Two Big Comebacks: July 4 Minor League Report

Buffalo Bisons (43-43)

The Buffalo Bisons dropped their Fourth of July matchup with the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Rail Riders 5-2. Starter Ricky Romero wasn’t particularly bad, going six innings and giving up all five runs (three earned) on nine hits and two walks but the two home runs hit off of him certainly contributed to the damage. John Stilson pitched two shutout innings to finish the game. The offense was led by Mike McCoy, who drove in both runs with a two-run home run in the fifth inning while Anthony Gose also had a two-hit night in which he stole a base and scored on McCoy’s home run. Kevin Pillar continues his extra-base-hit feast with a double in the game while Ryan Goins hit a triple for the Bisons.

Roster Note: OF Moises Sierra was placed on the DL while IF Andy LaRoche was activated.

March 18, 2012; Dunedin, FL, USA; Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Mike McCoy (18) bunts and is safe on an error allowing center fielder Rajai Davis (not pictured) to score in the fourth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Florida Auto Exchange Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Hitting:

Mike McCoy – 2/4, R, HR, 2 RBI
Ryan Goins – 1/4, 3B, 3 K, E
Kevin Pillar – 1/4, 2B, K
Mauro Gomez – 0/3, BB, 2 K
Jim Negrych – 0/3
Andy LaRoche – 0/4, K
Sean Ochinko – 1/4, 2B, K
Anthony Gose – 2/4, R
Mike Nickeas – 0/3, K

Pitching:

Ricky Romero – L, 6 IP, 9 H, 5 R (3 ER), 2 BB, 3 K, 2 HR
John Stilson – 2 IP, 2 H, 2 K

Jay Blue’s Player of the Game: Mike McCoy

New Hampshire Fisher Cats (40-45)

Despite getting down by three runs in the late innings to the Binghamton Mets, the New Hampshire Fisher Cats fought back to get within one but couldn’t overcome the hurdles, losing 7-6. Starter Marcus Walden gave up all seven runs in the fifth and sixth innings, despite a low pitch count. He did what he usually does – get a lot of ground balls but give up a lot of hits without striking out too many – but couldn’t minimize damage as is his habit. The two home runs he gave up (just his fourth and fifth of the season) came at the worst times, with the bases loaded in the fifth and with two on in the sixth and two mistake pitches accounted for all the scoring. The offense struck for six runs, getting two hits and three RBI from Andy Burns while outfielder Brian Van Kirk got on base three times and scored twice with a hit and two walks.

Hitting:

Adam Loewen – 1/5, 2 K
Andy Burns – 2/5, R, 3 RBI, 2 K
A.J. Jimenez – 1/4, R, 2 K
Brad Glenn –  0/4, 2 K
Clint Robinson – 1/4, RBI, K
Kevin Nolan – 0/4, K
Ryan Schimpf – 0/3, R, BB, K
Brian Van Kirk – 1/2, 2 R, 2 BB
Amadeo Zazueta – 1/3, R, RBI
Jon Talley – 1/1, 2B

Pitching:

Marcus Walden – L, 6 IP, 10 H, 7 R, 2 BB, 4 K, 2 HR
Chorye Spoone – 1 IP, 1 H, 1 K
Tyson Brummett – 1 1/3 IP, 1 H, 1 K
Evan Crawford – 0 IP (1 HBP)
Randy Boone – 2/3 IP, 1 H, 1 K

Jay Blue’s Player of the Game: Andy Burns

Dunedin Blue Jays (42-36)

The Dunedin Blue Jays rallied in the bottom of the ninth to score two and come away with a walkoff win 5-4 over the Clearwater Threshers on the Fourth of July. With the bases loaded, Gabe Jacobo, who had already hit a home run, came to the plate in the bottom of the ninth and hit a two-run single to right field to win the game in dramatic fashion for the Blue Jays. Starting pitcher Jesse Hernandez had a solid start, going seven innings and giving up three runs on six hits and three walks while striking out four and John Anderson (who gets the win) gave up the fourth run in the eighth and stayed in the game to finish it off with a scoreless ninth. Gabe Jacobo was clearly the man of the night, going three for five with a double, a home run and three RBI while K.C. Hobson went two for three with two walks and an RBI. Oliver Dominguez also pitched in with two hits and Jon Berti was a fiend on the basepaths with three stolen bases after getting on base three times with a single and two walks.

