Six Hits for Lugnuts’ Guerrero: August 16 Minor League Report

Buffalo Bisons (66-61)

The Buffalo Bisons beat the Rochester Red Wings 6-2 to gain a game in the race for the division and kept pace with the Norfolk Tides and the Pawtucket Red Sox in the wild card race. Starter Chien-Ming Wang threw a very good game, giving up two runs on six hits and three walks with five strikeouts over his six innings. Mickey Storey and Jeremy Jeffress combined to keep the Red Wings off the board for the game’s final three innings. Ricardo Nanita and Mike McCoy each had a pair of hits with McCoy’s being two doubles that allowed him to score twice. Moises Sierra drove in two runs as did Sean Ochinko who had two sacrifice flies.

Roster Note: Anthony Gose was promoted to the Blue Jays and RP Mickey Storey was sent back down to Buffalo.

March 18, 2012; Dunedin, FL, USA; Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Mike McCoy (18) bunts and is safe on an error allowing center fielder Rajai Davis (not pictured) to score in the fourth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Florida Auto Exchange Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Hitting:

Mike McCoy – 2/5, 2 R, 2 2B, K
Ryan Goins – 0/3
Moises Sierra – 1/4, R, 2B, 2 RBI
Clint Robinson – 1/3, BB
Andy LaRoche – 1/4, RBI, K
Ricardo Nanita – 2/4, 2 R, 2B
Brad Glenn – 1/3, R, BB, K
Jim Negrych – 1/3, K, PO, CS
Sean Ochinko – 0/2, 2 RBI, 2 SF

Pitching:

Chien-Ming Wang – W, 6 IP, 2 H, 3 BB, 5 K
Mickey Storey – 2 IP, 1 H
Jeremy Jeffress – 1 IP, 1 H, 3 K

Jay Blue’s Player of the Game: Mike McCoy

New Hampshire Fisher Cats (60-63)

The New Hampshire Fisher Cats won an epic, fifteen-inning game 5-4 over the Trenton Thunder. The twelfth inning saw some fireworks as both Lance Zawadzki (playing third base for New Hampshire) and Trenton manager Tony Franklin were ejected by home plate umpire Jansen Visconti. In a game that lasted almost five hours, Marcus Walden got it started in an uninspiring way, giving up four runs on nine hits and four walks over six innings. The bullpen took over, throwing a complete game (nine innings) of shutout ball with two innings from Evan Crawford, one inning each from Ryan Tepera, Alan Farina and Dayton Marze and four excellent innings from Matt Wright. Kenny Wilson only had one hit on the night, but was the walkoff single that scored Ryan Schimpf who had taken one of his three walks of the evening. Adam Loewen had a pair of singles and a walk and Gabe Jacobo went three for six with a home run and a walk while Kevin Nolan hit his ninth home run of the season.

Roster Notes: RHP Chorye Spoone was placed on the Temporarily Inactive List and LHP Matt Wright was activated off the DL.

Hitting:

Kenny Wilson – 1/5, RBI, 2 BB, SB
Andy Burns – 1/7, R, K
Adam Loewen – 2/5, BB, 2 K
Gabe Jacobo – 3/6, R, HR, 2 RBI, BB, K
Kevin Nolan – 1/7, R, HR, RBI, SB
A.J. Jimenez – 1/6, R, BB, 4 K
Ryan Schimpf – 0/4, R, 3 BB, 3 K
Lance Zawadzki – 1/4, 2B, K
Kevin Ahrens – 0/2, K
John Tolisano – 1/6, RBI, BB, 3 K

Pitching:

Marcus Walden – 6 IP, 9 H, 4 R, 4 BB, 4 K
Evan Crawford – 2 IP, 1 H, 3 K
Ryan Tepera – 1 IP, 1 BB, 2 K
Alan Farina – 1 IP, 1 H, 1 K
Dayton Marze – 1 IP, 2 BB, 1 K
Matt Wright – W, 4 IP, 2 H, 4 K

Jay Blue’s Player of the Game: Gabe Jacobo and Matt Wright

Dunedin Blue Jays (59-59)

The Dunedin Blue Jays dropped the opener of their series against the Clearwater Threshers 9-3 on Friday night. Luis Perez, rehabbing once again from Tommy John surgery, started the game and gave up a run on three hits in his inning before giving way for Jesse Hernandez who gave up six runs (five earned) in five and two-thirds innings on ten hits and a walk. Finally, Tony Davis finished off the game, but not before giving up another two runs over his inning and a third. The batters only managed to score three runs despite getting eleven hits. Jon Berti, Shane Optiz, Gustavo Pierre and Matt Newman each had two-hit nights while Derrick Chung went one for two with two walks. Berti stole his league-leading fifty-second base of the season.

