July 6 Minor League Report/July 7 Preview

A.J. Jimenez
A.J. Jimenez

 

Well folks, the Blue Jays are limping towards the All-Star Break with an offense that just isn’t doing anything. Will they be able to get their mojo back in L.A.? Or Tampa? You can still find out what’s going on in the minors . . . just keep reading!

 

 

Buffalo Bisons 1, Rochester Red Wings 6

 

In the first half of a double header, Deck McGuire was cruising through the fifth inning, having only given up two runs on a home run to Brad Nelson but in the sixth inning, both Nelson and Wilkin Ramirez went deep to give the Red Wings a 6-0 lead. The Bisons got one back in the top of the seventh thanks to A.J. Jimenez‘s first Triple-A home run but that was all they could muster.

Player of the Game: A.J. Jimenez

 

Buffalo Bisons 1, Rochester Red Wings 6

 

Yes, Game 2 of the double header had exactly the same score as Game 1 did. This time it was Raul Valdes getting hammered for six runs in the first inning and the bullpen throwing five strong innings — three from Mike Zagurski and two from Ryan Tepera — to keep the score from getting foo far away from the visiting Bisons. The Herd had eight hits this time, including two from Cory Aldridge and two from Ryan Goins but only Dan Johnson (1/2, BB) drove in a run.

Player of the Game: Mike Zagurski and Ryan Tepera

 

New Hampshire Fisher Cats 9, Trenton Thunder 7

 

The Fisher Cats have been showing a lot of resiliency in the past few weeks and today’s win is a great example of a team that isn’t ready to give up. Despite taking an early lead, the Fisher Cats were behind for most of the game. That deficit was built up to three runs as the Fisher Cats headed into the bottom of the seventh inning but the club got fired up, scoring two runs in the seventh to cut the lead to one and another in the bottom of the eighth to tie it up. Then, in the 10th inning, Andy Burns hit a two-run, walk-off home run to complete the comeback for the home side and overcome the sloppy fielding that the club had displayed with four errors in the game. Burns was 3/6, scored four times and only needed a double to complete the cycle despite making two errors. Mike McDade also hit a home and was 2/4 with a walk and two RBI. Kevin Nolan was 4/5 with a double and three RBI while Jorge Flores (a.k.a. “Mighty Mouse”) went 2/5 with a double. Scott Copeland was bounced after three innings in which he gave up five runs. Richard Bleier allowed two unearned runs over his three innings and Dustin Antolin, Tyler Ybarra and Randy Boone combined for four scoreless innings to finish off the ballgame.

 

Andy Burns
Andy Burns

Player of the Game: Andy Burns and Kevin Nolan

 

Dunedin Blue Jays 4, Tampa Yankees 0

 

Kendall Graveman continues to plow his way through A-ball with another stellar start for the Dunedin Blue Jays, He went six scoreless innings and only allowed four hits and two walks with three strikeouts. Brand new D-Jay Griffin Murphy was also stellar in his first outing in High-A tonight. Murphy, a 23-year-old lefty, was a second round pick in 2010 and has finally reached High-A after three and a half seasons at Class-A or lower. Murphy made the Tampa Yankees look silly, throwing 1 2/3 innings, walking one but striking out four. Wil Browning and Arik Sikula finished the game. The offense was efficient, scoring the four runs on eight hits including two each by Emilio Guerrero (2/4, 2B, RBI), Dwight Smith, Jr. (2/4, R, SB) and L.B. Dantzler (2/4, 2B, RBI). Santiago Nessy was 1/3 with a double, a walk and two RBI.

Roster Notes: LHP Griffin Murphy was promoted to Dunedin from Lansing and Jonathan Wandling was sent back to the GCL.

