Blue Jays Complete Prospect Report: April 30

Toronto’s minor league affiliates went 1-2 on the night, as New Hampshire and Dunedin both lost close games and Lansing’s game was cancelled outright because of weather and field conditions. Here’s your Blue Jays complete prospect report for Monday, April 30:

 Wins/Losses: 10-15 | Streak: W4 | 3rd in PCL Pacific South division (9.0 GB)

Las Vegas 51s 8, Reno Aces 7 (WP: Korecky, 1-0 | S: Igarashi, 1)

After taking the lead with five runs in the fourth only to find themselves tied after five innings, the 51s benefited from great relief pitching and the go-ahead run in the seventh frame to top the Aces 8-7 on Monday night in the opener of a four-game series.

Hitting:

Leading the 51s’ offense was Adeiny Hechavarria who, while leading off, went 2-for-4 with a walk and a two-out grand slam in the fourth inning. His four RBI were a season-high, and the home run was his 11th extra-base hit of the season, bringing his triple-slash line up to .311/.357/.443. Yan Gomes, getting a start at first base, flexed his muscle once again with a 3-for-5 night that included his 10th double and second home run of the season. Travis d’Arnaud also went 3-for-5 and Anthony Gose, hitting second, went 2-for-5 and stole his eighth base of the year.

Pitching:

51s starter Tim Redding tied a season-high with seven earned runs on eight hits in 4 1/3 innings of work. He struck out two while walking a pair, and gave up a solo home run in the fifth. While Redding’s outing was his longest of the season, I’m not exactly sure why Toronto is continuing to give him innings, as opposing hitters are hitting .431 off of him (not a typo) in five starts and he has a 12.56 ERA on the season so far.

The 51s’ bullpen picked up their starter, however, as Bobby Korecky got the win after coming on in relief of Redding to throw 1 2/3 scoreless innings without allowing a hit. Jerry Gil tossed a scoreless seventh and Robert Coello struck out the side around a base hit in a scoreless eighth.

Ryota Igarashi notched his first save of the season after striking out a pair in a scoreless ninth inning, and if the Blue Jays are thinking about making him Las Vegas’ closer, I like the idea. Igarashi, acquired by the Jays for cash at the very end of spring training, has 15 strikeouts in 11 1/3 innings and has limited opposing hitters to a .154 average (six hits). He also has not surrendered a home run and currently has a 1.59 ERA this season in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League.

Wins/Losses: 10-13 | Streak: L1 | 5th in EAS Eastern division (6.0 GB)

Reading Phillies 3, New Hampshire Fisher Cats 2 (LP: McGuire, 1-4)

Despite out-hitting the Phillies, the Fisher Cats gave up three unanswered runs to blow a 2-0 lead and ultimately fall 3-2 to Reading on Monday night.

Hitting:

Offensively, Jonathan Diaz, John Tolisano and Brian Van Kirk all had multi-hit games, with Diaz and Ryan Goins supplying the club’s lone RBIs. Center fielder Brad McElroy reached base twice with a single and a walk, and went 1-for-2 in stolen base attempts. Overall, it appears as though the Fisher Cats were outmatched, as they failed to record an extra-base hit and could barely muster any kind of rally.

Pitching:

Going up against Trevor May, the Phillies’ No. 1 prospect, Fisher Cats starter Deck McGuire dueled with him until the sixth, when four Reading hits led to a two-run frame that tied the game. Then in the seventh, a wild pitch from McGuire allowed a runner to advance to second before a two-out single cashed in what eventually became the game-winning run. McGuire was handed the hard-luck loss, having allowed three earned runs on eight hits in a quality start, but only recorded two strikeouts. In five starts this year, the 2010 first round pick has a 7.18 ERA and opposing batters are hitting .330 off of him.

Danny Farquhar and Aaron Loup did not allow a hit in a combined 2 1/3 scoreless innings in relief.

Wins/Losses: 18-6 | Streak: L1 | 1st in FSL North division (0.0 GB)

Tampa Yankees 6, Dunedin Blue Jays 4 – F/10 (LP: Griffith, 3-1)

After giving up the tying run in the sixth inning, the D-Jays were stunned in extras and lost 6-4 to the Tampa Yankees on Monday night.

Hitting:

Dunedin was outhit 15-7 in this contest, and 27-year-old outfielder Kenen Bailli was the only player to get more than one. Leadoff hitter Jake Marisnick hit his third triple of the season, Sean Ochinko cashed in a pair and hit his seventh double of the season and Gabe Jacobo went 1-for-3 with a single and an intentional walk.

Defensively, Marisnick doubled up a runner at third base in the seventh for an outfield assist, while Canadian outfielder Marcus Knecht also notched an assist with a throw to second base in the 10th.

Pitching:

Dunedin starter Sam Dyson allowed three earned runs on seven hits in five relatively strong innings, with two walks and one strikeout. Reliever Dayton Marze was handed the blown save after giving up the game-tying run in his first of two innings of work, while Dustin Antolin and Boomer Potts each threw a scoreless frame. Shawn Griffith was handed his first loss of the season after giving up the game-winning runs in the top of the 10th inning on three hits.

Wins/Losses: 18-6 | Streak: W1 | 1st in MID Eastern division (0.0 GB)

*Cancelled* — Lansing Lugnuts vs. Clinton LumberKings

Via a press release on the Lugnuts’ official website:

“The Lansing Lugnuts (18-6) and Clinton LumberKings’ (10-14) scheduled Monday night series finale has been canceled due to field conditions and rain. It will not be made up. … The Lugnuts enjoy an off-day on Tuesday, May 1st, before traveling to Great Lakes to take on the Loons in a three-game set at Dow Diamond.”

-JM

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