Blue Jays MiLB Recap - Affiliates Go 1-2

Jays Journal takes its daily look into the Toronto Blue Jays minor league system. Between a rain out, a win and two losses, it was not a noteworthy day for the Jays affiliates.

AAA: Buffalo Bisons vs. Norfolk Tides (Orioles) – DNP

RAIN OUT – The Bisons will make up this game against the Norfolk Tides on April 25^th. They will be back in action on Friday when they start a series with the Columbus Clippers. First pitch is scheduled for 6:05 p.m. EST.

Blue Jays MiLB Recap – FarmHands Go 1-2

AA: New Hampshire Fisher Cats vs. Trenton Thunder (Yankees) – 5-4 loss

After winning yesterday, the New Hampshire Fisher Cats were looking to once again be victorious in order to split their four-game series with the Trenton Thunder. Although they battled until the last out, the team was unable to come home with the win, falling by a score of 5-4. The Fisher Cats dropped to 6-7 on the season.

The starting pitcher for the Fisher Cats was right-hander Francisco Rios (2-1). The Mexico native did not get much help from his defense, allowing five runs with only two of them being earned over six innings. The righty, who was handed the loss for the game, also allowed five hits, three walks while punching out three.

After Rios left the game, righties Justin Shafer and Blake McFarland pitched the remaining two innings. Both pitchers threw one scoreless inning each, with Shafer allowing one walk and McFarland allowing a single hit while striking out one.

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Offensively the Fisher Cats actually out-hit the Thunder, but it was their defense that let them down. The team had nine hits and three walks, leading to four runs.

Today’s offensive player of the game for the Fisher Cats was infielder Tim Lopes. The right-handed hitter went 2-4 with a triple and a walk. Lopes is now hitting .298 for the season.

The other players to have good at-bats for the Fisher Cats were Richard Urena (1-3, BB), Harold Ramirez (1-3 3B, RBI), Emilio Guerrero (1-4, R), Gunnar Heidt (0-3, BB, R), Raffy Lopez (1-4, RBI), Jonathan Davis (1-4, HR. RBI, R) and Roemon Fields (2-4 RBI, R, SB).

The Fisher Cats are back in action on Friday where they will begin their three-game series with the Hartford Yard Goats. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. EST.

MVFC: Tim Lopes – 2-4, 3B, BB

A+: Dunedin Blue Jays vs. St. Lucie Mets (Mets) – 6-4 win

The Dunedin Blue Jays entered Thursday’s game looking to split their four-game series with the St. Lucie Mets. After a huge sixth inning where the team scored six runs, the Blue Jays were able to hold on for a 6-4 win. The win improved the team to 8-7 on the season.

Left-hander J.P. Howell, who is on a rehab assignment from the MLB club, started the game for the Blue Jays. Howell went a single shutout inning for the team, allowing just one hit while striking out two. This is good news for Toronto Blue Jays fans, as the sooner they can get Howell back to full speed, the better.

The next pitcher to take the hill for the Blue Jays was highly touted prospect T.J. Zeuch (1-0). The 6’7”, 225 lb. right-hander picked up the win, going six innings, striking out three while allowing three runs (two earned) off of three hits and one walk. After his impressive outing today, Zeuch sits with an ERA of 1.64 on the season.

The final two pitchers to see action were Danny Young and Andrew Case. Young, a left-hander, went one shutout inning, allowing zero hits or walks while picking up a hold. Case, a Canadian right-hander, recorded his first save of the season after going one inning, allowing one run off of one hit, which was a homerun.

At the plate, the Blue Jays had a day where they came up with timely hits. While the team did not hammer the ball, they still had seven hits and two walks, which lead to their six runs.

The player who stood out the most today offensively was Max Pentecost. The catcher/first baseman/designated hitter went 2-4 on the day with a double, a homerun and two RBIs. Pentecost is now hitting .286 for the season.

The other players to make a difference at the plate for the Blue Jays were Cavan Biggio (1-4), Andrew Guillotte (1-4, 2 RBI, R), Juan Kelly (1-4), Derrick Loveless (1-4, SB, R), Lane Thomas (0-3, BB, R, SB), D.J. Davis (0-3, R, SB) and Matt Dean (1-3, R, RBI, SB).

The Blue Jays play again on Friday, where they will play the first of three games against the Fort Myers Miracle. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. EST.

MVDJ: Max Pentecost – 2-4, R, 2B, HR, 2 RBI

A: Lansing Lugnuts vs. Bowling Green Hot Rods (Rays) – 6-0 loss

The Lansing Lugnuts entered the day looking to take a 1-0 series lead over the Bowling Green Hot Rods. Unfortunately for the Lugnuts just about nothing went right for them on Thursday, as they lost the game 6-0. The team now sits with a 7-7 record for the season.

Nicaraguan-born Osman Gutierrez (0-3) started the game for the Lugnuts, and he did not last long. The right-hander was handed the loss for the game after allowing three hits and two walks, leading to four runs over 1.1 innings. Gutierrez now sits with an ugly 0-3 record and a 13.50 ERA to start the season.

The next two pitchers to take the mound were Denis Diaz and Zach Jackson. Diaz, a native of Honduras, pitched quite well out of the bullpen. The right-hander went 5.2 innings, allowing one run off of one hit and one walk, all while striking out seven. While he did not pitch as well as Diaz did, Jackson also pitched pretty well for the Lugnuts. The righty went two innings, allowing one run off of three hits and a walk. Jackson also registered two strikeouts.

Toronto Blue Jays /

Toronto Blue Jays

At the plate, the Lugnuts did better than one would think when looking at the final score. The team had players reach base 10 times in the game, with eight hits and walk. Unfortunately, they did not get any timely hitting today, as everyone was left stranded on base.

When a team scores zero runs, very rarely is there a player who led the way on offense. The ones who contributed slightly were Edward Olivares (1-4), Joshua Palacios (1-4), Nash Knight (2-3, BB), Christian Williams (1-3, BB), Yeltsin Gudino (2-4) and Bo Bichette (1-4, 2B).

The Lugnuts will be looking to get back in the win column on Friday when they play game two of their four-game series with the Bowling Green Hot Rods. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. EST.

MVL: Denis Diaz – 5.2 IP, R, 1 H, 1 BB, 7 SO

Next: Lourdes Gurriel Jr. Leg Injury

That’s all for today’s MiLB recap. Check back in tomorrow when Jays Journal recaps Friday night’s minor league action.

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Blue Jays MiLB Recap – Affiliates Go 1-2

By Nick Raponi | Apr 21, 2017