Complete Prospect Report: June 25-26

Every Jays affiliate played games on both weekend days except for the GCL Blue Jays who had an off-day Sunday, so here’s a rundown of the 13 games played over the last two days.

Highlights include Drew Hutchison’s (dominant) first start with Hi-A Dunedin since being promoted from Lansing, a dramatic walk-off win for the Lugnuts, two wins that helped New Hampshire complete a sweep, and appearances by two prospects from our pre-2011 top 50 Prospects list, Noah Syndergaard and Deivy Estrada.

Wins/Losses: 41-37 | Streak: L4 | 2nd in PCL Pacific South (9.0 GB)

June 25: Tacoma Rainiers 12, Las Vegas 51s 2 (LP: Richmond)

Eight of Tacoma’s 12 runs came from home runs as the Rainiers slapped the 51s 12-2 in the opener of a four game series on Saturday night.

Hitting:

The 51s managed just two runs on six hits, so the highlights were really only leadoff man Mike McCoy and catcher Ryan Budde going 2-for-3. Ramon Vasquez and David Cooper drove in the only runs for Las Vegas. Chris Woodward committed his 13th error of the season and Vasquez committed his ninth.

Pitching:

Starter Scott Richmond wasn’t exactly terrible, as he allowed four earned runs on nine hits in six innings, with two walks and nine strikeouts. His loss dropped his record to 4-6 on the season, and the worst part of his outing was a three-run fourth inning when he gave up an RBI single and a two-run homer before recording an out.

Richmond was certainly not as bad as B.J. LaMura was, who was making his Triple-A debut after being called up from Double-A New Hampshire. He was charged with seven earned runs on five hits in just one inning of work, with a pair of walks and one strikeout. He gave up three home runs in the inning, which accounted for six of the seven runs he allowed. Wil Ledezma allowed an unearned run in the eighth.

With Vegas manager Marty Brown taking a page from John Farrell’s book, position player Jason Lane pitched his second inning of the season, a perfect ninth with one strikeout.

June 26: Tacoma Rainiers 9, Las Vegas 51s 4 (LP: Abreu)

After virtually matching the Rainiers run-for-run in the game’s first five innings, Tacoma just proved to be too much for the 51s, scoring five runs off of their bullpen to hand the 51s their fourth-straight loss.

Hitting:

The 51s were outhit 15-8, and outside of a two-run double by catcher Ryan Budde in the second inning and a bases loaded walk by Adam Loewen in the fourth, there wasn’t much to get excited about from an offensive perspective in this one. Every 51s hitter got on base at least once, though, except for second baseman Manny Mayorson who went 0-for-5. Jason Lane went 1-for2 with three walks, and David Cooper went 1-for-4 with a pair of walks himself.

Pitching:

Starter Brad Mills didn’t necessarily have a bad start, but it wasn’t spectacular, either. He allowed four earned runs on seven hits in six innings, walking three and striking out six. He threw 67 of his 113 pitches for strikes, and was ultimately burned by the dual two-out, two-run home runs that he allowed in the second and fifth innings.

Winston Abreu was saddled with the loss after allowing a pair of earned runs – also off a two-run home run – on three hits in the seventh, Rommie Lewis pitched a perfect eighth, and Danny Farquhar must have thought the game was over when he came in for the ninth, allowing three earned runs on five hits.

Wins/Losses: 46-27 | Streak: W5 | 1st in EAS Eastern (0.0 GB)

June 25: New Hampshire Fisher Cats 9, Portland Sea Dogs 5 (WP: Uviedo)

In a game where Portland’s starter was Red Sox reliever and former White Sox closer Bobby Jenks, the Fisher Cats hit a home run in three consecutive innings to win their second-straight game against the Sea Dogs.

Hitting:

New Hampshire’s offense was clearly present in this one, as every Fisher Cat hitter got on base at least once. Travis d’Arnaud – hitting third, comfortably ahead of cleanup hitter Mike McDade – went 3-for-5 with a three-run home run in the eighth inning, and catcher Yan Gomes went 2-for-4 with a three-run home run of his own in the sixth inning. Gomes is a personal favorite of mine and, despite being known for his defensive abilities, he has heated up at the plate recently, hitting .289/.333/.553 over his last 10 games.

The two NH hitters that didn’t manage a hit, Anthony Gose and Craig Stansberry, drew five walks between them and Gose stole his 33rd bag of the season. Adeiny Hechavarria went 3-for-4 at the top of the lineup with a walk, and Mike McDade hit a two-run home run in the seventh inning.

Pitching:

Starter Robert Ray was shaky, allowing five earned runs on five hits in six innings, walking five and striking out four. He’s made three starts with New Hampshire since being DFA’d when Eric Thames took his spot on the 40-man roster last month, and is currently rocking a 6.48 ERA with 10 walks, but has only allowed 16 hits in those starts as well.

