Blue Jays MiLB Report: LeBlanc on fire, Lugnuts blown out

Scores and analysis for Blue Jays minor league games played on Saturday, May 28th

Buffalo Bisons (26-23)   –   3
Toledo Mud Hens (21-26)   –   0

Toronto’s triple-A affiliate is really playing up their talent level now. Wade LeBlanc continues to be one of the strongest pitchers in the organization, throwing 6.1 innings of shutout ball with just four hits against. LeBlanc has now gone 33 innings without allowing an earned run, bringing his ERA to 1.29.

Bo Schultz recorded two quick outs on six pitches and was followed by Ryan Tepera, who struck out two batters in two innings of work for his fifth save.

Darrell Ceciliani was a home run shy of the cycle, going 3-for-5 with a run scored. Matt Dominguez, hitting behind Ceciliani, was 2-for-4 with two RBIs.

New Hampshire Fisher Cats (21-26)   –   3

Reading Fightin Phils (33-16)   –   1

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Shane Dawson was very strong in his start, allowing just one earned run over six innings on four hits. The left-hander did allow five walks, however, running his pitch count up to 88. Colt Hynes pitched one and two-third innings of clean relief before Murphy Smith earned his second save of the season, bringing his ERA down to 0.35.

New Hampshire’s seven hits were spread throughout the lineup, with doubles from Rowdy Tellez and Ryan Lavarnway representing the only extra-base hits. Lavarnway also stole his first base of the season. Roemon Fields, Dwight Smith Jr., and Tellez picked up the RBIs.

Dunedin Blue Jays (22-28)   –   6
Daytona Tortugas (22-28)   –   11

Saturday was tough on the D-Jays pitching staff, starting with Kyle Westwood who allowed six earned runs on seven hits over six innings, failing to record a strikeout. Adonys Cardona allowed two runs in his lone relief inning before Tim Mayza, typically one of the system’s strongest relievers, allowed three runs in a single frame.

Derrick Loveless led the way on offence with his second home run of the season. Shortstop Emilio Guerrero was 2-for-3 with an RBI and a walk while leadoff man Jonathan Davis drove in two.

Next: Update on negotiations between Blue Jays, Dunedin

Lansing Lugnuts (24-23)   –   3
South Bend Cubs (30-17)   –   17

Jon Harris proved that he is, in fact, human as the Lugnuts fell by two touchdowns. Harris lasted just four and a third, allowing eight runs (seven earned) on nine hits with four walks. This is his weakest start of the season, but as a clear outlier from his body of work, the 2015 first-rounder should rebound quickly.

Josh DeGraaf spread five hits (one ER) over two and two-thirds innings before Gustavo Pierre continued his slide, allowing six earned runs while recording just one out.

Gunnar Heidt was a bright spot, going 3-for-4 with a home run, double, and two runs batted in. Outside of Heidt, a single from left-fielder Connor Panas was the only other Lugnuts hit.

Angel Perdomo (2-1, 1.73 ERA) is scheduled to pitch for Lansing on Sunday night.