Sean Nolin Makes Iron Pigs Squeal: August 24 Minor League Report

Buffalo Bisons (69-65)

The Buffalo Bisons are surging after being mostly gutted by the glut of injuries to the Toronto Blue Jays. On Saturday, they won another game against the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs 2-0. Sean Nolin hurled six and two-thirds innings of shutout ball at the Iron Pigs, giving up five hits and three walks while striking out four. Mickey Storey and Jeremy Jeffress combined to hold the Phillies’ top farm club off the board for the rest of the game. The Bisons had nine hits and were led by Andy LaRoche, who went three for four with two doubles and scored a run, and a duo of outfielders who have been recently signed (and re-signed) by the Bisons: Ryan Langerhans and Blake Gailen. Both went two for three with Langerhans taking a walk.

Roster Moves: Brad Lincoln was optioned to Buffalo from Toronto and OF Blake Gailen was signed to a minor league contract and assigned to the Bisons. Chien-Ming Wang had his contract selected by the Blue Jays.

May 24, 2013; Toronto, ON, Canada; Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Sean Nolin (71) delivers a pitch against the Baltimore Orioles at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports

Hitting:

Mike McCoy – 0/3, K
A.J. Jimenez – 1/3, BB
Mauro Gomez – 1/3, R, BB, K
Clint Robinson – 0/3, BB, K
Brad Glenn – 0/3, RBI, K, SF
Andy LaRoche – 3/4, R, 2 2B
Ricardo Nanita – 0/4, K
Ryan Langerhans – 2/3, BB, CS
Blake Gailen – 2/3

Pitching:

Sean Nolin – W, 6 2/3 IP, 5 H, 3 BB, 4 K
Mickey Storey – 1 1/3 IP, 2 K
Jeremy Jeffress – S, 1 IP, 2 H

Jay Blue’s Player of the Game: Sean Nolin

New Hampshire Fisher Cats (64-67)

In the first game of a double header, the New Hampshire Fisher Cats lost 4-2 to the Reading Fightin Phils. Tyson Brummett pitched the complete game (six innings) and gave up four runs on four hits and two walks while striking out four. Newly promoted catcher Pierce Rankin provided most of the offense, getting both of the Fisher Cats’ hits (although the team took six walks) including his first Double-A home run.

The New Hampshire Fisher Cats won Game 2 3-1 in ten innings. After a strong start from Casey Lawrence, who was just promoted from Dunedin, Adam Loewen brought home the winnings runs for the Fisher Cats with a two-run double in the top of the tenth inning and Evan Crawford shut the door on Reading to seal the victory. Lawrence went five innings and gave up just one run on five hits (including a solo home run) and one walk with four strikeouts. Randy Boone and Ryan Tepera each pitched two perfect innings to keep the tie in place. Andy Burns extended his hit streak to 15 games with a double in the first inning.

Roster Notes: RHP Chad Jenkins was promoted to the Toronto Blue Jays and RHP Casey Lawrence was promoted from the Dunedin Blue Jays. 1B Gabe Jacobo was activated off the DL.

Game 1

Hitting:

Kenny Wilson – 0/3, R, BB, 2 SB
Andy Burns – 0/2, 2 BB, E
Kevin Nolan – 0/3, BB
Adam Loewen – 0/4, RBI, K
Ryan Schimpf – 0/2, BB, 2 K
John Tolisano – 0/2, BB
Jon Talley – 0/3, 2 K
Pierce Rankin – 2/3, R, HR, RBI, K
Lance Zawadzki – 0/3, 2 K, 2 SB

Pitching:

Tyson Brummett – L, 6 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 2 BB, 4 K, 1 HR

Jay Blue’s Player of the Game: Pierce Rankin

Game 2

Hitting:

Kenny Wilson – 0/4, R, 2 K
Andy Burns – 1/5, R, 2B, K
Kevin Nolan – 0/2, BB, K
Lance Zawadzki – 0/0, R, 2 BB
Adam Loewen – 2/5, 2B, 2 RBI, K
Gabe Jacobo – 1/5, K
Ryan Schimpf – 0/3, BB, 2 K
Kevin Ahrens – 0/3, BB, K
Jack Murphy – 0/4, K
Amadeo Zazueta – 1/4, 2B, K

