Lawrie and Santos Back in Action: July 5 Minor League Report

Buffalo Bisons (43-44)

The Buffalo Bisons lost a heart-breaker to the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Rail Riders 3-2 on Friday night. The Rail Riders got to the Buffalo bullpen after an excellent start from Justin Germano. In the ninth inning, Joel Carreno hit Fernando Martinez and then balked him to second base. He then intentionally walked Randy Ruiz and was replaced by Tommy Hottovy. Hottovy got an out and was relieved by Brad Lincoln who threw a passed ball by Ramon Hernandez and then gave up the game-winning, walkoff sacrifice fly to J.R. Murphy. The offense only put together three hits against the Rail Riders and Jim Negrych accounted for the two runs on a double in the first inning. Kevin Pillar scored a run but was held without a hit for only the second time since his call-up to Triple-A.

Roster Note: RHP Chien-Ming Wang accepted his assignment to AAA Buffalo.

Hitting:

Mike McCoy – 0/3, BB, 2 K, SB
Ryan Goins – 0/2, R, BB, K
Kevin Pillar – 0/3, R, K
Mauro Gomez – 1/4, 2B, K
Jim Negrych – 1/4, 2B, 2 RBI, K
Eugenio Velez – 1/3, BB, K
Ramon Hernandez – 0/4, PB
Anthony Gose – 0/2, K, CS
Sean Ochinko – 0/3, 3 K

Pitching:

Justin Germano – 7 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 0 BB, 7 K
Joel Carreno – L, 1 IP, 1 R (0 ER), 1 BB, 2 K
Tommy Hottovy – 1/3 IP
Brad Lincoln – 1/3 IP

Jay Blue’s Player of the Game: Justin Germano

New Hampshire Fisher Cats (41-45)

Despite getting outhit by the Binghamton Mets, the Hew Hampshire Fisher Cats held on to win the game 6-5 on Friday night. Starter Deck McGuire got burned by the long-ball again, giving up two home runs in his five innings of work but only three of the five runs he gave up were earned and he struck out six on the night. Scott Gracey and Alan Farina finished off the game, preserving the win with two scoreless innings each. Ryan Schimpf hit his league-leading seventeenth home run of the season, going one for one with a walk and two runs scored and A.J. Jimenez hit his first home run of the season with a two-for-four night that brought his batting average up to .395 and he also showed his defensive prowess by throwing out the only runner who attempted to steal.

Hitting:

Adam Loewen – 0/3, RBI, BB, 2 K, PO, CS
Andy Burns – 1/3, BB, K, CS
A.J. Jimenez – 2/4, 2 R, HR, RBI
Brad Glenn –  0/4, 2 K
Clint Robinson – 0/3, R, BB, 2 K
Kevin Nolan – 0/3, K, E
Ryan Schimpf – 1/1, 2 R, HR, 3 RBI, BB
Brian Van Kirk – 1/3, R
Kevin Ahrens – 1/3, RBI

Pitching:

Deck McGuire – 5 IP, 8 H, 5 R (3 ER), 2 BB, 6 K, 2 HR
Scott Gracey – W, 2 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 2 K
Alan Farina – S, 2 IP, 1 H, 3 K

Jay Blue’s Player of the Game: Ryan Schimpf

Dunedin Blue Jays (42-37)

The Dunedin Blue Jays managed to take another game to extra innings by scoring a run in the top of the ninth but ended up losing in the eleventh as the Clearwater Threshers walked another one off 2-1. Sergio Santos started with a perfect inning for the Blue Jays and Austin Bibens-Dirkx came on to throw six excellent innings of baseball, giving up only an unearned run on two hits and two walks while striking out six. Blake McFarland pitched two strong innings but Ajay Meyer, normally lights-out, gave up the winning run in his second inning of work. Mike Crouse continues his hot streak with the bat, going three for four with a walk and an RBI and catcher Pierce Rankin had the only extra-base hit of the night with a double.

Hitting:

Jon Berti – 0/4, R, BB
Nick Baligod – 1/4
Mike Crouse – 3/4, RBI, BB, 2 PO, CS
Gabe Jacobo – 1/4, K
Marcus Knecht – 1/4, 2 K
Gustavo Pierre  – 1/3, K
Oliver Dominguez – 0/3, BB, K
Pierce Rankin – 1/4, 2B
Shane Optiz – 1/4, K, PO, CS

Pitching:

Sergio Santos – 1 IP, 1 K
Austin Bibens-Dirkx – 6 IP, 2 H, 1 R (0 ER), 2 BB, 6 K
Blake McFarland – 2 IP, 1 BB, 3 K
Ajay Meyer – L, 1 2/3 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 2 K

Jay Blue’s Player of the Game: Austin Bibens-Dirkx

Lansing Lugnuts (34-50)

The Lansing Lugnuts continue to slide, losing 7-3 to the Lake County Captains on Friday. Starting pitcher Alonzo Gonzalez took his ninth loss, struggling with his control by walking six batters, hitting one and throwing a wild pitch, despite only giving up two runs in four innings. Griffin Murphy gave up another four (only three were earned) in his three innings and Wil Browning gave up the last one in his two innings of work. The Lugnuts walked ten times as a team but only got six hits with Chris Hawkins getting two of those to go along with a walk. Brett Lawrie continued his rehab and went oh for three with two walks and a run scored. Word has come down that he’ll be moving to New Hampshire for the next stage of his rehab. Santiago “Loch” Nessy is continuing to show off his power serving as the designated hitter on Friday. He hit his second home run of the year (and second in three games) and took a walk. Jorge Flores was also on base three times with a single and two walks.

