MiLB Recap: Herd splits double-header in Pompey’s debut

Mar 6, 2016; Kissimmee, FL, USA; Toronto Blue Jays center fielder Dalton Pompey (23) squares to bunt the ball during the third inning of a spring training baseball game against the Houston Astros at Osceola County Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 6, 2016; Kissimmee, FL, USA; Toronto Blue Jays center fielder Dalton Pompey (23) squares to bunt the ball during the third inning of a spring training baseball game against the Houston Astros at Osceola County Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
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Buffalo Bisons vs Syracuse Chiefs

Bisons extend their relationship with the Blue Jays as the signed through the 2018 season Tuesday.

Game 1 (Win 2-0)

Seven shutout innings started off the day for the Bisons.  Solid pitching and just enough offence led the way to the win in game one of the double header.  Chris Leroux started things off for the Herd and threw 4 innings of work.  Lots of pitches through those 4 innings as Leroux managed to scatter 5 walked batters and only allow 1 hit.

Leroux gave way to the pen at the beginning of the 5th where Chad Girodo would follow with two dominant innings of work.  Girodo would allow just 2 base runners and strike out 3 batters.  The lefty recorded the win and set up David Aardsma for the save in the 7th.  The combined shutout with only 2 hits was impressive, but having a few less free passes would have made this game stand out as a gem

Pitching grade: A

On offense the Herd had just enough going on.  Dalton Pompey was 1-2 and scored both of the Bison runs.  He was drove in by Andy Burns and Jesus Montero.  Andy Burns collected 2 hits and a double during the game to start pushing his batting average up.   Matt Dominguez also collected a pair of singles.  The Bisons compiled some timely hitting and were able to score the pair of runs to take the win from the Chiefs.

Offensive grade B

Line of the game – Dalton Pompey 1-2 with 2 runs scored

Game 2 (Loss 3-4)

The bats were more awake for game 2 of the Tuesday double dip.  A total of 21 hits between both teams through seven innings kept things interesting throughout.  Casey Lawrence got the game started and promptly allowed the Chiefs to gain the lead.  Lawrence would allow 3 earned runs in his 3 innings of work as the Chiefs attack never allowed him to settle in as he allowed 8 hits.

Chad Jenkins came on in relief and performed slightly better.  He would pitch 1.2 innings and allow a run.  Jenkins had issues with walks as he allowed 3 free passes during his work.  Ben Rowen would close the day out with a battle through his 1.1 innings of work.  He would allow 2 hits and 2 walks but still managed to wiggle out of the issues and not allow a run.

Pitching grade: C+

On offence the Bisons were able to collect plenty of hits but were not able to string enough of them together.  Matt Dominguez collected 2 RBIs on a sacrifice.  Dalton Pompey remained hot in his second game as he collected 3 singles in his 4 at bats.  Pompey also recorded his first steal in the game.  The Bisons would fall, however, and could not come up with a big hit.  The Herd batted 1-10 with runners in scoring position in the night cap.

Offensive grade: C

Line of the game – Dalton Pompey 3-4 with a stolen base

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Buffalo Bisons @ Syracuse Chiefs (Drew Hutchison vs Austin Voth)

Next: Late surge pushes Cats to win

Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

New Hampshire Fisher Cats @ Hartford Yard Goats (Win 4-0)

What a night for the Fisher Cats.  There was a little bit of everything going on in this game for the Cats.  They had speed, offence, and some great pitching come together for the win.

Shane Dawson got the ball for the Cats in this one and got his season off to a great start.  Dawson would throw 5 innings and not allow a run.  He would also only allow 3 hits while striking out 4 and did not allow any free passes.  Dawson picked up the win and he set the tone for the game.  Brady Dragmire came in and held the Yard Goats to no base runners during his 2 innings of work.  Colt Hynes would pitch the remaining 2 innings and collect 3 strikeouts through his work.

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Pitching Grade: A+

The offence was contributed to by the entire lineup on Tuesday.  All players in the lineup were able to reach base on the strength of 8 hits and 5 walks.  Leading the way was Jon Berti who collected and astounding 3 stolen bases in his 2-4 performance.  He would also collect a double and score all 3 times he reached base.  Rowdy Tellez collected a pair of RBIs on a double and a sac fly in the clean up spot.  The thump in the lineup was provided by third basemen Matt Dean as he hit a solo homer in the 7th.  The one blemish on a great night was that the Cats had opportunities to make the lead larger but only capitalized on 2 of the 10 runners in scoring position.  Either way it was an impressive showing for the Cats en route to the win.

Offensive grade: A-

Line of the game – Jon Berti 2-4 with a double, 3 runs scored, and 3 stolen bases

Up next
New Hampshire Fisher Cats @ Hartford Yard Goats (Jeremy Gabryszwski vs Zachary Jemiola)

Next: D-Jays lose nail bitter - Lugnuts get started early

Mandatory Credit: Butch Dill-USA TODAY Sports
Mandatory Credit: Butch Dill-USA TODAY Sports /

Dunedin Blue Jays @ St. Lucie Mets (Loss 0-1)

What a close one for the D-Jays on Tuesday.  There were only 8 total hits in this game and they were mostly on the Mets side.  The Mets finally broke the the pitching duel in the 6th inning to knock Conner Greene out of the game with his only earned run.  Greene had a good outing and struck out 2 while scattering 5 hits and 2 walked batters through 5 innings of work.  The D-Jays bullpen picked up were he left off and through 3 innings of shut out ball to keep them in the ball game.

Pitching Grade: A

There is not much to write about here.  The D-Jays just could not solve the Mets pitching Tuesday.  They were only able to collect 2 hits and 4 base runners on walks.  The had some opportunity but went 0-6 with runners in scoring position.  Ryan McBroom collected a stolen base as the D-Jays failed to collect an extra base hit in route to the loss.

Offensive grade: D-

Line of the game – Conner Greene 5 IP with 2 walks, 2 strikeouts, and allowed only 1 ER

Up next
Dunedin Blue Jays @ St. Lucie Mets (Tom Robson vs Josh Prevost)

Lansing Lugnuts vs Dayton Dragons (Win 5-2)

A well pitched evening with some crazy issues on defense still allowed the Lugnuts to escape with the win.  The Lugnuts committed 5 errors in this game and still were able to hold off the Dragons.

Sean Reid-Foley collected the win and did not allow a run over 6 innings of work.  Both Dragons runs were scored with him on the mound but due to the plethora of errors he was not charged for them.  He would also only allow 1 hit while walking 4 and striking out 4.  The ‘pen held tough and only allowed 1 hit over the final 3 innings and struck out 5.

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Pitching Grade: A+

On offense the Lugnuts came out of the gate hot.  They collected 4 of their runs in the first 2 innings as they jumped on Tanner Rainey of the Dragons.  Gunnar Heidt tagged Rainey for a solo homer in the first inning to get things going.  The offense took off in the 2nd as they scored 3 runs.  The Lugnuts were able to get a tag on run in the 5th on an RBI grounder by Justin Atkinson.  This was enough for the pitching staff that was completely on point for the whole game.

Offensive grade: B-

Line of the game – Sean Reid-Foley 6 IP with 1 hit, 0 ER, 4 walks, and 4 strikeouts

Up next
Lansing Lugnuts vs Dayton Dragons (Ryan Cook vs Jacob Constante)

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