July 2 Minor League Report/July 3 Preview

Erik Kratz
Erik Kratz

 

The Blue Jays won thanks to walk-off heroics from Edwin Encarnacion and his three-run home run to beat the Brewers 7-4!

 

 

Buffalo Bisons 1, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders 0

 

International League All-Star Dan Johnson was the hero of the match , hitting his 17th home run of the season in the bottom of the eighth inning to walk off with the victory in the first half of the double header. Kenny Wilson was 3/3 with a double for the Bisons but no one was able to bring him around to score. Despite Johnson’s heroics, P.J. Walters will earn the Player of the Game award from us, thanks to his seven scoreless innings in which he scattered six hits and one walk while striking out nine. Ryan Tepera was lucky to come away with a win thanks to some great defense behind him that cut down two runners at the plate in the top of the eighth inning.

Player of the Game: P.J. Walters

 

Buffalo Bisons 3, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders 1

 

The Buffalo Bisons completed a sweep of the double-header against Scranton/Wilkes-Barre thanks to strong pitching and timely hitting. Raul Valdes was excellent, allowing just one run over four innings and striking out seven. Brett Cecil, Kyle Drabek and Steve Delabar each threw a scoreless inning to finish off the seven-inning game. There wasn’t much hitting as the Bisons only got four hits. Erik Kratz was 2/2 with a walk and a double while Mike Nickeas was 1/2 with a double, an RBI and a walk.

Player of the Game: Raul Valdes and Erik Kratz

 

New Hampshire Fisher Cats 7, Reading Fightin’ Phils 1

 

The red-hot Fisher Cats won their eighth game out of their last nine thanks to another strong performance from Radhames Liz. Liz went six innings and allowed one run on six hits and no walks. Austin Bibens-Dirkx finished up with a three-inning save, giving up two hits and a walk and striking out four. The offense was led by new Fisher Cat Cory Aldridge who had three hits including his first New Hampshire home run and drove in three runs. Mike Crouse, Jorge Flores and Mike McDade each had two hits and Kevin Nolan was 1/2 with a double and three walks.

Player of the Game: Cory Aldridge

 

Dunedin Blue Jays 5, Clearwater Threshers 11

 

The Dunedin Blue Jays fell to the Clearwater Threshers with Jesse Hernandez getting lit up by the opposition. Hernandez’ stuff just didn’t fool any of the Threshers as he gave up two home runs out of 10 hits in three innings of work, getting charged for eight runs, six of which were earned. Blake McFarland covered four innings but also got dinged up a bit, allowing three runs but striking out seven. Chad Girodo and Wil Browning provided their usual stellar relief, throwing a perfect inning each. The home Blue Jays got five runs on 12 hits but it wasn’t enough on this night. Dwight Smith, Jr., Kevin Patterson, L.B. Dantzler, Jorge Saez and Gustavo Pierre each chipped in with two hits, Saez driving in a pair and drawing a walk.

 

Jorge Saez
Jorge Saez

Player of the Game: Jorge Saez

 

Lansing Lugnuts 9, West Michigan Whitecaps 3

 

The Lansing Lugnuts got the bats going, despite facing a tough opponent on the mound in the form of the West Michigan Whitecaps’ Chad Green. The Lugnuts smacked 16 hits on the night, led by Derrick Loveless who was 3/5 with a double and Jason Leblebijian who was also 3/5 with a triple and two RBI. Also joining the multi-hit crew were Matt Dean, Mitch Nay, Dawel Lugo and Dickie Joe Thon. On the mound, Brad Allen went three strong innings, allowing only one run while Alonzo Gonzalez went three innings, allowing one run and striking out five. Roberto Espinosa and Adaric Kelly finished the game off.

 

Jason Leblebijian
Jason Leblebijian

Player of the Game: Jason Leblebijian and Derrick Loveless

 

Vancouver Canadians 1, Salem-Keizer Volcanoes 6

 

The C’s couldn’t continue their winning ways and were unable to get their offense going against Jason Forjet and the Volcanoes. Starlyn Suriel wasn’t great, allowing four runs (three earned) on eight hits and four walks over 4 2/3 innings and Tim Mayza surrendered the remaining two runs in 2 1/3 innings. The offense got their one run on five hits but none were for extra bases. Franklin Barreto drove in the only run, going 1/3 with an RBI but also made his eighth error of the season.

Player of the Game: None

 

Bluefield Blue Jays: Scheduled Off Day

 

GCL Blue Jays 6, GCL Yankees2 9

 

The Yankees didn’t have too many problems with the Jays’ third round pick from the 2014 draft, lefty Nick Wells. Wells threw an inning and allowed two runs on three hits and a walk. Angel Perdomo threw two scoreless innings, striking out three but Francis Eduardo (2 IP, 4 R, 4 K), Turner Lee (3 IP, 1 R, 3 K) and Brandon Hinkle (1 IP, 2 R, 1 ER) all allowed the Yankees to get more runs on the board. The offense did well though, with Lane Thomas leading the way, going 3/5 with a double and two RBI. Dean Bell also had a pair of hits and Freddy Rodriguez added a double and a walk. Juan Kelly and Edwin Fuentes each drove in two runs.

Player of the Game: Lane Thomas

 

DSL Blue Jays 2, DSL Mets2 1

 

The Blue Jays pitchers did an excellent job holding the Mets to just one unearned run on the game. Juliandry Higuera went five innings and surrendered just one hit but walked five while striking out three. Erick Hurtado earned the win, going four innings and giving up the unearned run on two hits and a walk with four strikeouts. Rodrigo Orozco led the offense with a single, a double and a walk and drove in a run for the Blue Jays. Luis Dominguez and Enmanuel Moreta also hit doubles.

Player of the Game: Erick Hurtado and Rodrigo Orozco

 

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July 3 Preview

 

Buffalo Bisons (45-40)

 

Esmil Rogers will take on the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders at 6:05 PM at home at Coca-Cola Field. You can watch on MiLB TV.

 

New Hampshire Fisher Cats (39-45)

 

Casey Lawrence and the New Hampshire Fisher Cats will take on their old teammate, Adam Loewen and the Reading Fightin Phils at 7:05 PM on MiLB TV. Loewen is pitching again and has a 5.40 ERA with 17 walks in 28 1/3 innings at the Double-A level this year. Lawrence is coming off a near-perfect game and an Eastern League Pitcher of the Week Award.

 

Dunedin Blue Jays (50-32)

 

Ben White takes the ball for the Dunedin Blue Jays in a 7:00 PM road game in Clearwater, Florida.

 

Lansing Lugnuts (39-43)

 

The Lugnuts send their most consistent pitcher, Jeremy Gabryszwski to face the West Michigan Whitecaps’ ace in Jonathon Crawford who has a 4-2 record with a 2.60 ERA through 69 1/3 innings. Gaby isn’t doing too badly himself with a 3.33 ERA and 6-2 record through 92 innings and he’s been striking out over four batters for every walk he’s allowed. You can catch the action on MiLB TV at 7:00 PM.

 

Vancouver Canadians (12-7)

 

I’m not entirely sure who will be on the mound for the Canadians at 10:05 PM ET against the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes at home in Vancouver.

Bluefield Blue Jays (5-8)

 

Manuel Burgos takes to the hill as the Bluefield Blue Jays head to Elizabethton to take on the Twins at 7:00 PM. Burgos has given up six runs (three earned) in his eight innings so far but has only walked one batter.

 

The GCL and DSL Blue Jays are also in action.

 

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.