Jay Blue: Barrett, Diaz, Guerrero Jr., Lopez, Polizzi, Ramirez, Sanchez, Tracy

Harold Ramirez had four hits for the double-A New Hampshire Fisher Cats on Thursday. Photo Credit: Jay Blue

August 9, 2018 Toronto Blue Jays Minor League Report
By Jay Blue
Blue Jays from Away

Despite heroics from Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (Montreal, Que.) and a few outstanding pitching performances, the Blue Jays minor league clubs had a 4-4 record on Thursday.

Buffalo Bisons 9, Gwinnett Stripers 5

Despite Vladimir Guerrero Jr. homering in his second consecutive game, the triple-A Buffalo Bisons lost 9-5 to the Gwinnett Stripers. Guerrero Jr. went 2/4 with the solo shot while Dwight Smith Jr. also went deep, going 2/4 with a double, two RBI and two runs. Rowdy Tellez was 2/3 with a walk and an RBI and Tim Lopes was 2/4 with a triple and a run. Billy McKinney hit a double, going 1/4 with a run.

Matt Tracy provided five innings of one-run ball, allowing six hits and striking out five before Taylor Guerrieri was charged with four runs on six hits and a walk with three strikeouts in the sixth. Craig Breslow allowed another three runs in the seventh, giving up four hits including a home run and striking out one. Conor Fisk struck out one in the eighth and Justin Shafer gave up an unearned run on two hits and a walk with one strikeout in the ninth.

L: Taylor Guerrieri (1-2)
HR: Dwight Smith Jr. (4), Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (2)

Roster Notes: Thomas Pannone was recalled by the Blue Jays and Mike Hauschild was send down to the Buffalo Bisons.

Player of the Game: Matt Tracy and Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

New Hampshire Fisher Cats 7, Bowie Baysox 2

Harold Ramirez, who came into Thursday's game as the Eastern League batting leader, had a monster game, helping to propel the double-A Fisher Cats to a 7-2 win over the Bowie Baysox. Ramirez pushed his batting average to .321 with a 4/5 game that had him hitting his 10th home run of the year, driving in two runs and scoring three times. Cavan Biggio was 1/3, walking twice, driving in a run and scoring twice while Gunnar Heidt, Max Pentecost and Jon Berti each had a double. Santiago Espinal was 1/4 with a walk.

Hector Perez struggled to find any semblance of control on the mound, walking seven batters and striking out six in four innings, giving up just two runs and two hits. Josh DeGraaf provided three scoreless innings, allowing three hits and striking out one to pick up the win while Dusty Isaacs allowed a hit in the eighth and Travis Bergen allowed a hit with one strikeout in the ninth.

W: Josh DeGraaf (6-5)
HR: Harold Ramirez (10)

Player of the Game: Harold Ramirez

Dunedin Blue Jays 2, Charlotte Stone Crabs 3

The class-A Advanced Dunedin Blue Jays scored single runs in the second and eighth innings but the Charlotte Stone Crabs kept pace, scoring in the bottom half of each of those innings to keep the game tied before scoring the winning run in the bottom of the 10th for a 3-2 win. Seven different players had a hit for the Blue Jays with Ivan Castillo hitting the only extra-base hit, a double. Brock Lundquist was 1/3 with two walks and Riley Adams was 1/4 with a walk.

Yennsy Diaz went six innings, giving up just one unearned run on four hits with a walk and two strikeouts. Angel Perdomo gave up a run on three hits and a walk with three strikeouts over two innings and Jake Fishman allowed the winning run (unearned) on a hit with three strikeouts in 1 2/3 innings.

L: Jake Fishman (2-2)

Player of the Game: Yennsy Diaz

Lansing Lugnuts 4, Dayton Dragons 3

The low-A Lansing Lugnuts took a a four-run lead into the eighth inning and came out of it with a 4-3 win, holding off the Dayton Dragons. Samad Taylor had the big blow, going 1/2 with a triple, a walk and three RBI including one from a sacrifice fly. Chavez Young was 2/4 with his 30th stolen base and Jesus Navarro was 3/3 with three singles and a run. Reggie Pruitt was 2/3 with two runs.

Jordan Barrett evened his record at 2-2 with six scoreless innings, giving up four hits and striking out three. Dalton Rodriguez allowed three runs on three hits and three walks in 1 2/3 innings and left the bases loaded for Andrew Deramo who stranded all three runners and pitched 1 1/3 innings without giving up a run, allowing just a hit and striking out two.

