Blue Jays MiLB Recap: Tough day for the farm system

Scores and analysis for Toronto Blue Jays’ minor league games played on Wednesday, April 5th

Buffalo Bisons (11-15)   –   4
Scranton/W-B RailRiders (14-13)   –   6

Arnold Leon made his first start for the RailRiders, allowing seven hits over just three innings as the Bisons look to stretch him out. Canadian Chris Leroux pitched five innings in relief. Andy Burns and Jon Berti both homered for Buffalo.

You can find full game details with quotes from Burns, Leroux, and manager Gary Allenson in my post-game article from Buffalo. Drew Hutchison opens the series today against the first-place Syracuse Chiefs.

New Hampshire Fisher Cats (9-15)   –   3

Reading Fightin Phils (16-10)   –   4

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The Fisher Cats got all of their offence from one swing of the bat, a bases-loaded double from Shane Opitz in the bottom of the fifth. Shortstop Jorge Flores went 2-for-3 at the bottom of the lineup while catcher Wilkin Castillo added two singles of his own.

New Hampshire’s power bats at the heart of the order were silent again, though. An 0-for-3 day with a walk from Rowdy Tellez brought his average back down to .160, while Matt Dean’s fell to .188 with an 0-for-4 day. Ian Parmley, the left-fielder batting eighth, was the only Fisher Cats starter to leave the game with a season average north of .240.

Veteran pitcher Jason Berken got the start, allowing all four Reading runs on seven hits and three walks in his six innings of work. Brady Dragmire followed him with one clean inning before lefty Danny Barnes dropped his ERA down to 1.26 with two perfect innings.

Dunedin Blue Jays  (11-14)
Brevard County Manatees  (8-18)   –   PPD

Wednesday’s series finale between the D-Jays and Manatees was postponed. Dunedin welcomes the Daytona Tortugas on Thursday night, where top prospect Conner Greene (1-2, 3.51 ERA) takes the mound.

Lansing Lugnuts (14-10)   –   2
Cedar Rapids Kernels (15-11)   –   8

The Lugnuts have been the Blue Jays’ strongest minor league affiliate through the first month, but a rough start from right-hander Ryan Cook made things difficult on Wednesday against the Kernels. Cook lasted just two and two-thirds innings, allowing five earned runs on seven hits while walking three.

Starlyn Suriel followed Cook out of the pen, allowing three runs (one earned) on two hits and two walks in two and a third. One bright spot on the mound, however, was Gustavo Pierre, who worked two strong innings and kept his ERA at zeroes. So far, so good for his transition to the mound.

Carl Wise stayed hot, going 2-for-3 with a double. Connor Panas and Justin Atkinson also added two hits apiece.

Jon Harris (0-0, 3.12 ERA) is scheduled to start on Thursday, and the 2015 first round pick has been turning the corner lately with some very strong innings.