The weekend ended as several affiliates continued their trends. Buffalo won another while New Hampshire lost another. The Lugnuts recovered from a one-game losing streak by shutting out Dayton and Dunedin struggled through rain.
Buffalo Bisons 5, Lehigh Valley IronPigs 4
For a time, it didn’t look as if the Buffalo Bisons would be able to pull out the victory but a two-out, ninth-inning rally, keyed by three walks, two singles and a Sean Ochinko double, plated four runs, vaulting the Bisons into a walk-off win in front of 5,554 fans on Sunday afternoon. For Ochinko, it was his only hit of the game while Ezequiel Carrera had a single, a double, two runs and a walk that got the rally going. Matt Hague also drove in a piar, going 2/3 with a single, a double and a walk. Munenori Kawasaki was on base three times with a single and two walks.
On the pitching side, Austin Bibens-Dirkx made his first appearance of the year, throwing five strong innings for the Bisons, allowing one run on three hits and two walks with six strikeouts. Two innings from Preston Guilmet followed (2 H, 2 BB, 1 R, 1 K), while Greg Infante and Bobby Korecky each allowed a run in an inning and Korecky earned the win. This was the Bisons’ sixth win in a row to push their record to 7-3.
Roster Notes: The Blue Jays selected Jeff Francis‘s contract and optioned Colt Hynes to Buffalo.
Player of the Game: Matt Hague and Ezequiel Carrera
New Hampshire Fisher Cats 1, New Britain Rock Cats 4
The Fisher Cats offense continues to struggle as the Jays’ Double-A affliates had just four hits on Sunday. John Anderson made the start and gave up three runs in the first inning and left with two runners on in the fourth, giving him three runs allowed on five hits and three walks with three strikeouts. Cory Burns did an excellent job in relief, stranding two runners and not allowing a run over two innings while Matt West, Greg Burke and Danny Barnes each pitched an inning in relief. The Fisher Cats drop to 5-6 on the season.
Player of the Game: None
Dunedin Blue Jays 2, Brevard County Manatees 3
In a game marred by a two-hour rain delay, the Blue Jays squandered a 2-0 lead over the Manatees as they dropped below .500 to 5-6. Roemon Fields, Dawel Lugo and Mike Reeves had a pair of hits each with Lugo picking up an RBI single and Fields walking twice and stealing a base. Murphy Smith made his first start of the season for the Blue Jays, throwing three scoreless innings, striking out three and walking one while Matt Dermody followed for three innings without allowing a run on two hits and a walk with four strikeouts. Brady Dragmire, coming in post-rain-delay, allowed the first two Manatees runs before Jimmy Cordero shut the door for two innings. Scott Silverstein surrendered the walkoff run in his third inning of relief.
Player of the Game: Roemon Fields, Dawel Lugo, Murphy Smith and Matt Dermody
Lansing Lugnuts 4, Dayton Dragons 0
The Lansing Lugnuts pushed their record to 8-3 (the best in the Jays’ organization), beating the Dayton Dragons with a 4-0 shutout. Sean Reid-Foley made his second start, going 2 2/3 innings and allowing just one hit but struggled with his control, walking three and striking out four. Justin Shafer finished the game and was excellent, allowing just four hits and two walks while striking out five.
The Lugnuts’ offense is showing signs of life, getting 12 hits on Sunday’s game including a pair from Tim Locastro (2/5, 2B, R), Rowdy Tellez (2/4), Ryan McBroom (2/3, 3B, R, RBI), Justin Atkinson (2/4. RBI) and Josh Almonte (2/4). Richard Urena drove in a run and scored with a hit while Chris Carlson hit a double.
Player of the Game: Justin Shafer
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