Pitching! Some Good, Some Bad: August 2 Minor League Report

Buffalo Bisons (57-55)

For the second consecutive night, a former Toronto Blue Jay lefty made the start for the Buffalo Bisons. This time, the outcome wasn’t as good with the Bisons getting one-hit by the Columbus Clippers in an 8-0 loss. In fact, the Bisons didn’t get a hit until the ninth inning when Anthony Gose had the sole base knock for the Herd. Rehabbing starter J.A. Happ made the start and hit his pitch limit in the fifth inning and ended up with a final line of four and two-thirds innings pitched, surrending three runs on six hits and three walks with six strikeouts. Joel Carreno got lit up for another three runs.

Roster Move: IF Jim Negrych was activated off the DL and RHP Neil Wagner was promoted to the Blue Jays.

May 23, 2013; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays left fielder Anthony Gose (8) singles in the eighth inning against the Baltimore Orioles at the Rogers Centre. Toronto defeated Baltimore 12-6. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports

Hitting:

Anthony Gose – 1/4, K
Kevin Pillar – 0/4, 2 K
Jim Negrych – 0/3
Mauro Gomez – 0/3, 2 K
Luis Jimenez – 0/3, 2 K
Moises Sierra – 0/3, 2 K
Ryan Goins –0/3, 2K
Sean Ochinko – 0/3, K, PB
Munenori Kawasaki – 0/2, K, E
Mike McCoy – 0/1, K

Pitching:

J.A. Happ – L, 4 2/3 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 3 BB, 6 K
Buddy Carlyle – 1 IP, 1 H, 1 R (0 ER), 1 K
Tommy Hottovy – 1/3 IP, 1 H, 1 R (0 ER), 1 BB
Joel Carreno – 1 1/3 IP, 1 H, 3 R, 3 BB, 1 K
Bobby Korecky – 2/3 IP, 2 H, 1 K

Jay Blue’s Player of the Game: None

New Hampshire Fisher Cats (54-56)

The Hampshire Fisher Cats got some great pitching and some big bombs in a 5-2 win over the Richmond Flying Squirrels. Kyle Drabek got his first start with the Fisher Cats, going four innings and giving up just a solo home run and a walk and struck out three. Deck McGuire came in to relieve in kind of a piggy-back situation and picked up the win, going four innings and giving up one run on three hits and two walks while whiffing five batters. Scott Gracey picked up the save with a shutout ninth inning. The offense got going on back to back home runs from Brad Glenn and Kevin Nolan in the sixth inning to account for three of the five runs while Adam Loewen and Lance Zawadzki each had a pair of hits.

Hitting:

Adam Loewen – 2/3, 2 R, 2B, BB, SB
Lance Zawadzki – 2/4, RBI
A.J. Jimenez – 1/4, R, RBI, K, SB
Brad Glenn – 1/4, R, HR, 2 RBI, K
Kevin Nolan – 1/4, R, HR, RBI, 2 K
Gabe Jacobo – 0/3, BB, K
Ryan Schimpf – 0/3, BB, 2 K
Kevin Ahrens – 0/4, 2 K
Jon Talley – 0/4, 2 K

Pitching:

Kyle Drabek – 4 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 3 K, 1 HR
Deck McGuire – W, 4 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 5 K
Scott Gracey – S, 1 IP, 2 BB

Jay Blue’s Player of the Game: Adam Loewen

Dunedin Blue Jays (53-52)

It appears that it was only Aaron Sanchez holding the Palm Beach Cardinals at bay in a 5-1 loss by the Dunedin Blue Jays. Sanchez went five strong innings, only giving up three hits and three walks (and play-by-play man Tyler Murray said that walks were all on pitches that probably just missed) while striking out five. Kramer Champlin, in his second appearance since being promoted from Lansing, got stuck with the loss, giving up all five Cardinal runs over two and two-thirds innings. The D-Jays only managed to get two hits, one each by Shane Opitz and K.C. Hobson who drove in the team’s only run.

