Jay Blue: Gold, Kirwer, Orozco, Panas, Reyes, Romano, Stevenson, Tellez

Jordan Romano (Markham, Ont.) threw eight shutout innings for the double-A New Hampshire Fisher Cats on Saturday. Photo Credit: Jay Blue

July 21, 2018 Toronto Blue Jays Minor League Report
By Jay Blue
Blue Jays from Away

The Toronto Blue Jays' minor league affiliates got a tremendous pitching performance from a Canadian but had an even, 4-4, record overall for Saturday.

Buffalo Bisons 5, Durham Bulls 10

Despite two home runs from Rowdy Tellez, the triple-A Buffalo Bisons lost 10-5 to the Durham Bulls.

Tellez was 2-for-4 with two solo shots while Reese McGuire was 2-for-4 with a run, Gunnar Heidt was 2-for-4 with an RBI and Tim Lopes was 2-for-3 with two RBI and a sacrifice fly.

Brandon Cumpton started the game for the Bisons, allowing six runs on eight hits (including two home runs) with two walks and three strikeouts in three innings. Zach Stewart allowed two runs (one earned) on four hits (including a home run) and a walk with two strikeouts over 2 2/3 innings. Conor Fisk walked one and struck one out over 1 1/3 innings and Claudio Custodio gave up two runs on two hits and a walk with two strikeouts over two innings.

L: Brandon Cumpton (2-1)
HR: Rowdy Tellez 2 (10)

Player of the Game: Rowdy Tellez

New Hampshire Fisher Cats 2, Harrisburg Senators 0

Jordan Romano (Markham, Ont.) had one of his best career starts as he led the double-A New Hampshire Fisher Cats to a 2-0 shutout over the Harrisburg Senators.

Romano threw eight innings, allowing only three hits while striking out eight and not walking anyone. Travis Bergen picked up his eighth save, throwing a scoreless ninth, giving up a hit and striking out two.

Connor Panas (Toronto, Ont.) was the offensive force, going 2-for-2 with a solo home run and Cavan Biggio was 1-for-4 with an RBI.

W: Jordan Romano (9-4)
S: Travis Bergen (4)
HR: Connor Panas (7)

Player of the Game: Jordan Romano

Dunedin Blue Jays 4, Tampa Tarpons 3

The class-A Advanced Dunedin Blue Jays got three runs in the fifth and a run in the sixth and that was enough as they held off the Tampa Tarpons 4-3 on Saturday.

Rodrigo Orozco had four of the club's seven hits, going 4-for-4 with an RBI and a stolen base. Ivan Castillo was 1-for-4 with a run and Kacy Clemens was 1-for-4 with a run. Nash Knight was 1-for-3 with a walk, an RBI and a run and Brock Lundquist was 0/0 with a walk, an RBI and was hit by a pitch, leading him to come out of the game.

Patrick Murphy got the win, allowing two runs on four hits (including a home run) and a walk with five strikeouts, getting 10 ground outs and three fly outs. Jonathan Cheshire went two frames, giving up just a hit and striking out one and Jake Fishman got the save but allowed a run on one hit in the ninth.

W: Patrick Murphy (8-4)
S: Jake Fishman (6)

Player of the Game: Rodrigo Orozco

Lansing Lugnuts 5, Cedar Rapids Kernels 7

The low-A Lansing Lugnuts attempted to mount a comeback but fell short, losing 7-5 to the Cedar Rapids Kernels.

Kyle Weatherly was tagged for seven runs (three earned) over 4 1/3 innings, giving up six hits including a home run and striking out three. Orlando Pascual provided 2 2/3 one-hit innings, striking out three and Brayden Bouchey (White Rock, B.C.) gave up four hits and no runs, striking out two in two innings.

Ryan Gold was 2-for-4 for the Lugnuts, driving in two runs and hitting a double, scoring once. Brandon Grudzielanek was 1-for-4 with a triple and a run and Jesus Navarro was 1-for-4 with a double and Reilly Johnson was 1-for-4 with two RBI.

L: Kyle Weatherly (2-1)

Player of the Game: Ryan Gold

Vancouver Canadians 3, Hillsboro Hops 2

Brett Wright hit his third home run of the year as the class-A Short-Season Vancouver Canadians hung on to beat the Hillsboro Hops 3-2 on Saturday. Wright was 1-for-3 with the solo home run while Tanner Kirwer (Sherwood Park, Alta.) was 2-for-3 with a double and Otto Lopez (Montreal, Que.) was 2-for-4 with a double and a run. Griffin Conine walked twice and stole a base, also picking up an outfield assist.

Jose Espada had a solid start, tossing six innings and giving up two runs on four hits (including a home run) with just one walk and seven strikeouts. Justin Watts earned the win with two scoreless innings, allowing a hit and striking out two. Cobi Johnson had a 1-2-3 ninth for the save.

W: Justin Watts (3-0)
S: Cobi Johnson (4)
HR: Brett Wright (3)

Player of the Game: Tanner Kirwer and Otto Lopez

Bluefield Blue Jays 4, Pulaski Yankees 2

The rookie-class Bluefield Blue Jays got a two-run single from Davis Schneider in the bottom of the eighth to go ahead of the Pulaski Yankees and defeat them 4-2. Schneider was 2-for-2 with two walks and two RBI while Cal Stevenson was 3-for-4 with a triple and two runs, stealing a base. Alejandro Kirk was 1-for-3 with a walk and Rafael Lantigua was 2-for-4 with a stolen base.

Alvaro Galindo started, giving up two runs on four hits and five walks, striking out five in four innings. Brennan Price gave the club two innings of one-hit ball, striking out three before Andy McGuire tossed a scoreless seventh. Brad Wilson struck out two in two hitless innings to finish the game, just hitting a batter.

W: Brad Wilson (2-0)

Player of the Game: Cal Stevenson and Davis Schneider

GCL Blue Jays 1, GCL Tigers East 4

The GCL Blue Jays had trouble getting the bat on the ball and, while they only struck out five times as a team, they only had three hits in a 4-1 loss to the GCL Tigers East. Joseph Reyes was 1-for-2 with a walk and a triple, scoring the club's only run while Jordan Groshans was 1-for-3 with a walk and Addison Barger had the club's other hit, going 1-for-4.

Alejandro Melean allowed two runs on four hits and three walks in 3 2/3 innings, striking out four before Brayan Mejia took over with 1 1/3 innings in which he walked one. Eliezer Bello allowed two runs on three hits in the sixth, striking out a pair and Jackson Rees struck out four in two innings, giving up just one hit. Ryan Thurston struck out the side in the ninth.

L: Alejandro Melean (0-3)

Player of the Game: Joseph Reyes

DSL Blue Jays 1, DSL Reds 7

The DSL Blue Jays could only get five hits against the DSL Reds, losing 7-1 on Saturday.

Pedro Hurtado had two of the hits, adding a walk for the 2-for-3 day while Alonso Concepcion had two hits, going 2-for-3 to raise his batting average to .102. Miguel Hurtado was 1-for-3 with a double and a walk.

Junior Guzman started, allowing four runs on four hits and two walks in three innings, striking out two. He was relieved by Erick Teran who allowed two runs on four hits and two walks with three strikeouts in two innings. Jeison Contreras pitched two clean innings and Christian Reyes followed with a clean eighth. Moises De La Cruz walked two, hit a batter and allowed a run in the ninth.

L: Junior Guzman (0-6)

Player of the Game: Pedro Hurtado

Jay's Jay of the Day: Jordan Romano

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