It was a pretty great day all around with wins coming from Toronto, Buffalo, Dunedin and Lansing. There were a few transactions today so check down in the summaries for the roster moves.
Buffalo Bisons 6, Charlotte Knights 5
The Bisons scored two in the top of the eighth and pulled out their second victory in a row against the Knights. Dan Johnson went deep again with his eighth of the year and Jared Goedert stayed hot, going 2/4 with a double and his third home run in two games. Darin Mastroianni had a pair of hits, as did Matt Tuiasosopo and Ryan Goins. On the mound, Shawn Hill got knocked around a bit, allowing five runs on nine hits in six innings but Gregory Infante was excellent, striking out four in his two perfect innings and Bobby Korckey picked up the save despite giving up three hits in his inning.
Roster Moves: The Blue Jays recalled Jonathan Diaz and Chad Jenkins and optioned catcher Erik Kratz back to Buffalo.
Player of the Game: Jared Goedert
New Hampshire Fisher Cats 2, Reading Fightin Phils 3
The Fisher Cats couldn’t get enough offense to top the Phils despite a solid start for Casey Lawrence. Lawrence took the loss but provided a quality start, going 7 1/3 innings, allowing three runs on seven hits and two walks with four strikeouts. John Anderson went the rest of the way, allowing two hits with one strikeout and no walks. Only Gabe Jacobo had more than one hit (2/4) but Ryan Schimpf drove in the team’s only two runs with a home run in the second inning.
Roster Moves: The Fisher Cats released OF Brian Van Kirk when Kenny Wilson was optioned back to New Hampshire. Mike McDade went back on the DL while Peter Mooney was activated.
Player of the Game: Ryan Schimpf and Casey Lawrence
Dunedin Blue Jays 4, Palm Beach Cardinals 2
The D-Jays got some excellent work all around including five solid innings from Kendall Graveman, outstanding relief work from Efrain Nieves, Wil Browning and Arik Sikula (notching his 11th save) and just enough offense. Much of the offense came from Dwight Smith, Jr. (2 hits) and Dalton Pompey (2/4, double, home run). Emilio Guerrero also had a pair of hits and an RBI while Matt Newman went 1/3 with a double, a walk and an RBI.
Roster Moves: The Blue Jays put Kevin Patterson on the 7-day DL and activated Kellen Sweeney.
Player of the Game: Dalton Pompey
Lansing Lugnuts 11, Bowling Green Hot Rods 4
The Lugnuts opened a can of whoop-ass on Bowling Green and their 15-hit barrage notched 11 runs. D.J. Davis had an outstanding game, going 2/5 with a home run and a walk while Derrick Loveless knocked in three with a 2/5 game that included his first home run of the year. Not to be outdone, Mitch Nay hit his second bomb of the season, driving in four during a 3/5 day (that also included a walk). Dickie Thon joined the three-hit club with a double and two singles and Dawel Lugo had a 4/5 game with just one RBI. On the mound it was a mixed bag. Alberto Tirado threw 3 2/3 innings and only allowed one hit but he walked five and struck out four. Shane Dawson allowed two runs in 3 1/3 innings on six hits but didn’t walk anyone and struck out six. Phil Kish mopped up with two innings of one-run ball.
Roster Moves: Added to the roster were outfielder Chaz Frank (from extended spring training) and catcher Seth Conner (from the DL). OF Carlos Ramirez goes back to extended spring training and 1B Matthew Dean goes on the DL (retroactive to May 11).
Player of the Game: D.J. Davis, Derrick Loveless, Mitch Nay
May 13 Preview
Buffalo Bisons (21-14)
The Buffalo Bisons return home to Western New York to face the Gwinnett Braves again. Sean Nolin (2-1, 2.34 ERA) goes to the mound against Hector Daniel Rodriguez (3-3, 3.08 ERA). Rodriguez, a 29-year-old Mexican lefty, has been very good, notching almost a strikeout per inning (35 in 38 innings) but has struggled with control (16 walks). Nolin was hit hard in his last outing, allowing 12 hits in 5 2/3 innings but only walked one and struck out three. He’s still got very respectable numbers on the season though. Catch this game at 7:05 PM in Buffalo or on MiLB TV.
New Hampshire Fisher Cats (15-21)
The Fisher Cats continue their series against Reading, sending Aaron Sanchez to the mound against Perci Garner. Garner, a 25-year-old righty from Ohio, has a solid 3-2 record with a 3.55 ERA and 28 hits and 12 walks in 33 innings with 28 strikeouts. Sanchez is coming off a rather poor start in which he allowed three runs in three innings against Portland (which is a great hitting team). Sanchez’s strikeout numbers have been stagnating lately, only whiffing four batters in 8 1/3 innings over his last two starts. Follow the game at 11:35 AM ET on the internet and radio.
Dunedin Blue Jays (27-9)
Dunedin puts their league-best record on the line against Nick Petree and the Palm Beach Cardinals. Petree has come up from the Midwest League after four starts there and gave up just one run in seven innings in his first High-A start. He also put up a nice six-to-one strikeout-to-walk ratio. The D-Jays send Taylor Cole to the hill. He’s got a 3-0 record with a 2.50 ERA to go along with 51 strikeous and 11 walks in 39 2/3 innings. This one is at 6:35 PM ET and is available on internet radio.
Lansing Lugnuts (18-18)
The Lugnuts start at 8:05 PM ET visiting the Bowling Green Hot Rods and send Matt Dermody to the mound to face Chris Kirsh. Kirsh, a 6-foot-2 lefty, has been hit fairly hard this season, to the tune of six home runs in 31 innings. Dermody has made two starts for the Lugnuts and has a 1-0 record with a 3.72 ERA with six walks and only five strikeouts in 9 2/3 innings.
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All photos are copyright Blue Jays from Away (2013-2014) and may not be used without permission.