Complete Prospect Report: June 1-2

Excluding the Dominican Summer League, all Jays affiliates played games each of the last two days, good for a total of eight games worth reviewing.

Highlights include a complete game by Brett Cecil in Vegas, a trademark start by Joel Carreno in New Hampshire, impressive rehab showings by Adam Lind in Dunedin, and a wild walk-off win in Lansing.

Also, in minor league news and according to the Jays’ official site, Josh Roenicke was claimed off waivers by Colorado when he was removed from the 40-man roster, likely for some Canadian stud at Triple-A. In his final appearance as a part the Blue Jays organization, Roenicke struck out all four batters he faced on Wednesday in 1.1 innings. Before Wednesday though, Roenicke had a 6.43 ERA and 5.96 FIP in 15 appearances this season.

Wins/Losses: 32-23 | Streak: W1 | 2nd in PCL Pacific South (2.5 GB)

June 2: Las Vegas 51s 4, Tucson Padres 1

A 0-0 game until the bottom of the fifth inning, 51s starter Brett Cecil clung to one run of support until the eighth, when Las Vegas managed to tack on three more runs and give him some breathing room, eventually beating the Tucson Padres 4-1 in front of a crowd of 5,256 at Cashman Field.

Hitting:

With Brett Lawrie resting a bruised hand for the second consecutive night, his replacement at third base Craig Stansberry went 2-for-2 with a pair of walks and a stolen base, and leadoff hitter Chris Woodward went 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI. Overall, the 51s went 4-for-16 with runners in scoring position, and stranded eight runners in total.

Adam Loewen, David Cooper, and Danny Perales all went 1-for-3 with a walk and a run scored. All three of them are hitting over .300 so far this season, with Cooper leading the way with a .394 average in 35 games so far this season.

Pitching:

Cecil was the only pitching story in this one, throwing a complete game and allowing just one earned run – a solo home run in the 7th inning – on six hits, with three walks and six strikeouts. He threw just 104 pitches – 69 for strikes – and induced 11 ground outs compared to 5 fly outs.

After facing the 12 minimum batters over his first four innings thanks to a double play in the third that erased a leadoff single, Cecil ran into some trouble in fifth. After issuing a leadoff walk, Cecil struck out former Blue Jay Jarrett Hoffpauir before walking the next two batters, loading the bases with only one out. Still a 0-0 game at that point, Cecil remained composed and induced a key double play ball to end the inning and keep the game scoreless. Cecil went on to cruise the rest of the way, allowing just three hits in his final four frames, which were two singles and a solo home run.

Notes:

• Snider notched an outfield assist, throwing out his teammate from last year, Jarrett Hoffpauir, at second base
• The 51s were a little careless on the base paths, as Manny Mayorson got picked off at first base and Stansberry was caught stealing once as well

June 1: Tucson Padres 9, Las Vegas 51s 5

It was a close game up until the sixth inning, when the 51s allowed five runs that ultimately doomed them, never being able to recover. The loss was their second straight against the Padres, and fourth straight overall.

Hitting:

Getting his first start filling in for Brett Lawrie who was resting a bruised hand, Craig Stansberry went 3-for-4 with a stolen base and three RBIs, including his first home run of the season, a two-run, two out shot in the sixth inning. Cleanup hitter Adam Loewen also had three hits, and  backup catcher Ryan Budde chipped in with a solo home run on a 2-for-4 night. Travis Snider hit leadoff in this one, going 2-for-5 with a double, his 11th with the 51s so far.

The 51s swung freely, drawing just one walk in the game while striking out ten times and going just 2-for-12 with runners in scoring position.

Pitching:

Starter Mike McDonald took the loss, allowing four earned runs on seven hits in five innings of work, with a pair of strikeouts and a pair of walks. Despite scattering four runs across his five frames, the 51s offense kept him in the game by being within one run the entire time.

That was until the sixth inning, when Wil Ledezma came into the game and literally let it slip away, allowing five earned runs in just two thirds of an inning. After getting a ground out after allowing three straight hits – single, double, double – to start the inning, Ledezma issued back-to-back walks, recorded a pop out, and then gave up a bases-clearing, three-run double before leaving the game.

Josh Roenicke fared much better than Ledezma, though, striking out all four batters he faced, and Sean Henn and Danny Farquhar each threw a scoreless inning of relief without allowing a hit.

Notes:

• Though he went 0-for-4, Danny Perales managed ten hits in his previous four games
• Budde’s 2-for-4 night with a home run was a rare occurrence for him, since he’s hitting just .186/.265/.384 in 26 games this season

Wins/Losses: 35-18 | Streak: W1 | 1st in EAS Eastern (0.0 GB)

June 2: New Hampshire Fisher Cats 10, Harrisburg Senators 5

A day after giving up ten runs to the Harrisburg Senators, the Fisher Cats scored ten of their own to snap a tiny two game losing streak and bump up their record to 35-18 on the season.

