Phils jumped all over reliever Willy Ortiz in the top of the third, scoring seven runs on their way to an 8-1 win over the Fisher Cats.

Pearson went two perfect innings striking out three but Ortiz was charged with seven runs (six earned) on three hits and three walks in 2/3 of an inning. William Ouellette allowed the runner he inherited from Ortiz to score and also gave up a run of his own, walking three and allowing two hits in 1 1/3 innings in his double-A debut. Jackson McClelland followed two two perfect innings, striking out a pair and Bryan Baker finished the ninth, giving up a hit.

The Fisher Cat offence was quiet with just four hits and one walk in the game as Christian Williams hit his second Double-A double in as many games, going 1/2 while Riley Adams was 1/3 with a triple and a run. Alberto Mineo was 1/3 with an RBI, driving in Adams and Chad Spanberger was 1/3.

L: Willy Ortiz (0-2)

Player of the Game: None

Dunedin Blue Jays, Jupiter Hammerheads (MIA)

Game postponed due to rain.

Roster Notes: Christian Williams was promoted from the Dunedin Blue Jays to the New Hampshire Fisher Cats.

Lansing Lugnuts 6, West Michigan Whitecaps (DET) 5

The low-A Lansing Lugnuts picked up their second win in a row against the West Michigan Whitecaps, scoring early and holding on to win 6-5 in matinee action.

Reggie Pruitt was the engine of the offense, going 3/5 with a single, a double and a triple, scoring three runs and stealing two bases although he did make a throwing error. Nick Podkul was 2/4 with a double, a walk, an RBI, two runs and two stolen bases on the day While Otto Lopez (Montreal, Que.) was 2/5 with an RBI and a run, stealing a base. Ryan Gold also had two hits, going 2/2 with a walk and three RBI and Jake Brodt was 1/3 with a walk. Hagen Danner and Tanner Kirwer (Sherwood Park, Alta.) were each 1/4 with Kirwer hitting a double.

Josh Hiatt only lasted two innings, needing 53 pitches to get through the first two frames, allowing two runs on two hits and four walks with one strikeout. Marcus Reyes got the win, going three scoreless innings, allowing just three hits. Juan De Paula walked three and allowed three runs on three hits with one strikeout in 1 1/3 innings while Sean Rackoski earned the save with 2 2/3 innings of perfect ball, striking out three.

W: Marcus Reyes (1-1)

S: Sean Rackoski (2)

Player of the Game: Reggie Pruitt

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