Fisher Cats and Lugnuts win Season Openers

There was crappy weather all over the Eastern part of the country which resulted in a game cancellation, the second one for the Jays system in the first two days. Lucky the New Hampshire Fisher Cats were able to play their season opener on this day. The system went 2-for-3 on the day.

Buffalo Bisons game versus Rochester Red Wings was postponed due to high winds.

Next Game: Buffalo Scott Copeland vs Rochester Taylor Rogers

New Hampshire Fisher Cats (1-0)

New Britain Rock Cats (0-1)

Fisher Cats win 6-0.

The Fisher Cats had their Opening Day postponed on April 9th

At the Plate K.C. Hobson and Jake Fox have two hits and drove in a pair each. The Fisher Cats managed 13 hits with Catcher Jack Murphy being the only starter not to register a hit. Matt Newman started the year off on the right foot with a 3-for-4 game. He came a home run shy of the cycle, scored a run and drove in a run.

On the Mound Starter Matt Boyd throw 50 of his 81 pitches for strikes, striking out 9 in 4.1 innings of work. He allowed 3 hits and 2 walks. Danny Barnes, Luis Perez, Dustin Antolin, and Blake McFarland combined to pitch 4.2 IP of 2-hit shut out relief. Danny Barnes registered the win pitching an inning and two-thirds with a walk, a hit and 4 strike outs.

Top Prospect: K.C. Hobson hit the Fisher Cats first home run of 2015, a 2-run shot with Andy Burns on first to put NH up 4-0 in 5th. The Fisher Cats will be relying on 24-year-old Hobson to provide more power this year than the 12 he hit between Double-A and High-A ball last season.

Next Game: New Britain Shane Carle vs Fisher Cats Taylor Cole

Dunedin (1-1)

Clearwater Threshers (1-1)

Dunedin loses 2-0

At the Plate Michael Saunders went 2-for-4 with a double and a single. D-Jays fans should get used to this type of night from Roemon Fields: 1-for-3 with a double, a walk, and yes a stolen base. Threshers David Whitehead struck out 8 Jays.

On the Mound Brad Allen threw 5 no-hit innings, with a walk and strike out. Both Threshers runs came off Scott Silverstein (0-1), who was tagged with the loss. Alberto Tirado struck out 2 in 2 innings of work and Tiago Da Silva pitched a perfect 9th with 2 strikeouts. D-Jays pitching allowed 3 hits all night but still allowed 2 runs to cross….that’s the way she goes some nights.

Top Prospect: LF David Harris went 2-for-4 with a strike out. Harris bounced back from an o-for-4 night in the opener to provide production from the 6th spot in the order.

New Game: D-Jays Jayson Aquino vs Clearwater Threshers Brandon Leibrandt

Lansing Lugnuts (1-0)

Lake County Captains (0-1)

At the Plate the Lugnuts scored 3 runs on 4 hits, but capitalized on error commited by Captains LF Dorssys Paulino to plate a run. They also went 3-for-4 with RISP. Only Gunnar Heidt drew a walk for Lansing, as the team struck out 8 times with Rowdy Tellez accounting for 3 of them.

On the Mound Chase De Jong was impressive in his 9K performance. I would have liked to see him finish the 5th with the score 3-1, so that he could start the year off with a win. The 21-year-old 2012 2nd round draft pick finished 2014 with a 1-6 record. His first win came on his final start of the season, a season that saw him make 21 starts. Phil Kish closed the door in the 9th with a walk and strike out, good for a save.

Top Prospect: SS Richard Urena went 1-for-4 with an RBI and strike out. With Franklin Barreto now a member of the Oakland’s Advanced-A Stockton Ports, all eyes will be on the development of Richard Urena. Batting 2nd, Urena handled himself very well for his first game.

Next Game: Captains Anderson Polanco vs Lugnuts Shawn Dawson

Next: Blue Jays offense explodes for 12-5 win over Orioles

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