Blue Jays MiLB recap: Lugnuts with the lone win

Jays Journal takes its daily look into the Toronto Blue Jays minor league system. The teams played a total of five games on Wednesday, and for the most part, it was not a great day. The teams went a combined 1-4, and will be looking to improve on Thursday.

Note- Due to a technical issue, Chris Henderson is posting this article for Nick Raponi, the writer of this recap. You can find him on Twitter at @nickraponi

AAA: Buffalo Bisons vs. Lehigh Valley IronPigs (Phillies) + (Doubleheader) – 2-1 loss, 6-3 loss

GAME ONE: After being rained out on Tuesday, the Buffalo Bisons and Lehigh Valley IronPigs were set to play a doubleheader on Wednesday. In game one, the Bisons lost a nail-biter 2-1 in seven innings, with all the runs from both teams being scored in the first inning.

Brett Oberholtzer (1-4) took the hill for the Bisons, and he spun yet another gem. The left-hander picked up the loss after he pitched all six innings, allowing just two runs (one earned) off of four hits and three walks. Despite his 1-4 record, Oberholtzer has pitched great, sporting a miniscule 2.40 ERA for the season.

While the team may have had a great pitching performance in the first game, the bats were what really hurt the Bisons. The team was very un-opportunistic as they scored just one run off of four hits and five walks.

The players who contributed offensively in game one were Mike Ohlman (0-2, BB), Christian Lopes (1-3), Jarrod Saltalamacchia (0-1, BB), Jason Leblebijian (1-4, RBI), Jake Elmore (1-2, BB, SB), Dwight Smith Jr. (1-3) and Roemon Fields (0-2, 2 BB, R, SB).

GAME ONE MVB: Brett Oberholtzer – 6 IP, 2 R, 1 ER, 4 H, 3 BB, 3 SO

GAME TWO: After losing the first game of the doubleheader, the Bisons were looking to avoid a series sweep with a win in game two. However the pitching let them down in this game, as the Bisons dropped game two by a score of 6-3 in seven innings. With the two losses today, the Bisons now sit with an overall season record of 31-26.

Minor-league veteran Jarrett Grube (2-3) toed the rubber in game two for the Bisons, and he did not pitch all that well. The righty took the loss after he went just 4.1 innings, allowing four runs (three earned) off of five hits and three walks while striking out four. Grube now sits with a season ERA of 6.14.

The pitchers to see action out of the bullpen in game two for the Bisons were righties Leonel Campos and Chris Smith. Campos pitched a shutout 0.2 of an inning, striking out one batter. Smith however, did not pitch very well at all, allowing two runs off of two hits over just a single inning.

Offensively the Bisons made the most of their opportunities, scoring three runs off of six hits and one walk. While this total was not terrible, it was not enough to win them the game.

The players who stepped up on offense were Dwight Smith Jr. (1-3), Rowdy Tellez (0-2, BB, R), Jarrod Saltalamacchia (0-3, R), Raffy Lopez (2-3, 2B, HR, 3 RBI), Christian Lopes (1-3), Ian Parmley (1-3, SB) and Shane Opitz (1-2).

After dropping both games today, the Bisons were ultimately swept by the IronPigs on both the day and the series. They will be looking to start fresh on Thursday when they begin a series with the Pawtucket Red Sox. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. EST.

GAME TWO MVB: Raffy Lopez – 2-3, 2B, HR, 3 RBI

AA: New Hampshire Fisher Cats vs. Erie SeaWolves (Tigers) + (Doubleheader) – 3-2 loss, 5-1 loss

GAME ONE: After being rained out on Tuesday, the Erie SeaWolves and the New Hampshire Fisher Cats were set to play the first two games on their series on Wednesday. In game one the Fisher Cats were unable to win a pitchers duel, losing 3-2 in seven innings.

Glenn Sparkman (0-1) started game one for the Fisher Cats, and it was not a pretty outing. The right-hander went just 3.2 innings, picking up the loss after allowing three runs off of four hits and two walks. Sparkman recently returned from injury, and it is clear he is still shaking off the cobwebs.

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The pitchers to see action out of the bullpen in the first game were Justin Shafer and Josh DeGraaf. The first of the two, Shafer, pitched quite well. The right-hander threw 2.1 shutout innings, allowing zero hits or while walking two. DeGraaf then came in to pitch a scoreless seventh inning, allowing just one walk.

