August 25 Minor League Report/August 26 Preview

Michael Crouse
Michael Crouse

 

The Blue Jays lost. Again. This time they came back against the Red Sox but lost it in the 10th. But there’s some good news from the minor leagues!

 

 

Buffalo Bisons 2, Pawtucket Red Sox 6

 

The Bisons ran into a hot Matt Barnes and they weren’t able to take over the lead of the wildcard race, dropping a game back of Pawtucket. Brad Mills got the start and allowed four runs over five innings and Rob Rasmussen allowed the other two runs (one earned) over 1 2/3 although both runners came into score after Kyle Drabek relieved Rasmussen. Colt Hynes pitched two perfect innings to finish the game. Dalton Pompey was 0/4 with a walk and a run and Brett Wallace remained hot, going 2/4 with a an RBI. Jonathan Diaz was 1/2 with a triple, a sacrifice and a walk.

 

Jonathan Diaz
Jonathan Diaz

Player of the Game: Jonathan Diaz and Brett Wallace

 

New Hampshire Fisher Cats 3, Harrisburg Senators 5

 

The Fisher Cats started their day by completing a 12-inning victory over the Harrisburg Senators that was suspended in the bottom of the 12th inning. Richard Bleier came in to “relieve” Scott Gracey (although the pitching change came a month after Gracey started the inning) and subsequently retired the only two batters he faced, finishing off the win, 9-7.

In the actual game, the Harrisburg Senators got four unearned runs (and one earned one) off of P.J. Walters over his seven innings and Justin Jackson threw two scoreless innings to finish the game. In the loss, Michael Crouse was 1/3 with a home run and two RBI while Andy Burns and Gustavo Pierre each hit a triple.

Player of the Game: Michael Crouse

 

Dunedin Blue Jays 8, Daytona Cubs 7

 

The Dunedin Blue Jays brought their bats and then held on tight as they managed to cling to a win against the Daytona Cubs. Miguel Castro made his Dunedin debut, going 5 2/3 innings and allowing just two runs three hits (but three walks) with three strikeouts. Griffin Murphy finished off the sixth but allowed three runners to reach in the seventh, two of whom scored. Danny Barnes, Chad Girodo and Arik Sikula each allowd a run of their own. Dwight Smith, Jr. had the biggest game at the plate, going 3/5 with a single, double and a home run while stealing a base. L.B. Dantzler was 2/4 with two runs and a walk while Jorge Saez was 2/2 with a double and a triple, two walks, three RBI and two runs scored. Christian Lopes also had a pair of hits, driving in two runs with a single and a double.

 

Jorge Saez
Jorge Saez

Player of the Game: Jorge Saez

 

Lansing Lugnuts 7, Lake County Captains 9

 

In a slug-fest, the Lugnuts came back to tie the game in the ninth but couldn’t match the Captains’ three runs in the tenth and ended up falling by a 9-7 final. Matt Dermody went three innings, allowing two runs (both unearned) on five hits and one walk with four strikeouts before Joe Lovecchio allowed two runs over 2 2/3 innings. Jimmy Cordero blew the save and allowed a run over 1 2/3 before Roberto Espinosa took the loss with four runs (three earned) against in 2 1/3 innings. Jason Leblebijian took the mound to get the final out of the game. Rowdy Tellez had another two hits for the Lugnuts, going 2/4 with his first home run in the Midwest League. David Harris was also 2/4 with a double and a stolen base and Chris Schaeffer had a double, a home run and two RBI. D.J. Davis also hit a home run and took a walk.

 

Rowdy Tellez
Rowdy Tellez

Player of the Game: Chris Schaeffer and Rowdy Tellez

 

Vancouver Canadians 3, Eugene Emeralds 1

 

Jairo Labourt led the way with another strong outing for the club, going six innings and allowing just one run on five hits without walking anyone and striking out five. Canadian Andrew Case followed suit, throwing two scoreless innings and Phil Kish finished it off with the save, throwing a scoreless ninth. Tim Locastro continues his all-star season, going 3/5 with two RBI, a run and three stolen bases. Roemon Fields is rebounding after a mid-season slump with a 2/5 game that includes a double, two runs and another three stolen bases, giving him 46 on the season. Ryan McBroom was 2/4 with a double and an RBI. The Canadians are back in a tie with the Tri-City Dust Devils for first place in the second half as they push towards a playoff spot.

 

Tim Locastro
Tim Locastro

Player of the Game: Jairo Labourt and Tim Locastro

 

Bluefield Blue Jays 1, Greeneville Astros 3

 

The Bluefield Blue Jays couldn’t get their offense going against Brock Dykxhoorn who was dominant for Greeneville. Jesus Tinoco tried to match him, going six innings and allowing two unearned runs on four hits and one walk with four strikeouts. Jordan Romano allowed a run over the last two innings of the game. Josh Almonte had two hits and a walk.

Player of the Game: Jesus Tinoco and Josh Almonte

 

GCL Blue Jays 4, GCL Pirates 3

 

Mexican righty Daniel Rodriguez, who just turned 18 last week, is still having trouble in the GCL after a three-inning outing in which he allowed three runs on seven hits. The bright side is that he struck out four and didn’t walk anyone. On the other hand, Francisco Diaz allowed only one hit in his 2 2/3 innings but walked six although no one came in to score and he struck out three. Sean Ratcliffe, from Pickering, Ontario had a stron gouting, allowing two hits and a walk in 2 1/3 innings. Trey Pascazi was 3/4 with an RBI but otherwise, no one had more than one hit.

Player of the Game: Trey Pascazi

 

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August 26 Preview

 

Buffalo Bisons (73-62)

 

The last time Daniel Norris started, we were under the impression that it would be his last start before a move to the bullpen. Is his start on Tuesday going to be the last? You’ll have to tune in to MiLB TV at 6:05 PM to find out. The Bisons will have some tough competition in Pawtucket’s Henry Owens.

 

New Hampshire Fisher Cats (64-71)

 

Scott Copeland looks to rebound from a tough start as the Fisher Cats host the Harrisburg Senators, the Double-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals, at 6:35 PM on MiLB TV.

 

Dunedin Blue Jays (76-57)

 

Roberto Osuna is scheduled to be on the mound for Dunedin as they host Daytona at 6:30 PM.

 

Lansing Lugnuts (59-73)

 

Jeremy Gabryszwski goes for the Lugnuts as they continue their series against the Lake County Captains at 7:05 PM.

 

Vancouver Canadians (40-29)

 

Matt Smoral, who has a very strong 2.79 ERA since his Vancouver promotion goes for the Canadians as they play the Eugene Emeralds on the road at 10:05 PM ET.

Bluefield Blue Jays (30-34)

 

Bluefield visits the Greeneville Astros with Oscar Cabrera on the hill at 7:00 PM.

 

The GCL Blue Jays are also 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!

The All-Star Break Supplement to the Minor League Handbook is also available at Smashwords.com for only $2 US! Get an update on how your favourite players have been doing this season as well as a report on the 2014 draft!

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