May 19 Minor League Report

Despite the Blue Jays being rained out on Sunday in New York, it was a clean sweep for their minor league affiliates who won all their games with a “dazzling” pitching performance by Marcus Stroman (according to the Fisher Cats media release) in his first start of the season.

Buffalo Bisons (25-17)

The Buffalo Bisons brought out the bats late to come back and defeat the Charlotte Knights 11-6 on Sunday afternoon. Todd Redmond made his first start of the season which was his first with a Blue Jays affiliate but wasn’t sharp, getting tagged for five runs in three and a third innings. The final three pitchers out of the bullpen, however, shut the Knights down completely, striking out six in four innings. This crew was led by recently-promoted John Stilson, who made his Triple-A debut by pitching two shutout innings, walking two and striking out three.

The offense was buoyed by fourteen hits and four walks with Jim Negrych and Moises Sierra leading the way with three hits apiece. Three other Bisons pitched in with two hits – Luis Jimenez, Josh Thole and Ryan Langerhans – and each had some big knocks for the club. Jimenez drove in three runs, Thole drove in two while Langerhans went deep for the Herd’s only home run of the game.

Hitting:

Anthony Gose – 1/4, 2 R, BB
Jim Negrych – 3/5, 3 R, 2B, 2 RBI, K
Moises Sierra – 3/5, R, RBI, K, OF Asst.
Luis Jimenez – 2/3, 2 R, 3 RBI, BB
Mauro Gomez –1/5, R, 2B, RBI, 2 K
Josh Thole – 2/4, 2 RBI
Andy LaRoche – 0/2, RBI, BB
Ryan Langerhans – 2/3, 2 R, HR, RBI, BB
Ryan Goins – 0/4, K

February 27, 2013; Tampa, FL, USA; Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Todd Redmond (78) throws a pitch in the fifth inning against the New York Yankees at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Pitching:

Todd Redmond – 3 1/3 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 2 BB, 3 K
Chad Beck – W, 1 2/3 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 1 K, 1 HR
John Stilson – 2 IP, 2 BB, 3 K
Juan Perez – 1 IP, 1 K
Neil Wagner – 1 IP, 2 K

Jay Blue’s Player of the Game:  Jim Negrych

New Hampshire Fisher Cats (22-22)

Marcus Stroman led the Fisher Cats back to the .500 mark as they defeated the New Britain Rock Cats 7-4 on Sunday afternoon. Even the New Hampshire radio announcers were amazed by Stroman’s stuff on the afternoon as he gave up four hits and one walk over five innings while striking out six. Stroman last put his major-league calibre stuff on display in March when he pitched for the Blue Jays against the Phillies in an exhibition game in Philadelphia. With a couple more strong performances, he could be inching up the depth chart and be on the radar for a big league job next season. The Fisher Cats offense got the job done, led by Clint Robinson’s three hits as well as home runs by Brad Glenn, Kevin Nolan and Ricardo Nanita.

Hitting:

Kevin Pillar – 1/5, R
Ricardo Nanita – 1/5, 2 R, HR, 2 RBI
Kevin Nolan – 2/4, R, HR, RBI, E
Clint Robinson – 3/5, R, 2B, RBI
Brad Glenn – 1/4, 2 R, HR, 2 RBI, BB, 2 K
Brian Van Kirk – 1/3, 2B, RBI, BB, OF Asst.
Jack Murphy – 0/4
Kevin Ahrens – 1/4, 2 K
John Tolisano – 1/4

Pitching:

Marcus Stroman – W, 5 IP, 4 H, 1 BB, 6 K
Dustin Antolin – 1 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 BB
Matt Wright – 1 2/3 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 1 HR
Joel Carreno – S, 1 1/3 IP, 1 BB, 2 K

Jay Blue’s Player of the Game: Marcus Stroman

Dunedin Blue Jays (24-16)

The Dunedin Blue Jays took a 3-1 victory in a low-scoring affair over the Brevard County Manatees. Starter Scott Copeland threw eight outstanding innings against the Manatees, giving up one run on three hits and one walk while striking out seven. The only run scored was on a sixth inning solo home run by T.J. Mittelstaedt. Copeland, 25, is one of the veterans on the Dunedin Blue Jays and has pitched very well at the Advanced-A level since signing a minor league deal with the Blue Jays in 2012. Center fielder Matt Newman drove the offense with two hits while Jon Talley, Marcus Knecht and K.C. Hobson each drove home one of the Blue Jays’ three runs.  24 year old John Anderson made his first appearance of the season, pitching a perfect ninth inning for the save.

Hitting:

Jon Berti – 0/3, R, K, E
Matt Newman – 2/4, R, 2B
Andy Burns – 0/3, R, BB, K
Jon Talley – 0/3, RBI, 2 K
Marcus Knecht – 1/4, RBI, K
K.C. Hobson – 1/3, RBI
Pierce Rankin – 0/2, BB, 2 K
Peter Mooney – 0/3
Nick Baligod – 0/2, BB

Pitching:

Scott Copelan – W, 8 IP, 3 H, R, 1 BB, 7 K, 1 HR
John Anderson – S, 1 IP, 1 K

Jay Blue’s Player of the Game: Scott Copeland

Lansing Lugnuts (17-23)

Despite giving up two solo home runs, starter Javier Avendano gave the Lansing Lugnuts five strong innings as they defeated the Great Lakes Loons for their fourth consecutive win 7-3. Once again, the team didn’t make an error and got strong pitching performances which led to another victory. Dwight Smith, Jr. and Gustavo Pierre each had three hits while Balbino Fuenmayor contributed with two of his own as the Lugnuts scored their seven runs on twelve hits and three walks. Left fielder Chris Hawkins continues his slide, getting only his third hit in the last ten games while striking out three times.

Hitting:

Dwight Smith, Jr. – 3/5, R, K
Gustavo Pierre – 3/5, 2 R, 2B, 2 RBI, K
Christian Lopes – 1/4, R, K
Kevin Patterson – 0/3, R, BB, K
Carlos Ramirez – 1/4, 2B, 2 RBI, K
Balbino Fuenmayor – 2/4, 2B, 2 RBI, K
Chris Hawkins – 1/4, 3 K
Aaron Munoz – 0/3, R, BB, K
Emilio Guerrero – 1/3, R, BB

Pitching:

Javier Avendano – W, 5 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 2 K, 2 HR
Efrain Nieves – 2 IP, 1 K
Wil Browning – 1 IP, 1 BB, 3 K
Ian Kadish – 1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 1 K

Jay Blue’s Player of the Game: Gustavo Pierre

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