Ricky Romero Gets a Little Better: June 1 Minor League Report

Ricky Romero had his best start of the year in Triple-A despite getting outrighted to Buffalo and Dalton Pompey had a big game for Lansing.

August 8, 2012; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Ricky Romero (24) reacts in the dugout against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Buffalo Bisons (29-25)

Ricky Romero had a better start but the Buffalo Bisons weren’t able to beat the Norfolk Tides in a 6-5 game on Saturday. Romero went six innings and gave up five runs but the most important stat was zero walks allowed. Chad Beck was charged with the loss in yet another tough outing in Buffalo, giving up the walk-off home run to Trayvon Robinson in the ninth after throwing a scoreless eighth. Luis Jimenez and Mauro Gomez each hit home runs while Ryan Goins went two for three with a walk and drove in two runs of his own.

Roster Moves: There was a flurry of activity on Saturday with the Jays outrighting Ricky Romero to Buffalo (removing him from the 40-man roster) and selecting Ramon Ortiz‘s contract once again. To clear the space on the 25-man roster, Chad Jenkins was sent down to AAA where he will make one start before returning to Toronto. The Blue Jays also recalled Mickey Storey to sit in the bullpen after the 17-inning game against the Padres on Friday.

Hitting:

Mike McCoy – 0/5
Jim Negrych – 1/5, K
Moises Sierra – 1/5, 2B, 2 K
Luis Jimenez – 3/4, 2 R, HR, RBI, BB
Mauro Gomez – 1/4, R, HR, 2 RBI, 2 K
Josh Thole – 2/4, R, K, PB
Andy LaRoche – 1/4, R, 2B
Ryan Langerhans – 0/2, 2 BB, SB, CS
Ryan Goins – 2/3, 2 RBI, BB, K

Pitching:

Ricky Romero – 6 IP, 8 H, 5 R, 0 BB, 3 K, 1 HR
Thad Weber – 1 IP
Chad Beck – L, 1 1/3 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 HR

Jay Blue’s Player of the Game:  Luis Jimenez

New Hampshire Fisher Cats (28-29)

With the tough Rafael Montero on the mound for the Binghamton Mets, the New Hampshire Fisher Cats only mustered five hits in a 6-0 loss. Ryan Tepera got hit again and again in giving up five runs (on ten hits) and the offense only had five singles, two by first baseman Clint Robinson. Center fielder Kevin Pillar came out of the game late with no explanation.

Hitting:

Kevin Pillar – 0/3, K
Jon Talley – 0/1
Brian Van Kirk – 0/3, BB, K
Ryan Schimpf – 0/4, K
Clint Robinson – 2/4, OF Asst.
Kevin Nolan – 0/4, E
Adam Loewen – 1/3, BB
Brad Glenn – 1/4, K
Jack Murphy – 0/3, 2 K
Kevin Ahrens – 1/3, E

Pitching:

Ryan Tepera – L, 4 2/3 IP, 10 H, 5 R (4 ER), 2 BB, 5 K, 1 HR
Matt Wright – 2 1/3 IP, 3 H, 1 K
Tommy Hottovy – 2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 2 K

Jay Blue’s Player of the Game: Matt Wright

Dunedin Blue Jays (29-22)

After a late start that was delayed because of rain, the Dunedin’s game was suspended in the second inning.

Lansing Lugnuts (23-29)

The Lansing Lugnuts held off a late rally by the Great Lakes Loons to make a winner out of Taylor Cole in a 7-6 game. The Lugnuts scored all of their runs in the first three innings, getting big contributions from Dalton Pompey who had a two-for-three game with a triple, a run, a walk, a stolen base and two RBI and Dwight Smith, Jr. who had a three-for-four day with a double, a walk, two runs, a stolen base and an RBI. Taylor Cole had a solid start but gave up eleven base runners on five hits and four walks. Justin Jackson had his best outing as a pitcher so far, going two scoreless inning, giving up a hit and walk while striking out three. Wil Browning had another rough appearance, giving up four runs in the ninth before shutting the door on the win.

Hitting:

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

Pitching:

Taylor Cole – W, 6 IP, 5 H, 2 R (1 ER), 4 BB, 4 K
Justin Jackson – 2 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 3 K
Wil Browning – 1 IP, 2 H, 4 R, 1 BB

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

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