Happ’s A-Coming Back: July 23 Minor League Report

Buffalo Bisons (51-51)

The Buffalo Bisons scored late but due to an outstanding effort from the pitchers, they were able to beat the Columbus Clippers 4-1. J.A. Happ made his first Triple-A start on his rehab and pitched four strong innings, giving up one run on three hits and two walks with three strikeouts. Happ even fell short of his pitch count, only throwing sixty pitches, and he got himself up to seventy-five with a side session beneath the concourse. Three pitchers who have thrown with the Blue Jays this year were among the four that followed Happ including Sergio Santos (one scoreless inning), Jeremy Jeffress (two and a third scoreless innings) and Neil Wagner (a third of an inning). Moises Sierra had the big stick of the night with three singles and a stolen base while Mauro Gomez hit a two-run home run.

May 7, 2013; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher J.A. Happ (48) throws a pitch during the second inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Hitting:

Kevin Pillar – 0/4, K
Munenori Kawasaki – 1/4, 2 K
Moises Sierra – 3/4, 2 R, SB
Mauro Gomez – 1/3, 2 R, HR, 2 RBI, BB
Clint Robinson – 1/4, 2B, RBI, 2 K
Andy LaRoche – 0/3
Ryan Goins – 1/3, 2B, 2 K
Sean Ochinko – 0/3, 2 K
Anthony Gose – 0/3, 2 K

Pitching:

J.A. Happ – 4 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 3 K
Sergio Santos – 1 IP, 1 K
Jeremy Jeffress – W, 2 1/3 IP, 2 H
Tommy Hottovy – 1 1/3 IP, 1 K
Neil Wagner – 1/3 IP, 1 K

Jay Blue’s Player of the Game: Moises Sierra

New Hampshire Fisher Cats (52-49)

The New Hampshire Fisher Cats fell just short, losing to the Harrisburg Senators 6-5 after the Senators scored two runs in the top of the ninth. Deck McGuire gave up four runs in his six innings on seven hits and two walks while Tyson Brummett continued his hot streak by pitching two perfect innings with three strikeouts. Alan Farina, however, blew the save by giving up two runs on four hits and a walk in the ninth. The loss wasted strong performances from Kevin Nolan (three for four), Kevin Ahrens (two for four with a home run), Andy Burns (two for five with a double) and Brad Glenn (two for five with a double).

Hitting:

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

Pitching:

Deck McGuire – 6 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 2 BB, 4 K
Tyson Brummett – 2 IP, 3 K
Alan Farina – L, 1 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 1 BB

Jay Blue’s Player of the Game: Kevin Nolan

Dunedin Blue Jays (47-48)

The Dunedin Blue Jays lost a heartbreaker 6-5 to the Charlotte Stone Crabs after Blake McFarland blew his fifth save of the season. Starter Aaron Sanchez may not have had his best stuff but he only gave up two runs on five hits (and two hit batters) in his five innings. The batters combined for twelve hits, including two each for Jon Berti, Peter Mooney, K.C. Hobson, Oliver Dominguez and Matt Newman. K.C. Hobson went deep with his fifteenth home run of the season (and second in as many games) while Marcus Knecht added his seventh of the season and Matt Newman hit his first triple of the year.

Hitting:

Jon Berti – 2/5, CS
Peter Mooney – 2/5, R, K
K.C. Hobson – 2/5, R, HR, 2 RBI
Marcus Knecht – 1/3, R, HR, RBI, BB
Nick Baligod – 0/4, E
Gustavo Pierre – 0/4
Oliver Dominguez – 2/4, R, K
Derrick Chung – 1/3, R, BB
Matt Newman – 2/4, 3B, 2 RBI

Pitching:

Aaron Sanchez – 5 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 0 BB, 2 K
Dayton Marze – 2 IP, 1 K
Tyler Ybarra – 1 IP, 2 BB
Blake McFarland – 1/3 IP, 3 H, 4 R (3 ER), 1 BB, 1 K, 1 HR
Tony Davis – 1/3 IP

Jay Blue’s Player of the Game: K.C. Hobson

Lansing Lugnuts (41-58)

Scheduled Off Day

Vancouver Canadians (22-16)

July 22 Game:

Vancouver scored all their runs in the fourth inning, beating the Eugene Emeralds 4-2 on Monday night. Starter Kyle Anderson gave up two runs, both unearned, over six and two-thirds strong innings, giving up only six hits and one walk. Despite eleven hits, the offense only managed the four runs. L.B. Dantzler had the big hit, driving in two of the four runs with a two-RBI double in the fourth, and added a single. Chaz Frank and Dickie Thon each had two hits while Canadian Justin Atkinson went three for four with a double. Jordan Leyland and Daniel Klein came out of the game early to the news that they were being promoted to Lansing.

