April 19 Minor League Recap

 

Matt Tuiasosopo
Matt Tuiasosopo

 

After a fantastic day in which the Blue Jays’ minor league clubs won all of their games, the Baby Jays regressed on Saturday, coming away with only one win in five games. There were some great performances to talk about though.

 

 

The Buffalo Bisons played a double header in Pawtucket and came away with a split. Game 1 featured an epic, nine-inning scoreless battle that was eventually won by Pawtucket after Christian Vazquez singled home Justin Henry to walk off with the win. The lack of hitting spoiled an outstanding outing by Sean Nolin who, through six innings, only gave up three hits and one walk with seven strikeouts. Ryan Tepera supplied two more scoreless innings with three strikeouts and Mickey Storey surrendered the winning run. The offense was very quiet, amassing only four hits: one each from Chris Getz, Kevin Pillar, Ricardo Nanita and Erik Kratz.

 

Sean Nolin
Sean Nolin

 

Player of the Game: Sean Nolin

 

The Bisons rode Chad Jenkins and Matt Tuiasosopo to victory in Game 2, coming up with a 3-2 win. Tuiasosopo launched his first home run of the season for The Herd, going 3/3 with the home run and two RBI. Anthony Gose also had a 3/4 game while Kevin Pillar pushed his average up to .175 with a 1/3 game that included a double. Jenkins, making his first start of the year, threw five innings, surrendering just one run on three hits including a solo home run to Alex Hassan. Austin Bibens-Dirkx was charged with the other run and John Stilson picked up his first save of the season.

Player of the Game: Matt Tuiasosopo

 

On a day full of squandered pitching performances, the New Hampshire Fisher Cats got into the act as well, dropping a 3-2 game to the Binghamton Mets. Starter Deck McGuire was very solid, giving up only two runs (on six hits and one walk) in five innings with five strikeouts. Richard Bleier was charged with the loss, giving up one run in 2 2/3 innings. The offense was very quiet with only four hits. Jack Murphy had two of them including his first home run of the season.

Player of the Game: Jack Murphy

 

Continuing the theme of great pitching but just not enough offense, Matt Boyd went to the hill for the Dunedin Blue Jays and was nothing short of spectacular, holding the Brevard County Manatees to just one run (off of a solo home run by Tyrone Taylor) on three hits and three walks but he struck out nine over six innings. Incredibly, Boyd has allowed just one run in his 23 innings so far this year, walking just five and striking out 25. Efrain Nieves was charged with the loss in the 3-1 game. The offense managed only eight hits with Dwight Smith, Jr. and Dalton Pompey smacking two each (Pompey added his eighth stolen base).

 

Matt Boyd
Matt Boyd

 

Player of the Game: Matt Boyd

 

The Lansing Lugnuts broke the pattern of good pitching allowing the Beloit Snappers to add another win to the column after a 10-4 game. Starter Tom Robson was ineffective, getting the hook after just 2/3 of an inning, allowing three runs on three hits and two walks. Alonzo Gonzalez allowed another six runs (five earned) in 2 1/3 while Brady Dragmire and Jimmy Cordero threw two scoreless innings each. Scott Silverstein allowed an unearned run but struck out two batters in his inning of work. The offense showed some signs of life with a home run from Dickie Thon and one from Jason Leblebijian, who relieved Dawel Lugo part way through the game. Derrick Loveless also contributed with a pair of hits and so did Mitch Nay who ran his hitting streak to 10 games.

 

Dickie Thon
Dickie Thon

 

Player of the Game: Dickie Joe Thon

 

There are no games scheduled for Easter Sunday for the Jays’ minor league teams.

 

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All photos are copyright Blue Jays from Away (2013-2014) and may not be used without permission.