A look around the top performers for the Toronto Blue Jays minor league organization for the week that ended on July 23rd
Triple A – Buffalo Bisons
Record 52-49 (4th Place 11.0 GB)
A 1-5 week has the Bisons sliding all the way back in the standings. They still have a record above .500 but their competitive division has them 11 games behind the leading Scranton/ WB RailRiders. The Bisons power has lacked in the past week also as Chris Colabello and Matt Dominguez hit the only home runs. Dalton Pompey continues to rake as he picked up nine hits this week with four RBIs and four runs scored. He has also turned on the jets on the base paths as he stole two more bags this week and currently has 13 on the year. Darrell Ceciliani also had a good week as he went 7-for-19 (.368). He also drove in two and scored twice.
On the mound Wilmer Font turned in first solid start of the week to pick up the only win for the Bisons this week. He pitched 5.2 innings and allowed just four hits and a run. The most dominant start of the week goes to Casey Lawrence, though. He allowed just one run over 7.0 innings of work with oen walk while striking out four. Lawrence was rewarded with a win as Pat Venditte allowed five runs in his 1.1 innings of work that followed.
MVB – Casey Lawrence
Double A – New Hampshire Fisher Cats
Record 45-54 (4th Place 21.5 GB)
The Fisher Cats have been a scrappy team of late. They went 3-3 over the past week but gained some footing as the attempt to get back to .500. Jason Leblebijian was a tough out this week as he collected a hit in all six games. He scored a run in each game and drove in six. He hit two home runs during the week to bring his season total up to 12 as he continues to supply the thump in the Cats attack.
A pair of decent pitching performances highlighted the mound moments for the week. Conner Greene pitched a solid 6.0 innings and allowed two runs on six hits. He struggled with his control some as he walked a pair and was 55-of-101 for throwing strikes. He did manage to get the win in the start. Shane Dawson got back to his winning ways after a rough start last time out. He threw just 5.0 innings but allowed just one run despite five walks.
MVFC – Jason Leblebijian
Single A+ – Dunedin Blue Jays
Record 18-12 (2nd Place – 1 GB)
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A good start to the week did not end the way the D-Jays predicted as they went 2-4. Even Jose Bautista hitting a home run in his first rehab at-bat was not enough to spark the offence this week. Anthony Alford had a great week in which he went 8-for-23 (.348) with a pair of long balls. He drove in three and scored three during the week. The most encouraging stat was that he walked five times. He is becoming more selective at the plate and has been trending upward since. Alford also stole three bases and currently sits at 12 for the season.
Chris Rowley started off a trend of dominant starts for the week as he pitched 7.0 innings and did not allow an earned run. They opposition did score an unearned run while he was on the mound but he allowed just six hits and struck out three. Sean Reid-Foley followed with a 6-inning one-hitter. He struck out an eye-popping 10 batters in the start. Not to be outdone, Conor Fisk threw 8.0 innings of one-run ball while striking out seven. Fisk allowed just five hits and no walks but somehow was saddled with the loss.
MVDJ – Sean Reid-Foley
Single A Full – Lansing Lugnuts
Record 16-13 (2nd Place – 1.5 GB)
In only five games this week the Lugnuts struggled to get going. The Lugnuts only managed one win in a game where the bats finally woke up for their only game scoring over three runs. Andrew Guillotte was able to keep swinging this week as he collected eight hits which included a home run. Guillotte scored six runs and drove in two during the week.
Jon Harris pitched his last game in a Lugnuts uniform earlier in the week and allowed just one run over 5.2 innings. The one run was scored on just four hits and zero walks. Harris pounded the strike zone as 53 of his 72 pitches were strikes. Justin Maese looked better in his second start for the Lugnuts. Maese allowed 10 hits over 5 innings but was able to work out of all that trouble as he surrendered just one run.
MVL – Andrew Guillotte
Single A Short – Vancouver Canadians
Record 16-20 (4th Place – 2 GB)
Yet another hard week for a Jays affiliate as the C’s only won one game this week. Cavan Biggio continues to impress as he collected seven hits with an RBI over the week. J.B. Woodman had a great week with hits and two RBI. He also scored four runs and stole a pair of bases. Luis Sanchez had one of the few solid starts during the week. He threw shutout ball over 4.1 innings while allowing just three hits.
MVC – J.B. Woodman
Next: Healthy Dalton Pompey could still be legitimate factor
Rookie level – Bluefield Blue Jays
Record 13-15 (4th Place 4.0 GB)
A 3-3 week has the Blue Jays sitting just outside first place but somehow in 4th. The Jays offence rolled most of the week. In their three wins they scored at least five runs. Nash Knight was a hitting machine, going 10-for-19. He drove in nine runs while scoring three times. Kalik May had a hit in every game this week. He drove in four runners and stole a base. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. also had a hit in every game this week but was unable to drive in a run out of the third spot in the lineup. He did score twice and continues to see his batting average climb. He started the week batting .256 and finished batting .269.
Three great pitching performances were turned in this week for the Blue Jays. Kyle Weatherly tossed a one-hit shutout for 5.0 innings while striking out five. Juliandry Higuera followed that performance with a six-inning performance in which he allowed just one run. Higuera struck out six and did not allow a walk during the game. Denis Diaz notched a three-strikeout performance through 6 innings, allowing just one run on three hits.
MVBBJ – Nash Knight