Hitting:

Jon Berti – 1/3, 2 R, 2 BB, 3 SB
Marcus Knecht – 0/4, R, BB, 2 K
Mike Crouse –1/4, R, BB, K, SB
K.C. Hobson – 2/3, RBI, 2 BB
Gabe Jacobo – 3/5, R, 2B, HR, 3 RBI
Gustavo Pierre  – 0/4, 2 K
Oliver Dominguez – 2/4, 2 K
Derrick Chung – 1/4, 2B
Peter Mooney – 0/4

Pitching:

Jesse Hernandez – 7 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 3 BB, 4 K, 1 HR
John Anderson – 2 IP, 2 H, 1 R

Jay Blue’s Player of the Game: Gabe Jacobo

Lansing Lugnuts (34-49)

With Brett Lawrie in town for a rehab assignment, the Lake County Captains put a hurting on the Lansing Lugnuts 13-0. Starter Javier Avendano only pitched three and two-thirds, giving up six runs on six hits including two home runs. Kramer Champlin gave up the other seven over his four and a third innings on another seven hits and Tucker Donahue pitched a scoreless ninth. Lawrie was oh for three while Dalton Pompey and Dwight Smith, Jr. each had a hit and stole a base. “Mighty Mouse” Jorge Flores had the sole multi-hit game as well as both extra-base hits for the Lugnuts, hitting a double and a triple.

Hitting:

Brett Lawrie – 0/3
Kellen Sweeney – 0/1, K
Dalton Pompey – 1/4, SB
Dwight Smith, Jr. –  1/4, SB
Christian Lopes – 0/3, BB
Santiago Nessy – 0/4, 2 K
Jason Leblebijian – 1/3, 2 K
Chris Hawkins – 1/3, K
Carlos Ramirez – 0/2, BB, CS
Jorge Flores – 2/3, 2B, 3B

Pitching:

Javier Avendano – L, 3 2/3 IP, 6 H, 6 R, 3 BB, 3 K, 2 HR
Kramer Champlin – 4 1/3 IP, 7 H, 7 R, 2 BB
Tucker Donahue – 1 IP, 1 BB, 1 K

Jay Blue’s Player of the Game: Jorge Flores

Vancouver Canadians (12-8)

July 3 Game:

Pitcher Colton Turner led the way as the Vancouver Canadians beat the Everett Aqua Sox 7-3 at home on Wednesday. Turner went six and two-thirds innings and gave up three runs (two earned) on just four hits but walked three to go along with his four strikeouts on the night. Tim Brechbuehler and Chuck Ghysels followed up with two and a third innings of scoreless relief to seal the deal on the win for the Canadians. It was another hit parade for the Canadians, tallying thirteen hits on the night and this time, there were three doubles among the singles. L.B. Dantzler, Jordan Leyland and Justin Atkinson all hit two baggers while Leyland, Atkinson, Chaz Frank, Dickie Thon and Brenden Kalfus all had two-hit games. For Frank, they were his first two hits in pro ball after signing his contract and getting assigned to the Canadians while Kalfus continues to hit, bringing his batting average up to .293.