Ronald Uviedo got the win and improved to 3-1 on the season after pitched two perfect innings, and Yohan Pino pitched a perfect inning of his own in the ninth.

June 26: New Hampshire Fisher Cats 7, Portland Sea Dogs 3 (WP: Carreno)

After scoring four runs in the second inning, the Fisher Cats never let go of the lead to complete the three-game sweep of the Portland Sea Dogs and win their fifth-straight.

Hitting:

Third baseman Mark Sobolewski went 2-for-3 with a walk and a three-run home run in the second inning, Moises Sierra went 2-for-3 with a double, walk, and solo home run, and Anthony Gose hit a pair of singles. Calix Crabbe hit his first triple of the season, and John Tolisano hit his 16th double of the season as well.

Pitching:

Fisher Cats starter Joel Carreno threw another one of his trademark starts to earn the win and improve to 6-5. Despite three wild pitches and a pair of walks, Carreno was otherwise dominant, limited Portland to three earned runs on just four hits with nine strikeouts in six strong innings. Clint Everts, Chad Beck, and Matt Daly combined to throw three innings after Carreno without allowing a hit.

Wins/Losses: 2-2 | Streak: W1 | T-2nd in FSL North (1.0 GB)

June 25: Tampa Yankees 7, Dunedin Blue Jays 4 (LP: Wojciechowski)

It’s hard to win when your starter is pulled before he can complete one full inning, and that ultimately doomed the D-Jays on Saturday, falling 7-4 to the Tampa Yankees and giving them the series win in the process.

Hitting:

Despite going 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position and only managing six hits, the D-Jays managed to score four runs, all thanks to the top of their order. Third baseman Sean Ochinko went 2-for-3 with a walk and a two-run home run, leadoff hitter Justin Jackson went 1-for-3 with a double, and catcher A.J. Jimenez went 1-for-3 with a pair of RBIs.

Pitching:

Starter Asher Wojciechowski continued to struggle at the Hi-A level, allowing four earned runs on four hits in just two thirds of an inning, walking one. In 15 starts with Dunedin this season, Wojo has allowed 48 earned runs (5.86 ERA) and 94 hits in 73.2 innings, with 23 walks and 55 strikeouts.

Matt Wright was solid in relief, allowing just one unearned run on two hits, one being a two-run home run, in 3.1 innings of work, and Scott Gracey allowed one earned run in two innings of work. Aaron Loup and Steve Turnbull combined to toss two scoreless innings, even though Loup walked three batters.

June 26: Dunedin Blue Jays 4, Daytona Cubs 3 (WP: Hutchison)

Making his highly anticipated Hi-A debut, Dunedin starter Drew Hutchison did not disappoint, and the D-Jays were about to score some key runs to take the series opener against the Daytona Cubs 4-3.

Hitting:

The top of Dunedin’s batting order supplied all of the offense for the second straight night, as leadoff hitter Justin Jackon went 2-for-4 with a double, two-hitter Brad McElroy went 1-for-3 with a double and two RBIs, and Sean Ochinko went 2-for-4 with two doubles and a pair of RBIs. Ryan Schimpf hit a single, and is now hitting .333/.450/.576 in his first nine games with Dunedin so far.

Pitching:

The star of the day was Hutchison, who allowed just one unearned run on five hits in six strong innings, walking one and striking out five. Frank Gailey allowed just one hit in two innings of work, and closer Wes Etheridge notched his 27th save of the season despite allowing two rare runs on four hits in the ninth.

Wins/Losses: 3-0 | Streak: W5 | T-1st in MID Eastern (0.0GB)

June 25: Lansing Lugnuts 3, Great Lakes Loons 2 (WP: Griffith)

For the second straight night, the Lugnuts won in walk-off fashion to steal another win from the Great Lakes Loons and remain undefeated since the Midwest League All-Star break. Matt Nuzzo was the hero, drawing a four-pitch, bases loaded walk in the 10th inning to give the Lugnuts the victory.

Hitting:

The Lugnuts only managed three runs on four hits, but thanks to their solid pitching, they were able to crank out the win in this low-scoring affair. First baseman K.C. Hobson went 2-for-4 with a triple and an RBI, right fielder Marcus Knecht went 0-for-2 but drew three walks, and left fielder Michael Crouse went 1-for-2, drawing three walks of his own.

Pitching:

Lugnuts starter Egan Smith pitched very well, allowing just one earned run on seven hits in five strong innings, striking out six in the no-decision. The bullpen was the real story though, as Matt Fields, Dustin Antolin, and Shawn Griffith combined to throw five innings without allowing an earned run to keep Lansing close for a big part of the game.

June 26: Lansing Lugnuts 6, Great Lakes Loons 1 (WP: Lawrence)

It’s easy to win when your starter gives you seven innings of one-run ball, and the Lugnuts managed to complete the sweep of the Great Lakes Loons Sunday 6-1.