Hitting:

Chaz Frank – 2/4, R, K
Dickie Thon – 2/4, R
L.B. Dantzler – 2/4, R, 2B, RBI
Jordan Leyland – 1/2, RBI
Brenden Kalfus – 0/2, R
Justin Atkinson – 3/4, 2B, RBI
Daniel Klein – 0/2, K
Michael Reeves – 0/1
Melvin Garcia – 1/3
David Harris – 0/3
Shaun Valeriote – 0/2
Matt Hitt – 0/1

Pitching:

Kyle Anderson – W, 6 2/3 IP, 6 H, 2 R (0 ER), 1 BB, 2 K
Joe Spano – 1 1/3 IP, 2 K
Chuck Ghysels – S, 1 IP, 1 H, 1 K

Jay Blue’s Player of the Game: L.B. Dantzler

Bluefield Blue Jays (20-11)

The Bluefield Blue Jays continue to roll, winning another game 5-1 over the Danville Braves. Tom Robson continues to impress, pitching five shutout innings and giving up only four hits and one walk while striking out six. Adonys Cardona relieved him with four innings, giving up only one unearned run on three hits and one walk while striking out four. The batters made the most of their four hits (all doubles), showing patience by taking seven walks. Catcher Garrett Custons went one for one with a double and two walks while Derrick Loveless had a hit and a walk. Matt Dean also had two walks and went oh for two with a run scored and an RBI.

Hitting:

D.J. Davis – 0/4, RBI, K
Tim Locastro – 1/5, R, 2B, K, E
Derrick Loveless – 1/3, R, 2B, BB, K
Mitch Nay – 0/3, R, BB, K
Dawel Lugo – 0/4, RBI
Jonathan Davis – 1/3, R, 2B
John Silviano – 0/3, BB, K
Matt Dean – 0/2, R, RBI, 2 BB, K
Garrett Custons – 1/1, 2B, RBI, 2 K

Pitching:

Tom Robson – W, 5 IP, 4 H, 1 BB, 6 K
Adonys Cardona – S, 4 IP, 3 H, 1 R (0 ER), 1 BB, 4 K

Jay Blue’s Player of the Game: Tom Robson and Adonys Cardona

Gulf Coast League Blue Jays (12-14)

The GCL Blue Jays got back at the GCL Astros by beating them 6-1 on Tuesday. Starter Corey Gorman, an undrafted free agent, went five outstanding innings to pick up his second win, giving up only three hits and striking out six. Matthew Smoral is back on the right track after pitching two scoreless innings, giving up only a hit and a walk while striking out two. 2013 fourth rounder Evan Smith followed with his first pro save by pitching the final two innings, giving up one unearned run on one hit and two walks. Kenny Wilson started his rehab by going oh for three with the GCL Blue Jays. He was hoping to build on a strong season last year but got injured in the early going this year. Thomas Collins III went two for four to bring his batting average up to .373 and Gabriel Cenas went two for four with a double and three RBI. Rowdy Tellez went one for four in his second game.

Hitting:

Kenny Wilson – 0/3, K
Andres De Aza – 1/1, RBI
Franklin Barreto – 0/3, K
Thomas Collins III – 2/4, R, K
Rowdy Tellez – 1/4
Edwin Fuentes – 1/4, R, RBI, K
Dan Jansen – 0/2, 2 R, 2 BB
Sean Hurley – 0/2, R, 2 BB, K
Gabriel Cenas – 2/4, 2B, 3 RBI, 2 K
Koby Kraemer – 1/4, R, 2B, RBI

Pitching:

Corey Gorman – W, 5 IP, 3 H, 6 K
Matthew Smoral – 2 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 2 K
Evan Smith – S, 2 IP, 1 H, 1 R (0 ER), 2 BB, 1 K

Jay Blue’s Player of the Game: Corey Gorman

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