June 1 Minor League Report/June 2 Preview

 

Dan Johnson
Dan Johnson

 

Blue Jays get the job done again. Unfortunately, I couldn’t watch Mark Buehrle throw another gem because I was umpiring all day but I enjoyed reveling in the post-game joy of getting back to another winning streak!

 

 

Buffalo Bisons 5, Syracuse Chiefs 8

 

It was not a game to be pleased about for the Buffalo Bisons. The club lost four pitchers to injury (including one before the game) and, ultimately, lost the game too (h/t to Mike Harrington of the Buffalo News). Early in the day, Sean Nolin, rehabbing from a groin injury, took a line drive off his leg that ended his workout. Then, Ricky Romero left the game in the fourth with “knee discomfort,” Rob Rasmussen got hit by a line drive that hit him in his pitching arm and Neil Wagner left with forearm tightness.

In the actual game, Romero was off to a decent start, allowing only one run in three innings (despite giving up four hits and three walks). Mike Zagurski made his Bisons debut, striking out four in 2 2/3 innings and allowing a run. Wagner took the loss by allowing four runs in 2/3 of an inning. Dan Johnson hit his 10th home run of the year and that was only one of four hits for the Bisons on the day.

Player of the Game: Dan Johnson

 

New Hampshire Fisher Cats 2, Altoona Curve 1

Make it two in a row! The New Hampshire Fisher Cats got a run in the top of the 12th innings and were able to hang on for their second consecutive victory. Melky Mesa singled home Jonathan Jones to score the go-ahead run and was promptly thrown out at second trying to take an extra base on the play. Austin Bibens-Dirkx was outstanding on the mound, allowing just three hits over five innings, keeping the Altoona Curve off the board and striking out six. Mesa had two hits, including the RBI single in the 12th while Ryan Schimpf had a single and a double and Mike Crouse had two singles.

 

Austin Bibens-Dirkx

Player of the Game: Austin Bibens-Dirkx

 

Dunedin Blue Jays 3, Jupiter Hammerheads 4

 

Matt Boyd made his return to Florida and showed why he was promoted to Double-A so quickly by throwing 5 2/3 innings, allowing one run on four hits and one walk and striking out nine batters. Wil Browning provided a scoreless inning of relief but Chad Girodo had trouble and allowed two runs to score, tying the game in the eighth. Jesse Hernandez came in and threw 4 1/3 more innings before allowing a walk-off run in the bottom of the 12th innings to give the Hammerheads their 4-3 victory. Contributing on offense were Dalton Pompey who went 1/4 with a double and a walk, scoring twice and Derrick Chung who drove in two runs with two singles. Kellen Sweeney also had two hits.

Player of the Game: Matt Boyd

 

Lansing Lugnuts 7, Dayton Dragons 3

 

Thanks to a couple of late rallies that tied the game at three in the eighth with a run and scoring four more in the ninth, the Lansing Lugnuts overtook the Dayton Dragons to win 7-3. Dawel Lugo had a big game with a single, a double and three RBI while Derrick Loveless contributed with two hits and two RBI. Matt Dean was activated off the DL (with Seth Conner going on the DL) and went 1/4 while Chaz Frank was 2/3 with a walk, a stolen base and three runs scored. On the mound, Alberto Tirado continued to struggle with his control, walking four and giving up six hits and three runs in four innings. Phil Kish was excellent picking him up, holding the Dragons off the board for three innings with Brady Dragmire posting another two scoreless innings to pick up the win.

 

Phil Kish
Phil Kish

Player of the Game: Dawel Lugo and Phil Kish

 

 

June 1 Preview

 

Buffalo Bisons (27-26)

 

Kyle Drabek goes for the Bisons at home against the Syracuse Chiefs and an unnamed starter. Drabek is 4-4 with a 4.19 ERA and didn’t have his best stuff his last time out against Indianapolis, allowing three runs on 10 hits over five innings. Catch the game on MiLB TV at 7:05 PM.

 

New Hampshire Fisher Cats (21-35)

 

Scheduled Off Day

 

Dunedin Blue Jays (38-17)

 

The D-Jays send another ace to the mound against the Jupiter Hammerheads with Daniel Norris and his sizzling 0.72 ERA pitching. 21-year-old Norris has a WHIP just under 1.00 to go with 60 strikeouts in just 50 1/3 innings. The Blue Jays face Trevor Williams, a 6-foot-three righty who, incidentally, shares a birthday with Norris but is a year older. Williams is also having a good season, with a 2.49 ERA and 39 strikeouts and just 15 walks in 61 1/3 innings for Jupiter. This game starts at 6:35 PM

 

Lansing Lugnuts (27-29)

 

Matt Dermody, coming off 6 1/3 innings of one-run ball in his last outing, goes to the mound for the Lansing Lugnuts against the Dayton Dragons and Sal “Soprano” Romano at 7 PM ET.

 

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