Blue Jays MiLB Recap: Jonathan Harris bounces back

Toronto Blue Jays Minor League results and analysis from games played on Thursday, April 14th

Buffalo Bisons (4-4)   –   2
Rochester Red Wings (3-4)   –   1

Scott Diamond stayed hot for the Bisons with his second strong outing of the season in Buffalo’s home opener, throwing seven innings of one-run ball while allowing just six hits and striking out five. Ryan Tepera struck out the side in a dominant eighth inning before David Aardsma put up his third save of 2016 with a hitless ninth. With some roadblocks between Aardsma and a crack at the MLB roster, he could rack up some serious stats at the back end of this Bisons bullpen

Dalton Pompey hit leadoff and went 1-for-4 with a double while number two hitter Andy Burns had a 2-for-4 day with an RBI. The other RBI on the day went to Junior Lake (1-for-2, BB).

Left-hander Wade LeBlanc is expected to pitch on Friday evening for the Herd as they wrap up their series against Rochester.

New Hampshire Fisher Cats (3-3)   –   6

Trenton Thunder (4-3)   –   5

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The Fisher Cats took this win in walk-off fashion on an RBI single from Melky Mesa in the bottom of the tenth. Dominican righty Luis Santos got the start for New Hampshire, allowing four earned runs over 5.2 innings pitched with three walks, but striking out eight batters in the process.

Murphy Smith, Chris Smith (BS, 1), and Wil Browning (1-0) followed up in relief for the final four innings.

Jon Berti was the star offensively, going 2-for-5 with an RBI and stealing his fourth bag of the season already. K.C. Hobson and Jorge Flores picked up the the other RBIs for New Hampshire. Rowdy Tellez went 1-for-4 with a double and a walk.

Dunedin Blue Jays (4-4)   –   3
St. Lucie Mets (5-3)   –   0

Thursday’s start was a huge step in the right direction for high-upside left-handed pitching prospect Ryan Borucki, who recovered from an ugly 2016 debut by throwing five innings of shutout ball. Borucki walked one, struck out two, and allowed just four hits on 76 pitches. After Dunedin put up three runs in the top of the first, it was all zeroes the rest of the way.

Venezuelan right-hander Adonys Cardona struck out two batters (2 H) in 1.1 innings of relief before Tim Mayza, an arm I’ve recommended watching closely in 2016, pitched 2.2 very strong innings (1 BB, 3 K) for the long save. This brings Mayza’s ERA down to 1.59 on the young season.

J.D. Davis led the way at the plate with his second home run of the spring (2-for-3, RBI) while former first round pick D.J. Davis went 2-for-4 with an RBI single. The speedy centre-fielder also stole his first base of the season.

Next: How Sanchez's changeup can push him from good to great

Lansing Lugnuts (3-2)   –   4
Bowling Green Hot Rods (4-4)   –   8

Top pitching prospect Jonathan Harris bounces back from a rough first outing himself, throwing 4.0 innings of four-hit ball, allowing no earned runs and striking out two. That’s a big step forward for Harris, who threw 65 pitches, and he should continue to stretch out (and improve) over his coming starts.

Tayler Saucedo (0-2) took his second loss on the young season in a 3.1 inning relief stint, allowing seven runs (3 earned) on five hits and three walks before Dusty Isaacs cleaned up. Lansing’s three errors, all from shortstop JC Cardenas, didn’t help the cause.

Lane Thomas launches his first home run of the season in the sixth inning on a 2-for-4 day. Andrew Guillotte continues to impress at the plate, going 2-for-5 from the leadoff spot with two RBIs and Canadian third baseman Connor Panas went 2-for-4. Second baseman Gunnar Heidt stole his third bag of the season.