Complete Minor League Recap: April 19

With the Fisher Cats and Lugnuts both having their games postponed, here’s a recap of the two Jays affiliates that were in action last night April 19, the Las Vegas 51s and the Dunedin Blue Jays:

Las Vegas 51s 4, Salt Lake Bees 0

Hitting:

Every player in the game managed at least one base hit except for Brett Lawrie, Ryan Budde, and Adam Loewen in this one. Chris Woodward and Manny Mayorson supplied all of the offense as they each hit a 2-run home run. Aside from the home runs, Eric Thames added his eighth double of the season, which was the only other extra-base hit in the game.

Not only were Canadians Lawrie and Loewen both held hitless, but Loewen went 0-for-3 with 2 strikeouts and Lawrie went 0-for-4 with 3 strikeouts.

Pitching:

Brad Mills earned his first win of the season in stellar fashion, pitching eight shutout innings and only allowing four hits. He struck out 7 and walked 3 in the game, trimming his season ERA to 0.82 in 3 starts. Mills has looked impressive this season for the 51s, as he allowed just one earned run in seven innings in each of his last two starts before last night as well. Offseason acquisition Winston Abreu came in and pitched a perfect ninth inning.

Notes:

• Mike McCoy hit a single in the first inning before leaving the game in favor of pinch runner Manny Mayorson, which likely means McCoy is on his way to Toronto at this moment
• It wasn’t a good night for leadoff hitter Darin Mastroianni even though he went 1-for-4 and had a stolen base. After reaching base in the first inning on a fielding error, Mastroianni was picked off at first base. Then, in the eighth inning after stealing second base following a single up the middle, Mastroianni was picked off AGAIN, this time at second base.
• Brett Lawrie, back in the lineup after getting the night off on Monday, committed his 6th error of the season in the fourth inning. It was a throwing error on a bunt attempt by the Bees.

Lakeland Flying Tigers 8, Dunedin Blue Jays 6

Hitting:

Brian Van Kirk, Kevin Ahrens, and Ivan Contreras each had two hits, and Justin Jackson added a single. Kevin Nolan added a double, to extend his personal hitting streak to four games. First-round draft pick Ahrens hit his first home run of the season, a two-run shot in the 6th, and catcher Sean Ochinko went 0-for-5 on the night but added an RBI.

Pitching:

2009 first-round draft pick Chad Jenkins lasted just 2.2 innings, allowing seven hits and six runs, three of which were earned. Shawn Griffith, who pitched the bulk of the 2010 season with the Auburn Doubledays, pitched 2.1 shutout innings and allowed just one hit and one walk. Casey Beck and Wes Etheridge both pitched a scoreless frame, while Ryan Shopshire walked one batter who later scored on a two-run home run.

Notes:

• Aside from adding a two-run single in the eighth inning, Contreras had a pretty bad day otherwise for the D-Jays. On top of committing errors in the 3rd and 8th, Contreras was picked off and caught stealing second base after a single in the third inning.
• Despite going 0-for-2, leadoff man Kenny Wilson had an effective day as he drew three walks, and stole his fourth bag of the season after a leadoff walk in the first inning and later scored

-JM

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