May 21 Minor League Report

Buffalo Bisons (26-18)

Despite another rocky start for Ricky Romero, the bats were in gear as the Buffalo Bisons defeated the Charlotte Knights with a walk-off single by Andy LaRoche in the tenth inning to win 8-7. Ricky Romero lasted five innings on Tuesday night and only surrendered four hits but still walked six in giving up four runs. Dustin McGowan had his first rough outing on the comeback trail, getting only one out but giving up two hits and two walks, allowing three runs. Thad Weber made his Bisons debut after being picked up on waivers. He allowed two of McGowan’s inherited runners to score but continued to pitch two and two-thirds innings without giving up any runs of his own.

Andy LaRoche had another big game beyond singling in the winning run in the tenth. He also contributed with two doubles and drove in four runs. Mauro Gomez and Jim Negrych contributed with three hits apiece (Negrych is now hitting .394) while Josh Thole and Ryan Langerhans had two each. Catcher Mike Nickeas hit a double in a one for four game to raise his batting average to .113

Hitting:

Mike McCoy – 1/4, BB, SB
Jim Negrych – 3/5, R, 2B, RBI, K, PO, CS
Moises Sierra – 0/5, 2 K, OF Asst.
Josh Thole – 2/4, 2 R, RBI, K
Mauro Gomez – 3/5, 2 R, RBI, 2 K
Ryan Langerhans – 2/5, R, 3B, RBI, K
Andy LaRoche – 3/5, 2 2B, 4 RBI, K
Eugenio Velez – 0/4, 2 K
Mike Nickeas – 1/4, R, 2B, PB

Sept. 19, 2012; Bronx, NY, USA; Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Ricky Romero (24) pitches against the New York Yankees during the second inning at Yankee Stadium. Yanks won 6-4. Mandatory Credit: Debby Wong-USA TODAY Sports

Pitching:

Ricky Romero – 5 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 6 BB, 2 K
Juan Perez – 1 IP, 1 H, 1 K
Dustin McGowan – 1/3 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 2 BB
Thad Weber – 2 2/3 IP, 3 H, 1 BB, 2 K
Neil Wagner – W, 1 IP, 1 K

Jay Blue’s Player of the Game:  Andy LaRoche

New Hampshire Fisher Cats (23-23)

The Fisher Cats couldn’t come back to win their fifth in a row and ended up taking the loss 5-3 to the Portland Sea Dogs. Starter Deck McGuire gave up nine hits and three walks in his six-plus innings and ended up being charged with four runs on the night. Tyson Brummett relieved McGuire with two runners on in the seventh but allowed both to score before giving up a run of his own. The bats were quiet, with only six hits for the team on Tuesday night. Clint Robinson had two (including a triple) while Brad Glenn and Kevin Pillar each hit a double and Pillar added an outfield assist, throwing out Red Sox prospect Xander Bogaerts at home to save a run (and end the inning) in the fifth. Brian Van Kirk had the ignominious honour of the Golden Sombrero, striking out four times.

Roster Notes: RHP Fernandeo Hernandez was activated from the DL and then released while OF Ricardo Nanita was promoted to Buffalo.

Hitting:

Kevin Pillar – 1/5, 2B, OF Asst.
Kevin Nolan – 0/4, K
Ryan Schimpf – 0/3, R, BB, 2 K
Clint Robinson – 2/3, R, 3B, RBI, BB
Brad Glenn –1/4, 2B, RBI, K
Adam Loewen – 0/2, R, 2 BB, K, SB
Brian Van Kirk – 0/4, 4 K
Sean Ochinko – 1/4, RBI, K
Amadeo Zazueta – 1/4, 2B, K

Pitching:

Deck McGuire – L, 6 IP, 9 H, 4 R, 3 BB, 3 K, 1 HR
Tyson Brummett – 2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 2 K

Jay Blue’s Player of the Game: Clint Robinson

Dunedin Blue Jays (25-17)

The Dunedin Blue Jays dropped an afternoon game 5-3 to the St. Lucie Mets on Tuesday. Two errors assessed to third baseman Andy Burns ended up giving the Mets the runs they needed to take the game from the D-Jays. Casey Lawrence didn’t have his best start, going five and two-thirds innings, giving all five runs (only three were earned) on six hits and a walk while striking out four. Tyler Ybarra and John Anderson came on to provide three and third innings of scoreless relief, keeping the Blue Jays in the game. The Dunedin hitters were mostly stymied by the Mets pitching, only getting six hits including a single and a double from center fielder Jonathan Jones who also drove in a run and stole a base. Andy Burns finished oh for three but drove in another run with a sacrifice fly and Jon Berti managed to steal his twenty-first base for the Blue Jays.

Roster Notes: The Dunedin Blue Jays put catcher Derrick Chung on the disabled list and assigned catcher Chris Schaeffer from extended Spring Training to take his place. Pitcher Shawn Griffith was also activated from the DL.

Hitting:

Jon Berti – 1/4, K, SB
Jonathan Jones – 2/4, R, 2B, RBI, SB
Andy Burns – 0/3, RBI, K, 2 E
Marcus Knecht – 1/4
K.C. Hobson – 0/4, K
Mike Crouse – 0/3, BB, 2 K, PO, CS
Pierce Rankin – 0/3, R, BB, K
Nick Baligod – 1/4, 2B
Shane Opitz – 1/3, R, BB, K

Pitching:

Casey Lawrence – 5 2/3 IP, 6 H, 5 R (3 ER), 1 BB, 4 K
Tyler Ybarra – 2 1/3 IP, 1 BB, 3 K
John Anderson – 1 IP

Jay Blue’s Player of the Game: Tyler Ybarra

Lansing Lugnuts (19-23)

The Lansing Lugnuts continued their hot streak, defeating the Lake County Captains with a four-run eighth inning to cap an 8-5 victory. Starter Taylor Cole went five innings and struggled, giving up seven hits and four walks but the bullpen, which has been a real strength lately, stepped in to finish the game with four strong innings, giving up only one unearned run. Dalton Pompey continues to be cold at the top of the batting order but Gustavo Pierre has been very hot, bumping his batting average to .290 by going three for four with two doubles and five RBI. Chris Hawkins, who has been sliding of late, got off the schneid with a two-for-three game including a key RBI double in the eighth.

Hitting:

Dalton Pompey – 0/5, K
Dwight Smith, Jr. – 0/4, R, K, SB
Christian Lopes – 1/2, 2 R, 2 BB
Kevin Patterson – 2/4, R
Carlos Ramirez – 0/1, R
Gustavo Pierre – 3/4, R, 2 2B, 5 RBI, SB, CS, E
Kellen Sweeney  –  0/3, R, BB
Chris Hawkins – 2/3, R, 2B, RBI, BB, SB
Seth Conner – 0/4, RBI
Emilio Guerrero – 1/4, RBI, K, CS

Pitching:

Taylor Cole – 5 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 4 BB, 1 K
Justin Jackson – 2 IP, 1 H, 1 R (0 ER), 2 K
Tucker Donahue – W, 1 IP, 1 BB, 1 K
Wil Browning – S, 1 IP, 1 K

Jay Blue’s Player of the Game: Gustavo Pierre

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