Hitting:

Darin Mastroianni and John Tolisano had big nights, each managing two hits including a double with a pair of RBIs, and Ricardo Nanita did almost the exact same with a pair of hits and two walks of his own. Mike McDade went 1-for-4 with three RBIs, and Adeiny Hechavarria and Mark Sobolewski each drew a pair of walks as well, for a team total of nine on the night.

Anthony Gose had an interesting night, going 0-for-3 but he drew two walks, and stole second base both times he was aboard, bring his total to 24 stolen bases on the season.

Pitching:

In was another trademark outing for starter Joel Carreno, one that saw him settle for a no decision after allowing four earned runs on six hits in just five innings of work. He kept his strikeout totals up, tallying another nine Ks in this game, but he displayed his trademark control issues hitting one batter, issuing two walks, and throwing two wild pitches.

Yohan Pino got the win after the Fisher Cats took the lead in the top of the sixth, stranding a leadoff double in 1.1 innings of scoreless relief. Mike Hinckley walked the only batter he faced on four straight pitches, Ronald Uviedo gave up four hits but just one earned run in 1.2 innings of work, and Bobby Korecky closed out the game with a scoreless ninth.

Notes:

• After registering hits in each of his eight final games in May, Moises Sierra went 0-for-5 for the second straight night, but did add his team-leading 36th RBI
• Harrisburg successfully pulled off a double steal in the fourth inning, when Bill Rhinehart stole home on Carreno while the other runner advanced to second

June 1: Harrisburg Senators 10, New Hampshire Fisher Cats 8

Despite cranking out three home runs and 12 hits in total, the Fisher Cats were hurt badly by a six-run Harrisburg third inning and were unable to recover, even scoring three in the eighth inning to make it a close two run game.

Hitting:

Anthony Gose struck out three times going 1-for-5, but blasted his fifth home run of the season, a three-run shot with two outs in the third inning to temporarily give New Hampshire a 3-2 lead. Travis d’Arnaud also hit his fifth home run of a season in a 2-for-5 night, and John Tolisano hit a three-run jack in the eighth inning, his third home run of the season.

Mark Sobolewski has one of his best games of the season, going 3-for-3 with a walk and an RBI, Mike McDade hit his 20th double of the season, and Adeiny Hechavarria hit his third triple of the season.

Pitching:

Coming into this game with a 5-0 record and 2.86 ERA (3.64 FIP) on the season, starter Chad Beck suffered his worst outing of the season by far, allowing eight earned runs on 11 hits in five innings with one walk and two strikeouts. Beck – acquired by the Jays when they shipped David Eckstein to Arizona in 2008 – hadn’t given up more than four earned runs in any start this season, and it was the third inning that really cost him in this one.

After allowing four straight singles and committing a throwing error, Beck allowed another single and then a two-run triple. Then, after getting his first out of the inning, Beck got charged with another run on a sacrifice fly, and walked his only batter of the game before getting a ground out to stop the bleeding.

In his second outing with the Fisher Cats this season, Frank Gailey came in and allowed two earned runs on three hits in two innings of work, on an RBI triple and a sacrifice fly. Mike Hinckley pitched a perfect eighth with a pair of strikeouts.

Notes:

• Harrisburg’s Zech Zinicola, the Jays’ Rule 5 draft pick in 2009, recorded his first save of the season
• Over his last 10 games, Mike McDade is hitting .333 with an .883 OPS

Wins/Losses: 29-25 | Streak: L1 | 3rd in FSL North (11.0 GB)

June 2: Palm Beach Cardinals 10, Dunedin Blue Jays 9

After trailing 5-1 after just two innings in what turned out to be a back and forth affair, the D-Jays managed to take a 7-5 lead after a four run sixth inning, before both teams scored two runs in their respective halves of the seventh, making it a 9-7 game. Palm Beach scored three late runs in the eighth, though, to squeak by the D-Jays and hand them a 10-9 loss.

Hitting:

Adam Lind, making his second rehab appearance, went 3-for-3 with two doubles, two RBIs, two walks, and two stolen bases, while leadoff hitter Justin Jackson went 2-for-5 with a double, an RBI, and a walk himself.

Jon Talley‘s only hit of the game was a two-run triple, but thanks to a sacrifice fly and two walks, one of which was with the bases loaded, he had a nice four-RBI night, and second baseman Ivan Contreras added a pair of singles. The D-Jays stranded too many runners overall, though, leaving 14 on base and going 4-for-20 with runners in scoring position.

Pitching:

Starter Deck McGuire didn’t have his best stuff at all in this one, allowing a season-high five earned runs on eight hits in just five innings while striking out six. He also tied a season-high with four walks, and

Aside from a shaky start by McGuire, the D-Jays’ bullpen lost the game for them. Ryan Shopshire, sporting a sparkling 9.53 ERA on the season so far, allowed a pair of runs in 1.1 innings of work and Aaron Loup departed with one out in the eighth inning with runners on first and second. Loup wound up getting charged with two earned runs, as Scott Gracey allowed an earned run of his own after allowing both of his inherited runners to score, en route to taking the loss and the blown save.