Pitching:

Casey Lawrence – 5 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 4 K, 1 HR
Randy Boone – 2 IP, 1 K
Ryan Tepera – 2 IP, 2 K
Evan Crawford – 1 IP, 2 H

Jay Blue’s Player of the Game: Casey Lawrence and Adam Loewen

Dunedin Blue Jays (59-63)

The Dunedin Blue Jays’ Aaron Sanchez started off well, but fell apart in the third inning of an 8-1 loss to the Brevard County Manatees. Sanchez went just two and two-thirds innings and gave up six runs (only three were earned) on five hits and four walks with three strikeouts. Justin Jackson got tagged for another two runs before the rest of the bullpen came along to put out the first. Luis Perez, making another rehab appearance pitched two strong innings, giving up just a hit and a walk and racking up three strikeouts. On offense, the club only registered six hits with three of them coming off the bat of Shane Opitz. Matt Newman produced the team’s only run with a solo home run in the seventh inning.

Roster Move: Casey Lawrence was promoted to AA New Hampshire.

Hitting:

Jon Berti – 0/3, BB, CS
Shane Opitz – 3/4
Mike Crouse – 1/3, K
K.C. Hobson – 0/4, 2 K
Gustavo Pierre – 0/4, 2 K, E
Matt Newman – 1/3, R, HR, RBI, BB, K
Oliver Dominguez – 0/2
Jorge Flores – 0/1, BB
Derrick Chung – 1/4
Jonathan Jones – 0/2, BB

Pitching:

Aaron Sanchez – L, 2 2/3 IP, 5 H, 6 R (3 ER), 4 BB, 3 K
Justin Jackson – 1 1/3 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 2 K
Luis Perez – 2 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 3 K
Dustin Antolin – 1 IP, 1 H, 1 K
Tyler Ybarra – 2/3 IP
Blake McFarland – 1/3 IP

Jay Blue’s Player of the Game: Matt Newman

Lansing Lugnuts (56-74)

The Lansing Lugnuts barely avoided getting no-hit again in a 6-1 loss to the Dayton Dragons. Ismael Guillon went six shutout innings for the Dragons before Wandy Peralta gave up the Lugnuts’ only hit, a Daniel Klein solo home run, in the eighth inning. Ben White got the start for the Lugnuts and gave up all six runs on seven hits and one walk (despite striking out five) and Kramer Champlin pitched two and two-thirds scoreless innings with Tucker Donahue, in his first appearance since coming back off the DL, finishing the game off with a perfect ninth.

Roster Note: RHP Tucker Donahue was activated off the DL.

Hitting:

Dalton Pompey – 0/3, BB, 2 K
Emilio Guerrero – 0/1, 3 BB, PO, CS
Dwight Smith, Jr. – 0/4
Christian Lopes – 0/3, BB
Jordan Leyland – 0/3, K
Daniel Klein – 1/3, R, HR, RBI
Chris Hawkins – 0/3, K
Carlos Ramirez – 0/3, K
Jason Leblebijian – 0/3, K

Pitching:

Ben White – L, 5 1/3 IP, 7 H, 6 R, 1 BB, 5 K
Kramer Champlin – 2 2/3 IP, 2 H, 1 K
Tucker Donahue – 1 IP

Jay Blue’s Player of the Game: Daniel Klein

Vancouver Canadians (34-33)

August 23 Game:

The Vancouver Canadians lost by another game to the Everett Aquasox 3-2 on Friday night. The Aquasox walked one off against Canadians’ closer Chuck Ghysels who has been very good for the Canadians since his demotion from Lansing. The loss squandered a strong start from Colton Turner who went six innings and gave up just one run on a solo home run (as well as three other hits and a walk) and struck out two. The offense piled up eleven hits but only cashed two runs. The club got a single and a double from Mike Reeves and L.B. Dantzler and a double and a triple from Brenden Kalfus. Justin Atkinson drove in the team’s two runs with a double but also struck out three times as part of the club’s twelve strikeouts as a team.

