May 16 Minor League Report

Thursday’s games featured three major-leaguers trying to work their way back to the bigs.  Ricky Romero started in Buffalo and Jeremy Jeffress was one of the pitchers who relieved him while Dustin McGowan made his second rehab appearance in A+ Dunedin.

Buffalo Bisons (24-15)

After Wednesday’s drubbing, the Buffalo Bisons beat the Indianapolis Indians 6-4. Starting pitcher Ricky Romero didn’t make it out of the fourth inning, again struggling with control, walking six batters and only striking out one in his three and two-thirds innings. Today’s relievers truly were firemen, giving up only one more run in the five and a third innings they pitched. The Herd got their six runs on only eight hits but took another eight walks in defeating the Pittsburgh Pirates’ top farm club. Luis Jimenez had two hits including a triple while Eugenio Velez hit his fifth home run of the season. Anthony Gosewent one for three with two walks.

February 14, 2013; Tampa, FL, USA; Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Ricky Romero (24) throws a pitch from the mound as he works out during spring training at Bobby Mattick Training Centre. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Hitting:

Mike McCoy – 1/4, 2 R, BB, K, 2 SB
Anthony Gose – 1/3, R, 2 BB, K, OF Asst.
Moises Sierra – 1/4, R, BB, K, SB
Luis Jimenez – 2/4, R, 3B, RBI, BB, K
Mauro Gomez – 1/4, RBI, BB
Eugenio Velez – 1/4, R, HR, RBI, K, 2 E
Ryan Langerhans – 1/4, 2B, K
Mike Nickeas – 0/3, BB, K
Ryan Goins – 0/3, BB, K

Pitching:

Ricky Romero – 3 2/3 IP, 4 H, 3 R (2 ER), 6 BB, 1 K
Buddy Carlyle – W, 2 1/3 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 4 K
Jeremy Jeffress – 2 IP, 1 BB, 1 K
Neil Wagner – S, 1 IP, 2 H, 1 K

Jay Blue’s Player of the Game: Buddy Carlyle

New Hampshire Fisher Cats (19-22)

Ryan Tepera made his worst start of the season, getting hammered for eight runs (six earned) in a 14-5 loss for the Fisher Cats to the Portland Sea Dogs on Thursday. The pitching just couldn’t do anything right, except maybe Tommy Hottovy who was the only one that escaped giving up any runs. Highly ranked prospect John Stilson came out of the pen in his second appearance of the season to give up a run on two hits but struck out two in his inning. Kevin Pillar had a big game, going three for five and hitting a home run in the losing cause. Ricardo Nanita and Kevin Nolan also had multi-hit games while Ryan Schimpf hit his team-leading ninth home run.

Hitting:

Kevin Pillar – 3/5, 2 R, HR, RBI, K
Ricardo Nanita – 2/5, R
Ryan Schimpf – 1/4, R, HR, RBI
Clint Robinson –1/2, BB
Kevin Ahrens – 0/0, BB
Brad Glenn – 1/4, 2 K, OF Asst.
Kevin Nolan – 2/4, 2B, RBI
Adam Loewen – 0/4, K, E
Jack Murphy – 1/4, K
John Tolisano – 1/4, 2 K

Pitching:

Ryan Tepera – L, 3 1/3 IP, 8 H, 8 R (6 ER), 1 BB, 2 K, 1 HR
Chorye Spoone – 1 2/3 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 2 BB, 3 K
Tommy Hottovy – 2 IP, 1 H, 2 K
Matt Wright – 1 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 1 K, 1 HR
John Stilson – 1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 2 K

Jay Blue’s Player of the Game: Kevin Pillar

Dunedin Blue Jays (22-15)

The Dunedin Blue Jays took a tough loss to the high-powered Fort Myers Miracle, the Florida State League affiliate of the Minnesota Twins, 2-0. Opposing starter Taylor Rogers threw seven shutout innings and struck out eight Blue Jays while Jesse Hernandez battled through his five innings, giving up nine hits but only two runs (one earned). The bullpen threw another three shutout innings and featured another appearance from rehabbing Toronto Blue Jay Dustin McGowan who walked one and struck out one in his inning. The offense was held to just five hits and one walk with Jon Berti the only D-Jay managing more than one.

Hitting:

Jon Berti – 2/4, CS
Peter Mooney – 0/4, 2 K
Andy Burns – 1/3, BB K
Jon Talley – 0/4, 3 K
Marcus Knecht – 1/4, 2B, 2 K
K.C. Hobson – 0/4, 2 K
Pierce Rankin – 0/3, E
Nick Baligod – 1/3, K
Jonathan Jones – 0/3

Pitching:

Jesse Hernandez – L, 5 IP, 9 H, 2 R (1 ER), 0 BB, 2 K
Tyler Ybarra – 1 IP, 1 H
Dustin McGowan – 1 IP, 1 BB, 1 K
Scott Gracey – 1 IP, 1 K

Jay Blue’s Player of the Game: Jon Berti

Lansing Lugnuts (14-23)

The Lugnuts got another well pitched game from the all three pitchers and won 6-2 against the Lake County Captains. Starter Taylor Cole set the tone, giving up only three hits and two walks in six innings, allowing both runs while Ian Kadish only gave a walk in his two innings and Wil Browning threw a clean ninth, striking out two. Refreshingly, the Lugnuts didn’t make any errors and Kellen Sweeney continued his surge, going two for three with a home run and a walk while Dwight Smith, Jr. drove in two with a single. Catcher Aaron Munoz might look like he didn’t do much, going oh for two but the defensive minded catcher contributed with a sacrifice fly and by throwing out two runners on the basepaths.

Kellen Sweeney takes a swing on May 5, 2013 in Lansing, Michigan. Mandatory Credit: Jay Blue

Hitting:

Dalton Pompey – 0/4, BB, 2 K
Dwight Smith, Jr. – 1/4, 2 RBI, BB
Christian Lopes – 0/4, 2 K
Kevin Patterson – 1/3, 2B, BB
Carlos Ramirez – 0/3, R, BB, 2 K
Kellen Sweeney – 2/3, 2 R, HR, RBI, BB
Gustavo Pierre – 1/4, R, K
Chris Hawkins – 0/3, R, BB
Aaron Munoz – 0/2, RBI, BB

Pitching:

Taylor Cole warms up in Lansing, Michigan on May 5, 2013. Mandatory Credit: Jay Blue

Taylor Cole – W, 6 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 3 K
Ian Kadish – 2 IP, 1 BB, 1 K
Wil Browning – 1 IP, 2 K

Jay Blue’s Player of the Game: Kellen Sweeney

If you like what you’ve seen by Jay Blue, read his work and listen to his podcast on Blue Jays from Away and follow him on Twitter: @Jaysfromaway.