Pillar Promoted, Deck Goes the Distance: August 14 Minor League Report

Buffalo Bisons (65-60)

With a flurry of roster activity (see below) the Buffalo Bisons beat the Rochester Red Wings 8-3 on Wednesday night. Clint Robinson got off the schneid with his first home run in Triple-A while Moises Sierra blasted his tenth as part of a two-for-four game. Jim Negrych went two for four, as did Ricardo Nanita (with two doubles) and Sean Ochinko (with a single and a double and two RBI). The other big story was the pitching. All four Bisons pitchers on Wednesday have ML experience and are considered to still be on the upswing. Drew Hutchison wasn’t incredibly sharp, pitching three innings and giving up two runs on four hits and two walks but he did strike out four. Joel Carreno went two innings and gave up one unearned run on one hit and Kyle Drabek picked up the win with three perfect innings in which he only three thirty-two pitches and struck out three. Jeremy Jeffress finished the game off. Anthony Gose, who is expected to be recalled by the Blue Jays on Thursday, went one for three with a run, a stolen base and a walk but struck out twice.

Roster Moves: Munenori Kawasaki and Kevin Pillar were called up to the Blue Jays. Kyle Drabek was promoted from New Hampshire while Todd Redmond and Thad Weber have been previously promoted to the Blue Jays as well. A pitcher is expected to be sent down to Buffalo on Thursday to make room for Anthony Gose. Word is also coming down that Brad Glenn will be promoted from New Hampshire to play in the recently emptied outfield.

Hitting:

Mike McCoy – 1/3, K
Anthony Gose – 1/3, R, BB, 2 K, SB
Jim Negrych – 2/4, R, RBI, E
Andy LaRoche – 1/4, 2 R, 2B, K
Clint Robinson – 1/4, R, HR, 2 RBI
Ryan Goins – 0/4, 2 K
Moises Sierra – 2/4, R, HR, 3 RBI, OF Asst.
Ricardo Nanita – 2/4, 2 R, 2 2B
Sean Ochinko – 2/4, 2B, 2 RBI, CS, PB

Pitching:

Drew Hutchison – 3 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 4 K
Joel Carreno – 2 IP, 1 H, 1 R (0 ER), 1 K
Kyle Drabek – W, 3 IP, 3 K
Jeremy Jeffress – 1 IP, 1 BB, 1 K

Jay Blue’s Player of the Game: Moises Sierra

New Hampshire Fisher Cats (58-63)

The New Hampshire Fisher Cats took another game from the New Britain Rock Cats 7-2. Deck McGuire had possibly his best start of the year, throwing a complete game at the Rock Cats, giving up just two runs on six hits (including one home run) and striking out six. McGuire threw 108 pitches (73 strikes) and had ten groundouts and just five fly outs. For the hitters, the club only had seven hits but a John Tolisano double drove in three runs in while Gabe Jacobo also hit a double and Adam Loewen hit a triple. Brad Glenn went one for three with a walk, a sac fly and two runs scored. Kenny Wilson also had a great game, getting on base three times with two singles and a walk and stealing two bases.

Roster Moves: Kyle Drabek was promoted to the Buffalo Bisons while pitcher Chorye Spoone was activated off the DL. Word is that Brad Glenn will head to Buffalo on Thursday.

Deck McGuire warms up for a game with the New Hampshire Fisher Cats in Manchester New Hampshire. Mandatory Credit: Jay Blue

Hitting:

Kenny Wilson – 2/4, RBI, BB, 2 SB
A.J. Jimenez – 0/4, BB, CS
Adam Loewen – 1/5, R, 3B, K
Brad Glenn – 1/3, 2 R, RBI, BB, SF
Gabe Jacobo – 1/5, R, 2B, 2 K
Kevin Nolan – 0/3, R, RBI, BB
Ryan Schimpf – 1/4, RBI, K
John Talley – 0/2, R, BB
John Tolisano – 1/4, R, 2B, 3 RBI, K

Pitching:

Deck McGuire – W, 9 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 6 K, 1 HR

Jay Blue’s Player of the Game: Deck McGuire

Dunedin Blue Jays (59-57)

Top prospect Aaron Sanchez returned to Dunedin and pitched an outstanding game for the Blue Jays in a 5-0 win. Sanchez came out of his last start due to a blister problem in the first inning but was dominant in his five innings. Sanchez only gave up four hits and walked one while striking out six and didn’t give up a fly ball. Relieving Sanchez was Wil Browning who threw three excellent innings to keep Lakeland off the scoreboard. The offense got what it needed in the first inning off of Octavio Dotel and got a single and double from K.C. Hobson as well as doubles from Shane Opitz (who’s now hitting .303 for Dunedin), Gustavo Pierre and Pierce Ranking (interestingly playing right field). Catcher Derrick Chung drove in a pair with a one-for-three night. Oliver Dominguez hit his second home run of the year, going one for three as well.

Hitting:

Jon Berti – 1/3, R, BB, K, CS
Shane Opitz – 1/3, R. 2B, BB, CS
Marcus Knecht – 0/3, RBI, 2 K, SF
K.C. Hobson – 2/4, R, 2B, RBI, K
Gustavo Pierre – 1/4, R, 2B, K
Matt Newman – 0/3, BB
Derrick Chung – 1/3, 2 RBI
Oliver Dominguez – 1/3, R, HR, RBI
Pierce Rankin – 1/3, 2B, K

Pitching:

Aaron Sanchez – W, 5 IP, 4 H, 1 BB, 6 K
Wil Browning – 3 IP, 2 H
Ajay Meyer – 1 IP

Jay Blue’s Player of the Game: Aaron Sanchez

Lansing Lugnuts (52-69)

The Lansing Lugnuts were relieved to get out of Midland, Michigan where they lost three close games and beat up the West Michigan Whitecaps 6-2 in Grand Rapids on Wednesday. Starter Ben White continues his strong pitching, going six innings and giving up just two unearned runs on three hits and two walks while striking out five. Javier Avendano returned from the DL to pitch a scoreless inning out of the bullpen while Ian Kadish and Arik Sikula each added one of their own. Emilio Guerrero had a great night at the plate, going three for four with a single, a double and a triple and scored two runs. Kellen Sweeney had a long overdue good game, going two for four with three RBI and his first stolen base of the season. On the minus side of the ledger, Sweeney made a throwing error leading to the two Whitecap runs. Santiago Nessy continues his hot hitting with a two-for-four game.

Roster Notes: RHP Javier Avendano was activate off the DL.

Hitting:

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

Pitching:

Ben White – W, 6 IP, 3 H, 2 R (0 ER), 2 BB, 5 K
Javier Avendano – 1 IP, 1 BB, 1 K
Ian Kadish – 1 IP, 1 K
Arik Sikula – 1 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 1 K

Jay Blue’s Player of the Game: Ben White

Vancouver Canadians (30-27)

August 13 Game:

The Vancouver Canadians lost a close game to the division-leading Everett Aquasox 5-3 on Tuesday. Colton Turner returned to Vancouver from Lansing and got roughed up, giving up five runs over four and two-thirds inning on eight hits and a walk. Alonzo Gonzalez, coming out of the ‘pen had a solid three and a third innings and Matt Johnson had a scoreless ninth to finish it up. The Canadians only had six hits, including a double and two RBI from L.B. Dantzler.

Hitting:

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

Pitching:

Colton Turner – L, 4 2/3 IP, 5 H, 1 BB, 3 K, 1 HR
Alonzo Gonzalez – 3 1/3 IP, 2 H, 2 BB, 2 K
Matt Johnson – 1 IP

Jay Blue’s Player of the Game: Alonzo Gonzalez

Late night Vancouver Canadians recaps will appear two days following the game.

Bluefield Blue Jays (35-17)

The Bluefield Blue Jays beat up on the pitiful Briston White Sox by taking both halves of the double header on Wednesday.