Roster Move: Brett Lawrie was assigned to Lansing for a rehab assignment while SP Roberto Osuna went back on the 7-Day DL.

May 14, 2013; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Brett Lawrie (13) throws to first against the San Francisco Giants at the Rogers Centre. Toronto defeated San Francisco 10-6. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports

Hitting:

Brett Lawrie – 0/3, R, 2 BB, K, E
Jorge Flores – 1/3, 2 BB, K, CS
Dwight Smith, Jr. – 0/4, BB
Kevin Patterson – 1/3, 2B, RBI, BB, K
Santiago Nessy – 1/4, R, HR, RBI, BB
Chris Hawkins – 2/4, BB, 2 K, OF Asst.
Carlos Ramirez – 0/3, BB, K
Seth Conner – 1/4, PB
Emilio Guerrero – 0/3, R, BB, K

Pitching:

Alonzo Gonzalez – L, 4 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 6 BB, 1 K
Griffin Murphy – 3 IP, 4 H, 4 R (3 ER), 1 BB, 3 K
Wil Browning – 2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 3 K

Jay Blue’s Player of the Game: Santiago Nessy

Vancouver Canadians (13-8)

July 4 Game:

The Vancouver Canadians beat the Hillsboro Hops convincingly 9-2 on Thursday. Starting pitcher Eric Brown had probably his worst start of the year, but it was still more than good enough. In five innings, he gave up two runs on ten hits (no walks) and struck out five. He got three shutout innings of relief from Justin James and another one from Brandon Dorsett who stranded the two hits he gave up. The offense was in full swing with Jordan Leyland leading the charge with a three-for-five night with a run and three RBI. Chaz Frank was on base three times with a trio of walks while David Harris drove in two runs.

Hitting:

Chaz Frank – 0/2, 2 R, 3 BB, CS
Dickie Thon – 1/4, R, K
L.B. Dantzler – 1/5, RBI, 2 K
Jordan Leyland – 3/5, R, 3 RBI
Brenden Kalfus – 1/5, 2 R, 2B, 2 K
Michael Reeves – 0/4, R, 2 K
Justin Atkinson – 1/4, R, 3B, RBI, K
Brenden Kalfus – 2/4, RBI, BB
David Harris – 0/3, R, 2 RBI
Andy Fermin – 1/4, RBI, K

Pitching:

Eric Brown – W, 5 IP, 10 H, 2 R, 5 K
Justin James – 3 IP, 2 H, 2 K
Brandon Dorsett – 1 IP, 2 H

Jay Blue’s Player of the Game: Jordan Leyland

Late night game summaries for the Vancouver Canadians will appear two days after the game day.

Bluefield Blue Jays (10-4)

In a well-pitched game, the Bluefield Blue Jays lost 5-2 in thirteen innings to the Elizabethton Twins on Friday night. Adonys Cardona flirted with disaster in his three innings of work, scattering five hits and three walks without allowing a run. Mark Biggs allowed two following Cardona (although only one was earned) but exhibited much better control, giving up only four hits and no walks in four innings of work. The Twins couldn’t get to either Francisco Gracesqui or Alvido Jimenez and Adaric Kelly made it through his first two innings of work unscathed. It was only in Kelly’s third inning that the wheels fell off, giving up four hits and three runs before leaving the game with two outs. The offense, despite nine hits, was held in check. Matt Dean had a pair of hits to go with three strikeouts while Dawel Lugo and Jonathan Davis also contributed three each to the team’s seventeen strikeouts on the night.

Hitting:

D.J. Davis – 1/4, 2 BB, K
Jonathan Davis – 1/5, 3 K, CS
Derrick Loveless – 1/4, R, RBI, 2 BB, 2 K
Mitch Nay – 1/6, 2 K, E
Dawel Lugo – 1/6, RBI, 3 K
Matt Dean – 2/6, 3 K
Garrett Custons – 0/6, 2 K
Melvin Garcia – 0/3
John Silviano – 1/1
Eric Arce – 0/1, K
Tim Locastro – 1/2, R, 2 BB, SB, CS, E

Pitching:

Adonys Cardona – 3 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 1 K
Mark Biggs – 4 IP, 4 H, 2 R (1 ER), 0 BB, 2 K
Francisco Gracesqui – 1 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 1 K
Alvido Jimenez – 2 IP, 2 BB, 4 K
Adaric Kelly – L, 2 2/3 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 0 BB, 3 K
Brett Barber – 1/3 IP

Jay Blue’s Player of the Game: Derrick Loveless

Gulf Coast League Blue Jays (5-5)

Game suspended due to rain.

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