Well, it’s been a whirlwind weekend since the draft began on Thursday. Since then, I’ve been following as closely as I can and I’ve been to Buffalo and back. I’ll have my wrap up on the draft with rounds 11-30 throughout this week and an article from an interview I did on Saturday with Washington Nationals outfield prospect Steven Souza Jr. coming at Grading on the Curve by mid-week.
Buffalo Bisons 4, Syracuse Chiefs 2
In the day-game follow up to Star Wars night in Buffalo, the Bisons held off the Syracuse Chiefs for a rain-shortened 4-2 victory. Liam Hendriks went the whole way, limiting the Chiefs to just two runs despite allowing nine hits and he earned his sixth victory. Congrats go out to Brad Glenn who, a game after returning from a minor injury, blasted his first home run of the season with the Bisons, going 1/3. Jared Goedert went 3/3 and both A.J. Jimenez and Darin Mastroianni went 2/3. The player of the game is Mike Nickeas who went 3/3 with a home run and two RBI.
Player of the Game: Mike Nickeas
New Hampshire Fisher Cats 7, Erie Sea Wolves 1
As I wrote yesterday, despite not having a starter announced, it was indeed Aaron Sanchez‘s day to start and he had a terrific outing, throwing 6 2/3 innings and allowing just one run on four hits and a walk with seven strikeouts. Melky Mesa and Matt Newman both had 3/4 games, each driving in three runs and hitting a home run. Newman gets the edge because while Mesa missed the cycle by a triple, Newman got that triple and didn’t get a single. Hector Gimenez had two hits as well.
Player of the Game: Aaron Sanchez and Matt Newman
Dunedin Blue Jays 5, Lakeland Flying Tigers 6
The Dunedin Blue Jays were cruising with a 3-1 lead until the sixth inning when Kendall Graveman ran into trouble, giving up three consecutive singles. Efrain Nieves came in to relieve him and subsequently gave up a single and a walk. Justin Jackson relieved Nieves and managed to get two outs before being succeeded by Tony Davis who got out of the inning and threw the rest of the game (allowing only one hit and striking out four in 2 1/3 innings). By the time Davis completed that sixth inning, it was not 6-3 for Lakeland and the D-Jays had some work to do to catch up. The good guys scored one in the seventh (on an RBI single by Dalton Pompey) and another in the eighth on a single by Emilio Guerrero but that was all they could muster. K.C. Hobson had another very good game with a single and a double while Nick Baligod went 1/4 with a two-run home run. Gustavo Pierre had another two hits for the D-Jays.
Player of the Game: K.C. Hobson and Tony Davis
Lansing Lugnuts 2, Great Lakes Loons 5
Shane Dawson had a strong start for the Lugnuts, going 5 1/3 innings and allowing two runs on five hits and two walks with two strikeouts. He left two runners on in the sixth inning when Adaric Kelly came on to relieve him but Kelly let both those runners score (and another three of his own) over his 1 2/3 innings. Roberto Espinosa threw two scoreless innings with two strikeouts. Chaz Frank led the way offensively, getting three of the team’s nine hits and stealing a base. Mitch Nay went 2/4 with a single and a double and Dickie Joe Thon hit his third home run of the year and has quietly driven his batting average to .273.
Roster Notes: Struggling RHP Alberto Tirado has been added to the Vancouver Canadians’ roster in anticipation of their season starting next week and knuckleballer Frank Viola III has been added to Lansing’s roster. Check out my article in which I talked to him as well as the interview I did with him and Yusuf Carter back in spring training on the Canadian Baseball Network.
Player of the Game: Chaz Frank
June 9 Preview
Buffalo Bisons (30-30)
The Bisons are back to the .500 mark and will send Dominican righty Radhames Liz to the mound for his second Buffalo start against former Blue Jay Josh Roenicke and the Syracuse Chiefs as the Bisons go on the road for a 7:00 PM game that will be on MiLB TV.
New Hampshire Fisher Cats (25-37)
Scheduled Off Day
Dunedin Blue Jays (42-20)
The D-Jays continue their series against Lakeland by sending Florida State League All-Star (and league strikeout leader) Taylor Cole (4-2, 2.12 ERA) against one of the Tigers’ top prospects, Jake Thompson who is 6-1 with a 1.65 ERA through 60 innings. It should be a good one at 6:30 PM ET.
Lansing Lugnuts (28-34)
If I could, this would definitely be the game that I’d listen to. I urge you to tune in to Jesse Goldberg-Strassler and Trey Wilson at 7:05 PM to hear knuckleballer Frank Viola III make his first affiliated start since 2007 as he joins the Lansing Lugnuts and goes against Brandon Martinez (1-1, 2.72 ERA) and the L.A. Dodgers’ affiliate Great Lakes Loons.
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.