Blue Jays Minor League Report: Dalton Pompey puts on a show

Mandatory Credit: Jay Blue

Buffalo Bisons (11-10)

Ricky Romero issued six walks but allowed only two hits and pitched five scoreless frames while Chris Getz had a pinch-hit double to but the Bisons up 1-0 but it wasn’t enough as Buffalo eventually fell 2-1 to Louisville. Ex-Bison Chien-Ming Wang held his old team in check as Ricardo Nanita was the only other Buffalo player to have an extra base hit. Steve Tolleson collected his sixth stolen base of the season and Kevin Pillar continued to make up for his slow start by hitting safely for the tenth consecutive game. Ryan Schimpf made his Triple-A debut but was zero for four and grounded into a game-ending double play. However it was the bullpen who blew this one by walking too many batters.

Darin Mastroianni – 0/3, K
Steven Tolleson – 1/4, K, SB
Kevin Pillar – 1/4, 2 K
Dan Johnson – 1/4, K
Ryan Schimpf – 0/4
Matt Tuiasosopo – 0/3, K
Ricardo Nanita – 1/3, 2B, K
Mike Nickeas – 1/2
Chris Getz – 1/1, 2B, RBI
Munenori Kawasaki – 0/3

Ricky Romero – 5.0 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 6 BB, 4 K
Ryan Tepera – 2.0 IP, H, 3 BB, K
Greg Infante – 1.2 IP, H, 2 ER, 2 BB (L)
John Stilson – 0.1 IP, BB (BS)

New Hampshire Fisher Cats (11-10)

Kevin Nolan crushed a home run and a double while Mike McDade also doubled and drove home a run as New Hampshire hung on to overcome Reading 4-2. Mike Crouse also drove in a run and reached with a walk, which was all the help starter Casey Lawrence needed to earn his second win of the second. Lawrence scattered five hits and struck out four as he was backed up with Tyler Ybarra, who hit a batter but was otherwise good, and Scott Gracey, who allowed two baserunners but escaped with the save.

Jon Berti – 0/3
Kevin Nolan – 2/3, 2B, HR, 2 RBI, K
A.J. Jimenez – 0/4, K
Mike McDade – 2/3, 2B, RBI
Mike Crouse – 1/3, RBI, BB
Brian Van Kirk – 1/4, K
Yusuf Carter – 1/3
Andy Fermin – 0/3, K
Jonathan Jones – 0/2, BB

Casey Lawrence – 6.2 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, BB, 4 K (W)
Tyler Ybarra – 1.2 IP, H
Scott Gracey – 0.2 IP, H, BB (S)

Dunedin Blue Jays (18-5)

Dalton Pompey had yet another huge game finishing a home run short of the cycle and the 21-year-old Mississauga native now has the third highest batting average in the Florida State League. Kevin Patterson and Emilio Guerrero drove in a run each, both on extra base hits while Dwight Smith Jr. reached base twice with a single and a walk. Ben White started but didn’t factor in the decision as the bullpen trio of Chad Girodo, Danny Barnes and Arik Sikula combined to throw three scoreless to preserve the 5-4 and take the four-game series from Clearwater.

Special note: Pompey was recently presented with the 2013 Rawlings Minor League Gold Glove, which recognizes the best defenders in all of minor league baseball. We have a clip that follows but just think about that for a minute. Pompey was named the best defensive center fielder (a premium position), not just in his league, not just within his organization, but within all of minor league baseball. Basically you could say he was arguably the best defensive outfielder not playing in the majors during 2013. The sky is the limit for this kid and if he continues to develop has a very good chance of some day contributing at the MLB level.

Dwight Smith Jr. – 1/3, BB
Dalton Pompey – 3/4, 2B, 3B, 2 RBI
Kevin Patterson – 1/4, 3B, RBI, K
Marcus Knecht – 1/2, 2 BB, SB
Emilio Guerrero – 1/4, 2B, RBI
Derrick Chung – 0/4
Nick Baligod – 0/4
Gustavo Pierre – 0/3
Jorge Flores – 1/3, CS

Ben White – 6.0 IP, 9 H, 4 ER, BB, 3 K
Chad Girodo – 1.1 IP, 2 H, K (W)
Danny Barnes – 0.2 IP
Arik Sikula – 1.0 IP (S)

Lansing Lugnuts (10-12)

Jason Leblebijian and Justin Atikinson led the way with two hits each as Lansing did enough to hold off Bowling Green 6-5. Mitch Nay walked twice while Derrick Loveless added an extra base hit, reached with a walk and stole a base. D.J. Davis had a rough day at the plate with three strikeouts and is batting a miserable .116/.136/.186 his past ten games. Jeremy Gabryszwski started but wasn’t great while Phil Kish struck out four in three innings. Griffin Murphy lowered his ERA 0.79 for the season with the save.

D.J. Davis – 0/5, 3 K
Dickie Thon – 0/5, RBI, 2 K
Mitch Nay – 0/2, 2 BB
Santiago Nessy – 0/4
Derrick Loveless – 1/2, 2B, RBI, BB, SB
Jason Leblebijian – 2/4, 2B, RBI, 2 K
Jorge Saez – 0/2, 2 BB, K
Justin Atkinson – 2/3, RBI, BB
Ian Parmley – 1/2, RBI, BB, SB

Jeremy Gabryszwski – 5.0 IP, 9 H, 4 ER, 2 BB, 2 K
Phil Kish – 3.0 IP, 3 H, R, 0 ER, BB, 4 K (W)
Griffin Murphy – 1.0 IP, 2 H, K (S)

All stats courtesy MiLB.com.