Blue Jays Minor League Report: Derrick Chung’s first home run

Mar 3, 2014; Fort Myers, FL, USA; Toronto Blue Jays catcher Derrick Chung (63) talks to teammates in the dugout during the third inning against the Minnesota Twins at Hammond Stadium. Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

Buffalo Bisons (4-2)

J.A. Happ made a rehab start at Triple-A and threw 90 pitches (63 strikes) over four and two-thirds innings for the Buffalo Bisons. Manager Gary Allenson said following the game Happ “was pretty good. It was much better than I saw in spring training” (h/t MiLB.com). Marcus Walden followed and showed some rust after riding the pine with the Blue Jays for nearly a week and gave up four earned runs in just two innings. John Stilson was activated off the temporary inactive list but also was not sharp. Munenori Kawasaki had two hits while Steve Tolleson had a double to lead the Herd at the plate. Kevin Pillar also had a base hit but it was just his second knock in 25 plate appearances and has started the season slowly, batting .080/.080/.080 after five games.

Anthony Gose – 1/3, BB, K, SB
Steven Tolleson – 1/4, 2B, RBI
Juan Francisco – 0/4, RBI
Dan Johnson – 2/4, RBI, K
Matt Tuiasosopo – 0/4, K
Jared Goedert – 0/1, K
Kevin Pillar – 1/4
Mike Nickeas – 0/3, BB
Munenori Kawasaki – 2/3

J.A. Happ – 4.2 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 6 K
Marcus Walden – 2.0 IP, 2 H, 4 ER, 2 BB
John Stilson – 0.1 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, BB
Richard Bleier – 2.0 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 2 K

New Hampshire Fisher Cats (2-5)

Brad Glenn and Jon Berti both had two hit games but otherwise it was a quiet evening for the Fisher Cats offense as New Hampshire fell 9-1 to the Birmingham. Mike Crouse hit his second triple of the season and Andy Burns had a base hit but that was about it for the ‘Cats, who struck out 12 times. Austin Bibens-Dirkx didn’t walk a batter but allowed five earned runs on seven hits including two home runs.

Kenny Wilson – 0/4, 3 K
Jon Berti – 2/4, 2 SB
Andy Burns – 1/4, K
Brad Glenn – 2/3, BB
Ryan Schimpf – 0/3, BB, 2 K
Gabe Jacobo – 0/4, 2 K
Kevin Nolan – 0/3, K
Mike Crouse – 1/3, 3B, 2 K
Aaron Munoz – 0/3, K

Austin Bibens-Dirx – 6.0 IP, 7 H, 5 ER, 5 K (L)
Randy Boone – 2.1 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 2 BB
Scott Gracey – 0.2 IP, K

Dunedin Blue Jays (6-1)

The D-Jays offense exploded once again for 18 hit and thrashed the Daytona Cubs 12-2 to climb atop the Florida State League North division. Derrick Chung hit his first career minor league home run (congrats Derrick!) and had four hits while Dwight Smith Jr. remained a force at the plate with two doubles and three RBIs to go along with a walk. Smith Jr. is currently leading the FSL with a .469 batting average early in the 2014 season and has 24 total bases in his first 32 at bats. Dalton Pompey had two hits and two steals while K.C. Hobson, Matt Newman and Gustavo Pierre also had multi-hit games.

Dwight Smith Jr. – 2/5, 2 2B, 3 RBI, BB
Dalton Pompey – 2/6, RBI, RBI, K, 2 SB
K.C. Hobson – 3/5, RBI, BB, SB
Marcus Knecht – 1/4, 2 BB, 2 K
Matt Newman – 2/4, 2B, 2 RBI, BB, K
Derrick Chung – 4/6, HR, RBI, K
Gustavo Pierre – 2/5, RBI, BB, K
Jorge Flores – 1/4, RBI, BB, K
Christian Lopes – 1/4, 2B, RBI, BB

Ben White – 5.0 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, BB, K (W)
Kramer Champlin – 2.0 IP, 1 H, 3 K
Chad Girodo – 2.0 IP, 2 BB, K

Lansing Lugnuts (3-4)

Matt Dean continued to swing a hot bat with two doubles and Santiago Nessy had an RBI triple but it wasn’t enough as an error by D.J. Davis cost Lansing the game in a 5-3 defeat to Quad Cities. Justin Atkinson had three base hits while Mitch Nay had an RBI single for the Lugs. The pitching staff was let down by poor defense as only one of Quad Cities five runs was earned. According to Jay Blue who has been in Lansing the past couple days, Jason Leblebijian flashed the leather with a couple of nice plays at short. Make sure to catch up with Jay’s updates from Lansing when they are posted at Blue Jays From Away.

Dickie Thon – 1/4, 2 K
D.J. Davis – 0/4, 2 K
Matthew Dean – 2/4, 2 2B, K
Mitch Nay – 1/3, RBI, K
Carlos Ramirez – 0/4, K
Jason Leblebijian – 0/3, BB
Santiago Nessy – 1/3, 3B, RBI, BB, K
Justin Atkinson – 3/4, RBI, CS
Derrick Loveless – 0/4, 2 K

Jeremy Gabryszwski – 5.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 3 K
Brady Dragmire – 2.0 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 0 ER, 2 BB
Roberto Espinosa 2.0 IP, 3 H, 1 ER