Player of the Game: Kendall Graveman

 

Lansing Lugnuts 4, Great Lakes Loons 12

 

The Lansing Lugnuts started well, going down by a score of 1-0 after the first inning but only allowing one more run in the sixth before scoring four runs to take a lead in the bottom of the sixth but then the wheels fell off and Great Lakes scored 10 runs combined in the eighth and ninth to eventually cruise to an easy win. Chase De Jong was very good, allowing just the first inning run over his five innings and striking out four. Alonzo Gonzalez allowed one more run over two innings but Brady Dragmire (six runs, three earned) and Adaric Kelly (four runs) let that good work go to waste.

Rumour has it that today was Anthony Alford‘s last game before heading back to Ole Miss to play football. Alford didn’t make it a game to remember, going 0/5 and taking the Golden Sombrero (striking out four times). Mitch Nay had a day, going 3/3 with a walk and Mike Reeves went 2/3. Providing the fireworks was Matt Dean who was 1/5 with a solo home run and Dawel Lugo who was 1/4 with a triple and two RBI.

 

Chase De Jong
Chase De Jong

Player of the Game: Chase De Jong and Mitch Nay

 

Vancouver Canadians 3, Spokane Indians 9

 

Zakery Wasilewski was unable to keep the good times going, having a rough outing for the Vancouver Canadians, giving up three home runs to the Spokane Indians. He only went three innings and allowed seven runs with three strikeouts. Andrew Case provided two innings of relief with one run coming across on two hits and he struck out two batters. Tim Mayza walked three batters in two innings but didn’t allow a run and Francisco Gracesqui gave up an unearned run in his inning of work. Ryan McBroom had a good day at the office, going 2/4 with a double and an RBI while Franklin Barreto also went 1/3 with a double and an RBI.

Player of the Game: Ryan McBroom

 

Bluefield Blue Jays 8, Burlington Royals 3

 

The Bluefield Blue Jays woke up the bats and got some good pitching to beat the Burlington Royals on Sunday. Ryan Borucki started and was roughed up to the tune of two home runs, giving up three runs in four innings and striking out two. Evan Smith was a revelation as the back half of the piggyback, throwing five one-hit innings without walking a man and striking out six. While he hasn’t played a lot since signing with the Jays as an undrafted free agent last year, Lydell Moseby had his best professional game, blasting his first home run as a pro and going 2/2 with a walk and two RBI. Trent Miller also went 2/4 with a home run and two RBI while Richard Urena was 2/5 with a double and an RBI and Gabriel Cenas was also 2/5 with an RBI.

 

Evan Smith
Evan Smith

Player of the Game: Evan Smith and Lydell Moseby

 

GCL Blue Jays: Scheduled Off Day

 

DSL Blue Jays: Scheduled Off Day

 

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July 7 Preview

 

Buffalo Bisons (46-44)

 

The Buffalo Bisons continue their series in Rochester with a 7:05 PM start on MiLB TV that will feature P.J Walters, who has been outstanding in his time with the Bisons (2-0, 0.95 ERA), against Sean Gilmartin, a 24-year-old lefty who has a 4.50 ERA in 20 innings since a call up from Double-A.

 

New Hampshire Fisher Cats (41-45)

 

The Fisher Cats stay home to face another affiliate of the Minnesota Twins, the New Britain Rock Cats, in a double header with John Anderson taking the ball in the first game and Radhames Liz going in the second. Start time is scheduled for a 6:05 PM ET start and the games will be shown on MiLB TV.

 

Dunedin Blue Jays (54-32)

 

The Blue Jays continue their home series against the Tampa Yankees with Jesse Hernandez on the mound to face Conner Kendrick. Hernandez has made three poor starts in a row and is looking to get back on the right track for the Blue Jays. Catch the action on the internet and radio at 6:30 PM.

 

Lansing Lugnuts (41-45)

 

Scheduled Off Day

 

Vancouver Canadians (14-10)

 

Scheduled Off Day

Bluefield Blue Jays (7-10)

 

The Bluefield Blue Jays send Joey Aquino to the mound to face Corey Ray and the Burlington Royals at 7:05 PM at home at Bowen Field.

 

The GCL and DSL 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!

 

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