Blue Jays MiLB Recap: System Goes 3 and 3

The Blue Jays minor league system was bust Thursday night. In total, they were 3-3 and could have easily been 5-1. Here’s how it played out.

Buffalo Bisons- 7 vs Lehigh Valley IronPigs- 2

Is it safe ot say that Devon Travis is ready to join the big league club? Well, 3 hits, a walk and 2 runs and a stolen base suggests that, heck yeah he is! This is obviously great news for Blue Jays fans. But, as good as he was for the Bisons on Thursday, he wasn’t the big star of the game. That honor goes to Brad Glenn. In 5 at bats, Glenn collected 3 hits for 5 RBI. That gives him a total of 32 on the season. His 2-run singles in the 1st and 4th would give the Herd all the offense they needed on this night. Left fielder, Alex Hassan also added a solo home run in the 7th inning.

Chad Jenkins took the mound to start this contest when Matt Boyd was removed from his scheduled start. Speculation is swirling about the Blue Jays and their pursuits of possible pitching help. Shifting Boyd may be designed to help that in one way or another. Unlikely, he could be part of an impending deal. Or, he may be called upon to make a start for the Blue Jays. Given the following, the latter looks to be the case. Maybe to showcase him…

In Buffalo, mgr Gary Allenson says #BlueJays said to scratch Matt Boyd from start today and “back him off two days.” Jays need Sat. starter.
— John Lott (@JohnCLott1) June 25, 2015

Either way, Jenkins would keep the IronPigs off the board for 4 innings, giving up just 3 hits and striking out 5. Greg Burke chipped in 2 innings and picked up the win. Colt Hynes threw just a third of an inning and gave up the only 2 runs the IronPigs would bring across. Ryan Tepera and Greg Infante rounded out the game giving up just one hit between the two of them.

Toronto Blue Jays

The Bisons (35-39) will travel to Scranton Wilkes-Barre for a 3 game set. Jeff Francis (2-0, 2.06) will start.

New Hampshire FisherCats- 6 vs Portland Sea Dogs- 4

Our boy, Dwight Smith Jr was clutch in Thursday’s win. He came up with the game winning hit in the bottom of the 8th after the home team had been trailing most of the game. It was Smith’s 2nd hit of the game in 5 at bats out of the 3rd spot in the lineup. Dalton Pompey hit a solo home run out of the leadoff spot to open up the scoring in the first inning. The FisherCats had several opportunities to take control of the game, but went 5 for 13 with runners in scoring position, leaving 11 on base.

John Anderson started the game and went 6 innings, giving up 4 runs on 6 hits, 2 walks and just 2 strike outs. He’s now 2-3 on the season with a 5.13 ERA in what has been quite the up and down season for him. From start to start, it is not exactly a sure bet which John Anderson will show up. Chad Girodo threw 2 scoreless innings and is the winning pitcher while Dustin Antolin picked up the save.

The FisherCats (33-38) will continue the series with the Sea Dogs as Austin Bibens-Dirkx (1-3, 9.50) gets the start.

Dunedin Blue Jays- 7 vs Clearwater Threshers- 8

Dunedin jumped out to an early 2-0 lead after the first inning. But, Clearwater chipped away and managed to take control of the game until the bottom of the 7th. At that point, the Blue Jays were down 6-3. All was not lost, though. They struck for 4 runs in the home half of the innings to take the one run lead. But, in the top of the 9th, the Threshers got another one back. Then, in the 10th, they took added another, for which the Blue Jays had no answer.

Of the 13 hits, Matt Dean led the way with 3 and a stolen base. Perhaps their fortunes would have been different if the Blue Jays could have cashed in the runners in scoring position instead of going 4 for 12. Murphy Smith started the game for Dunedin going 5 innings. He surrendered 6 hits, 4 runs (3 earned), 3 walks, 2 K and a home run. Not a great line, but it was certainly enough to keep his team in the game. Alberto Tirado went 2 innings and was credited with the blown save and the loss.

Jairo Labourt (2-4, 3.65) will continue the series against Clearwater on Friday.

Jairo Labourt Representing Blue Jays at Futures Game!

Lansing Lugnuts- 5 vs West Michigan Whitecaps- 6

Another minor league team, another late loss. The Lugnuts started the game off right, scoring 2 runs in the bottom of the first. But, by the 6th inning, they found themselves behind 5-2. The Bolts would respond with a couple more runs in the 7th. Then, after the Whitecaps added a run in the 9th, the Lugnuts had a beauty chance to walk off with the win. They had the bases loaded in the bottom of the 9th, but only managed to get one run in and ended the game one run short.

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Leading the offensive charge was Ryan McBroom and his 3 hits and 2 runs. 19 year old, Richard Urena went deep for his 12th HR in the bottom of the first inning. He had the chance in the bottom of the ninth, but flied out to end the game. Sean Reid-Foley (2-3, 3.65) started on the mound for the Lugnuts and lasted 4.1 innings giving up 5 hits, 3 ER, 2 walks, but striking out 6! He was saddled with the loss. Colton Turner chipped in 1.2 innings of less than stellar ball. He gave up 3 hits and 2 earned runs.

The Lugnuts (42-29) will send Starlyn Suriel (5-3, 2.60) to the mound against the Whitecaps on Friday.

Vancouver Canadians- 3 vs Tri City Devils- 9

The Canadians also got out to an early lead, but couldn’t hold on. Up 3-2 in the 5th, the wheels fell off and the Devils put up a 4 spot in the home half of the inning. The Devils would also add 3 in the 8th. The Canadians had no answer for these 7 runs. Catcher, Juan Kelly led the offense with 2 hits and an RBI. Overall, it was not a great night to be a Canadians’ pitcher. Jackson McClelland gave up 2 earned runs in 3 innings, Francisco Rios gave up 4 in 3.1 innings. He took the official loss. Sean Ratcliffe gave up 3 more in just 0.2 innings.

The Canadians (3-5) will make their home debut on Friday as they send 2015 draft pick, Jon Harris to the mound. He will make his first professional start against the Hillsboro Hops.

Bluefield Blue Jays- 4 vs Elizabethton Twins- 1

Bluefield scored 4 times in the bottom of the first inning, which proved to be all they needed. Center fielder, Rodrigo Orozco was the highlight with 2 hits and a run scored. He’s off to a good start to the season with a .429. Dalton Rodriguez was great Thursday. He went 5 strong innings surrendering 3 hits and a single run to pick up the win. Josh DeGraaf went 3 innings for the hold with 4 strike outs. Zach Rodgers collected the save.

Next: Is Scott Kazmir a Trade Option for Blue Jays?