Marcus Stroman got rocked as the Blue Jays dropped their opener in Chicago 11-5 to the White Sox. It wasn’t pretty, especially for Stroman and Todd Redmond and Edwin Encarnacion was 0/4 in his return (although Adam Lind was 2/4). Chad Jenkins was optioned back to Buffalo to get Kyle Drabek and his fresh arm in the bullpen.
Buffalo Bisons 7, Lehigh Valley IronPigs 1
Daniel Norris must have been out to prove that he wasn’t a flash in the pan in his Triple-A debut as he went one better, needing 85 pitches to go 5 2/3 innings and the 21 year old struck out 13 IronPigs, allowing just three hits and one run without walking anyone. Sergio Santos also struck out three in his inning. The offense was also in gear with two-hit games from Jared Goedert, Brad Glenn, Brett Wallace, Cole Gillespie and Ryan Schimpf who hit a two-run home run and took two walks.
Player of the Game: Daniel Norris and Ryan Schimpf
New Hampshire Fisher Cats 7, Akron RubberDucks 9
Casey Lawrence got hit hard, allowing seven runs on nine hits and four walks in 4 1/3 innings. The offense had a great day with Jon Berti, Melky Mesa and Kevin Nolan all having two-hit days and Derrick Chung led the way with a 3/4 game that included two doubles, a walk and two RBI.
Player of the Game: Derrick Chung
Dunedin Blue Jays 4, Brevard County Manatees 1
Ian White seems to be getting stronger as the season wears on, throwing seven innings of two-hit, one run ball for the D-Jays, striking out five. Nick Baligod was 2/4 with a home run and Shane Opitz was 2/3 with a triple, an RBI and two runs.
Player of the Game: Ben White and Nick Baligod
Lansing Lugnuts 6, South Bend Silver Hawks 3
Miguel Castro had some struggles with control but was able to limit the damage, going six innings and giving up three runs on two hits and four walks but he struck out eight batters. Mitch Nay had two of the Lugnuts’ eight hits with a single, a double, a walk and an RBI while David Harris was 1/3 with a three-RBI double.
Player of the Game: Mitch Nay
Vancouver Canadians 4, Everett AquaSox 0
Friday’s game had a dynamic duo of Matthew Smoral and Ryan Borucki who combined to pitch the whole game, allowing just three hits and two walks (both by Smoral) with seven strikeouts. Roemon Fields had two hits and his 38th stolen base while Tim Locastro stole his 24th base.
Player of the Game: Matt Smoral and Ryan Borucki
Bluefield Blue Jays 4, Princeton Rays 1
In another strong pitching performance, the Bluefield Blue Jays got five strong innings out of Joey Aquino who allowed one run on four hits and a walk. Jordan Romano went 2 2/3 scoreless with four strikeouts and Chase Wellbrock picked up his second save with 1 1/3 innings of one-hit ball with two Ks. Kevin Garcia, playing in his second straight game, was 2/4 while Richard Urena scored twice, going 1/4 with a walk.
Player of the Game: Joey Aquino and Kevin Garcia
GCL Blue Jays: Game postponed due to rain
DSL Blue Jays 19, DSL Phillies 3
Wow. It was a huge game in the DSL for the Blue Jays with Rodrigo Orozco getting four hits (and three runs) while Enmanuel Moreta had two triples (as part of a 3/3 game) with four RBI. Ronniel Demorizi was 3/6 and Bryan Lizardo was 3/5 with a double, two RBI and a walk. Miguel Almonte was 3/5 with two runs and two RBI. Kelyn Jose started and only pitched an inning, allowing all three runs (unearned). Luis Gomez went five scoreless innings and Erick Hurtado earned a three-inning save with just one hit and one walk against.
Player of the Game: Enmanuel Moreta and Luis Gomez
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