July 17 Minor League Report/July 18 Preview

 

Jared Goedert
Jared Goedert

 

The minor league clubs swung back into action in full force while the major leagues were still quiet thanks to the All-Star Break.

 

 

Buffalo Bisons 2, Pawtucket Red Sox 5

 

The Bisons returned from their All-Star Break with a loss to a strong Pawtucket team but got a great performance from Jared Goedert who went 3/3 with a double and a walk. Thanks to some pitching shuffling (keep reading), Austin Bibens-Dirkx made the start and gave up just a solo home run (among three hits) and two walks with four strikeouts over four innings. Rob Rasmussen threw a perfect inning of relief and Aaron Sanchez was shaky out of the pen, giving up two runs on three hits in one inning. On the bright side, Sanchez didn’t walk anyone and struck out two of the six batters he faced. Ryan Tepera gave up another two runs in the seventh and Mike Zagurski finished it off with a scoreless eighth.

Roster Notes: In a big move, the Blue Jays designated Deck McGuire for assignment, picking up Brad Mills on waivers from Oakland. The Jays also announced today that they were moving Aaron Sanchez to the bullpen. It’s not really known the reason why although there’s speculation that the Jays are trying to get him used to throwing out of the ‘pen before a big league call up or that they’re trying to limit his innings.

Player of the Game: Jared Goedert

 

New Hampshire Fisher Cats 3, Portland Sea Dogs 2

 

Thanks to some great pitching, the Fisher Cats managed to hold off the Sea Dogs to beat the Red Sox’ Double-A farm club. Scott Copeland was solid in the starting role, allowing two first-inning runs on a home run and then shutting the Sea Dogs down over his six innings. John Anderson earned the win with two no-hit innings, striking out three and Gregory Infante picked up his 12th save. Derrick Chung and Matt Newman each had two hits with Newman driving in a run while Andy Fermin hit his fourth home run of the year (with the Fisher Cats) and Dalton Pompey went 1/3 with a double, a walk and two runs.

Roster Notes: Jack Murphy was sent down from Buffalo to New Hampshire.

Player of the Game: Scott Copeland and Matt Newman

 

Dunedin Blue Jays 5, Jupiter Hammerheads 2

 

Kendall Graveman continues to dominate the Florida State League, throwing seven more strong innings, allowing one run and scattering nine hits with no walks and two strikeouts. Marcus Knecht went 2/4 with a double and Kevin Patterson had the big night, going 2/4 with a double and a home run, driving in two runs. Nick Baligod was excellent defensively, throwing out a runner at third and another at the plate to pick up two outfield assists. Peter Mooney also contributed with a pair of hits.

Roster Notes: Efrain Nieves was activated off the temporary inactive list. A few days ago, Ian Parmley was assigned to Dunedin from Lansing.

Player of the Game: Kendall Graveman and Kevin Patterson

 

Lansing Lugnuts 0, Kane County Cougars 3

 

Brent Powers had his first good start as a Lugnut, throwing five scoreless innings at the Kane County Cougars, allowing just three hits and one walk with three strikeouts. Alonzo Gonzalez also had a great outing, giving up just one hit and one walk in 2 2/3 innings but Brady Dragmire got hit hard in the 10th inning, giving up three runs which gave the Cougars the victory. The batters didn’t do much to speak of, getting only three hits all night with one from Derrick Loveless (who also took a walk), Dawel Lugo (who also took a walk) and Mike Reeves.

Player of the Game: Brent Powers

 

Vancouver Canadians 11, Eugene Emeralds 9

 

The fans in Vancouver must have been thoroughly entertained as the Vancouver Canadians won a see-saw battle 11-9. The Eugene Emeralds got out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning off of starter Zakery Wasilewski but the club came back to tie it by the end of the second inning. The offense scored another three runs over the fifth and sixth innings to get out to a 6-3 lead but Wasilewski allowed another two runs in the top of the seventh (without retiring another batter) and Jose Fernandez relieved him, allowing another four runs. The offense came back in the bottom of the seventh, scoring five runs of their own to go up 11-9 and not relinquish the lead. Franklin Barreto had his first big day at the plate in some time, going 2/4 with two triples and four RBI but he also made his 13th error of the season. Roemon Fields didn’t steal any bases but he went 2/5 with two runs, a double and an RBI while Tim Locastro stole his 14th base, going 2/4. Max Pentecost was also on twice, going 1/5 with a stolen base while Ryan McBroom, Chris Carlson and Ryan Metzler each had a pair of hits (Metzler had a double). A note on the pitching side, Alberto Tirado pitched one inning and walked one while striking out the side.

