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All eight Blue Jays’ minor league affiliates were in action on Saturday, compiling a 5-3 record.
Buffalo Bisons 1, Lehigh Valley IronPigs 4
The Buffalo Bisons sent the bullpen out to get through the game with Taylor Guerrieri going on the DL and they pitched fairly well despite the Bisons ultimately losing the Lehigh Valley IronPigs by a 4-1 score. Conor Fisk made his first Triple-A start, going three innings and allowing three hits and two walks. Jose Fernandez made his Triple-A debut, throwing three innings, giving up a run on three hits and a walk with two strikeouts. Murphy Smith took the loss, giving up a run (unearned) on two hits with one strikeout in the seventh and Justin Shafer allowed two runs (one earned) on three hits and two walks with two strikeouts in two innings.
Tim Lopes was 2/3 with two doubles and a run, accounting for 40% of the Bisons’ hits. Reese McGuire was 1/3 with a walk and Richard Urena and Dwight Smith Jr. each had a single with Smith picking up an outfield assist.
L: Murphy Smith (0-4)
Roster Notes: Jose Fernandez was promoted from the New Hampshire Fisher Cats and Taylor Guerrieri was placed on the DL. Tim Mayza was called up to Toronto.
Player of the Game
Tim Lopes and Conor Fisk
New Hampshire Fisher Cats 5, Reading Fightin Phils 1
Five runs in the second inning and another strong outing from Jon Harris were enough for the New Hampshire Fisher Cats as they beat the Reading Fightin Phils 5-1. Harris picked up his sixth win and continued a string of three stellar starts in which he’s allowed just two runs over 18 2/3 innings. In Saturday’s game, Harris gave up just one run on a solo home run, scattering six hits with seven strikeouts and no walks in 6 2/3 innings. Kirby Snead finished the seventh, pitched th eighth and into the ninth, logging 1 2/3 inning without allowing a walk or hit and striking out one. Andrew Case came on to finish the game, getting the final two outs.
Jon Berti was 2/3 with a walk, a double, an RBI, a run and a stolen base while Bo Bichette also had two hits including an RBI. Juan Kelly was 1/4 with a double and a run and Gunnar Heidt was 1/4 with a run. Jonathan Davis drove in two runs, hitting a double and going 1/5. Max Pentecost walked twice, stole a base and also committed a catcher’s interference.
W: Jon Harris (6-3)
Roster Notes: Jose Fernandez was moved up to Buffalo and Craig Breslow was activated off the DL. Patrick Cantwell went on the DL.
Player of the Game
Jon Harris
Dunedin Blue Jays 5, Clearwater Threshers 6
David Jacob went deep but giving up two runs in the bottom of the 10th was what sunk the Dunedin Blue Jays as they lost 6-5 to the Clearwater Threshers. Jacob was 2/5 with a home run and two RBI, scoring twice while Eduard Pinto had two singles and a double, adding a walk and a stolen base in a 3/4 game. Nash Knight also had a pair of hits, going 2/4 with a double and an RBI.
Taylor Saucedo had a solid start, allowing three runs (two earned) on four hits (including a home run) and striking out seven over seven innings. Jackson McClelland gave up the tying run in the eighth, allowing a solo home run among two hits and a walk with two strikeouts over two innings of work. Ty Tice took the loss, allowing two runs in the 10th (one earned) on three hits and with one strikeout.
L: Ty Tice (2-2)
HR: David Jacob (1)
Roster Notes: Logan Warmoth was placed on the DL retroactive to June 22 and Ivan Castillo was activated.
Player of the Game
Eduard Pinto
Lansing Lugnuts 10, Great Lakes Loons 6
The Lansing Lugnuts continue to mash their way through the Midwest League, winning again against the Great Lakes Loons with a 10-6 victory. Brandon Grudzielanek was 3/5 with a single, double, triple, RBI and two runs. Brock Lundquist was 1/3 with two walks and a home run and two RBI. Yeltsin Gudino had three singles and a stolen base, scoring a run. Chavez Young was 2/4 with a double, home run, walk, three RBI and two runs. Samad Taylor was 2/5 with an RBI and Ryan Noda was 1/5 with a solo home run. Ryan Gold, Andrews Sotillo and Reggie Pruitt each had a single and a walk.
Maximo Castillo went six strong innings picking up the win, allowing just four hits and a walk with five strikeouts. Andrew Deramo only got through 1/3 of an inning, allowing five runs on a hit and four walks with one strikeout before Dany Jimenez took over, allowing all three runners he inherited to score and gave up a run of his own in 2 2/3 innings, giving up three hits and striking out three.
