A Rajai Davis Appearance! May 31 Minor League Report

Buffalo Bisons (29-24)

The Buffalo Bisons were happy to get out of Durham and on to Norfolk where they defeated the Tides in the series opener 6-3. Starting pitcher Dave Bush went five and two-thirds strong innings, giving up two runs on six hits and two walks and the bullpen finished up with solid performances from Joel Carreno and Buddy Carlyle. John Stilson got tagged with a solo home run pitching the ninth inning. The Bisons notched eleven hits with Luis Jimenez and Moises Sierra getting three and two (respectively) with a double and an RBI each. Jim Negrych‘s slump continues and he is now hitting .356 after his oh for five performance on Friday.

Roster Note: After a couple of weeks with the big club, Ramon Ortiz cleared waivers and was outrighted to Buffalo.

Hitting:

Mike McCoy – 1/2, R, RBI, 3 BB, SB
Jim Negrych – 0/5
Moises Sierra – 2/3, 2 R, 2B, RBI, BB
Luis Jimenez – 3/5, R, 2B, RBI, K
Mauro Gomez – 1/4, 2B, RBI
Andy LaRoche – 1/4, RBI
Ryan Langerhans – 1/4, R, K
Eugenio Velez – 1/4
Mike Nickeas – 1/4 , R, 2B, RBI, 2 K

Pitching:

Dave Bush – W, 5 2/3 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 2 K, 1 HR
Joel Carreno – 1 1/3 IP, 1 H
Buddy Carlyle – 1 IP, 1 K
John Stilson – 1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 HR

Jay Blue’s Player of the Game: Luis Jimenez

New Hampshire Fisher Cats (28-28)

The New Hampshire Fisher Cats reached the .500 mark with a close win against the Binghamton Mets 8-7 on Friday night. Starter Deck McGuire gave up a five-spot in the second inning but the six hits he gave up in that disastrous inning were the only ones he gave up all night in a six-inning effort in which he struck out seven. Tyson Brummett pitched the final three innings and gave up two runs in the ninth but managed to stop the flow before the Mets could even the score with the Fisher Cats. Adam Loewen and Ryan Schimpf drove the offense with Loewen hitting a grand slam in the sixth inning and Schimpf hitting his team-leading twelfth blast in the fifth. Kevin Pillar and Kevin Ahrens were the only two Fisher Cats that failed to get a hit.

Roster Notes: 1B Clint Robinson returns to the lineup after clearing waivers and being outrighted to the Fisher Cats and LHP Matt Wright was activated off the DL.

Hitting:

Kevin Pillar – 0/4
Brian Van Kirk – 2/4, 2 R, 2B, K
Ryan Schimpf – 2/3, 2 R, HR, 2 RBI
Clint Robinson – 1/4, RBI, K
Kevin Nolan – 2/4, R, K
Sean Ochinko – 1/3, R, 2B, RBI, BB, K
Brad Glenn – 2/4, R, K
Adam Loewen – 2/4, R, HR, 4 RBI, K
Kevin Ahrens – 4/4, R, 2 2B, 2 RBI

Pitching:

Deck McGuire – W, 6 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 2 BB, 7 K
Tyson Brummett – S, 3 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 K

Jay Blue’s Player of the Game: Adam Loewen

Dunedin Blue Jays (29-22)

The Clearwater Threshers came back in a see-saw battle and took a one run lead in the top of the ninth that the Dunedin Blue Jays couldn’t counter in a 7-6 loss. Starter Casey Lawrence had a pretty good start, going six innings and giving up two runs on eight hits and one run but the bullpen couldn’t close the door. Rehabbing Toronto Blue Jay outfielder Rajai Davis served as the DH and occupied the leadoff spot for Dunedin, going one for five with a run. Recently activated Gabe Jacobo had the game of the day, going three for five with two double, two runs scored, and two RBI. Shortstop Peter Mooney also had three hits and drove in two runs for the Blue Jays. Andy Burns had a rough night, taking the Golden Sombrero, going oh for five with four strikeouts and committing a fielding error.

Roster Notes: In addition to Rajai Davis being assigned to Dunedin to rehab his injury, the D-Jays placed their closer, Blake McFarland, on the DL while activating pitcher Alan Farina from the restricted list.

Apr 25, 2013; Bronx, NY, USA; Toronto Blue Jays right fielder Rajai Davis (left) and shortstop

before the game against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Debby Wong-USA TODAY Sports

Hitting:

Rajai Davis – 1/5, R, K
Jon Berti – 1/5, R, SB
Andy Burns – 0/5, 4 K, E
Gabe Jacobo – 3/5, 2 R, 2 2B, 2 RBI
Marcus Knecht – 1/3, RBI, K, SB
Mike Crouse –1/2, R, 2B, 2 BB
Nick Baligod – 0/2, R, 2 BB
Pierce Rankin – 0/3
K.C. Hobson – 0/0, RBI
Peter Mooney – 3/4, 2 RBI

Pitching:

Casey Lawrence – 6 IP, 8 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 5 K
Ajay Meyer – 2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 K, 1 HR
Tony Davis – 1/3 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 2 BB, 1 K
Dayton Marze – 2/3 IP, 1 BB, 1 K

Jay Blue’s Player of the Game:  Gabe Jacobo

Lansing Lugnuts (22-29)

The Lansing Lugnuts got the hit parade going, rapping out twelve hits in beating the Great Lakes Loons 5-3 on Friday night. The bullpen was outstanding yet again, picking up starter Alonzo Gonzalez who had a solid start, giving up three runs in five innings. The trio of Tucker Donahue, Efrain Nieves and Arik Sikula combined for four shutout innings and gave up only two hits and a walk over that span. The batters only one run on six hits off of sixteen-year-old phenom Julio Urias in his three and two-thirds innings of work. The offense was led by first baseman Kevin Patterson who hit a home run, a double and a single while Gustavo Pierre added three hits of his own and two stolen bases to bring his batting average to .317 and is now leading the team in that respect. Carlos Ramirez had a single and double with a stolen base, adding two RBI to his season in the victory.

Roster Notes: The Lansing Lugnuts released catcher Leo Hernandez.

Hitting:

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

Pitching:

Alonzo Gonzalez – 5 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 BB, 2 K, 1 HR
Tucker Donahue – W, 2 IP, 1 H, 1 K
Efrain Nieves – 1 IP, 1 BB
Arik Sikula – S, 1 IP, 1 H, 1 K

Jay Blue’s Player of the Game: Kevin Patterson

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.