 

Franklin Barreto
Franklin Barreto

Player of the Game: Franklin Barreto

 

Bluefield Blue Jays 8, Greeneville Astros 0

 

The Bluefield Blue Jays had a great all-around game, getting five very strong innings from starter Ryan Borucki who threw five innings, allowing just one hit and one walk with five strikeouts. Evan Smith picked up the save, logging four scoreless innings and giving up just two hits and two walks and also struck out five batters. The hitters combined for fourteen hits and eight runs, getting multi-hit nights from Richard Urena (2/4, BB, RBI), Josh Almonte (2/5, RBI, SB), Trent Miller (2/4, 2B), Gabriel Cenas (2/4), Dan Jansen (2/4, 2B, 2 RBI) and Rolando Segovia (2/3, 2B, BB, RBI).

Roster Notes: P Michael Kraft was promoted to Vancouver and OF Cliff Brantley was sent down to the GCL.

 

Evan Smith
Evan Smith

Player of the Game: Ryan Borucki and Evan Smith

 

GCL Blue Jays 1, GCL Tigers 8

 

In the first half of what was supposed to be a double-header (the second game was rained out), Daniel Rodriguez got hit hard, allowing five runs on seven hits through four innings while Joe Claver surrendered another three runs (two earned) on five hits and three walks in just two innings. With only four hits, the offense was quiet but Deiferson Barreto hit two doubles.

Player of the Game: Deiferson Barreto

 

DSL Blue Jays 0, DSL Brewers 6

 

Denis Diaz started and allowed four runs in 4 1/3 innings while Luis Gomez allowed another two runs in 2 2/3 innings. Enmanuel Moreta had two of the club’s six hits including a double.

Player of the Game: Enmanuel Moreta

 

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July 18 Preview

 

Buffalo Bisons (48-49)

 

Since Austin Bibens-Dirkx started for the Bisons yesterday, Esmil Rogers will go for the Bisons today. He’ll face Steven Wright, the knuckleballer for the Pawtucket Red Sox at 7:05 PM on MiLB TV.

 

New Hampshire Fisher Cats (45-52)

 

Matt Boyd goes for the New Hampshire Fisher Cats at home against the Portland Sea Dogs (63-35) in a game that is also on MiLB TV at 7:05 PM.

 

Dunedin Blue Jays (58-38)

 

The Blue Jays don’t have a named starter in their game against the Jupiter Hammerheads at 6:30 PM at Florida Auto Exchange Stadium.

 

Lansing Lugnuts (45-50)

 

The Lugnuts continue to host the 63-33 Kane County Cougars at 7:05 PM with Chase De Jong on the hill to face Tyler Skulina (4-5, 2.93 ERA). While De Jong’s surface stats aren’t fantastic (0-5, 4.86 ERA, he has a very good strikeout-to-walk ratio of 3.75 and a solid WHIP of 1.38.

 

Vancouver Canadians (20-13)

 

Vancouver’s starter isn’t announced on MiLB.com but it’s likely to be Starlyn Suriel who has been very strong this year with a 3.09 ERA and a 1.28 WHIP. The game starts at 4:05 PM ET and, if you’re in Vancouver, you should check it out in person.

Bluefield Blue Jays (15-12)

 

Bluefield sends Joey Aquino (0-1, 2.25 ERA) against the Greeneville Astros at 7:05 PM.

 

The GCL and DSL Blue Jays also in action today with the GCL Jays playing a double header against the DSL Yankees2 team.

 

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