Jay Blue: Mineo, Moreno, Murphy, Noda, Stevenson, Waguespack

Ryan Noda hit a walk-off grand slam for the class-A Dunedin Blue Jays in the second game of their doubleheader on Wednesday. Photo: Jay Blue

May 15, 2019 Toronto Blue Jays Minor League Report

By Jay Blue

Blue Jays from Away

The Toronto Blue Jays' affiliates got five games in with the Dunedin Blue Jays splitting a doubleheader and getting three wins overall.

Buffalo Bisons 2, Gwinnett Stripers (ATL) 6

The triple-A Buffalo Bisons continue to struggle, falling to the Gwinnett Stripers 6-2 on Wednesday.

With six hits and two runs, the offense didn't do much for Buffalo as Lourdes Gurriel Jr. (1/4, 2B, RBI, R) and Cavan Biggio (1/4, 2B, RBI) had the only extra-base hits and Anthony Alford (1/4, R), Alen Hanson (1/3), Richard Urena (1/4) and Andy Burns (1/2, BB) each had a single.

On the mound to start was Jacob Waguespack who went seven innings, giving up four runs (three earned) on just five hits and a walk but three of those five hits were home runs. Waguespack struck out three and got 11 outs on the ground to five on fly balls. Dusty Isaacs allowed a run in the eighth, giving up a solo home run among two hits with three strikeouts and a walk and Francisco Rios gave up a home run and a walk, allowing one run in the ninth.

L: Jacob Waguespack (2-5)

Player of the Game: None

Roster Notes: Thomas Pannone was optioned to Buffalo to make room for Edwin Jackson on the roster. Jimmy Cordero was claimed off waivers by the Blue Jays and optioned to Buffalo.

New Hampshire Fisher Cats 9, Reading Fightin Phils (PHI) 3

Righty Patrick Murphy fired his way to another outstanding start, leading the double-A New Hampshire Fisher Cats to a 9-3 win over the Reading Fightin Phils.

Murphy went seven innings, striking out 10 batters along the way to pick up his second win of the season. He allowed just one run on a solo home run among three hits with one walks while getting six ground outs and two fly ball outs. Jake Fishman followed, allowing two unearned runs on three hits with two strikeouts in the eighth while Ty Tice finished it with a clean ninth, getting three ground ball outs.

Alberto Mineo had another banner day, getting his batting average above .300 (to .303) with a 4/4 game that had him hitting his third home run of the year, adding a double and two singles and driving in five RBI, scoring twice. Kevin Smith also went deep for his third home run of the season, going 2/4 with three RBI, bringing his average up to .157 as he hopes to come out of the funk that has started his season. Vinny Capra continues to hit, going 3/4 with a triple and a stolen base, scoring a run and Brock Lundquist hit a double, going 2/4 with two runs. Forrest Wall was 1/5 with an RBI and a run.

W: Patrick Murphy (2-4)

HR: Kevin Smith (3), Alberto Mineo (3)

Player of the Game: Patrick Murphy and Alberto Mineo

Dunedin Blue Jays 1, Jupiter Hammerheads (MIA) 5

In the first game of their double header, the Jupiter Hammerheads kept the class-A Advanced Dunedin Blue Jays to just one run in a 5-1 win.

The Blue Jays had just seven hits with Kevin Vicuna (2/3, 2B, R, SB) and Cal Stevenson (2/4, 2B, RBI) getting two hits apiece. Norberto Obeso (1/3, SB), Alejandro Kirk (1/3) and Demi Orimoloye (Orleans, Ont.) (1/3, SB, OF Asst., E) also contributed a hit each.

Joey Murray had a solid start, giving up only run on on six hits and three walks with five strikeouts in 4 1/3 innings, leaving the bases loaded for Matt Shannon who stranded all three. Shannone allowed four runs (three earned) on four hits and a walk with two strikeouts in an inning and Mike Ellenbest, making his first appearance since 2017, stranded two runner and pitched 1 2/3 innings of scoreless ball, walking one and striking out one to finish the game.

L: Matt Shannon (0-3)

Player of the Game: Cal Stevenson and Kevin Vicuna

Roster Notes: Kacy Clemens was sent to Dunedin from New Hamsphire while Mike Ellenbest was activated from the DL and sent to Dunedin from Lansing. Jesus Navarro was also assigned to Dunedin from extended spring training while Luis De Los Santos went from Dunedin to Lansing.

Dunedin Blue Jays 8, Jupiter Hammerheads (MIA) 4

Game two of the doubleheader had a different result as the Dunedin Blue Jays rallied for three runs in the bottom of the seventh to tie the game and send it into extra innings and the Jays rallied for another four runs in the bottom of the ninth to win 8-4, walking off on a Ryan Noda grand slam.

Noda was 1/4 with five RBI, hitting the home run and a sac fly. Kacy Clemens in the lineup for Dunedin for the first time this season, was 2/3 with a walk and a run, hitting a double. Cullen Large was 1/4 with a walk and a triple, scoring twice while Cal Stevenson was 1/3 with a walk and a double, driving in a run. Norberto Obeso was 1/3 with a walk, an RBI and a run and Kevin Vicuna was 1/3 with a walk and a run. Chavez Young's batting average fell to .194 after going 0/4 but he also drove in a run, scored once and walked twice.

Turner Larkins started, allowing three runs on eight hits and two walks with four strikeouts in five innings before Emerson Jimenez took over in the sixth, striking out one. Kyle Weatherly allowed a run in the seventh but that was all over 2 1/3 innings, giving up the unearned run on two hits with three strikeouts. Brad Wilson came on with a runner on in the ninth, walked a man but got out of the inning unscathed to pick up the win.

W: Brad Wilson (1-1)

HR: Ryan Noda (4)

Player of the Game: Ryan Noda

Lansing Lugnuts 7, West Michigan Whitecaps (DET) 6

The low-A Lansing Lugnuts scored in the bottom of the ninth, getting a bases-loaded walk from Rafael Lantigua as the Lugnuts walked off with a 7-6 victory and a series sweep against the West Michigan Whitecaps.

Catcher Gabriel Moreno was called up from extended spring training and had a terrific Lansing debut, going 3/5 with a triple and a home run, driving in three and scoring once. Ryan Gold was 2/4 with a walk, a double and two runs while Rafael Lantigua was 1/3 with a walk, a triple, two RBI and two runs. Jake Brodt was 2/5 with an RBI and a stolen base and Hunter Steinmetz was 2/5 with a double and a run. Otto Lopez (Montreal, Que.) was 1/3 with two walks.

Troy Miller went 3 2/3 innings for the start, giving up four runs (three earned) on four hits (including a home run) with five walks and three strikeouts. Mike Pascoe followed, stranding the bases loaded and giving up just a hit and a walk with two strikeouts in 3 1/3 innings. Will McAffer (North Vancouver, B.C.) allowed two walks and a hit in an inning but no runs while striking out two and Jackson Rees blew the save, allowing two runs (one earned) on a hit and a walk with one strikeout in the ninth but got the win as the Lugnuts rallied to win.

W: Jackson Rees (1-0)

HR: Gabriel Moreno (1)

Player of the Game: Gabriel Moreno

Roster Notes: Luis De Los Santos was sent to Lansing from Dunedin and Gabriel Moreno was assigned to the Lugnuts from extended spring training.

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