W: Jordan Barrett (2-2)
S: Andrew Deramo (1)

Player of the Game: Jordan Barrett

Vancouver Canadians 10, Salem-Keizer Volcanoes 11

Mc Gregory Contreras hit his team-leading eighth home run but it wasn't enough as the class-A Short-Season Vancouver Canadians lost 11-10 to the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes as the Northwest League resumed after the All-Star break. Contreras was 1/4 with the solo blast and Brandon Polizzi was on base three times, going 2/3 with a walk and three runs, adding a couple of stolen bases. Otto Lopez (Montreal, Que.) stole a base and was 2/3 with a walk, a sacrifice fly, an RBI and two runs. Yorman Rodriguez and Jesus Severino each drove in two runs, going 1/4 with a double Christopher Bec was 1/3 with a walk, an RBI and a run, adding a stolen base but the catcher had a rough game defensively, allowing two runners to steal successfully, making two errors and allowing a passed ball. Tanner Kirwer (Sherwood Park, Alta.) was 1/4 with a double and two RBI.

The Canadians used six pitchers as Sean Wymer tossed two frames, giving up three runs on five hits with two strikeouts in two innings. Denis Diaz followed, allowing two runs on two hits and a walk in the third and Joey Murry gave up four runs in five hits with two strikeouts in 1 2/3 innings. Justin Watts stranded a runner, but allowed a run on a solo home run, walking one and striking out one in 1 1/3 innings. Joey Pulido pitched a scoreless seventh and Marcus Reyes allowed an unearned run in the eighth, giving up a hit and a walk with two strikeouts.

L: Joey Murray (0-1)
HR: Mc Gregory Contreras (8)

Player of the Game: Otto Lopez and Brandon Polizzi

Bluefield Blue Jays 0, Elizabethton Twins 3

The rookie-class Bluefield Blue Jays were blanked and the Elizabethton Twins got the most of their four hits by hitting two home runs on their way to a 3-0 win. Eric Pardinho gave up those two home runs on four hits, accounting for all three Twins runs as he pitched six innings, walking just one and striking out six. Grant Townsend walked one in the seventh and Sean Rackoski struck out one in the eighth.

Alejandro Kirk was the only Blue Jay to get on base twice, going 1/3 with a walk while Cal Stevenson, Gabriel Moreno and Jose Theran each had a single.

L: Eric Pardinho (3-3)

Player of the Game: None

GCL Blue Jays 6, GCL Braves 5

The GCL Blue Jays got a major leaguer to start for them but it was the rest of the pitching staff that helped pick up a 6-5 walk-off win against the GCL Braves despite seeing manager Luis Hurtado and first-round draft pick Jordan Groshans ejected from the game. Aaron Sanchez made his first outing since going on the DL for the Blue Jays, throwing three innings and showed some rust, giving up four runs on five hits with two walks and four strikeouts. Ryan Thurston followed and showed what he can do, striking out six in three hitless innings, walking two batters. Alexander Molina allowed an unearned run on three hits with two strikeouts in two innings. Luis Alvarez went the rest of the way, striking out six and pitching three perfect innings.

Groshans didn't have the best day, going 1/6 at the plate with two strikeouts and making two errors at third base, one throwing and one fielding. Troy Squires was 3/3 with three walks and an RBI, getting on base six times while Aldo Ovando was 2/6 with an RBI. Addison Barger was 2/3 with a double, a walk, a run and was among four Blue Jays who were hit by a pitch. Adrian Ramos was 1/3 with a walk, a run and a stolen base and Yhordegny Kelly was 1/2 with a walk, a double and two RBI, scoring a run after taking Jonelvy Molina's place after he was hit by a pitch.

W: Luis Alvarez (1-0)

Roster Notes: Aaron Sanchez was sent to the GCL to begin a rehab assignment.

Player of the Game: Troy Squires

DSL Blue Jays 2, DSL Padres 1

Scoring a pair of runs in the bottom of the ninth inning, the DSL Blue Jays walked off with a 2-1 win over the DSL Padres. Alberto Rodriguez drove in a run, going 1/4 with an RBI and two stolen bases while Miguel Hiraldo had the club's only extra-base hit, a double.

Santos Moreno was excellent, giving up six hits and striking out seven in six scoreless innings. Jhoan Dominguez allowed an unearned run in two innings, walking one and striking out three and Jeison Contreras allowed a hit in the top of the ninth.

W: Jeison Contreras (3-2)

Player of the Game: Santos Moreno

Jay's Jay of the Day: Harold Ramirez and Troy Squires

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