Roster Notes: LHP Luis Perez was assigned to Dunedin for rehab (after a setback coming back from Tommy John surgery landed him back on the DL). LHP Matt Boyd has tweeted that he’s going to Tampa and is likely joining the Dunedin Blue Jays after a promotion from Lansing.

Hitting:

Jon Berti – 2/4, R, RBI, SB
Shane Opitz – 2/5, K
Mike Crouse – 0/3, R, 2 BB, OF Asst.
K.C. Hobson – 1/5, RBI
Marcus Knecht – 1/5, RBI, K
Gustavo Pierre – 2/4, R, K, SB
Matt Newman – 2/4, 3B, K
Derrick Chung – 1/2, 2 BB
Pierce Rankin – 0/4, K, PB

Pitching:

Luis Perez – 1 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 K
Jesse Hernandez – L, 5 2/3 IP, 10 H, 6 R (5 ER), 1 BB, 4 K
Tony Davis – 1 1/3 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 1 K

Jay Blue’s Player of the Game: Matt Newman

Lansing Lugnuts (53-69)

The Lansing Lugnuts defeated the West Michigan White Caps 14-5 on Friday night in Grand Rapids. The Lugnuts bats teed off on the West Michigan pitching staff, particularly in the third inning, in which they sent fourteen batters to the plate and scored nine highlighted by Emilio Guerrero‘s grand slam. All of the position players had at least one hit with Guerrero leading the way, going six for six with three runs scored, the aforementioned home run, five RBI and a stolen base. Dalton Pompey and Dwight Smith, Jr. each had a pair of hits and scored a pair of runs and catcher Daniel Klein hit his second home run with Lansing. Starting pitcher Eric Brown didn’t have his best stuff, giving up five runs in five innings on ten hits and two walks but Griffin Murphy threw three shutout innings and Chad Girodo followed up with one more to close out the game.

Hitting:

Dalton Pompey – 2/5, 2 R, BB, K
Emilio Guerrero – 6/6, 3 R, HR, 5 RBI, SB
Dwight Smith, Jr. – 2/5, 2 R, RBI, BB, K, SB, OF Asst.
Carlos Ramirez – 1/5, R, 2B, 2 K
Kevin Patterson – ¼, R, 2 RBI, BB, 2 K
Jordan Leyland – 1/5, R, RBI, K
Daniel Klein – 1/3, 2 R, HR, 2 RBI, BB, K
Jason Leblebijian – 1/5, R, RBI
Kellen Sweeney – 1/4, R, 2B, RBI, BB

Pitching:

Eric Brown – W, 5 IP, 10 H, 5 R, 2 BB, 2 K, 1 HR
Griffin Murphy – 3 IP, 3 H, 3 K
Chad Girodo – 1 IP, 1 K

Jay Blue’s Player of the Game: Emilio Guerrero

Vancouver Canadians (31-29)

August 16 Game:

The Vancouver Canadians lost a 7-2 game to the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes on Friday night. Starter Shane Dawson had his first rough game in a while but still struck out seven Volcanoes despite giving up five runs over his four and two-thirds innings. Matt Dermody gave up another two runs on five hits in his two and a third innings and Brandon Dorsett pitched two scoreless innings. Branden Kalfus had the only big game for the Canadians, going three for four with two doubles and a run scored.

Roster Notes: SS Dawel Lugo was promoted to Vancouver from Bluefield and SS Dickie Thon was placed on the DL to make room on the roster.

Hitting:

Ian Parmley – 1/4, 2 K
Dawel Lugo – 0/4, 2 K
L.B. Dantzler – 0/4, 2 K
Justin Atkinson – 0/3, BB, 2 K
Brenden Kalfus – 3/4, R, 2 2B
Mike Reeves – 1/4, R, RBI, 3 K
Melvin Garcia – 1/4
Matt Hitt – 0/4, K
David Harris – 0/3, RBI, 2 K

Pitching:

Shane Dawson – L, 4 2/3 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 2 BB, 7 K
Matt Dermody – 2 1/3 IP, 5 H, 2 R
Brandon Dorsett – 2 IP, 1 H

Jay Blue’s Player of the Game: Brenden Kalfus

Late night Vancouver Canadians recaps will appear two days following the game.

Bluefield Blue Jays (35-17)

The Bluefield Blue Jays completed their suspended game with the Princeton Rays and then played a seven-inning regular scheduled game.

The Blue Jays took Game 1 6-3 over Rays, getting solid pitching from Jairo Labourt (who started the game on Thursday) and Yeyfry Del Rosario. Labout pitched three and two-thirds innings giving up just on unearned run and striking out three while Del Rosario came in to provide three and a third innings of scoreless baseball giving up just one hit and three walks with four strikeouts. Joe Lovecchio couldn’t get an out and allowed two runs while Phil Kish took over to pitch the final two innings (allowing one of Lovecchio’s runs to score) to earn the save. Franklin Barreto, the 17-year-old Venezuelan who started his season in the Gulf Coast League, made his presence felt immediately, taking the promoted Dawel Lugo’s place at shortstop in the resumption of the first game by hitting a double in his first at bat and adding a single. Jorge Saez had a great game, going three for four and picking off a runner at first base while Tim Locastro went three for five.

