Blue Jays MiLB Recap: Bisons and D-Jays hit parade!

Mar 30, 2016; Fort Myers, FL, USA; Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Casey Kotchman (35) hits a 2-RBI single during the fifth inning against the Minnesota Twins at CenturyLink Sports Complex. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 30, 2016; Fort Myers, FL, USA; Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Casey Kotchman (35) hits a 2-RBI single during the fifth inning against the Minnesota Twins at CenturyLink Sports Complex. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
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Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

Buffalo Bisons @ Scranton/ WB Rail Riders (Win 9-6)

The Bisons broke their losing streak and rode the awoken bats to a victory Monday.  Drew Hutchison got the start for the the Herd and had difficulties with the Rail Riders right from the start.  Hutch pitched six innings while giving up 10 hits and five earned runs.  He also gave up a home run to Nick Swisher in the 4th inning.

Hutch showed better control as he struck out six and did not walk a batter while throwing 51 of his 71 pitches for strikes. Prior to this game, Hutch had an a sub-.100 opposing batting average but after this start it sits at a more typical .208.  He may have been pounding the strike zone too much in this one judging from the 10 hits.

The bullpen held true and kept the Rail Riders off the board for the most part.  Over three innings of work the only run allowed was in the 8th which was recorded as a blown save for Chad Girodo who allowed two hits.  Ryan Tepera and Chad Jenkins threw a shutout inning each.  Jenkins pitched the 7th and scattered a pair of hits.  Tepera came on for the save in the 9th and made it interesting as he walked two batters but managed to shut down the Rail Rider threat.

Pitching Grade:  B

On offence the Herd was hitting everything.  15 hits by the Bisons and a late inning charge allowed them to walk out with the victory.  Dalton Pompey failed to record a hit in the game but extended his on-base streak to seven games on a walk.

Casey Kotchman had a 2-for-4 day with a double and a solo homer in the 2nd that started things off for the Herd.  In the 3rd Junior Lake hit a 2-run homer for his first of the season.  He also collected a double in a 2-5 performance.  Matt Dominguez went 3-4 with a double and 4 RBI.  Dominguez is heating up it appears if you look at the past couple games were he is 5-8 with 6 RBI.

Jesus Montero continues to rake as he hit two more doubles, scored a run and drove one in.  Seven hitters in the Bison attack had multi hit games.  The only batters that did not have a hit were Dalton Pompey and A.J. Jimenez who was just activated yesterday.

Offensive Grade:  A

Line of the game – Casey Kotchman, 2-4 with a double, a home run, 2 runs scored, and an RBI

Up Next
Buffalo Bisons @ Scranton/ WB Rail Rider (Scott Diamond vs Tyler Cloyd)

Next: AA: FIsher Cats just miss in a long game

Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /

New Hampshire Fisher Cats vs Hartford Yard Goats (Loss 3-4)

A marathon game ended in a tough loss for the Fisher Cats after 15 innings of rough back and forth baseball. The Cats had to use five pitchers to get through this one.  Starting off was Jeremy Gabryszwski and he had a decent start.  Through 6.1 innings he battled and allowed just two runs on six hits and a pair of walks.

Gabryszwski was also able to strike out five and continues to impress in the early going this season.  Wil Browning came in and finished the 7th inning and was lifted for Colt Hynes to start the 8th.  Hynes threw threw innings of work while only allowing one hit and striking out six.  Danny Burns was next and also pitched a solid three innings, not allowing a base runner while striking out five.  Daniel Schlereth got saddled with the loss after giving up a run on two hits in the 15th.

Pitching Grade:  A

Usually when you come to the ballpark and get 16 hits as a team you have a great chance to win a ball game.  This was the case Monday as the Cats collected hit after hit in the 15-inning grudge match.  The issue was that they batted a miserable 2-23 with runners in scoring position.  The chances were there but the luck to bring around an extra runner or two was not.

Every hitter in the lineup was able to reach base during this game.  Rowdy Tellez hit his second homer of the season in the 6th.  Six of the Cats batters recorded multi-hit performances.  Roemon Fields collected two of the seven extra-base hits as he slapped two doubles during the game.  Fields also stole his 6th base of the season.

Offensive Grade:  C-

Line of the gameDanny Barnes 3 IP with 0 Hits, 0 walks, 0 earned runs, 5 strikeouts

Up Next
New Hampshire Fisher Cats vs. Hartford Yard Goats (Luis Santos vs TBD)

Next: Single-A level: D-Jays bust out the sticks

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

Dunedin Blue Jays @ Palm Beach Cardinals (Win 10-3)

The D-Jays came out of the dugout hot in this one.  They were able to grab two runs early and then ripped it wide open in the 5th inning.  On the mound, Tom Robson got his season going in the right direction as he allowed only one run on three hits in 5.0 innings of work.  Robson also struck out four while walking three.  Brad Allen had the real difficulties as he allowed two runs on four hits his during his two innings of work.  Tim Mayza was assigned the mop up duty for the final two innings and allowed one hit and a walk while striking out three.

Pitching Grade:  B+

On to the offence that was the star of the game.  David Harris opened up the offence with a single in the 2nd that scored two runs.  Jonathan Davis popped his 3rd homer of the season in the 5th.  It was a 3-run shot that led to the 4-run 5th inning for the D-Jays.  Every D-Jay was able to reach base during the game that had six extra base hits on 15 hits.  Jason Leblebijian collected three singles and an RBI out of the 3-hole in the lineup and continues to heat up.  Emilio Guerrero continues to impress as he raked a pair of doubles, scored two runs, and another RBI.  Guerrero is now 6-9 with three doubles, and three RBI in his first two games with the D-Jays.

Offensive Grade:  A+

Line of the game – Jonathan Davis 3-5 with a double, a 3-run homer, 3 runs scored, and 3 RBI

Up Next
Dunedin Blue Jays @ Tampa Yankees (Ryan Borucki vs Chance Adams)

Next: Igniting a rivalry - Series preview for Orioles

Lansing Lugnuts vs Fort Wayne Tin Caps (Loss 1-7)

An early deficit and lack of offence led to a loss for the Lugnuts Monday.  Ryan Cook allowed five earned runs in four innings of work to start off the evening for the Lugnuts.  He allowed five hits and walked four while only striking out one.  Dan Leitz pitched the next two innings and allowed one more run on two hits and two walks.  Starlyn Suriel and Colton Turner finished off the final three innings and allowed no base runners for the remainder.

Pitching Grade:  C+

The Tin Caps pitching dominated the Lugnuts lineup and only allowed a few base runners the entire game.  Jean Cosme and Austin Smith combined to strike out 10 Lugnut batters and only walk one each.  The only Lugnuts offense came together among five hits and the pair of walks for just one run.  A Carl Wise RBI single scored the lone run in the second.  Gunnar Heidt was the only player with a multi hit game.  He went 2-3 with a double and a run scored.

Offensive Grade:  D+

Line of the game – Gunnar Heidt 2-3 with a double and a run scored

Up Next
Lansing Lugnuts vs Fort Wayne Tin Caps (Tayler Saucedo vs Brett Kennedy)

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