With three afternoon games today in the minors today, there’s going to be plenty to fill your day with, but first, the recap of yesterday’s games.
I’d link the Jays Journal minor league report but they don’t have it up at the time of this writing.
The Buffalo Bisons supported a shaky Kyle Drabek, getting three hits (a single, a double and triple) and three RBI from dynamo Juan Francisco who played third base for The Herd. Anthony Gose also hit two doubles but didn’t steal any bases as defensive guru Christian Vazquez was behind the plate for the Pawtucket Red Sox. Munenori Kawasaki also had a pair of hits but fell victim to Vazquez on the bases. Drabek gave up three runs on seven hits and two walks but struck out five in his five innings of work and Bobby Korecky and Ryan Tepera provided four innings of shutout ball to hold the Paw Sox off the board.
Blue Jays from Away Player of the Game: Juan Francisco
The New Hampshire Fisher Cats’ bats are pretty cold as they were three-hit by the Binghamton Mets and fell to 2-6 on the young season. Scott Copeland had a much better outing, throwing six innings of one-run, two-hit, two-walk ball. Lefty Tony Davis was lit up for four runs (three earned) in his inning and Wil Browning and Gregory Infante each gave up a run in their inning. For Browning, it was just a solo home run that he allowed in an otherwise strong inning with two strikeouts and no walks. Brad Glenn had a night off and thus, his hitting streak is still alive.
Blue Jays from Away Player of the Game: Scott Copeland
The Dunedin Blue Jays couldn’t keep their winning streak alive as they fell 5-2 to the Brevard County Manatees. Making his first start of the season, Jesse Hernandez gave up four runs (three earned) in the first two innings but cruised from there, but retired the last 13 batters he faced, the final three via the swinging strikeout. Blake McFarland finished the game throwing three innings and giving up one run on four hits with two strikeouts. For the hitters, Dalton Pompey went 2/3 with a double, a walk and a stolen base while Matt Newman also had a double and a single. Emilio Guerrero went 2/3 with a single and a home run for his first of the year. Dwight Smith was cooled off by the Manatees pitchers, taking the Golden Sombrero by striking out four times.
Blue Jays from Away Player of the Game: Emilio Guerrero
The Lansing Lugnuts almost pulled out a comeback victory over the Cedar Rapids Kernels but reliever Jimmy Cordero gave up four runs (only one was earned) in the ninth inning to let the Kernels come away with a 10-7 win. Adonys Cardona showed flashes of brilliance in his start, sitting in the low-90s but throwing a changeup with plus-potential (according to Jared Macdonald). He gave up three runs in his four innings. Chase DeJong also gave up three runs but they came off of seven hits (including two solo home runs by Mitch Garver). Despite giving up those (home) runs, De Jong struck out four and didn’t walk anyone, showing more of his devastating 12-6 curveball than he had in his previous start. Carlos Ramirez came alive, going 3/3 while Mitch Nay had a 2/5 day with a double and an RBI. D.J. Davis was 1/4 but struck out twice more.
Blue Jays from Away Player of the Game: Carlos Ramirez
April 12 Preview
Buffalo Bisons (5-2)
The Bisons send Liam Hendriks to the hill against the Pawtucket Red Sox and Chris Hernandez. Hendriks has allowed only one hit and no walks with three strikeouts in four innings this season but the club’s fifth starter finally gets his first start thanks to some postponed games (due to weather) and a bump thanks to J.A. Happ and his rehab start this week. It’s a pretty standard starting lineup for the Bisons for a 1:05 pm start that is on MiLB TV.
New Hampshire Fisher Cats (2-6)
The Fisher Cats have another game against the Binghamton Mets and send Casey Lawrence to the mound at 1:35 pm against 23-year-old Tyler Pill for the Mets. You can catch the game on the radio (or internet radio). Lawrence is also making his first start after having thrown four relief innings with a 2.25 ERA and just one walk allowed to three strikeouts.
Dunedin Blue Jays (6-2)
In an evening game, the Dunedin Blue Jays send Daniel Norris (1-0, 1.80 ERA) to the mound to face 21-year-old Jorge Lopez for the Brevard County Manatees. Lopez gave up four runs in five innings against Daytona in his first start while Norris, a lefty who doesn’t turn 21 until April 25, gave up just one run in five innings against the Clearwater Threshers in his first start. Catch Tyler Murray and Co. on the air at 6:30 pm.
Lansing Lugnuts (3-5)
The Lansing Lugnuts play game two against a fairly strong Cedar Rapids Kernels team today. They’re sending Kendall Graveman who was excellent in five innings against the Lake County Captains on April 6 but didn’t get a decision despite not allowing any runs in his five innings. The college veteran will go up against one of the Twins’ top prospects in Kohl Stewart. Stewart gave up two runs on two hits and a walk with one strikeout in his five innings against the Clinton LumberKings also on April 6. Tune in to Jesse Goldberg-Strassler and Trey Wilson for a 2:05 start time.
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All photos are copyright Blue Jays from Away (2013-2014) and may not be used without permission.