Hitting:

Jon Berti – 0/3, BB, K, 2 CS, PO
Shane Opitz – 1/3, R, BB, K
Mike Crouse – 0/2, 2 BB, K
K.C. Hobson – 1/4, RBI
Gustavo Pierre – 0/4, 2 K
Matt Newman – 0/2, BB
Derrick Chung – 0/3
Nick Baligod – 0/2, BB
Jorge Flores – 0/3

Pitching:

Aaron Sanchez – 5 IP, 3 H, 3 BB, 5 K
Kramer Champlin – L, 2 2/3 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 2 K, 1 HR
Tyler Ybarra – 1/3 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 1 K
Blake McFarland – 1 IP, 1 H, 2 K

Jay Blue’s Player of the Game: Aaron Sanchez

Lansing Lugnuts (47-62)

Starting pitcher Taylor Cole showed some of the dominance that he had last year in Vancouver in a 5-1 win for the Lansing Lugnuts over the South Bend Silver Hawks. Sixes were wild for Cole as he went six innings and gave up one run on six hits with six strikeouts. Griffin Murphy had a strong, three-inning outing to earn the save, giving up only two hits and striking out three. While Dwight Smith, jr. only had one hit, it was a big one, going deep in the fifth inning. Jordan Leyland had two hits and three RBI, hitting his first home run in the Midwest League and Carlos Ramirez had another two hits for the Lugnuts.

Roster Move: RP Tucker Donahue was placed on the 7-day DL for the Lugnuts

Hitting:

Dwight Smith, Jr. – 1/5, R, HR, RBI, 2 K
Emilio Guerrero – 0/2, 2 BB, E
Christian Lopes – 0/4, 2 K
Kevin Patterson – 0/2, R, 2 BB
Carlos Ramirez –2/4, R
Santiago Nessy – 1/4, R, K
Chris Hawkins – 0/4
Jordan Leyland – 2/4, R, HR, 3 RBI, K
Kellen Sweeney – 0/4, RBI

Pitching:

Taylor Cole – W, 6 IP, 1 R, 0 BB, 6 K
Griffin Murphy – S, 3 IP, 2 H, 3 BB

Jay Blue’s Player of the Game: Taylor Cole

Vancouver Canadians (27-22)

August 1 Game:

The Vancouver Canadians lost a tough one to the Hillsboro Hops 4-3 despite making a late charge and scoring one in the bottom of the ninth. Kyle Anderson made a solid start, going six innings and giving up three runs (two earned) on seven hits and 2 walks with four strikeouts but still picked up the loss. Garrett Pickens threw two excellent innings and Brandon Dorsett gave up the eventual winner in the ninth. Justin Atkinson had the only two-hit game, with a single and a double while Dickie Thon went one for two with a double and drove in two runs.

Hitting:

Chaz Frank – 1/5, R, 2B, K
Ian Parmley – 1/4, K, CS
Dickie Thon – 1/2, 2B, 2 RBI, K
Andy Fermin – 0/4
Justin Atkinson – 2/4, 2B, K
Michael Reeves – 1/4, K
Seth Conner – 0/0, R
Dan Arcila – 0/2, 2 BB, SB, CS
David Harris – 0/4, RBI, 2 E
Melvin Garcia – 1/3, R, 3B, E

Pitching:

Kyle Anderson – L, 6 IP, 7 H, 3 R (2 ER), 2 BB, 4 K
Garrett Pickens – 2 IP, 1 BB, 3 K
Brandon Dorsett – 1 IP, 1 H, 1 R

Jay Blue’s Player of the Game: Justin Atkinson

August 2 Game:

After giving up five runs in the top of the ninth to the Hillsboro Hops, the Vancouver Canadians managed to score on in the bottom of the tenth to walk off with a 9-8 win. The Canadians had sixteen hits, including six doubles, as they scored nine runs on Friday. David Harris was the star, going four for five with a double and two runs. Justin Atkinson, Andy Fermin, Brenden Kalfus and Chaz Frank each also had two hits. Starter Jeremy Gabryszwski was dealing through five innings but ended up giving up three runs in six innings on four hits and two walks with two strikeouts. Chuck Ghysels came on to finish the game but couldn’t get through the ninth, giving up five runs (all unearned) on two hits and two walks despite getting the only two outs he got via the strikeout. Joe Spano relieved Ghysels with an inning and two-thirds of scorless ball to come away with the win.

Hitting:

Chaz Frank – 2/5, 2 R
Brenden Kalfus – 2/5, R, 2B, RBI, K, SF
Dickie Thon – 1/1, R, 2B, RBI
Christian Vazquez – 1/5, R, RBI, 2 E
Andy Fermin – 2/5, 2 R, 2 2B, RBI, K
Justin Atkinson – 2/4, RBI, BB, K, E
Michael Reeves – 1/5, K
Melvin Garcia – 1/5, 2B, RBI, K, OF Asst.
Seth Conner – 0/5, 3 K
David Harris – 4/5, 2 R, 2B

Pitching:

Jeremy Gabryszwski – 6 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 2 BB, 2 K
Matt Johnson – 2 IP, 2 H, 2 K
Chuck Ghysels – 2/3 IP, 2 H, 5 R (0 ER), 2 BB, 2 K
Joe Spano – W, 1 1/3 IP, 1 H, 2 BB, 3 K

