Toronto Blue Jays starter Josh Johnson made his final rehab appearance and Dustin McGowan also pitched for the Buffalo Bisons on Thursday night.
Sep 21, 2011; Toronto, ON, Canada; Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Dustin McGowan (29) delivers a pitch against the Los Angeles Angels at the Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports
Buffalo Bisons (28-24)
The Buffalo Bisons drew first blood, scoring two runs in the first inning but that was all they could muster in a 7-2 loss to the Durham Bulls. Bisons starter Josh Johnson gave up six runs on eight hits and three walks in his four and two-thirds innings in what is his last rehab start before returning to the Blue Jays. Dustin McGowan also made an appearance, pitching two innings, giving up only one hit — a solo home run — but also struck out four and walked only one. The Bisons scored their runs on a Moises Sierra triple, a Luis Jimenez sacrifice fly and a Mauro Gomez solo home run, his eleventh on the season. Jim Negrych went oh for four, dropping his batting average further to .367.
Hitting:
Jim Negrych – 0/4, BB, CS
Moises Sierra – 1/4, R, 3B, K, OF Asst.
Luis Jimenez – 1/3, RBI
Mauro Gomez – 2/4, R, HR, RBI, K
Josh Thole – 0/4
Andy LaRoche – 2/4
Ryan Langerhans – 2/4, 2B, K
Ricardo Nanita – 0/3, BB, 2 K
Ryan Goins – 1/4, 2 K
Pitching:
Josh Johnson – L, 4 2/3 IP, 8 H, 6 R, 3 BB, 3 K
Chad Beck – 1 1/3 IP, 1 H, 1 BB
Dustin McGowan – 2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 4 K, 1 HR
Jay Blue’s Player of the Game: Mauro Gomez
New Hampshire Fisher Cats (27-28)
The New Hampshire Fisher Cats rode a five-run second inning to a 7-2 victory over the Portland Sea Dogs on Thursday night. Starter Marcus Walden recorded his fourth win with a very strong performance over six innings, giving up just one run on four hits and a walk while striking out five. Evan Crawford and Scott Gracey combined for the last three innings of the game. The offense churned out twelve hits with Kevin Ahrens (playing first base) leading the way with four including two doubles and two RBI. Ryan Schimpf had a rough night on defense, making two errors but neither led to any damage and the Fisher Cats had more than enough offense behind Walden to carry the day. Kevin Pillar had a strong night with a double, two walks and a stolen base in his five plate appearances.
Roster Note: Clint Robinson cleared waivers and was outrighted to New Hampshire.
Hitting:
Kevin Pillar – 1/3, R, 2B, RBI, 2 BB, SB
Brian Van Kirk – 2/5, 2B, RBI, K
Ryan Schimpf – 1/5, 2B, 2 K, 2 E
Kevin Nolan – 1/4, R, BB
Sean Ochinko – 1/5, R, K
Brad Glenn – 1/5, R, RBI, 3 K
Kevin Ahrens – 4/4, R, 2 2B, 2 RBI
Jack Murphy – 1/4, R, 2B, RBI
Amadeo Zazueta – 0/4, RBI, K
Pitching:
Marcus Walden – W, 6 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 5 K
Evan Crawford – 2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 BB
Scott Gracey – 1 IP, 1 H, 2 K
Jay Blue’s Player of the Game: Kevin Ahrens
Dunedin Blue Jays (29-21)
Right fielder Matt Newman hit a three-run double and that was more than enough offense for the Dunedin Blue Jays as they beat the Lakeland Flying Tigers 3-1 on Thursday night. Jesse Hernandez had an outstanding start for the Blue Jays, going six innings and giving up only one run on seven hits and a walk while striking out four. Tyler Ybarra and Blake McFarland came on to pitch the final three innings and faced just ten batters. Dunedin hitters only combined for three hits with Jon Berti and Nick Baligod contributing the other two. Berti stole his league-leading twenty-fifth base in the win.
Roster Note: 1B Gabe Jacobo was activated off the 7-Day DL.
Hitting:
Jon Berti – 1/4, SB
Nick Baligod – 1/4, R, K
Andy Burns – 0/4, R, K
K.C. Hobson – 0/4, K
Gabe Jacobo – 0/3, R, BB
Matt Newman – 1/3, 2B, 3 RBI
Mike Crouse – 0/3
Peter Mooney – 0/2, BB, K
Chris Schaeffer – 0/3
Pitching:
Jesse Hernandez – W, 6 IP, 7 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 4 K
Tyler Ybarra – 2 IP, 2 K
Blake McFarland – S, 1 IP, 1 H, 1 K
Jay Blue’s Player of the Game: Jesse Hernandez
Lansing Lugnuts (21-29)
The Lansing Lugnuts dropped another game to the Fort Wayne TinCaps 7-4 on Thursday. Starting pitcher Javier Avendano had a rough start, giving up four runs in three-plus innings while Griffin Murphy and Ian Kadish worked the rest of the way, giving up another three runs between them. Chris Hawkins awoke from his slump, going three for four with two RBI and Gustavo Pierre and Emilio Guerrero had strong games with two hits and a stolen base apiece.
Lansing Lugnuts outfielder Chris Hawkins takes a warm-up swing in the on-deck circle on May 3, 2013 in Lansing, MI. Mandatory credit: Jay Blue
Hitting:
Dwight Smith, Jr. – 0/4, K
Kellen Sweeney – 0/4, K, E
Christian Lopes – 0/4, R
Kevin Patterson – 1/4, RBI, BB
Gustavo Pierre – 2/4, R, 2 K, SB
Carlos Ramirez – 0/4, R, 2 K, SB
Chris Hawkins – 3/4, R, 2 RBI
Aaron Munoz –0/3, K, E
Emilio Guerrero – 2/3, RBI, BB, SB, E
Pitching:
Javier Avendano – 3 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 1 BB, 0 K, 2 HR
Griffin Murphy – L, 2 2/3 IP, 2 H, 2 R (1 ER), 1 BB, 2 K
Ian Kadish – 2 1/3 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 2 K
Jay Blue’s Player of the Game: Chris Hawkins
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