Hitting:

Chaz Frank – 1/5
Michael Reeves – 2/5, R, 2B
L.B. Dantzler – 2/4, R, 2B, 2 K
Andy Fermin – 1/4, BB
Justin Atkinson – 1/4, 2B, 2 RBI, BB, 3 K, E
David Harris – 1/4, 2B, 2 K
Dawel Lugo – 0/4, 3 K
Brenden Kalfus – 2/4, 2B, 3B, 2 K
Ian Parmley – 1/4, 2 SB

Pitching:

Colton Turner – 6 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 2 K, 1 HR
Scott Silverstein – 1 2/3 IP, 1 H, 1 K
Chuck Ghysels – L, 2/3 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 2 K

Jay Blue’s Player of the Game: Colton Turner and Brenden Kalfus

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

Bluefield Blue Jays (40-20)

The Bluefield Blue Jays won their fortieth game of the season over the Kingsport Mets 6-1 on the backs of great pitching and strong games from Mitch Nay and Jesus Gonzalez at the plate. Zak Wasilewski started the game and gave up the Mets’ only run in his four innings on two hits and three walks but struck out five. Francisco Gracesqui picked up the win with three scoreless innings and Brett Barber finished the game off with two of his own. Mitch Nay had three of Bluefield’s seven hits on his own and scored two of the team’s runs and drove in another. Jesus Gonzalez went two for three with a double as well as an RBI while Nico Taylor went one for one with a double, two RBI and two walks. Franklin Barreto did not have a good game, going oh for three with two strikeouts, an error and was caught stealing.

Hitting:

Franklin Barreto – 0/3, 2 K, CS, E
Alexis Maldonado – 0/3, R, BB, 3 K
Jonathan Davis – 0/3, R, K
Mitch Nay –  3/4, 2 R, RBI
Matt Dean – 1/3, R, 2 K
Nico Taylor – 1/1, R, 2B, 2 RBI, 2 BB
Derrick Loveless – 0/1
Jorge Saez – 0/4, K
Angel Rojas – 0/3, RBI, 2 K, SF
Jesus Gonzalez – 2/3, 2B, RBI

Pitching:

Zakery Wasilewski – 4 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 3 BB, 5 K
Francisco Gracesqui – W, 3 IP, 1 H, 2 BB, 2 K
Brett Barber – 2 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 1 K

Jay Blue’s Player of the Game: Mitch Nay

Gulf Coast League Blue Jays (27-29)

The GCL Blue Jays continue their winning streak with a 1-0 win over the GCL Phillies on Saturday. Matthew Smoral had his best outing as a pro, going four innings and giving up just two hits (with no walks) and striking out five. Two 2013 draft picks, Jake Brentz (eleventh round) and Evan Smith (fourth round) pitched an innings each. Brentz gave up a walk and struck out one while Smith gave up a hit and also struck out one. Alejandro Solarte and Jimmy Cordero, both veterans of the Dominican Summer League each pitched a perfect inning with two strikeouts. On the offense, Gabriel Cenas went two for three with a double, a walk and an RBI, driving in shortstop Richard Urena who went one for three with a walk.

Hitting:

Richard Urena – 1/3, R, BB
Michael De La Cruz – 0/3, E
Dan Jansen – 0/1
Gabriel Cenas – 2/3, 2B, RBI, BB, K
Rowdy Tellez – 0/4, K
Edwin Fuentes – 0/3, K
Sean Hurley – 0/2, BB, K
Nathan DeSouza – 0/3, 2 K
Josh Almonte – 0/3, 3 K
Will Dupont – 1/3, 2B

Pitching:

Matt Smoral – 4 IP, 2 H, 5 K
Jacob Brentz – 1 IP, 1 BB, 1 K
Alejandro Solarte – 1 IP, 2 K
Evan Smith – 1 IP, 1 H, 1 K
Jimmy Cordero – W, 1 IP, 2 K
Chad Beck – S, 1 IP

Jay Blue’s Player of the Game: Gabriel Cenas and Matthew Smoral

If you like what you’ve seen by Jay Blue, read his work and listen to his podcast on Blue Jays from Away and follow him on Twitter: @Jaysfromaway.

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