Jay Blue’s Player of the Game: David Harris

Bluefield Blue Jays (28-13)

The Bluefield Blue Jays continue to dominate the opposition, picking up an 11-3 victory over the Elizabethton Twins. Alberto Tirado got the start and wasn’t at his best, giving up two runs on seven hits and three walks over four innings. Adaric Kelly picked up the win, going two and a third innings and surrendering only an unearned run on two hits and two walks and Alvido Jimenez mopped the game up, earning a save over two and two-thirds innings in which he gave up only two hits and struck out four. The batters have definitely found their groove with Matt Dean striking for three hits including a double as well as scoring a run, driving one in and taking a walk. Jorge Saez, Mitch Nay and Nico Taylor also had two hits and Taylor had a particularly impressive game, hitting a single, a double, driving in three and taking two walks. Mitch Nay also reached base five times, going two for three with two runs scored, two RBI and three walks.

Hitting:

Timothy Locastro – 0/2, K
Angel Rojas – 0/2, 2 R, K
Jonathan Davis – 1/5, 2 R, 3B, BB, 2 K
Nico Taylor – 2/4, R, 2B, 3 RBI, 2 BB
Mitch Nay – 2/3, 2 R, 2 RBI, 3 BB
Dawel Lugo – 1/5, RBI, 2 K
Matt Dean – 3/4, R, 2B, BB, SB
Jorge Saez – 2/4, R, 2 RBI, BB, 2 PB
Jesus Gonzalez – 0/3, R, RBI, 2 BB
D.J. Jones – 0/4, R, 3 K

Pitching:

Alberto Tirado – 7 H, 2 R, 3 BB, 3 K
Adaric Kelly – W, 2 1/3 IP, 2 H, 1 R (0 ER), 2 BB, 2 K
Alvido Jimenez – S, 2 2/3 IP, 2 H, 4 K

Jay Blue’s Player of the Game: Mitch Nay

Gulf Coast League Blue Jays (16-20)

The GCL Blue Jays split a double header with the Tigers, starting with a 3-0 loss (a makeup of a game postponed from July 17) in which the Blue Jays were one-hit (just like the Bisons). In the second game, the Jays scored four runs in the bottom of the seventh (the last inning) to win 5-4.

In the makeup game, a trio of international free agents pitched for the Blue Jays with Francisco Diaz having the best go of it, going three innings, giving up one run on four hits with four strikeouts. First baseman Daniel Devonshire had the only hit for the Blue Jays.

The “A” team played in the other game with Franklin Barreto hitting two doubles and Thomas Collins III getting two hits, a single and a double, to lead the team to victory. Chad Beck started his rehab assignment with a rough day, giving up three runs (two earned) on three hits and a walk and only retiring one batter. Jesus Tinoco came in to pitch very well, giving up just one run on one hit and two walks over five and two-thirds innings while striking out five. Sean Ratcliffe picked up the win throwing a perfect seventh with two strikeouts.

Roster Moves: RHP Chad Beck was assigned to the GCL Blue Jays for rehab from Buffalo. C Andres Sotillo was promoted to Bluefield and C Michael De La Cruz was brought over the GCL from the Blue Jays team in the Dominican Summer League.

Game 1:

Hitting:

Will Dupont – 0/2, BB
Koby Kraemer – 0/3
Thomas Collins III – 0/3, 2 K
Nathan DeSouza – 0/3, 2 K
Sean Hurley – 0/3, K
Michael De La Cruz – 0/2
Daniel Devonshire – 1/2
Andres De Aza – 0/2, OF Asst.
Andrew Florides – 0/2, K, E

Pitching:

Oscar Cabrera – L, 2 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 4 BB, 3 K
Francisco Diaz – 3 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 4 K
Jose Fernandez – 1 IP, 1 K

Jay Blue’s Player of the Game: Francisco Diaz

Game 2:

Hitting:

John Tolisano – 0/3, R, BB, K, E
Franklin Barreto – 2/4, R, 2 2B, 2 RBI, K
Thomas Collins III – 2/4, R, 2B, RBI
Rowdy Tellez – 2/3, 2 RBI, SF
Edwin Fuentes – 0/2, BB, K
Gabriel Cenas – 0/3, K
Dan Jansen – 1/3, R
Sean Hurley – 1/2, R, BB, K
Josh Almonte – 0/3, K, E

Pitching:

Chad Beck – 1/3 IP, 3 H, 3 R (2 ER), 1 BB
Jesus Tinoco – 5 2/3 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 5 K
Sean Ratcliffe – W, 1 IP, 2 K

Jay Blue’s Player of the Game: Jesus Tinoco

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