Hitting:

Chaz Frank – 2/4, R, BB, PO, CS
Dickie Thon – 2/4, R, RBI, BB, 2 K, CS, E
L.B. Dantzler – 1/5, R, 2B, 2 RBI
Jordan Leyland – 2/3, 2 R, 2B, RBI, 2 BB
Justin Atkinson – 2/4, 2B, RBI, BB, K
Brenden Kalfus – 2/4, RBI, BB
Daniel Klein – 0/4, RBI, BB, K
Christian Vasquez – 1/5, R, K
Ian Parmley – 1/4, R, 2 K

Pitching:

Colton Turner – W, 6 2/3 IP, 4 H, 3 R (2 ER), 3 BB, 4 K
Tim Brechbuehler – 1 1/3 IP, 1 H
Chuck Ghysels – 1 IP, 1 K

Jay Blue’s Player of the Game: Jordan Leyland

Late night game summaries for the Vancouver Canadians will appear two days after the game day.

Bluefield Blue Jays (10-3)

The Bluefield Blue Jays scored six runs in the eighth inning and came away from the first game of their series against the Elizabethton Twins with a 6-5 win that extended their win streak to seven games. Starting pitcher Tom Robson got hammered for four runs through four innings despite not walking any batters and striking out four and his piggy-back partner, Jairo Labourt, came in for three innings and gave up one run on only two hits and walk while striking out six. Yeyfry Del Rosario picked up his second win of the season with a scoreless eighth and Brett Barber earned his first professional save with a perfect ninth inning. Catcher Jorge Saez had another big game, going two for four with two RBI and caught a runner stealing while Matt Dean drove in two more runs with a double.

Hitting:

D.J. Davis –1/3, R, 2B, BB, K, SB
Derrick Loveless – 0/2, R, 2 BB
Dawel Lugo – 1/4, K, E
Mitch Nay – 1/4, R, RBI
Jorge Saez – 2/4, 2 RBI
D.J. Jones – 0/0, R
Eric Arce – 0/3, 2 K
Jonathan Davis – 0/0, R, BB
Matt Dean – 1/4, 2B, 2 RBI, K
John Silviano – 0/4, 3 K
Tim Locastro – 1/3, R

Pitching:

Tom Robson – 4 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 0 BB, 4 K, 1 HR
Jairo Labourt – 3 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 6 K
Yeyfry Del Rosario – W, 1 IP, 1 H
Brett Barber – S, 1 IP, K

Jay Blue’s Player of the Game: Jorge Saez

Gulf Coast League Blue Jays (5-5)

The GCL Blue Jays squared things in a rematch against the GCL Yankees2 team with a 4-2 win on Thursday. Starting pitcher Alejandro Solarte came out with four strong innings, giving up two runs (one earned) on four hits while striking out two. Jimmy Cordero had his first good appearance this season, pitching two shutout innings while walking one and striking out three. Cordero was followed by two non-drafted free agents, Cale Wine and Phil Kish who finished off the game with three shutout innings combined. The offense was driven by Milton, Ontario native Nathan DeSouza, a 26^th round draft pick from 2012. While not off to a great start this season, he had a banner day with two hits including his first home run of the season. Andres De Aza had another two hits while Thomas Collins III had the only other extra-base hit for the Blue Jays and Rolando Segovia drove in the other two runs.

Hitting:

Franklin Barreto – 1/3, 2 BB, K, PO, CS, E
Rolando Segovia – 1/4, 2 RBI
Thomas Collins III – 1/3, 2B, BB
Edwin Fuentes – 1/3, BB, K
Dan Jansen – 0/3, BB, K
Daniel Devonshire – 0/3, 2 K
Gabriel Cenas – 0/1, K
Andres De Aza – 2/4, R, K, SB
Nathan DeSouza – 2/4, 2 R, HR, 2 RBI
Trey Pascazi – 1/4, R, 2 K

Pitching:

Alejandro Solarte – 4 IP, 4 H, 2 R (1 ER), 0 BB, 2 K
Jimmy Cordero – W, 2 IP, 1 BB, 3 K
Cale Wine – 2 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 3 K
Phil Kish – S, 1 IP, 1 H

Jay Blue’s Player of the Game: Nathan DeSouza

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