In Game 2, the Bluefield Blue Jays jumped all over Princeton starter Nolan Gannon, scoring seven runs in the first inning and chasing him from the game after retiring just one batter. Had the Blue Jays not adde six more runs, they wouldn’t have won the game by a 13-8 score over the Rays. The pitchers needed help in game two with Brady Dragmire and Francisco Gracesqui each giving up three runs and Adaric Kelly giving up two (although only one was earned). Alvido Jimenez finished the game by pitching two shutout innings. The offense was equally spread throughout the lineup. Only second baseman Angel Rojas didn’t get a hit. Catcher Andres Sotillo had a pair (including a double), as did Mitch Nay and Matt Dean who each went deep. Nay hit a three run shot and added another RBI while Dean hit a two-run bomb. Getting in on the action was D.J. Davis who hit his sixth of the season in the sixth inning.

Roster Moves: SS Franklin Barreto and RHP Clinton Hollon were called up to Bluefield from the GCL. SS Dawel Lugo was promoted to Vancouver.

Game 1

Hitting:

D.J. Davis – 1/5, R, 2B, 2 RBI, 2 K
Tim Locastro – 3/5, R, 3B, RBI, CS
Derrick Loveless – 0/3, R, RBI, BB
Mitch Nay – 0/5, K
Dawel Lugo – 1/2, RBI
Franklin Barreto – 2/2, 2B, E
Matt Dean – 1/4, RBI, K
Jorge Saez – 3/4, R, PB
Lydell Moseby – 1/2, 2 R
Angel Rojas – 0/1, K
D.J. Jones – 1/3, BB, K

Pitching:

Jairo Labourt – 3 2/3 IP, 2 H, 1 R (0 ER), 1 BB, 3 K
Yeyfry Del Rosario – W, 3 1/3 IP, 1 H, 3 BB, 4 K
Joe Lovecchio – 0 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 2 BB
Phil Kish – S, 2 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 2 K

Jay Blue’s Player of the Game: Tim Locastro

Game 2

Hitting:

D.J. Davis – 1/2, 3 R, HR, 2 RBI, BB, SF, E
Tim Locastro – 1/3, 2 R, SB
Franklin Barreto – 1/4, R
Mitch Nay – 2/4, 2 R, HR, 4 RBI, K
Matt Dean – 2/4, 2 R, HR, 2 RBI
Derrick Loveless – 1/3, R, BB
Angel Rojas – 0/1, R, RBI
Jesus Gonzalez – 1/3, R, 2B, 3 RBI
Andres Sotillo – 2/3, 2B

Pitching:

Brady Dragmire – 3 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 1 BB, 6 K
Francisco Gracesqui – W, 1 1/3 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 2 BB
Adaric Kelly – 2/3 IP, 2 H, 2 R (1 ER), 1 K
Alvido Jimenez – 2 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 1 K

Jay Blue’s Player of the Game: Mitch Nay

Gulf Coast League Blue Jays (21-28)

The Barreto-less Gulf Coast League Blue Jays lost 8-0 in blow-out fashion to the GCL Braves, making six errors in the process. 2013 draftees Daniel Lietz (fifth round) and Conner Greene (seventh round) both struggled with Lietz giving up six runs (four were earned) on seven hits and a walk in three innings and Greene giving up two runs on four hits and a walk in his three innings. Greene posted the better performance, showing the ability to miss bats with five strikeouts, four of which were swinging. The batters couldn’t solve the Braves’ pitchers, only getting five hits and one walk on the day. The defensive woes were apparently without Barreto; Edwin Fuentes and Trey Pascazi make five errors between them while playing shortstop. Gabriel Cenas caught the first game of his minor league career (including time spent in the Dominican Summer League) and picked off a runner at first base.

Hitting:

Thomas Collins III – 1/3
Nathan DeSouza – 0/1
Will Dupont – 1/4, 2 K
Gabriel Cenas – 0/3
Michael De La Cruz – 0/1
Rowdy Tellez – 1/4, K
Dan Jansen – 0/2
Daniel Devonshire – 0/1
Sean Hurley – 0/2, BB
Edwin Fuentes – 1/2, 3 E
Trey Pascazi – 0/1, 2 E
Josh Almonte – 0/3, K
Koby Kraemer – 1/3, K

Pitching:

Daniel Lietz – L, 3 IP, 7 H, 6 R (4 ER), 1 BB, 1 K, 1 HR
Conner Greene – 3 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 5 K
Jose Fernandez – 1 IP, 1 K
Kamakani Usui – 1 IP

Jay Blue’s Player of the Game: None

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