Jays Journal Minors Review: 11-Apr-11, Eric Thames Stars

While the Jays had such a tough night, their affiliates were split in terms of good vs bad. Here is coverage of Monday’s (11-Apr-11) action.

LAS VEGAS 51s (AAA): Won 6-3 vs Fresno Grizzlies (SF) and are now 3-2 on the season

Box Score available here. Game Notes available here.

Game Notes:

• Hitting: Brett Lawrie and Eric Thames greeted Fresno starter with back-to-back HRs in the 1st inning and set the tone for the remainder of the game in this one. It was the 1st HR for each of them and was nice to see them get on the board. Thames was particularly hot on this night, going 2 for 2 with 3 walks to go along with the HR, bringing his season’s avg up to .500. And yet, Juan Rivera remains in Toronto…. Lawrie, Adam Loewen, and David Cooper each chipped in with a double. Ryan Budde started this one for the 51s after Brian Jeroloman may have had the worst game in affiliates history on Sunday when he allowed 10 SB with none caught. Talk about letting them run wild!
• Pitching: Don’t ask me why, but Chad Cordero started this game and threw 41 pitches, 25 of them for strikes. He allowed 3 ER in 3 IP and had no walks or strike outs. The pen was stellar thereafter, as they didn’t allow a run and included a 2 inning shutout performance from Casey Janssen who allowed only 1 hit and struck out 3 in his 2 IP. I certainly hope the Jays are not attempting to turn Cordero into a starter…. 

NH FISHERCATS (AA): Lost 13-1 vs Reading Phillies (PHI) and are now 3-2 on the Season

Box Score available here.

Game Notes:

• Hitting: Aside from a Jonathan Diaz double, an Adam Calderone triple, and 2 other hits, the Fishercats were completely shut down by starter J.C. Ramirez. The only upside I could find were the 3 DP that NH completed without conducting an error. There’s really nothing to see here, so let’s move along.
• Pitching: Joel Carreno, who I’ve always said would have issues as he climbed up the affiliates ladder, struggled in this one, lasting only 4.1 innings while allowing 7 ER on 10 hits and 5 walks. Ugly. Vince Perkins and Matt Daly followed right in Carreno’s footsteps as they each allowed 3 ERs in 1 inning of work a piece.

DUNEDIN (HiA): Lost 3-2 vs Lakeland (DET) and are now 0-5 on the Season 

Box Score available here.

Game Notes:

• Hitting: Hello, is anybody in there? Is this thing on? Talk about an anemic offense. Surely the Jays will consider making some changes pretty soon unless they want to completely demoralize their young starters (McGuire, Wojciechowsky and Jenkins) in Dunedin. The Jays scattered 6 hits in this one and only had 1 extra base hit from Ryan Goins. Yeah! (insert sarcasm). 5 of the 6 hitters at the top of the lineup are hitting .154 or below. Either somebody needs to wake the bats up, or somebody needs to be promoted from LoA Lansing, because this is getting ugly very quickly. 
• Pitching: Nestor Molina was the highlight for this team and the only reason the Jays had a shot to win the game. He threw 5 stellar innings, allowing only 3 hits and a walk while striking out 6. He looks poised to grab that starting role and to run with it, but it’ll be interesting to see what the Jays do once his innings count gets up there. Ryan Tepera, who oddly didn’t get the start, threw 4 innings in relief and allowed 5 hits and 2 ERs.

LANSING LUGNUTS (LoA): WON 9-8 vs South Bend (ARI), making them 1-1 on the Season

Box Score available here.

Game Notes:

• Hitting: Carlos Perez has been outstanding for the Lugnuts thus far. He had another 2 extra base hits in this game, a double and a triple, and now has a ridiculous 1.345 OPS through 2 games. Jacob Marisnick and Marcus Knecht, both hitting .375 on the season, each had 2 hits in this one. Michael Crouse, also hitting .375 so far, added an outfield assist.
• Pitching: Egan Smith (10.80) had a night to forget as he allowed 5 ER in 4.1 IP, allowing close to 2 hits per inning (8 total). Alex Pepe earned the win with 1.2 innings of shutout ball. He didn’t allow a hit, and had 1 walk and 1 K.

OVERALL TAKE ON THE DAY

It’s a good thing that Lansing and Las Vegas provided Jays fans with some good news, because otherwise Monday would have gone down as a completely dark and horrific day for the franchise. That Eric Thames, Brett Lawrie, and Carlos Perez look so great to begin 2011 was expected, but is still refreshing to see. That Nestor Molina did so great as a starter was NOT expected, however, so it comes as a pleasant surprise for Jays fans to ponder and enjoy. Tuesday is here, so let’s forget about Monday and move along, shall we?

OTHER MINORS NOTES

Signings

• OF Dewayne Wise was signed to a minor league contract.

Activated from the 7-Day DL:

• NA

Sent to the 7-Day DL:

• NA

Placed on the Restricted List:

• NA

Assignments:

• LHP Sean Nolin was assigned to the Vancouver Canadians from the Lansing Lugnuts and will be forever known as the first person officially place on its roster as a member of the Jays affiliates family.

Called up to Toronto

• UT Mike McCoy will be on the 25-man roster for today’s game.

– MG

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