While the team did not get a great start, they also were unable to score many runs. The team had five hits and five walks over seven innings, which is a decent total. Unfortunately they were unable to capitalize, as they only scored two runs.

The players that pulled their weight at the plate in game one were Jonathan Davis (0-2, BB, R), Richard Urena (1-4), Danny Jansen (1-2, 2 BB), Ryan McBroom (0-3, R), Harold Ramirez (2-3), Andrew Guillotte (0-2, RBI), Tim Lopes (1-3), Gunnar Heidt (0-2, BB) and Derrick Loveless (0-2, BB).

GAME ONE MVFC: Justin Shafer – 2.1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 2 BB, 2 SO

GAME TWO: After dropping game one in a tight game, the Fisher Cats were looking to get even by winning game two. Unfortunately they were once again bested by the SeaWolves, losing the game by a final score of 5-1 in seven innings. With the two losses on the day, the Fisher Cats now sit with a disappointing season record of 22-35.

Right-hander Conner Greene (2-5) started game two for the Fisher Cats, and all and all pitched a decent game. Considered by many to be one of the top pitching prospects in the organization, Greene picked up the loss on Wednesday after pitching five innings, allowing four runs (three earned) off of four hits and four walks, all while striking out four batters. Greene now sits with an impressive 3.80 season ERA.

The only pitcher to pitch out of the bullpen in game two for the Fisher Cats was Tim Mayza. The lefty went two innings, allowing one run off of one hit and zero walks. Mayza also registered three strikeouts.

While the pitching was not all that great in game two, it wasn’t awful either. The bats, however, were terrible. The team scored just one run off of four hits and one walk – a total that won’t help many teams win games.

The players who managed to reach base off of a hit or a walk were Andrew Guillotte (0-2, BB), Tim Lopes (1-3), Harold Ramirez (1-3), Michael De La Cruz (1-3, R) and Matt Dean (1-2, 2B, RBI).

After dropping the first two games of the series with the SeaWolves, the Fisher Cats will be looking to avoid the sweep when the two teams play on Thursday. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. EST.

GAME TWO MVFC: Matt Dean – 1-2, 2B, RBI

A+: Dunedin Blue Jays (Day Off)

The Dunedin Blue Jays had the day off on Wednesday, and it was one they definitely needed. The team has been losing at an alarming rate lately, and they will be looking to turn things around after their day of rest when they open a series with the Bradenton Marauders on Thursday. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. EST.

A: Lansing Lugnuts vs. Dayton Tortugas (Reds) – 7-5 win

After winning the first game of their series with the Dayton Tortugas on Tuesday, the Lansing Lugnuts were looking to do the same on Wednesday. Fortunately the team came to play on offense, winning the game by a score of 7-5, and thus clinching a series win. The Lugnuts now sit with a 32-24 overall record for the season.

Andy Ravel took the hill for the Lugnuts, and he did not have a start to remember. The right-hander went 4.2 innings, allowing five runs off of twelve hits and two walks. With another poor performance today, Ravel’s 7.40 ERA now sits at 7.61 for the season.

The three pitchers to see action out of the bullpen today were Griffin Glaude (2-1), Dan Lietz and Nick Hartman. Glaude, the first of the three to pitch, picked up the win after he went 1.2 shutout innings, allowing just one hit while walking two. Lietz then came in to relieve Glaude and also pitched well. The left-hander went 2.1 shutout innings, allowing just one hit and two walks. The final pitcher to see action, Hartman, picked up his first save of the season after pitching a clean 0.1 of an inning.

The team recovered from a poor starting pitching performance by Ravel by pitching well out of the bullpen and spanking the ball around the park. The Lugnuts scored seven runs off of 13 hits and one walk.

The players who filled the massive stat sheet for the Lugnuts on Thursday were J.B. Woodman (2-4, 2B, 3B, RBI, R), Bo Bichette (2-5, 2B, 2 RBI), Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (2-4, 2B, RBI, R), Rodrigo Orozco (1-4), Ridge Smith (2-4, 2B, RBI), Nick Sinay (1-2, 2 R), Christian Williams (1-4, RBI, R), Edward Olivares (1-5, R) and Yeltsin Gudino (1-3, BB, R)

After winning on Thursday, the Lugnuts clinched the series win over the Tortugas. They will be looking for the series sweep when they play the third and final game of the series on Thursday. First pitch is scheduled for 12:05 p.m. EST.

MVL: J.B. Woodman – 2-4, 2B, 3B, RBI, R

Next: Should the Blue Jays move Devon Travis to LF?

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