It’s been a very long day for Mr. Blue as I woke up before dawn to get on the road to New Hampshire to check out the Fisher Cats. After driving all day, I reached the ballpark just in time to make it for first pitch of Game 1 of the double header with the Reading Fightin’ Phils and I had a nice surprise on a couple of fronts which I’ll write about later today. For now, here’s the minor league report.
Buffalo Bisons 4, Indianapolis Indians 2
Brad Mills took the ball for the Bisons and pitched a great game, going 6 2/3 innings and allowing just two runs on four hits including a solo home run to Robert Andino. Mills struck out five but didn’t pick up the win as the Bisons rallied only after he was out of the game. Picking up the win was Ryan Tepera who threw an inning and a third and Bobby Korecky picked up his 17th save with a 1-2-3 ninth. Jonathan Diaz was the only Bison to have more than one hit, going 2/4 with a double and Ryan Schimpf hit his eighth Triple-A home run. Darin Mastroianni was the only position player to go hitless but he was on base with a walk.
Player of the Game: Ryan Schimpf and Brad Mills
New Hampshire Fisher Cats 5, Reading Fightin’ Phils 2
There were two great starting performances for the New Hampshire Fisher Cats as the two starters in the double header saved the bullpen by only needing one inning for both games. In Game 1, Scott Copeland was very sharp and threw a complete game, allowing only two runs (one earned) on six hits and three walks but struck out nine batters. The offense was ignited early with a K.C. Hobson home run (his fifth) but the club only had five other hits. Michael Crouse was on twice with a single and a walk and drove in a run.
Roster Note: Taylor Cole was promoted to New Hampshire (finally) and Kendall Graveman was sent up to Buffalo.
Player of the Game: Scott Copeland
New Hampshire Fisher Cats 9, Reading Fightin’ Phils 2
The Fisher Cats completed the sweep of the Fightins with another offensive explosion. Andy Burns had a great game with the bat, going 3/4 with a double and two RBI while Jack Murphy was 2/3 with an RBI and both Andy Fermin and Jorge Flores were 2/3 with a double and two RBI. Austin Bibens-Dirkx got the start and wasn’t sharp early but hung in there to throw six innings of two-run ball, striking out five and Gregory Infante was very good in the ninth to finish off the game.
Player of the Game: Andy Burns
Dunedin Blue Jays 10, Palm Beach Cardinals 8
It was a wild one in Dunedin as the Blue Jays hung on for a win over Palm Beach. The big story here was Roberto Osuna making his first start of the season with the Dunedin Blue Jays on the comeback trail from Tommy John surgery last year. He went 3 1/3 innings and allowed three runs on four hits and one walk but also struck out six. Griffin Murphy picked up the win but allowed a run over 1 2/3 innings and Tony Davis was tagged for three runs over three innings. Another big name, Brett Lawrie, made the start for the D-Jays (at second base) and went 1/3 with a walk and two strikeouts before being lifted for Christian Lopes. The night belonged to other players though with three Blue Jays getting three hits including Emilio Guerrero (3/4, 2 2B, 2 R, 2 RBI), Shane Opitz (3/4, 2B, 2 R, RBI) and Jorge Saez, who was 3/4 with his first home run with the Blue Jays. Gustavo Pierre was 1/4 with a home run and Cole Gillespie, also making a rehab start, was 1/5 with a double and two RBI.
Player of the Game: Jorge Saez
Lansing Lugnuts 1, Great Lakes Loons 3
A young prospect that I had seen early in the year, Zachary Bird of the Great Lakes Loons, looks like he’s finally figuring a few things out but it was, unfortunately, at the expense of the Lansing Lugnuts. Bird, barely two weeks into his 20s, threw 5 1/3 innings of strong ball at the Lugnuts, giving up only one run on a massive, solo home run to Mitch Nay. Nay finished the game 2/4 while D.J. Davis and Justin Atkinson were also 2/4. Recently promoted Starlyn Suriel had another solid start but gave up all three runs over five innings. Alonzo Gonzalez went three excellent innings in relief, allowing just one hit and one walk while striking out five.
Roster Notes: Roberto Osuna (who had been put on the Lansing roster) was “promoted” in a paper move. Jeremy Gabryszwski was legitimately given a promotion to Dunedin while Miguel Castro was promoted from Vancouver to Lansing.
