Blue Jays Minor League Recap: Dunedin continues to dominate

Welcome to the Toronto Blue Jays minor league recap for Monday August 18th. The Buffalo Bisons and New Hampshire Fisher Cats both received the night off while the remainder of the farm system went 3-3 with the DSL and GCL both winning their games 7-4 and 4-2 respectively.

Dunedin Blue Jays (74-52)

The Dunedin Blue Jays won their 74th game of the season Monday night, defeating the Lakeland Flying Tigers at home 10-9.

This match was far from a pitcher’s duel as Nick Baligod led off the scoring in the bottom of the first for the Jays with his sixth home-run of the season to make it 1-0. The two teams exchanged blows in the fourth inning, each scoring three runs, before the Jays added another in the fifth making it 5-3.

Lakeland responded strongly in the sixth and eighth innings, combining for eight runs to tie the game at eight. The Jays however fought off the comeback and scored the winning run in the bottom of the eighth on a bases loaded walk to Baligod. Arik Sikula would finish his outing, picking up his second win after receiving his third blown save of the season, throwing 1.2 innings, allowing three hits and striking out three.

Christian Lopes– 3/5

Nick Baligod- 2/4, HR (6), 3 RBI

Dwight Smith Jr.- 2/5, RBI

Marcus Knecht– 2/5, RBI

Shane Opitz– 2/4, 2 RBI

Emilio Guerrero– 1/4, RBI

L.B Dantzler- 2/3, 2 RBI

Gustavo Pierre– 0/3, 2 K

Jorge Saez– 2/3, BB

Jesse Hernandez– 5.0 IP, 7 H, 4 R/ER, BB, 4 K

Tony Davis– 1.1 IP, H, 3 BB

Danny Barnes– 1.0 IP, 4 H, 5 ER, BB, 2 K

Arik Sikula- (BS, 3) (W, 2-1) 1.2 IP, 3 H, 3 K

Lansing Lugnuts (56-69)

The Lugnuts lost in Monday night’s action despite a strong four run rally in the final two innings of play.

West Michigan stormed out in the first inning to a three run offensive, putting the Lugnuts in a deadly hole early. The Lugnuts retaliated with a run of their own in the second inning; however, West Michigan added four more in the fifth to take a commanding 7-1 lead.

While Derrick Loveless‘ two-run eighth inning double sparked the offence momentarily, it was not enough to mount a full-fledged comeback as the Lugnuts dropped their third game in a row 7-5.

Chaz Frank– 1/2, BB

Derrick Loveless- 1/3, 2 RBI

Mitch Nay– 0/3, BB

Matt Dean- 0/3, K

D.J Davis- 0/3, BB, K

Dawel Lugo– 0/3, BB, K

Davis Harris- 1/4, HR (18), RBI, 2 K

Daniel Klein– 0/4, 3 K

Jason Leblebijian– 2/4

Brent Powers– (L, 4-5), 4.2 IP, 7 H, 7 ER, 3 BB, 3 K

Jimmy Cordero– 1.1 IP, H, BB

Joe Lovecchio- 1.0 IP, BB

Scott Silverstein– 1.0 IP, 2 H

Vancouver Canadians (37-26)

The Vancouver Canadians were defeated by the Everett AquaSox 8-6 in Monday night’s action.

After taking a commanding 3-0 lead through four innings, the Canadians faltered and allowed the AquaSox to score seven unanswered runs, digging their eventual grave.

Starting pitcher Chase Mallard was unable to contain the Everett offence and was finished after 5.2 IP allowing four runs on three hits while walking two and striking out four.

Offensively, the Canadians were bolstered by home-runs from Mike Reeves and Ryan McBroom who both had two RBI in the game. It was not enough however, and the Canadians were handed their 26th loss of the season.

Roemon Fields-0/4, K

Tim Locastro- 1/2, RBI, BB

Franklin Barreto-1/4, RBI, K

Chris Carlson-1/4

Ryan McBroom-1/3, 2 RBI, HR (8), K

Gunnar Heidt-0/4, 2 K

Boomer Collins-1/4, K

Mike Reeves-1/4, HR (1), 2 RBI, K

Alexis Maldonado-1/4, K

Chase Mallard-(L, 3-3), 5.2 IP, 3 H, 4 ER, 2 BB, 3 K

Adaric Kelly– 0.1 IP, 0 H, 2 ER, 3 BB

Mark Biggs– 1.1 IP, 2 H, ER, BB, 2 K