Notes:

• Both of Lind’s stolen bases were thefts of third base
• A.J. Jimenez came in to pinch hit for Lind and recorded a single
• Though he went 0-for-3, Brad Glenn still reached base three times after walking twice (once intentionally) and getting hit by a pitch

June 1: Dunedin Blue Jays 5, Palm Beach Cardinals 0

Five runs were more than enough on this night, as three Dunedin pitchers combined to blank the Palm Beach Cardinals and give the D-Jays their 29th win of the season, in front of a whopping 316 fans at Florida Auto Exchange Stadium.

Hitting:

In his first rehab game following some action in extended spring training, Adam Lind went 3-for-4 with a double and an RBI, and catcher A.J. Jimenez continued to rake, going 2-for-4 with an RBI as well. Jon Talley cranked his eighth home run of the season, a two-run, two out shot in the fifth inning, and Justin Jackson added a pair of hits including a double.

Pitching:

Starter Ryan Tepera sparkled, allowing just three hits in seven shutout innings, walking none and striking out two. He earned his fourth win of the season, working around two Dunedin errors and getting 13 ground ball outs.

Matt Wright hit a batter, but pitched a scoreless eighth with a pair of strikeouts. Wes Etheridge gave up a pair of hits and issued a walk in the ninth, but struck out the side to end a scoreless inning, including the final batter of the game with the bases loaded.

Notes:

• In addition to having 16 saves, Etheridge has a shimmering 1.07 ERA in 25.1 innings so far this season, and has limited opposing hitters to just a .169 batting average
• Contreras’ throwing error early in the game was his 13th error of the season

Wins/Losses: 31-21 | Streak: L1 | 1st in MID Eastern (0.0 GB)

June 2: Peoria Chiefs 11, Lansing Lugnuts 5

After giving up four early runs, the Lugnuts battled back to tie the game at five in the seventh inning, only to see the bullpen allow six runs in the final two frames to give them the tough 11-5 loss to the Peoria Chiefs.

Hitting:

Outfielder Michael Crouse went 2-for-3 with a walk, Kevin Nolan went 2-for-4, and Bryson Namba went 2-for-4 as well with an RBI. The Lugnuts were limited to five runs on eight hits, struck out ten times, and went 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position.

Pitching:

Starter Misaul Diaz was shaky, allowing four earned runs on seven hits in just 2.1 innings with three walks, and the knockout punch was a two-run home run that he allowed in the third inning.

Sam Strickland was fantastic in relief, allowing just one earned run – a solo home run – on five hits in 4.2 innings, as well as recording a pickoff at first base. Alex Pepe was who got roughed up, allowing six runs (five earned) on eight hits in two innings of work, erasing the Lugnuts impressive comeback.

Notes:

• Michael Crouse recorded his third outfield assist in two games, but also stole third base in the fifth inning, his 19th of the season
• Fellow outfielder Jake Marisnick kept pace with Crouse, stealing his 16th bag of the season after getting hit by a pitch in the second inning
• Carlos Perez was charged with two passed balls, and now has nine on the season

June 1: Lansing Lugnuts 4, Peoria Chiefs 3

After tying the game in the eighth inning, the Lugnuts won  a wild one in walk-off fashion on a Peoria error to earn their 31st win of the season at Cooley Law School Stadium.

Hitting:

Despite being dominated by Peoria pitching and mustering just one hit in their first seven innings, the Lugnuts found a way to squeak out the win. After Markus Brisker led off the inning with a single and Kevin Nolan reached base right after on a fielding error, Jake Marisnick – activated from the disabled list just hours before – clobbered a two-run triple to tie the game at 3.

Then, in the ninth after a pair of one-out walks, a wild pitch advanced the runners, so Brisker was intentionally walked to load the bases and create the double play opportunity. The only problem with that, though, was that Carlos Perez slapped a pitch to right field in the next at-bat and Chiefs outfielder Fitzgerald misplayed the ball, committing the error and giving the Lugnuts the walk-off win in the process!

Pitching:

Starter Casey Lawrence settled for a no decision despite pitching a quality start, allowing two earned runs on five hits in six innings, with three walks and three strikeouts. His only rough spot was the second inning, when he allowed a leadoff home run, followed by two walks and an RBI double.

Dayton Marze earned his second win of the season after allowing one run on five hits in three strong innings of relief.

Notes:

• Not only can Michael Crouse run and hit, but he can do it with his arm as well, notching two outfield assists in this game
• Fellow Canadian outfielder Marcus Knecht didn’t want to feel left out though, and recorded an outfield assist of his own at second base

-JM

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