W: Maximo Castillo (6-2)
S: Dany Jimenez (4)
HR: Chavez Young (3), Brock Lundquist (12), Ryan Noda (10)
Roster Notes: Ridge Smith retired.
Player of the Game
Maximo Castillo
Vancouver Canadians 7, Spokane Indians 4
The Vancouver Canadians picked up their third win of the season, getting much more offense and beating the Spokane Indians 7-4. Christopher Bec had three hits, including two doubles, and three RBI in the win and Jake Brodt, making his Vancouver debut, was 3/5 with a double and a run. Nick Podkul walked three times, scoring once and Mc Gregory Contreras was 1/3 with a double and a walk, scoring twice. In his Northwest League debut, Griffin Conine was 0/5 with two strikeouts.
Jordan Barret struck out eight over 5 2/3 innings, allowing three runs (two earned) on four hits and three walks. Juan Nunez struck out four in 2 1/3 innings, walking one batter and Cobi Johnson allowed a solo home run among two hits with a strikeout in the ninth.
W: Jordan Barrett (1-0)
Roster Notes: Griffin Conine and Jake Brodt were promoted from the GCL
Player of the Game
Jake Brodt and Christopher Bec
Bluefield Blue Jays 7, Burlington Royals 5
Four runs in the first inning got the Bluefield Blue Jays on the right track to eventually defeat the Burlington Royals and win 7-5, pushing their record to 4-1 on the 2018 season. D.J. Neal was 4/5 with a double and an RBI, stealing a base and scoring a run to lead the offense. Otto Lopez was 2/5 with a double and a triple, driving in a run and scoring twice while Davis Schneider was 2/4 with a double and an RBI but he made three errors at second base (which is not his natural position). Hunter Steinmetz was 1/4 with a walk and a run and John Aiello was 1/4 with a walk, an RBI and a run. Patrick Morris was 1/5 with a triple and a run and D.J. Daniels was 1/4 with an RBI.
Nathanael Perez picked up his first win of the year, going five innings and allowing four runs (two earned) on seven hits and two walks with four strikeouts. Joe DiBenedetto allowed a hit and four walks over 1 1/3 innings and Josh Almonte walked two and hit another batter to lead to a run over 1 2/3 innings. Sean Rackoski picked up his second save of the year, pitching a scoreless ninth, striking out one.
W: Nathanael Perez (1-0)
S: Sean Rackoski (2)
Roster Notes: Joey Pulido was promoted to Bluefield from the GCL and RHP Austin Havekost was placed on the 60-day DL and Emilio Guerrero was put on the 7-day DL.
Player of the Game
D.J. Neal
GCL Blue Jays 7, GCL Tigers East 1
2018 Toronto Blue Jays first-round draft pick Jordan Groshans had a career day leading the GCL Blue Jays to a 7-1 win over the GCL Tigers East. Groshans was 2/3 with two walks, a home run and four RBI as the shortstop. Gabriel Moreno, who is also off to a hot start in the GCL, was 3/5 with two doubles and two RBI and Cal Stevenson went 0/2 with three walks and two runs. Adrian Ramos was 1/3 with a walk and two runs, adding a stolen base and Addison Barger, playing third base, was 1/5 with a double.
Matt Tracy continued his rehab, throwing two innings and giving up a solo home run with one strikeout. Meliton Reyes threw an inning, allowing a hit and Joey Pulido struck out two in his inning of work. Roither Hernandez then threw three innings, striking out six and allowing a hit and a walk and Elixon Caballero struck out three in two innings, allowing a hit and two walks.
W: Roither Hernandez (1-0)
HR: Jordan Groshans (2)
Roster Notes: Yorman Rodriguez, Meliton Reyes and Brett Wright were added to the GCL Blue Jays roster and Griffin Conine and Jake Brodt were assigned to Vancouver.
Player of the Game
Jordan Groshans
DSL Blue Jays 4, DSL Orioles 5
The DSL Blue Jays scored two in the ninth but it wasn’t enough as they fell to the DSL Orioles by a 5-4 score. Rainer Nunez had three hits, going 3/5 while Jhon Solarte was 2/5 with two runs and a stolen base. Erickvi Celedonio was 2/5 with an RBI and a stolen base and Miguel Hiraldo was 1/4 with a double, a walk, an RBI, a run and a stolen base.
The Blue Jays only needed two pitchers in the game with Junior Guzman taking the loss, giving up four runs on nine hits over four innings, walking one and striking out one. Adrian Hernandez allowed a run on three hits and two walks with three strikeouts in four innings.
L: Junior Guzman (0-3)
Player of the Game
Rainer Nunez
Jay’s Jay of the Day
D.J. Neal and Jon Harris
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