Blue Jays MiLB Report: Bisons rolling, organizational W’s

Toronto Blue Jays minor league scores and analysis for games played on Wednesday, June 30th

Buffalo Bisons (46-34)   –   4
Louisville Bats (39-40)   –   3

The train keeps on rolling in Buffalo. Darrell Ceciliani tied things up with his first home run of the season in the top of the ninth and Melky Mesa drove in the game-winning run. Both Mesa and Ceciliani finished the day 2-for-4 while Casey Kotchman and Jesus Montero added doubles.

Scott Diamond was excellent for the Bisons pitching seven innings of two-run ball and striking out five, not issuing a single walk. Colt Hynes picked up the win in relief despite allowing a run on two hits and Aaron Loup locked down the save.

New Hampshire Fisher Cats (33-44)   –   14
Hartford Yard Goats (42-34)   –   3

Rowdy Tellez launched his 10th home run of the season but was upstaged by Dwight Smith Jr., who had one of his biggest professional games. Smith hit a grand slam in the seventh and a two-run shot in the eighth, driving in six runs and scoring three on the day. Christian Lopes was 3-for-5 with a pair of doubles out of the leadoff spot and Jorge Flores drove in three runs hitting ninth going 2-for-4.

Luis Santos moved his record to 5-1 with seven innings of two-run ball, striking out seven. Matt Dermody allowed an unearned run to cross in his inning and a third before Wil Browning handled the final two outs.

Dunedin Blue Jays (39-37)   –   8

Clearwater Threshers (43-32)   –   1

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Anthony Alford seems to be finding his stride. The Blue Jays top positional prospect was 1-for-2 out of the leadoff spot with a pair of walks and two runs scored. Richard Urena, Ryan McBroom, and Josh Almonte all added multi-hit games while Mike Reeves hit his first home run of the season, a two-run shot.

Francisco Rios gave the D-Jays another strong start, allowing just one run on four hits over six innings. Adonys Cardona pitched one clean inning of relief before Brad Allen kept the Threshers quiet for the final two.

Lansing Lugnuts (42-35)   –   2
Great Lakes Loons (32-45)   –   1

Canadian Romano was excellent once again, striking out six Loons over four and a third while allowing just one run. Nate Abel picked up the win with two and two-thirds scoreless then Starlyn Suriel earned the two-inning save, striking out two and not allowing a base runner.

Connor Panas continues to be one of the hottest hitters in the organization and he went yard again on Wednesday. Both Ryan Hissey and JC Cardenas recorded two hits. Max Pentecost was 0-for-4 with a pair of strikeouts.

Vancouver Canadians (7-6)   –   1
Tri-City Dust Devils (8-5)   –   10

Vancouver was limited to just three hits with a double from catcher Javier Hernandez representing the closest thing to real damage. Outfielder Lance Jones walked twice and stole his third bag of the season.

Juliandry Higuera allowed two runs on four hits in four innings of work. Lefty-handed prospect Matt Smoral then looked shaky, giving up three runs on three walks and a pair of hits in just one inning of work. Gabe Noyalis followed with a similar experience (1.0 IP, 1 H, 3 BB, 3 ER). Stuart Holmes and Evan Smith took it the rest of the way.

Bluefield Blue Jays (3-4)   –   5
Kingsport Mets (1-8)   –   2

Big Levi Scott posted his first home run of the season and first-baseman Nash Knight doubled in a 2-for-4 day. The Blue Jays offence was more about efficiency, though, getting out-hit 9-6 but collecting six walks.

Left-hander Luke Gillingham got the start and worked two and two-thirds scoreless. Fellow lefty Hunter Barnett recorded a quick out before handing off to Osman Gutierrez, who earned the win with five innings of one-run relief. Chris Hall picked up his first save of the season, striking out one.