May 26 Minor League Report

Buffalo Bisons (28-20)

The Buffalo Bisons jumped out to an early lead with four runs in the first inning and held on, despite almost giving up the lead in the top of the ninth, to win 6-5 over the Indianapolis Indians. Starter Dave Bush gave the Bisons another solid start but was once again touched up for a home run that accounted for his two runs against in five innings. Buddy Carlyle and Michael Schwimer came on to combine for three shutout innings but Mickey Storey just didn’t have it on Sunday afternoon, giving up three runs in the top of the ninth before closer Neil Wagner came on to get the game’s final out.

The bats were in “crush” mode today as three Bisons went deep in front of a medium sized crowd that turned up for a Youth Jersey give away. Mauro Gomez and Josh Thole went back to back in the first inning while Luis Jimenez absolutely crushed his team-leading tenth home run in the fifth inning. Ryan Langerhans also contributed with a three for four day and scored two runs while Gomez added a single to his home run and two RBI and International League batting leader Jim Negrych went two for four with an RBI.

Mauro Gomez hits a home run against the Indianapolis Indians on May 26, 2013. Mandatory Credit: Jay Blue

Josh Thole was dinged on the hand in the bottom of the eighth inning and was removed from the game. It didn’t look like it was going to be serious at the time and he came out of the game just as a precaution.

Hitting:

Jim Negrych – 2/4, R, RBI
Moises Sierra – 0/4, K
Luis Jimenez – 1/4, R, HR, RBI, 2 K
Mauro Gomez – 2/4, R, HR, 2 RBI, K
Josh Thole – 1/4, R, HR, RBI, 2 K
Ryan Langerhans – 3/4, 2 R, K
Ricardo Nanita – 1/4, K
Ryan Goins – 1/3, BB, E
Mike McCoy – 0/2, RBI, BB

Pitching:

Dave Bush – W, 5 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 0 BB, 0 K, 1 HR
Buddy Carlyle – 2 IP, 1 H, 2 BB, 3 K
Michael Schwimer – 1 IP, 1 BB, 3 K
Mickey Storey – 2/3 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 1 BB
Neil Wagner – S, 1/3 IP, 1 H

Jay Blue’s Player of the Game: Mauro Gomez

New Hampshire Fisher Cats (24-27)

Despite knocking out ten hits, the New Hampshire Fisher Cats lost to the New Britain Rock Cats 11-4 on Sunday afternoon. Starter Deck McGuire fell victim to his own inconsistency, giving up five Rock Cats runs on nine hits in five innings. Dustin Antolin and Evan Crawford each gave up three in their subsequent innings to dig the hole even deeper. The hitters weren’t able to score more than four runs as the Rock Cats successfully scattered New Hampshire’s ten hits (including three doubles and a home run) and the home side wasn’t able to get much going. Sean Ochinko and Brian Van Kirk each had a single and a double while Kevin Pillar hit three singles and took a walk. Brad Glenn hit the home run in a one for five day.

Hitting:

Kevin Pillar – 3/3, R, RBI, BB
Brian Van Kirk – 2/5, 2B, RBI
Ryan Schimpf – 0/4, BB, K
Clint Robinson – 1/5, R
Brad Glenn – 1/5, R, HR, 2 RBI, 2 K
Sean Ochinko – 2/4, R, 2B, K
Jon Talley – 1/4, 2B
Kevin Ahrens – 0/3, BB, E
Amadeo Zazueta – 0/3
Kevin Nolan – 0/1

Pitching:

Deck McGuire – L, 5 IP, 9 H, 5 R, 2 BB, 4 K
Dustin Antolin – 1 IP, 0 H, 3 R (2 ER), 4 BB, 2 K
Evan Crawford – 1 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 1 BB, 1 K
Randy Boone – 1 IP, 1 K
Tommy Hottovy – 1 IP, 1 H

Jay Blue’s Player of the Game: Kevin Pillar

Dunedin Blue Jays (27-20)

The Dunedin Blue Jays played another extra innings game but emerged on the wrong side of it, losing 3-2 to the Tampa Yankees. Casey Lawrence gave the Blue Jays another great start, going seven strong innings, giving up only one run in the second inning. The offense scattered ten hits but could only cash in the two runs with Nick Baligod and the Canadian Connection notching multiple hits: Canadian outfielders Marcus Knecht and Mike Crouse both had strong games with Knecht going two for four with a double and Crouse going three for five with a double.

Hitting:

Jon Berti – 1/5, BB, K, PO
Nick Baligod – 2/5, BB, SB, CS
Andy Burns – 0/6, K, CS
K.C. Hobson – 0/6, K
Marcus Knecht – 2/4, 2 R, 2B, BB
Mike Crouse – 3/5, 2B, BB
Peter Mooney – 1/6, K, SB
Chris Schaeffer – 1/6, 2 RBI, K
Shane Opitz –  0/5, 2 K

Pitching:

Casey Lawrence – 7 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 6 K, 1 HR
Tyler Ybarra – 2 IP, 2 BB, 3 K
Ajay Meyer – 2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 2 K
Blake McFarland – L, 1 2/3 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 1 K

Jay Blue’s Player of the Game:  Mike Crouse

Lansing Lugnuts (21-25)

The Lansing Lugnuts just can’t seem to beat the strong teams from the Western division, losing again to the South Bend Silver Hawks 5-3. Alonzo Gonzalez had a decent start, giving up three runs in five innings while Ian Kadish gave up the last two. Christian Lopes hit the only home run for the Lugnuts while Gustavo Pierre had three singles and Dwight Smith, Jr. had two and added a stolen base. After today’s game, Smith is now hitting .293 and Pierre is up to .296 while Dalton Pompey took an oh for four to drop him down to .228 and Chris Hawkins’s oh-fer drops him to .210. Seth Conner had his ninth passed ball on the season charged and also went oh for four to mark a rough day for the young catcher.

Hitting:

Dalton Pompey – 0/4, K
Dwight Smith, Jr. – 2/4, 2 R, K, SB
Christian Lopes – 1/4, R, HR, RBI
Kevin Patterson – 0/2, 2 BB
Gustavo Pierre – 3/4, 2 RBI
Chris Hawkins – 0.4
Emilio Guerrero – 0/4, K
Seth Conner – 0/4, K
Jorge Flores – 1/3, K

Pitching:

Alonzo Gonzalez – 5 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 2 BB, 1 K
Ian Kadish – L, 2 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 1 K, 1 HR
Tucker Donahue – 1 IP, 1 H, 1 K

Jay Blue’s Player of the Game: Dwight Smith, Jr.

If you like what you’ve seen by Jay Blue, read his work and listen to his podcast on Blue Jays from Away and follow him on Twitter: @Jaysfromaway.