Vancouver Wins First Playoff Game: September 3 Minor League Report

Dunedin Blue Jays (0-1)

The Dunedin Blue Jays were unable to score enough in their first playoff game against the Daytona Cubs, losing 6-1. Starter Austin Bibens-Dirkx wasn’t his usual outstanding self, giving up three runs on four hits and a walk in five innings while Tony Davis, Wil Browning and John Anderson each gave up a run (Browning’s and Anderson’s were both unearned). Anderson was quite good though, giving up just the one unearned run on two hits and a walk with four strikeouts over two and two-thirds innings. The club had eight hits including two from Derrick Chung and two from Jonathan Jones but the club couldn’t string enough together to score aside from Gustavo Pierre’s RBI single in the ninth inning.

Roster Notes: The Blue Jays shuffled the deck to try to stack the Dunedin Jays with players for the playoffs. OF Jonathan Jones and C Pierce Rankin were sent back to Dunedin from New Hampshire while C Brian Compton was assigned (probably just on paper) to the GCL Blue Jays and Jesse Hernandez was assigned to the Lansing Lugnuts.

Hitting:

Jon Berti – 0/3, BB, 2 K, E
Derrick Chung – 2/3, K
Matt Newman – 0/4, K, SB, E
Mike Crouse – 0/4, 3 K
K.C. Hobson – 1/4, K
Jonathan Jones – 2/4, 2B, K
Marcus Knecht – 1/4, R, K, CS
Gustavo Pierre – 1/4, RBI, 2 K
Jorge Flores – 1/4, K

Pitching:

Austin Bibens-Dirkx – L, 5 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 1 BB, 3 K
Tony Davis – 0 IP, 1 R, 1 BB
Wil Browning – 1/3 IP, 1 R (0 ER), 1 BB, 1 K
John Anderson – 2 2/3 IP, 2 H, 1 R (0 ER), 1 BB, 4 K

Jay Blue’s Player of the Game: John Anderson

Vancouver Canadians (1-0)

September 2 Game:

With a playoff spot secured, the Vancouver Canadians lost their last game of the year 11-1 to the Tri-City Dust Devils playing a lot of the backups. Justin James made a spot start and gave up three runs (two earned) in his three and two-thirds innings while Brandon Dorsett only got one batter out, giving up a hit, walking two and hitting three batters. Five of the six batters Dorsett put on base ended up scoring as Joe Spano allowed all three of the batters who were on base when he came into the game to score. He allowed another two runs in his inning and Alvido Jimenez allowed a single run in his two innings. David Harris finished the season strongly, going four for five with a stolen base to bring his season average up to .263.

Hitting:

David Harris – 4/5, R, SB
Justin Atkinson – 0/3
Andy Fermin – 0/1, BB
Shaun Valeriote – 0/4, BB
Matt Hitt – 0/5, 3 K, E, PB
Dan Arcila – 1/3, BB
Melvin Garcia – 2/4, K
Christian Vazquez – 1/4
Brenden Kalfus – 0/4, K
Ian Parmley – 1/3, K
Seth Conner – 1/1

Pitching:

Justin James – L, 3 2/3 IP, 3 H, 3 R (2 ER), 3 BB, 6 K
Brandon Dorsett – 1/3 IP, 1 H, 5 R, 2 BB, 3 HBP
Joe Spano – 1 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 1 HBP
Alvido Jimenez – 2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 1 K
Matt Johnson – 1 IP, 1 H

Jay Blue’s Player of the Game: David Harris

September 3 Game:

The Vancouver Canadians became the first Blue Jays affiliate to win a playoff game by a 5-1 score over the Everett Aquasox. Tom Robson had a very solid start, going five innings, giving up Everett’s only run on four hits and a walk. Matt Dermody (who picked up the win), Garrett Pickens and Chuck Ghysels combined for the final four innings of scoreless baseball, giving up just one hit and three walks among them. The C’s got ten hits on the night including a pair each from Andy Fermin, Mitch Nay, L.B. Dantzler (including a double) and Brenden Kalfus (including a two-RBI double).

Roster Notes: Similar to the Dunedin Blue Jays, the Vancouver Canadians engaged in some lineup shuffling to get some other players on the Vancouver roster for the playoffs. P Colton Turner, IF Shaun Valeriote, P Justin James and P Brandon Dorsett were assigned to the Bluefield Blue Jays to clear room for P Chase DeJong, P Brady Dragmire, P Jairo Labourt and 3B Mitch Nay.

Mitch Nay takes a swing on July 18, 2013 in Bluefield, WV as a member of the Bluefield Blue Jays. Mandatory Credit: Jay Blue

Hitting:

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

Pitching:

Tom Robson – 5 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 4 K
Matt Dermody – W, 2 IP, 1 BB, 4 K
Garrett Pickens – 1 IP, 1 BB, 2 K
Chuck Ghysels – 1 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 2 K

Jay Blue’s Player of the Game: Tom Robson and Brenden Kalfus

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

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.