Jay Blue: Feierabend, Neal, Patterson, Sopko, Spraker

D.J. Neal went 3-for-3 for the low-A Lansing Lugnuts on Thursday. Photo: Jay Blue

May 2, 2019 Toronto Blue Jays Minor League Report

By Jay Blue

Blue Jays from Away

The Toronto Blue Jays minor leaguers got four wins in five games with the triple-A Buffalo Bisons getting a doubleheader in and all four clubs getting one win.

Buffalo Bisons 10, Pawtucket Red Sox (BOS) 1

Lefthanded knuckleballer Ryan Feierabend made his Bisons debut and the offense went into overdrive, hammering the Pawtucket Red Sox 10-1 in the first half of a double header.

Feierabend went six strong innings, giving up just a solo home run on four hits with five strikeouts and no walks to pick up his first win for The Herd. Jordan Romano (Markham, Ont.) relieved him, tossing the seventh inning and got out of trouble, allowing a hit and two walks without giving up a run and striking out one.

Jordan Patterson had three hits, going 3/4 with a triple, an RBI and two runs while Anthony Alford was 1/3 with a walk and a solo home run. Michael De La Cruz was 1/3 with a solo home run, his first of the season, and Cavan Biggio hit his sixth home run of the year, driving in three runs and going 1/3 with a walk. Jonathan Davis was 1/1 with two walks and three runs while Lourdes Gurriel hit a double going 1/4 with two RBI and a run. Richard Urena was 1/3 with an RBI, a run and a sac fly.

W: Ryan Feierabend (1-0)
HR: Anthony Alford (3), Cavan Biggio (6), Michael De La Cruz (1)

Player of the Game: Jordan Patterson and Ryan Feierabend

Roster Notes: Ryan Feierabend was added to the Bisons' roster and William Ouellette was sent back to Dunedin.

Buffalo Bisons 5, Pawtucket Red Sox (BOS) 6

The Buffalo Bisons couldn't quite recapture the magic they had in their first game of the doubleheader, falling to the Pawtucket Red Sox 6-5 in the second half of the twin bill.

Shawn Morimando got the start, allowing four runs on four hits (including a home run) and two walks with four strikeouts in 4 2/3 innings, bringing his ERA down to 11.37 on the year. Dusty Isaacs allowed an inherited runner to score and gave up a run of his own in 1 1/3 innings, allowing three hits and Justin Shafer took the loss, allowing an unearned run in the top of the eighth, giving up two hits and a walk with one strikeout over two innings of work.

Jordan Patterson continued his strong day, adding two more hits to hit tally for the doubleheader, going 2/4 with his second home run of the year, driving in two and scoring twice. Richard Urena also had two hits, going 2/4 while Anthony Alford was 1/3 with an RBI, a walk and a stolen base. Andy Burns was 1/4 with his third home run of the year and Patrick Cantwell was 1/3 with a walk and a run. Jonathan Davis was 1/4 with a stolen base and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. was 1/4 with an RBI. Cavan Biggio walked twice, going 0/2 with a run.

L: Justin Shafer (0-2)
HR: Andy Burns (3), Jordan Patterson (2)

Player of the Game: Jordan Patterson

New Hampshire Fisher Cats 1, Hartford Yard Goats (COL) 0

The double-A New Hampshire Fisher Cats got a dominating pitching performance from Andrew Sopko and beat the Hartford Yard Goats 1-0 on Thursday.

Sopko needed just 63 innings to seven innings and shut the Yard Goats out, allowing only three hits and striking out three. Ty Tice relieved him and wasn't quite as efficient, using 33 pitches to pick up the save, tossing two innings and walking one.

Santiago Espinal had two hits, driving in the game's only one while Nash Knight hit a double and scored. Vinny Capra had the club's only other hit.

W: Andrew Sopko (2-2)
S: Ty Tice (1)

Player of the Game: Andrew Sopko

Dunedin Blue Jays 6, Daytona Tortugas (CIN) 2

The class-A Advanced Dunedin Blue Jays pushed their record to 17-9 with a solid, all-around 6-2 win over the Daytona Tortugas.

The Blue Jays got three home runs including solo blasts from Cal Stevenson (2/3, HR, BB, RBI, 2 R) and Ryan Noda (1/2, HR, BB, 2 RBI, SF, R) while Hunter Steinmets hit a three-run blast in the seventh inning (1/4, HR, 3 RBI, R). Samad Taylor and Christian Williams were each 1/4 while Cullen Large was 1/3 with a walk. Norberto Obeso was 3/4 with a run but was also caught stealing.

Graham Spraker had a solid start, allowing just three hits and a run without walking anyone and striking out four batters in five innings to get his third win. Matt Shannon gave up a run on a hit and a walk in 2 2/3 innings, striking out one and William Ouellette returned to Dunedin to pitch 1 1/3 innings of scoreless ball, stranding a runner from Shannon.

W: Graham Spraker (3-0)
HR: Hunter Steinmetz (1), Ryan Noda (3), Cal Stevenson (3)

Player of the Game: Graham Spraker, Norberto Obeso and Cal Stevenson

Roster Notes: William Ouellette was returned to the Dunedin Blue Jays from Buffalo.

Lansing Lugnuts 10, Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (MIL) 4

The low-A Lansing Lugnuts finally beat the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, winning 10-4 on Thursday night.

D.J. Neal broke out with a 3/3 game, walking twice and hitting a two-run home run, scoring four times for the Lugnuts and adding two stolen bases. Jake Brodt was 2/5 with a double, an RBI and a run, stealing a base and Hagen Danner was 2/4 with two RBI. Mc Gregory Contreras was also 2/4 and Nick Podkul was 1/4 with a double, a walk and two runs. Reggie Pruitt was 1/4 with a walk and two runs, stealing a base and Alejandro Kirk was 0/3 but walked twice and scored, throwing out a runner on the bases. John Aiello was 1/4 with two RBI and Otto Lopez was 0/4 with a sacrifice fly, driving in a run.

Joey Murray struck out seven to pick up his third win of the season, allowing two runs on five hits (including a home run) with two walks over six innings. Marcus Reyes allowed two runs in the seventh, giving up three hits and Sean Rackoski worked around a hit and a walk to throw a scoreless eighth. Joey Pulido struck out one in the ninth to finish off the win.

W: Joey Murray (3-1)
HR: D.J. Neal (3)

Player of the Game: D.J. Neal

Roster Notes: Josh Winckowski was placed on the 7-day Injured List.

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