Buy 1 K, Get 1 Free! July 25 Minor League Report

Buffalo Bisons (53-51)

Despite striking out sixteen times as a team, the Buffalo Bisons rallied to beat the Columbus Clippers 7-6 with four runs in the bottom of the ninth inning. The Bisons got a walk from Clint Robinson followed by three straight singles by Mike McCoy, Anthony Gose and Mike Nickeas to score the first run in the comeback. Kevin Pillar hit a sac fly to score McCoy and Moises Sierra hit the walk-off double to score Gose and Munenori Kawasaki (who had pinch-run for Nickeas). Starter Justin Germano got hit hard, giving up six runs (five earned) on eleven hits and a walk in just four and a third innings. Mickey Storey, Bobby Korecky and Brad Lincoln shut the door on the Clippers, going four and two-thirds shutout innings to keep the Herd in the game. On offense, Kevin Pillar led the offense, going two for four with a double, a triple and two RBI. Ryan Goins had two hits and a walk of his own and Mike Nickeas had another two hits with a run and three RBI.

Roster Notes: 1B Luis Jimenez was activated from the DL and 2B Jim Negrych was placed on the DL.

Mar 13, 2013; Bradenton, FL, USA; Toronto Blue Jays catcher Mike Nickeas (15) tags out Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Russell Martin (left) at home to end the bottom of the third inning of a spring training game at McKechnie Field. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

Hitting:

Kevin Pillar – 2/4, 2B, 3B, 2 RBI, 2 K
Ryan Goins – 2/4, BB, 2 K
Moises Sierra – 1/5, 2B, 2 RBI, 4 K
Mauro Gomez – 0/2, 2 BB, K, PO
Andy LaRoche – 0/4, 2 K
Clint Robinson – 0/2, 2 R, 2 BB, 2 K
Mike McCoy – 1/4, 2 R, K, E
Anthony Gose – 1/4, R, K
Mike Nickeas – 2/4, R, 3 RBI, K
Munenori Kawasaki – 0/0, R

Pitching:

Justin Germano – 4 1/3 IP, 11 H, 6 R (5 ER), 1 BB, 5 K
Mickey Storey – 1 2/3 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 1 K
Bobby Korecky – 2 IP, 2 K
Brad Lincoln – W, 1 IP, 1 K

Jay Blue’s Player of the Game: Mike Nickeas

New Hampshire Fisher Cats (52-51)

While Sean Nolin didn’t have his best stuff, he would have had to have been perfect to stave off a 5-0 loss to the Altoona Curve. Ethan Hollingsworth, Jason Townsend, Jhonathan Ramos and Ryan Beckman combined to no-hit the Fisher Cats on Thursday night. In fact, only two batters reached base: Brian Van Kirk who took a walk and Adam Loewen who was hit by a pitch. On the other side of the ball, Nolin got lit up for four runs on eight hits and three walks in five innings on the night and Matt Wright gave up the fifth run in three innings of work.

Hitting:

Adam Loewen – 0/3, HBP
Andy Burns – 0/4, K
A.J. Jimenez – 0/3
Brad Glenn – 0/3, OF Asst.
Kevin Nolan – 0/3
Gabe Jacobo – 0/3
Ryan Schimpf – 0/3, 3 K
Brian Van Kirk – 0/2, BB
Jon Talley – 0/3

Pitching:

Sean Nolin – L, 5 IP, 8 H, 4 R, 3 BB, 5 K, 1 HR
Matt Wright – 3 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 3 K
Chorye Spoone – 1 iP, 1 H, 2 BB

Jay Blue’s Player of the Game: Matt Wright

Dunedin Blue Jays (49-48)

K.C. Hobson continues to be an unstoppable force and Drew Hutchison was mystifying the Jupiter Hammerheads as the Dunedin Blue Jays won 7-1. Hutchison continued his rehab assignment, going four scoreless innings and giving up a hit and a walk while tallying eight strikeouts. His velocity was reported in the 92-93 mph range consistently throughout the outing. Scott Copeland followed with four shutout innings of his own and Justin Jackson made his first appearance in Dunedin, pitching an inning and giving up a run on a solo home run. Hobson had another terrific night, going two for four with two doubles and four RBI while Shane Optiz went three for four with a double, two runs and an RBI. Jon Berti stole his league leading forty-fourth base of the season. Outfielder Nick Baligod left the game, forcing Marcus Knecht, the DH, to go to left field and the pitchers to hit for themselves.

Roster Moves: There was a flurry of moves today for the Dunedin Blue Jays. First of all, Justin Jackson’s promotion from Lansing was finally confirmed and RHP Marco Grifantini was released. Also, RHP Austin Bibens-Dirkx was placed on the Temporarily Inactive List and SS Peter Mooney was placed on the DL with an injured ankle. C Chris Schaeffer was activated off the DL.

