April 26 Minor League Report

Buffalo Bisons (15-5)

Although they were down early, the Buffalo offensive machine went to work and emerged with an 8-4 victory to take the final game in the four-game series against the Pawtucket Red Sox. Starting pitcher Claudio Vargas went six innings, giving up all four runs (three were earned) and Alex Hinshaw and Neil Wagner dominated the final three innings, giving up only one baserunner while striking out six.

The Bisons got home runs from Moises Sierra (his first of the season), Luis Jimenez and Eugenio Velez. Jimenez and Jim Negrych had three-hit nights while Sierra and Josh Thole had two apiece. The Bisons now have three batters (who were in tonight’s lineup) with batting averages over .380 as they continue to put up PCL-type numbers in Buffalo.

Hitting:

Mike McCoy – 0/5
Anthony Gose –  1/3, BB, 2 K
Moises Sierra – 2/4, 2 R, HR, RBI, SB
Luis Jimenez –  3/4, R, HR, 2 RBI
Mauro Gomez – 0/4, 2 K
Josh Thole – 2/4, R, 3B, RBI, K
Andy LaRoche – 1/4, R
Jim Negrych –3/4, R, 2 2B, RBI, E
Eugenio Velez – 1/4, R, HR, 3 RBI

Pitching:

Claudio Vargas – W, 6 IP, 7 H, 4 R (3 ER), 2 BB, 4 K
Alex Hinshaw – 2 IP, 1 BB, 3 K
Neil Wagner – 1 IP, 3 K

Jay Blue’s Player of the Game: Luis Jimenez

New Hampshire Fisher Cats (10-12)

Starter Marcus Walden had his best start of the year as the New Hampshire Fisher Cats defeated the Reading Fightin Phils 3-1 on Friday night. Walden scattered seven hits and a walk over seven innings and gave up only one run while the Fisher Cats got perfect innings from Tommy Hottovy and Joel Carreno in relief. The home run drove the scoring for the Fisher Cats as Clint Robinson went deep with his second tater of the season and team leader Ryan Schimpf banged out his sixth. Kevin Pillar continues to play well: he had a two for five night (both singles) while stealing two bases and throwing out a runner at third base. OF Kenny Wilson came out of the game in the 3rd inning and was replaced by Adam Loewen.  More information will be added when it becomes available.

Roster Notes:  OF Brian Van Kirk returns to the DL while new father OF Brad Glenn returns to the team.

Mar 3, 2012; Dunedin, FL, USA; Toronto Blue Jays relief pitcher Joel Carreno (34) and catcher

(68) celebrate the win over the Pittsburgh Pirates at Florida Auto Exchange Park. The Blue Jays defeated the Pirates 7-1. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Hitting:

Kevin Pillar – 2/5, 2 SB, OF Asst.
Kenny Wilson –0/0, BB
Adam Loewen – 1/3, R, 2B, BB, K
Ryan Schimpf –2/4, R, HR, 2 RBI, BB
Brad Glenn – 0/5, 2 K
Clint Robinson – 1/4, R, HR, RBI
Kevin Nolan –0/2, 2 BB, E
Ricardo Nanita – 1/4
Sean Ochinko – 0/3, BB, 3 K
John Tolisano – 0/4, 2 K

Pitching:

Marcus Walden – W, 7 IP, 7 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 4 K
Tommy Hottovy – 1 IP
Joel Carreno – S, 1 IP, 3 K

Jay Blue’s Player of the Game: Marcus Walden

Dunedin Blue Jays (14-7)

Aaron Sanchez had arguably his best start Friday and a ninth inning rally came up just short as the Dunedin Blue Jays fell to the Brevard County Manatees 4-3. Sanchez made Dunedin radio broadcaster Tyler Murray seem prophetic today. Murray commented on the “Around the Nest” live podcast that Sanchez threw his off-speed pitches more in his last start and Dunedin pitching coach Darold Knowles believes that Sanchez’s changeup is major league calibre already. Sanchez went out Friday night and set a new season high for strikeouts with seven while giving up five hits, two runs and one walk through his five innings. Through five complete, he hadn’t given up a walk and had only one run charged against him, but he walked the leadoff batter in the sixth and came out of the game. That run, and two more, eventually came around to score as the Manatees jumped on reliever Tyler Ybarra. Reliever Jeremy Jeffress, who started the year in the majors, pitched two innings, giving up only one hit. Starter Ricky Romero is slated to start Saturday’s game.

The Dunedin Blue Jays’ offense was lethargic most of the night, tallying only three hits off the Manatees until the ninth inning. Then, on a walk and four singles, the D-Jays rallied for three runs but were unable to get tying run Nick Baligod home from third base. Second baseman Jon Berti had the big hit, driving in two runs with a single while catcher Derrick Chung also had a good night, going two for four. Andy Burns had a rough night, going oh for five with three strikeouts and an error.

While no roster move has been made yet, first baseman/outfielder Gabe Jacobo came out of the game Thursday and did not play on Friday.

Hitting:

Jon Berti – 2/4, 2 RBI, BB, 2 K
Peter Mooney – 0/3, 2 BB
Andy Burns – 0/5, 3 K, E
K.C. Hobson –0/4, K
Marcus Knecht – 0/4
Matt Newman – 1/3, R
Kevin Patterson – 1/4, R
Derrick Chung – 2/4, R, 2 PB
Nick Baligod – 1/3, RBI, BB, K

Pitching:

Aaron Sanchez – 5 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 7 K
Tyler Ybarra – 1 IP, 1 H 2 R, 2 BB, 2 K
Jeremy Jeffress – 2 IP, 1 H

Jay Blue’s Player of the Game: Jon Berti

Lansing Lugnuts (7-11)

Prospect-y left-handed pitcher Daniel Norris made his best start of the season, but the Lansing offense couldn’t get anything done as they fell to the Quad Cities River Bandits 4-0. The offense only managed to cobble together five hits on the night while the River Bandits banged out nine off Norris and reliever Ben White. Norris struggled with his control, walking three and throwing two wild pitches in his four innings but was able to strike four batters out. Only one run was charged to Norris while White was on the hook for the other three which came off of six hits. Christian Lopes led the way on offense with two hits while 2011 first round draft pick Dwight Smith Jr. made his debut at the full-season level by going one for three.

Hitting:

Dalton Pompey – 0/4, 3 K
Jorge Flores – 1/4, 2B
Christian Lopes – 2/4
Carlos Ramirez – 0/4, 2 K
Chris Hawkins – 1/3, BB
Shane Opitz – 0/3, K
Kellen Sweeney – 0/3, 2 K
Dwight Smith Jr. – 1/3, K
Aaron Munoz – 0/2, BB, K

Pitching:

Daniel Norris – L, 4 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 3 BB, 4 K
Ben White – 4 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 0 BB, 4 K, 1 HR

Jay Blue’s Player of the Game: Christian Lopes

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