Hitting:

The bottom part of the order supplied the offense, as K.C. Hobson, Oliver Dominguez, and Garis Pena all went 2-for-4, with Dominguez notching an RBI. Jack Murphy hit a double and had three RBIs, while Michael Crouse went 1-for-4 and stole two bases, bringing his season total to 21.

Pitching:

Casey Lawrence was clearly the story in this one, limiting Great Lakes to just one earned run on three hits in seven dominant innings, walking one and striking out five. Lawrence’s win helped him improve to 5-7 on the season, and he now has a 4.32 ERA (3.75 FIP) in 66.2 innings with Lansing.

Wins/Losses: 7-3 | Streak: L1 | 2nd in NOR West (1.0 GB)

June 25: Vancouver Canadians 11, Salem-Keizer Volcanoes 9 (WP: Garrett | S: Brua)

The Canadians cranked out 11 runs on 17 hits – 14 of which were singles – to top the Volcanoes 11-9 on Saturday to take the first of a three-game series.

Hitting:

Aside from Bryan Kervin and Jonathan Berti who got on base with a walk, every other Canadians hitter had at least two hits. Stephen McQuail hit a double and a two-run home run to finish with three RBIs on the night, Randy Schwartz and Luis Hurtado both went 2-for-4 with a pair of RBIs, and leadoff hitter Jonathan Jones went 4-for-6 with four singles and an RBI.

Pitching:

Canadians starter Ben White lasted just 1.2 innings, allowing three earned runs on four hits with a pair of walks, and Travis Garrett earned the win after throwing 3.1 innings of one run ball. Philip Brua got the save by retiring the only batter he faced in the ninth inning.

June 26: Salem-Keizer Volcanoes 8, Vancouver Canadians 1 (LP: Cole)

The Canadians found themselves down early and given the lack of offense, that proved to be too much as they fell to the Volcanoes 8-1.

Hitting:

The Canadians manged only six hits, with Jonathan Berti getting two of them, including a triple. Pierce Rankin hit his second home run of the season in a 2-for-4 night, and Shane Opitz and Stephen McQuail both had hits.

Pitching:

Canadians starter Taylor Cole took the loss after allowing four earned runs on six hits in three innings, and reliever Nicholas Purdy didn’t fare much better, also allowing four earned runs in three innings of work, including three home runs allowed. Bryan Longpre maintained his 0.00 ERA by pitching two scoreless frames.

Wins/Losses: 2-4 | Streak: L4 | 4th in APP East (3.0 GB)

June 25: Danville Braves 5, Bluefield Blue Jays 4 (LP: Kadish)

Bluefield managed to rally in the eighth inning for the second consecutive night, this time tying the game, but Danville scored a run in the top of the 10th inning to hand the B-Jays the extra-innings loss 5-4 on Saturday.

Hitting:

After drawing a walk and smacking a double to lead off the eighth inning, a wild pitch scored one run, and then Chris Hawkins hit a sacrifice fly to tie the game and force extra innings. Catcher Aaron Munoz went 1-for-4 with two RBIs and Art Charles his a double.

Pitching:

Starter Ajay Meyer allowed two earned runs in five innings of work, walking none and striking out three and Andrew Sikula pitched three scoreless innings. Ian Kadish took the loss after walking three in total and giving up the go-ahead run in the 10th inning.

June 26: Danville Braves 4, Bluefield Blue Jays 3 (LP: Taylor)

Giving up three runs in the second inning proved to be too much for Bluefield, as they were able to creep within one run but ultimately fell to the Danville Braves 4-3 on Sunday, completing the sweep.

Hitting:

Leadoff hitter Andy Fermin went 3-for-5 with three doubles and an RBI, Gustavo Pierre went 2-for-4, and Cody Bartlett hit a single. Pierre and Hawkins both managed stolen bases as well.

Pitching:

Bluefield starter Mitchell Taylor took the loss after allowing four runs (three earned) on five hits in four innings of work, walking one and striking out four. Noah Syndergaard pitched the game’s final five innings with his team within striking distance, allowing just three hits and no runs.

Wins/Losses: 2-4 | Streak: L2 | 5th in GCL North (2.0 GB)

June 25: GCL Tigers 3, GCL Blue Jays 1 (LP: Estrada)

In a game that was called in the middle of the seventh inning, the GCL Jays lost a close one 3-1 on Saturday.

Hitting:

The GCL Jays managed just two hits, with Jorge Vega-Rosado seeing the majority of the action, going 1-for-2 with a walk, a stolen base, and a pickoff.

Pitching:

The GCL Jays’ only pitcher of the game, starter Deivy Estrada pitched a quality start, but was handed the loss. He allowed three earned runs on six hits in six innings of work, with one walk and seven strikeouts.

June 26: Off-day

-JM

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