Hitting:

Jon Berti – 1/4, R, RBI, SB
Shane Opitz – 3/4, 2 R, 2B, RBI, SB
Mike Crouse – 1/4, R, 2 K, SB
K.C. Hobson – 2/4, R, 2 2B, 4 RBI
Marcus Knecht – 1/4, 2 K
Gustavo Pierre – 1/3, RBI, K, SF
Nick Baligod – 0/1
Drew Hutchison – 0/1, K
Scott Copeland – 0/1, K
Chris Schaeffer – 0/1, K
Derrick Chung – 1/4, R, K
Matt Newman – 1/3, R, K

Pitching:

Drew Hutchison – 4 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 8 K
Scott Copeland – W, 4 IP, 4 H, 1 BB
Justin Jackson – 1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 HR

Jay Blue’s Player of the Game: Shane Opitz and Drew Hutchison

Lansing Lugnuts (42-59)

Daniel Norris started off well but couldn’t get through his whole start without the Dayton Dragons getting to him in an 8-0 loss for the Lansing Lugnuts. Norris had five strikeouts (and one run against) in his first two innings, but the Dragons got to him for five more in the third and fourth. Tucker Donahue gave up the final two runs in his inning and two-thirds but the Lugnuts last three pitchers shut the door on the Dragons. Chad Girodo (ninth round pick) pitched two scoreless innings and sixth rounder Matt Boyd made his professional debut, pitching a shutout eighth in which he gave up two hits but also struck out two. On the offense, Dwight Smith, Jr. and Emilio Guerrero each had two hits while Christian Lopes and Jordan Leyland had the other two.

Roster Moves: LHP Matt Boyd was assigned to Lansing and Justin Jackson was promoted to Dunedin.

Hitting:

Dalton Pompey – 0/4, K
Christian Lopes – 1/4
Dwight Smith, Jr. – 2/4
Jordan Leyland – 1/4, K
Kevin Patterson – 0/4
Santiago Nessy – 0/3, E, PB
Emilio Guerrero – 2/3, K, CS
Chris Hawkins – 0/3
Kellen Sweeney – 0/2, BB, K

Pitching:

Daniel Norris – L, 3 1/3 IP, 5 H, 6 R, 3 BB, 6 K, 1 HR
Tucker Donahue – 1 2/3 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 2 BB
Chad Girodo – 2 IP, 1 H, 2 K
Matt Boyd – 1 IP, 2 H, 2 K
Ian Kadish – 1 IP

Jay Blue’s Player of the Game: Dwight Smith, Jr.

Vancouver Canadians (23-16)

July 24 Game:

Another game and the Vancouver Canadians pick up another win against the Spokane Indians 2-0. Strong pitching is a continuing theme for the C’s as Colton Turner took the ball this time and went six scoreless innings, giving up just four hits and one walk. Justin James and Matt Johnson picked things up the rest of the way to complete the shutout. Dickie Thon had a two-for-three day and scored a run while Peterborough-born catcher Michael Reeves continues to hit, raising his batting average to .356 with a two-for-four game. L.B. Dantzler had the team’s only extra-base hit with his thirteenth double of the season.

Hitting:

Chaz Frank – 0/3, BB, K
Dickie Thon – 2/3, R, BB
L.B. Dantzler – 1/4, R, 2B, 2 K
Andy Fermin – 0/3, RBI, SF
Justin Atkinson – 1/4, K, SB
Michael Reeves – 2/4, RBI, K
Brenden Kalfus – 1/4, 3 K
Christian Vazquez – 0/4
Ian Parmley – 0/4, 3 K

Pitching:

Colton Turner – W, 6 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K
Justin James – 2 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 1 K
Matt Johnson – S, 1 IP

Jay Blue’s Player of the Game: Colton Turner

Bluefield Blue Jays (21-11)

The Bluefield Blue Jays lost a close game to the Danville Braves 2-1 on Thursday. Despite the Braves making three errors in the field, the Blue Jays couldn’t get any offense going striking out ten times against Danville’s pitching. The Blue Jays only had two hits, an RBI double by Dawel Lugo and a single by D.J. Davis (who was then caught stealing). Chase DeJong had another strong start, going four innings and giving up one run on two hits with four strikeouts while Shane Dawson followed with a run on three hits and two walks (and three strikeouts) in his four innings.

Hitting:

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

Pitching:

Chase DeJong – 4 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 0 BB, 4 K
Shane Dawson – L, 4 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 3 K

Jay Blue’s Player of the Game: Chase DeJong and Shane Dawson

Gulf Coast League Blue Jays (13-14)

Game Postponed due to rain.

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