In Game 1, Zakery Wasilewski threw a gem to pick up his fourth win in a 1-0 game. Wasilewski went five innings and gave up just six hits and struck out four. Phil Kish earned the save by throwing two innings and giving up a hit and a walk. Derrick Loveless had a pair of hits while Mitch Nay drove in the only run with a sacrifice fly.

The Blue Jays dominated all along in Game 2, winning 5-1. Alberto Tirado started and pitched five shutout innings, giving up only a hit and two walks while striking out six. Alvido Jimenez gave up the only run in the sixth and Brett Barber finished the game off, giving up a hit and striking out two in his inning of work. The offense was a little more active in Game 2, drilling ten hits but they were amassed by just five players. Matt Dean had the high number with two singles and a double and driving in three runs. Mitch Nay, Dawel Lugo and Angel Rojas each had a single and a double and D.J. Davis hit his fifth home run of the season and took a walk.

Game 1

Hitting:

D.J. Davis – 1/3
Alexis Maldonado – 0/1, R, BB
Derrick Loveless – 2/3
Mitch Nay – 0/2, RBI, SF
Dawel Lugo – 0/3, K
Matt Dean – 1/3
Jorge Saez – 0/3, 2 K
John Silviano – 1/3, K
Jesus Gonzalez – 0/2, 2 K

Pitching:

Zak Wasilewski – W, 5 IP, 6 H, 4 K
Phil Kish – S, 2 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 1 K

Jay Blue’s Player of the Game: Zak Wasilewski

Game 2

Hitting:

D.J. Davis – 1/3, R, HR, RBI, BB
Tim Locastro – 0/4
Derrick Loveless – 0/2, R, 2 BB, K
Mitch Nay – 2/4, 2 R, 2B
Dawel Lugo – 2/4, R, 2B, RBI, K
Matt Dean – 3/4, 2B, 3 RBI
Jesus Gonzalez – 0/3, BB, 2 K
Andres Sotillo – 0/3, BB, E
Angel Rojas – 2/3, 2B

Pitching:

Alberto Tirado – W, 5 IP, 1 H, 2 BB, 6 K
Alvido Jimenez – 1 IP, 2 H, 1 R
Brett Barber – 1 IP, 1 H, 2 K

Jay Blue’s Player of the Game: Alberto Tirado and Matthew Dean

Gulf Coast League Blue Jays (21-26)

The GCL Blue Jays’ mini win streak came to an end with a 7-1 defeat at the hands of the Yankees1 squad. Jesus Tinoco got the start and really struggled, giving up four runs (three earned) on four hits and a whopping five walks in his four innings. Francisco Diaz gave up another two runs in his two innings on three hits and three walks while Matthew Smoral gave up a run in his inning on two hits and two walks but struck out two. Jose Fernandez and Chad Beck (still rehabbing) each pitched a scoreless inning. The club only had four hits with one each from Franklin Barreto, Andrew Florides, Gabriel Cenas (who drove in the team’s only run) and Koby Kraemer.

Roster Note: Word is that Clinton Hollon has been promoted to Bluefield.

Hitting:

Franklin Barreto – 1/3, 2 K, E
Andrew Florides – 1/1, R
Edwin Fuentes – 0/4, K
Thomas Collins III – 0/3, 2 K
Andres De Aza – 0/1
Rowdy Tellez – 0/3, K
Gabriel Cenas – 1/4, RBI, K
Michael De La Cruz – 0/3, BB, 2 K
Sean Hurley – 0/2, K
Daniel Devonshire – 0/1, K
Koby Kraemer – 1/2
Will Dupont – 0/1, K
Josh Almonte – 0/3, 2 K

Pitching:

Jesus Tinoco – L, 4 IP, 4 H, 4 R (3 ER), 5 BB, 1 K
Francisco Diaz – 2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 3 BB
Matthew Smoral – 1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 2 K
Jose Fernandez – 1 IP, 1 H, 1 K
Chad Beck – 1 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 1 K

Jay Blue’s Player of the Game: None

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