Jay Blue: Greene, House, Leblebijian, Murphy

Right-hander Patrick Murphy held the Burlington Bees to two runs in seven innings in his start on Saturday to help the Lansing Lugnuts to a 4-3 win. Photo Credit: Jay Blue

May 6, 2017 Toronto Blue Jays Minor League Report
By Jay Blue
Blue Jays from Away

In five games, the Blue Jays' minor league affiliates went 2-3 on Saturday night with a "close-but-no-cigar" comeback attempt by the Lugnuts in the bottom of the ninth in Lansing.

Buffalo Bisons 8, Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs 0

The Buffalo Bisons (16-9) had their expected doubleheader shortened to just a single game as the rains persisted in Buffalo. The Bisons proceeded to crush the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs 8-0, getting three home runs to support T.J. House’s complete seven-inning game. House tossed the shutout, allowing seven hits and no walks with two strikeouts to lower his ERA to 1.24.

Jason Leblebijian led the offense, driving in five runs with a double and a home run while Mike Ohlman was 1/1 with a home run, two walks and three runs. Ian Parmley also went deep, going 2/3 with a home run and two RBI. Outside of that trio, however, only Christian Lopes and Shane Opitz had hits.

The second game of the doubleheader was postponed due to more rain.

Player of the Game: Jason Leblebijian, Mike Ohlman and T.J. House

New Hampshire Fisher Cats 4, Binghamton Rumble Ponies 2

The New Hampshire Fisher Cats finally got their 10th win after a 4-2 win in the first half of their doubleheader against the Binghamton Rumble Ponies. Conner Greene put on a clinic in getting ground balls, throwing 6 2/3 innings and giving up just two runs (one earned) on four hits and two walks with two strikeouts. Greene also got 15 ground ball outs to just two fly outs on the evening and Tim Mayza got the save with a ground out in the seventh.

Ryan McBroom had a big three-run home run to help the Fisher Cats to victory, going 1/3 while Jonathan Davis was 2/2 with a double and a run. Richard Urena was 1/3 with a double and Anthony Alford was 1/2 with a double and an RBI.

Player of the Game: Ryan McBroom and Conner Greene

Roster Notes: The Blue Jays sent cash to the Texas Rangers for Patrick Cantwell and assigned him to double-A New Hampshire.

New Hampshire Fisher Cats 0, Binghamton Rumble Ponies 9

The bullpen let starter Chris Rowley down after a great start, while the New Hampshire Fisher Cats’ offense mustered only one hit in a 9-0 loss to the Binghamton Rumble Ponies to split their doubleheader. Rowley went four innings, pressed into service as a starter and gave up just two hits, striking out four. Alonzo Gonzalez could get just one out, walking three and giving up one hit while Justin Shafer inherited the bases loaded and allowed all three runners to score, leaving Gonzalez charged with four runs. Shafer allowed two runs of his own, giving up two hits (including a home run) and a walk in 1 2/3. Jose Fernandez was charged with three runs on three hits and two walks in one inning.

Gunnar Heidt had the only New Hampshire hit of the game.

Player of the Game: Chris Rowley

Dunedin Blue Jays 2, Bradenton Marauders 3

The Dunedin Blue Jays’ offense continued to struggle, getting just two runs on four hits against the Bradenton Marauders, losing 3-2 as the Marauders walked it off in the bottom of the ninth. Starter T.J. Zeuch had a solid start for the Blue Jays, tossing six strong innings and giving up just two runs on six hits and a walk with three strikeouts. Tom Robson added two scoreless frames, allowing just a hit while striking out two before Adonys Cardona gave up a walk, a hit and two wild pitches to allow the winning run.

The bottom of the Blue Jays’ order did all the damage for them, getting hits from Lane Thomas, Matt Dean (who added a walk) and Kevin Vicuna. Connor Panas was 1/4 with the Blue Jays’ only extra-base hit of the game (a double), driving in two runs.

Player of the Game: Connor Panas and T.J. Zeuch

Lansing Lugnuts 3, Burlington Bees 4

For the second consecutive game, the Lansing Lugnuts (15-12) got seven innings out of their starting pitcher. Patrick Murphy equalled his teammate, Justin Maese, with seven innings of two-run ball, allowing five hits and four walks with just one strikeout. Kirby Snead started the eighth and could just get two outs, allowing two runs before Nick Hartman took over to finish the game, giving up just one hit and striking out three in 1 1/3 innings.

The offense struggled to cash runners, leaving 10 runners on. With the club down 4-2 in the bottom of the ninth inning and two outs, J.B. Woodman (1/4, 2B, RBI, Sac fly), and Vladimir Guerrero, Jr. (1/4, 2B, BB, RBI) hit back-to-back doubles before Bradley Jones grounded out to end the game. Jake Thomas continues to take walks like they’re going out of style, going 1/3 with two free passes and a stolen base while Christian Williams hit a mammoth double off the wall in center field that would have been a home run in most ballparks. Yeltsin Gudino was 2/4 with a double and Edward Olivares was 1/3 with a walk but was picked off of first base.

Player of the Game: Patrick Murphy and Jake Thomas

Roster Notes: Nick Sinay was activated off the DL and Michael De La Cruz was reinstated from his suspension with Ridge Smith heading back to extended spring training.

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