Blue Jays MiLB Recap: Pompey stays hot, Sanchez struggles

Syracuse Cheifs (39-59) @ Buffalo Bisons (48-49) – 7-5 L

The Bisons got down early in this one as starter Joel Pineiro struggled through 4 IP, issuing 5 walks, 6 hits, and allowing 4 ER. The Bisons managed to score 3 runs through 4 innings to give them a chance to win, but the bullpen couldn’t keep it together late in the game to give the offence a chance.

Dalton Pompey had another solid game at the top of the Bisons lineup going 2/5 with 2 singles, a run, and an RBI. Since his call up to Buffalo from New Hampshire on July 17th, he’s gone 8/21 with 5 R, 2 RBI, 4 BB, 0 K, and 1 SB. He’s clearly out of the slump that plagued him at the start of the year in Toronto and his first stint in Buffalo.

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It’s interesting to note that Pompey played LF tonight. You have to think the Jays are considering a recall at some point, as he would be a far better option than Ezequiel Carrera.

Caleb Gindl had a large game, leading the Bisons offensive effort. He finished the game going 3/3, 2 R, 2 RBI, and a BB.

Another potential impact player for the Jays who played tonight is Aaron Sanchez. It was recently stated by the Jays that Sanchez would be working out of the pen when he returns from his minor league rehab assignment. John Gibbons also mentioned that Sanchez could be up as soon as Thursday with a good outing today, but that didn’t exactly go as planned.

Sanchez threw 24 pitches, only 11 of which were for strikes, finishing with 0.2 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 1 K. The runs were unearned due to two passed balls, but it was hardly the type of outing Sanchez and the Jays were looking for. However, it’s his first outing out of the pen, and he needs one or two more appearances in Buffalo before drawing conclusions.

New Hampshire Fisher Cats (50-43) @ Harrisburg Senators (48-49) – 7-1 W

The Fisher Cats handled the Senators easily in this one, in large part due to their starting pitcher, Casey Lawrence. Lawrence, a 27-year-old right handed pitcher, took a perfect game into the 7th inning. Despite losing the perfect game and the no-hitter, he delivered a fantastic start for the Fisher Cats, winning his 10^th game of the year. His final line was: 8 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K. Lawrence has been dealing as of late, giving up 3 ER or less in his last 7 starts, 5 of which were either 1 or 0 ER. His ERA has gone from 5.68 to 4.40 over that stretch.

The offence was led by multi-hit efforts from Shane Optiz, Jack Murphy, Matt Newman, and Ian Parmley. The hard throwing Jimmy Cordero finished this one off, notching two strikeouts in his one inning of work. His season line between New Hampshire and Dunedin after today’s game is: 46 IP, 37 H, 15 ER, 18 BB, 43 K, for a 2.93 ERA through 30 games.

Daytona Tortugas (51-44) @ Dunedin Blue Jays (43-53) – 7-1 L

Jays top-10 prospect, 2014 2nd rounder Sean Reid-Foley, had a terrific start to his 4th outing in Dunedin, going his first four innings while only surrendering one earned run, but things fell apart for him in the 5th as he allowed 2 more earned runs to score as his command left him. He finished with a pedestrian line of: 4.2 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 3 BB, 6 K.

Reid-Foley is still only 19 years old playing in the Florida State League, where the average age of the pitchers is 23 and the average age of hitters is 22.6, so he’s putting together a great campaign considering his age and experience of competition. The walks yesterday were an issue, as they’ve been all year with his BB/9 currently sitting at 6.5 between Lansing and Dunedin, but his K/9 is also spectacular, sitting at 12.5 between the two levels. The walks are obviously something to watch moving forward, but there’s no questioning that his age and ability to miss bats at each level he’s been to is very encouraging.

The Dunedin offence was shut down by Cincinnati Reds 2011 23rd round draft pick, Sal Romano. Romano went 7 innings, while only allowing one baserunner and striking out 6. Richard Urena, Rowdy Tellez, and Mitch Nay, three of the Jays top prospects, were held hitless, while Anthony Alford got a day off as he wasn’t in the lineup. L.B. Dantzler supplied the only run of the game, hitting a solo home run in the 8th inning to make it a 7-1 game.

Bowling Green Hot Rods (51-45) @ Lansing Lugnuts – 2-1 W

The Lugnuts squeaked out a victory in last night’s affair over the Hot Rods, winning 2-1 after scoring both of their runs in the 6th inning and holding off the opposing offense late in the game.

Lugnuts starter Conor Fisk had a solid start: 6.2 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 5 K. He was followed by reliever Tim Mayza, who shut down the Bowling Green offense for the duration of the game, finishing with: 2.1 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 4 K.

The offence was led by Ryan McBroom and his two-run home run. Although he’s relatively old for the league and as a prospect in low-A, McBroom is putting together a fantastic campaign for Lansing, slashing .343/.413/.505 through 321 AB’s.

D.J. Davis, Jays former 1st rounder and top prospect, who’s been showing signs of life this year after a horrendous 2014 campaign, had a multi-hit game, one of which was a double. However, he was caught stealing again, his 9th time this year. He’s hitting .356 in his last ten games, but the 16:1 K:BB ratio isn’t pretty.

Eugene Emeralds (16-17) @ Vancouver Canadians (14-19) – 3-1 W

Jays 2013 4th rounder Evan Smith delivered a solid start for the Canadians and carried them to victory with a line of 6 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 5 K. The 6’5″ lefty has settled in nicely in Vancouver, lowering his season ERA to 2.67 across 6 games. His last two starts have been scoreless over 11 innings.

Lane Thomas, one of my favourite Jays prospects playing in the low minors, went 1/4 with an RBI and a SB. Despite hitting only .197, he’s been hitting the ball for extra base power, as he has 10 doubles and 4 HR’s through 117 AB’s. His ISO currently sits at .188, and he’s coupled that ability to drive the ball with some speed, as he’s notched 5 SB’s so far. Expect that .197 average to raise throughout the year as his .200 BABIP continues to get better.

Justin Atkinson delivered a 1/4 game with a double and an RBI, and Gunnar Heidt was 1/3 with 2 R, and 2 SB. Brandon Hinkle and Andrew Case finished off the final three innings while only allowing one runner to score.

Bluefield Blue Jays (12-15) @ Greeneville Astros (15-11) – 6-1 L

Not much to discuss in this one as the Bluefield squad couldn’t muster much on the offensive side of the ball, only getting 5 base hits to score their lone run. Rodrigo Orozco had the best offensive day of the bunch, going 2/4. Over his last ten games, Orozco has hit .342 with 2 HR, 5 RBI, and a 5:7 BB:K ratio. He’s slashing .365/.430/.510 for Bluefield this year in 24 games.

A positive outing for prospect Nick Wells in this one. The 2014 3rd rounder has promise as a starting pitcher, and has started to round into form in his last two starts in rookie ball. It will be good to see himself and Jake Brentz move up to Vancouver in the near future.

Wells finished with 4 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 1 BB and 4 K, lowering his season ERA to 4.00 with a solid 28:8 K:BB ratio through 27 IP. This start is coming off his best start of the year last time out, when he went 6 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 8 K. Hopefully the success he’s seen in the last two starts will continue his next time out.

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