Wins/Losses: 21-21 | Streak: W1 | 3rd in PCL Pacific South division (8.0 GB)

Las Vegas 51s 5, Memphis Redbirds 3 - WP: Laffey (2-5, 5.04)

Aaron Laffey tossed his first complete game since 2007 and was supported with some timely hits as the Las Vegas 51s went on to defeat Memphis Redbirds 5-3 on Saturday.

Hitting:

Taking a page from the Blue Jays, the 51s scored four of their five runs via the long ball. Chris Woodward belted a two-out, two-run homer in the second inning to put Vegas up early, while Travis d’Arnaud broke a 3-3 tie in the eighth with a two-run shot of his own, his third home run in two games. Woodward had a nice day at the plate overall, adding a game-tying RBI double in the fourth inning to finish 2-for-3 with a walk and three RBI.

While Woodward and d’Arnaud had the 51s’ only extra base hits, the rest of the lineup churned out a whopping 10 singles, with Anthony Gose, David Cooper, Ricardo Nanita and Danny Perales all hitting two each.

Pitching:

Baseball is truly unpredictable, and that was demonstrated on Saturday when 51s starter Aaron Laffey went the distance to earn just his second win of the season. Entering play with a 5.80 ERA, Laffey allowed three runs (two earned) on six hits in nine innings, with five strikeouts and no walks. It was the left-hander’s first complete game in almost five years, as his last one came in 2007 when he pitched for the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons in the Indians organization.

After a throwing error in the middle of the fourth, Laffey retired the next 14 consecutive batters, striking out the side in the ninth inning as well.

Wins/Losses: 16-24 | Streak: L2 | 5th in EAS Eastern division (8.5 GB)

Trenton Thunder 3, New Hampshire Fisher Cats 1 - LP: McGuire (3-1, 3.29)

New Hampshire’s bats were non-existent once again in their second loss to Trenton in as many nights, falling 3-1 on Saturday.

Hitting:

After managing one run in the series opener on Friday, the Fisher Cats responded with just one run again on Saturday. When you do that, it’s hard to win ball games.

New Hampshire’s lone tally came from a John Tolisano home run in the sixth, and he was the only Fisher Cat to have a multi-hit game, also hitting a single and drawing a walk. Four other Fisher Cats each added a single, but it was an ugly night offensively for New Hampshire, who managed one run on six hits.

Pitching:

Fisher Cats starter Randy Boone lasted just one third of an inning, allowing one earned run on three hits to get handed the loss. Reliever Aaron Loup came in to strand a runner at third, and only allowed one hit in 2 2/3 scoreless innings with four strikeouts.

Danny Farquhar gave up crucial runs in the fourth and fifth innings on four hits, while Fernando Hernandez kept New Hampshire close with three perfect innings. Ronald Uvideo tossed a scoreless ninth around two hits and a walk.

Wins/Losses: 27-15 | Streak: L1 | 1st in FSL North division (5.0 GM Lead)

Bradenton Marauders 3, Dunedin Blue Jays 0 - LP: Magnuson (0-4, 5.59)

The Marauders broke a scoreless tie with three runs in the seventh and D-Jays’ bats fell silent, losing to Bradenton 3-0 on Saturday at McKechnie Field.

Hitting:

It was the third time this season that Dunedin was held off the scoreboard, and D-Jays hitters managed just four hits in this one. First baseman Gabe Jacobo was the lone bright spot, going 2-for-4 with a pair of doubles to extend his hitting streak to five games. He’s now hit safely in seven of his last eight games, but has just a .214/.313/.333 slash line over his last 10.

Leadoff hitter Ryan Schimpf went 1-for-3 with a single and a walk, while designated hitter Jon Talley hit a single for his 16th hit in his last 10 games. After hitting .313 with an .879 OPS in April, Talley has torn the cover off the ball in May, hitting .409 with a 1.010 OPS in 11 games.

Pitching:

Dunedin starter Sean Nolin continued to impress, tossing a six-inning gem, but regrettably had nothing to show for it. The left-hander struck out eight, did not issue a walk, and allowed only four hits. Between the second and third innings, Nolin struck out five of the six batters he faced.

Rehabbing reliver Trystan Magnuson, who spent all of 2011 at the Triple-A level and was taken off the Jays’ 40-man roster this week, gave up a season-high three earned runs in one inning of work to take the loss.

Called up from extended spring training, right-hander Bryan Longpre made his D-Jays debut, striking out a pair in a scoreless eighth.

Wins/Losses: 30-12 | Streak: W3 | 1st in MID Eastern division (6.5 GM Lead)

Lansing Lugnuts 2, Lake County Captains 1 – WP: McFarland (1-0, 0.00)

Despite managing just two hits in the game, two key unearned runs helped the Lugnuts defeat the Captains 2-1 on Saturday. With the win, Lansing became the first team in the Midwest League to reach 30 wins.

Hitting:

On a night where the Lugnuts offense was out-hit 10-2, baserunners were obviously scarce. The Lugnuts trailed 1-0 until the top of the sixth inning, when a bunt and a wild pitch advanced leadoff hitter Kellen Sweeney, who reached on a fielding error, to third. Kevin Pillar cashed Sweeney in with a sacrifice fly to tie the game at 1, before Chris Hawkins roped a single to center for the Lugnuts’ first hit. Andy Burns, who has really impressed me this season, doubled to left field to score Hawkins, which wound up being the game-winning run.

