Let’s welcome the Vancouver Canadians to the Blue Jays from Away Minor League Report as they started their season on Thursday. This is also my first MLR writing from “Away,” as I’m now in Europe for an extended working vacation.
Buffalo Bisons 0, Lehigh Valley IronPigs 3
Daniel Norris was the story for the Buffalo Bisons but the hitters couldn’t cash in any of their eight hits as they were whitewashed by Aaron Nola (with some help from Adam Loewen) and the Lehigh Valley IronPigs. Norris allowed two runs on six hits and two walks but struck out seven batters over 5 1/3 innings, throwing 101 pitches with 58 strikes. Todd Redmond finished the game, allowing one run on three hits and two walks in 2 2/3 innings.
Daric Barton had the high total in hits with a pair and Sean Ochinko had the team’s only extra-base hit with a double. Devon Travis was 1/5 with three strikeouts.
Roster Notes: Devon Travis was added to the Bisons roster on a rehab assignment.
Player of the Game: Daniel Norris
New Hampshire Fisher Cats
Scheduled Off Day
Dunedin Blue Jays 1, Palm Beach Cardinals 4
And they’re back. The Dunedin Blue Jays that we’ve come to know over the course of this season returned against the Palm Beach Cardinals, getting just seven hits and scoring only once. Jairo Labourt didn’t have the best command, issuing four walks in 5 2/3 innings while giving up three runs on two hits (one of them a home run) with three strikeouts. Alonzo Gonzalez pitched a third of an inning and gave up a run on two hits and two walks (allowing Labourt’s inherited runner to score). Alberto Tirado struck out two in a perfect inning and Justin Shafer gave up two hits in his scoreless inning.
Christian Lopes and Derrick Loveless led the way with two hits each. Lopes added a walk and Loveless had a double.
Player of the Game: Christian Lopes and Derrick Loveless
Lansing Lugnuts 3, Bowling Green Hot Rods 1
The Lansing Lugnuts clinched their first playoff berth with a 3-1 win over the Bowling Green Hot Rods thanks to a stellar start from Chase De Jong. De Jong posted his second 10-strikeout start in a row, throwing a complete game, four-hitter, giving up one run and walking three. Another significant stat for De Jong is that he induced nine groundouts and six flyouts, possibly indicating that his work on throwing a two-seam fastball (as well as a cutter) is paying off.
D.J. Davis was the only Lugnut with more than one hit and the right fielder drove in a run and scored. Anthony Alford and Rowdy Tellez were both 1/4 with a double while Tim Locastro was 1/1 with a sac fly and a walk.
Player of the Game: Chase De Jong
Vancouver Canadians 11, Salem-Keizer Volcanoes 2
Righty Clinton Hollon pitched in a non-spring training game for the first time in almost two years and was outstanding in his return to the mound. Hollon went five innings and allowed just two hits and one walk with seven strikeouts. Jon Wandling pitched a scoreless inning and Conor Fisk allowed both runs (one earned) in two innings of relief with three strikeouts. Sean Ratcliffe, a good Canadian boy, went a scoreless inning allowing a hit and striking a batter out.
The offense, under manager John Schneider, literally ran wild, stealing bases at will six times against the Volcanoes with Alexis Maldonado swiping three bags. Maldonado was 2/5 with two RBI while newcomer Earl Burl (stay tuned for an interview with him) was 2/4 with two doubles, a walk, two stolen bases, three RBI and three runs. Sean Hurley was 2/4 with a double and a triple, two RBI and two runs. Christian Vazquez was 2/4 with a run and catcher Kevin Garcia was 2/5 with two RBI. Lane Thomas stole a base and was 2/4 with two RBI and a walk while first baseman Juan Kelly was 1/4 with a walk, as was Juan Tejada who scored three runs.
Roster Notes: Ryan Borucki and Garrett Pickens were placed on the disabled list for the Canadians.
Player of the Game: Earl Burl and Clinton Hollon
DSL Blue Jays 4, DSL Padres 3
The DSL Blue Jays got back on the winning side of the ledger with a strong start from Guadalupe Chavez who went three innings, allowing just one hit and two walks with four strikeouts. Elio Silva followed up, giving up two runs (one earned) in three innings (with three strikeouts) and Jairo Rosario also struck out three in two hitless innings but walked three. Jose Acosta allowed another run on two hits and two walks in two-thirds of an inning while Alvaro Galindo cleaned up the mess, stranding two runners to pick up the save.
Enmanuel Moreta belted three hits while Jesus Severino and Yorman Rodriguez each had a hit and a walk.
Player of the Game: Enmanuel Moreta and Guadalupe Chavez
If you like us here, “like” us on Facebook!
Get your 2015 Toronto Blue Jays Minor League Handbook now! All the up-to-date information on the Blue Jays minor league system with 250 player profiles, team information and more! You can find it at the BJfA Shop or at our distribution partner, Smashwords.com!
The All-New Blue Jays from Away Premium Content section is here! Combined with the 2015 Toronto Blue Jays Minor League Handbook, it will be your best resource to the Toronto Blue Jays minor league system for just $1.99 per month or $15 for a full year (and get the 2015 Toronto Blue Jays Minor League Handbook free with a yearly subscription)!
All photos are copyright Blue Jays from Away (2013-2015) and may not be used without permission.