Player of the Game: Mitch Nay and Alonzo Gonzalez
Vancouver Canadians 10, Boise Hawks 11
A slugfest in Boise needed 11 innings to resolve but it was the Hawks who came out with an 11-10 win over the Vancouver Canadians. Zak Wailewski was cruising, having only allowed two runs before the sixth but got burned, ending up with six runs charged in 5 1/3 innings thanks to reliever Kamakani Usui who allowed both inherited runners to score. Michael Kraft has been strong as he went two perfect innings, picking up two strikeouts. Joe Lovecchio allowed four runs in his inning and Yeyfry Del Rosario allowed the game winner in his second inning of work. The offense was in great form, getting multiple-hit games from six different players. Roemon Fields set the table with a 2/7 game and stole his 34th base of the season and Alexis Maldonado was 2/6 with a run and an RBI. Michael De La Cruz (3/6, 2B, 2 RBI), Gunnar Heidt (3/6, 2B, 2 R, 2 RBI, SB) and Ryan McBroom (2B, HR, R, 4 RBI) all had three hits each while Max Pentecost had a four-hit game with a triple and a stolen base, stealing a base.
Player of the Game: Max Pentecost and Ryan McBroom
Bluefield Blue Jays 3, Bristol Pirates 7
Jesus Tinoco was hit hard, allowing seven runs (five earned) over 2 2/3 innings for the Blue Jays as the club lost again. Oscar Cabrera was excellent in relief, throwing 4 1/3 innigns of one-hit, one-walk ball. Richard Urena pushed his season batting average to .320 with a 2/4 game and Angel Rojas was also 2/4 with a double and an RBI.
Player of the Game: Oscar Cabrera and Angel Rojas
GCL Blue Jays 2, GCL Tigers 7
Grayson Huffman was solid for the Blue Jays but his good outing was wasted as Brandon Hinkle fell apart, allowing six runs (five earned) over the last two innings of the game. Huffman gave up just one run on two hits and two walks with four strikeouts over four innings. The offense had four hits, all singles: one each from Juan Kelly, Edwin Fuentes, (who drove in two runs), Yeltsin Gudino and Dave Pepe.
Player of the Game: Grayson Huffman
GCL Blue Jays 2, GCL Tigers 13
Getting four hits in a second straight game, Deiferson Barreto was the only player with multiple hits, going 2/3 with a double. The pitching was pretty bad with Bobby Wheatley (2/3 IP, 6 H, 6 R, 2 BB), Turner Lee (1 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 2 BB, 1 K) and Joe Claver (2 IP, 5 H, 3 R) all giving up multiple runs. Francisco Diaz pitched 3 1/3 innings of scoreless relief but allowed two hits and three walks with only one strikeout.
Player of the Game: Deiferson Barreto
DSL Blue Jays: Information not available
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August 2 Preview
Buffalo Bisons (58-54)
After making his first start in Double-A for the New Hampshire Fisher Cats last week, Kendall Graveman will look to make another debut, this time for Triple-A Buffalo in their 7:05 PM game in Norfolk at the Baltimore-affiliated Tides. You can catch Graveman on MiLB TV.
New Hampshire Fisher Cats (54-59)
After a decent night’s sleep, I’ll be hanging out in New Hampshire to watch game four of the Fisher Cats’ series against the Reading Fightin’ Phils. It’s still listed as TBA but my bet is on Taylor Cole to make his Double-A debut at 7:05 PM on MiLB TV.
Dunedin Blue Jays (64-46)
The D-Jays send Jesse Hernandez to the hill at 6:30 PM to face the Palm Beach Cardinals.
Lansing Lugnuts (50-59)
Brent Powers is scheduled to make tonight’s 7:05 PM start for the Lansing Lugnuts at beautiful Dow Diamond in Midland, Michigan, home to the Great Lakes Loons. This game is also on MiLB TV.
Vancouver Canadians (29-20)
The Vancouver Canadians have an unannounced starter pitching against the Boise Hawks at 9:15 PM ET.
Bluefield Blue Jays (19-23)
the Bluefield Blue Jays send lefty Evan Smith to the hill against the Bristol Pirates at 7:00 PM.
The GCL and DSL Blue Jays are also both in action today.
Who are these players? Find out in The 2014 Toronto Blue Jays Minor League Handbook, now available as an ebook at Smashwords.com for $7.99 US. It’s coming soon to Amazon, Apple iBooks, Kobo and other fine retailers. You can purchase and preview the book at our Smashwords.com page! If you like us here,“like” us on Facebook!
All photos are copyright Blue Jays from Away (2013-2014) and may not be used without permission.
Is Matt Smoral pitching tomorrow night or Monday night?
If nothing changes with the rotation, Smoral looks like he’ll pitch Monday.