Pitching:

Lugnuts starter Marcus Walden allowed one earned run on seven hits in four innings with two walks and three strikeouts to settle for the no-decision. Blake McFarland earned the win with four shutout innings of relief, allowing only three hits and two walks while striking out three. Closer Ajay Meyer tossed a perfect ninth to record his league-leading 14th save of the season.

-JM

Like what you read and want to stay informed on all updates here at Jays Journal? Follow us on Twitter (@JaysJournal ), “Like” our Facebook page, or grab our RSS feed!

Image courtesy of theABL.com

Congratulations to New Hampshire Fisher Cats LF/2B John Tolisano for being named an Australian Baseball League Player of the Week last night. Tolisano is playing for the Canberra Cavalry baseball club, part of the six-team ABL based in southeast Australia.

Tolisano won the award after a hot start to his ABL season where he went 6-for-14 (.429) with one double, two home runs, and three walks in his first four games.

(more…)

Image courtesy of Wikipedia

After Alan Farina, our top reliever on the list at #37, comes a catcher at heart turned corner infielder at #36…

#36: Sean Peter Ochinko

C-3B-1B / 23 years old / 5′11″ 205 lbs

Born: October 21st, 1987 in Parkland, FL

Bats: Right    Throws: Right

High School Team: Stoneman Douglas Eagles

College: Louisiana State University

Drafted by: The Toronto Blue Jays in the 11th round (340th overall) of the 2009 First-Year-Player Draft

Jersey Number: #41 for the Lansing Lugnuts

(more…)

Courtesy of news-press.com

22 years old / 5′11″ 190 lbs

Born: October 7th, 1988 in Estero, Florida

Bats: Switch   Throws: Right

High School Team: Estero H.S.

College: N/A

Drafted: By the Toronto Blue Jays in the 2nd round (85th overall) in the 2007 First-Year Player Draft

Jersey Number:  #33 for the Dunedin Blue Jays (HiA) in 2010 (more…)

Here’s a look at what some of the other notable Jays picks are up to in the Winter Leagues:

CF Darin Mastroianni:

Mastroianni has made a statement in the Venezuelan Winter League so far that’s for sure. He has played the most out of any Jays prospect in winter ball thus far, and through 24 games his numbers are as follows:

.427 AVG, 4 doubles, 2 triples, 1 HR, 14 RBI, .500 OBP, .551 SLG

Not only are those numbers impressive, Mastroianni has drawn 17 walks and been 9-for-12 in stolen base attempts. He’s definitely making a case for a promotion from Double-A New Hampshire, or even a possible look with the Jays in 2011. (more…)

Brett Cecil has had plenty of time to prepare and watch the Phillies hit, so hopefully he took the right notes. I really do like how Cito set up the lineup yesterday, although I’m not sure it will last. Batting Lind and Hill lower in the lineup gives them more RBI opportunities and is definitely the change of pace both needed to get back on track and motivated.It’ll be interesting to see if he uses a similar lineup today. (more…)

Lansing Lugnuts – LoA

• Chad Jenkins brought his record to 5-4 after beating Peroia with a 7 inning, 8 hit, 3 ER, no walks, and 3 SO performance. His ERA now sits at 3.51 on the season and he is proving to be exactly what was advertised when the Jays drafted him – a work horse #3 caliber starter.
• Chad was throwing to the young and impressive AJ Jimenez (20) in this game. AJ hit his 3rd HR of the season and went 2 for 4 on the day, driving in a whopping 6 runs. Over his last 10 games, AJ is hitting .353 with a .421 OBP, 2 doubles, 2 HRs, 12 RBI, 4 walks and only 5 SO over 34 ABs. With Travis d’Arnaud and JP Arencibia ahead of him, the road isn’t easy for AJ, but he is impressing enough to become one big potential trade chip for the Jays. (more…)

The most interesting part of the New Hampshire game yesterday was the fact that Ronald Uviedo, recently acquired from the Pirates, was the starter! It was the first start of his 2010 season as he was expected by most to remain in the pen, where he has been more than effective. Ronald did well as a starter in 2009 with 21 GS for a season total of 110 IP, 89 Ks, 30 BB, and a 3.35 ERA. It’ll be interesting to see if he continues to start and how well he does as he stretches himself out. Yesterday’s game had his struggling with control, but also mostly unhittable as he walked 3 and allowed only 1 hit over 3 IP. He allowed 3 ERs in the game and was relieved by Bubbie Bzachero who threw 4 stellar shut out innings. Daniel Farquhar picked up his 14th save of the season in this one, a 5-4 win over Altoona. (more…)

Hot Jays Prospects:

1. 2B Jarrett Hoffpauir AAA - Hit for the cycle for the second time this season in AAA and is hitting .353 with 5 doubles, 1 triple, and 3 HRs over his last 10 games. He’s doing everything in his power to get the call to the bigs and could actually become some pretty decent trade bait. (more…)