Blue Jays MiLB Report: Smith rolling, Zeuch on the mound

Toronto Blue Jays scores and analysis for minor league games played on Sunday, September 4th

Buffalo Bisons (66-77)   –   0
Pawtucket Red Sox (73-68)   –   1

Buffalo’s pitching held Pawtucket to just four hits, but the Red Sox did the Bisons one better. Singles to Quintin Berry, Domonic Brown, and Andy Burns represented the only offence as the Buffalo batters struck out nine times and walked just once.

Scott Copeland had an excellent start, throwing six innings and allowing just one unearned run on three hits with five strikeouts and no walks. Aaron Loup and Bo Schultz followed with a scoreless inning each.

New Hampshire Fisher Cats (68-73)   –   2
Portland Sea Dogs (55-83)   –   7

Dwight Smith Jr. continued his hot streak with a pair of doubles, giving him 24 on the season. Richard Urena also doubled in a 1-for-4 day while Christian Lopes was 2-for-5 with an RBI out of the leadoff spot. Rowdy Tellez recorded one walk in three at-bats.

Wilmer Font took the loss for New Hampshire, allowing six runs in six innings on eight hits, including two home runs. He did strike out eight, though, without issuing a walk. Starlyn Suriel picked up with two innings of relief (2.0 IP, ER, 2 K) before Ryan Cook handled a scoreless ninth.

Dunedin Blue Jays (76-59)   –   6

Clearwater Threshers (82-54)   –   9

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The playoff-bound D-Jays committed four errors on Sunday leading to three unearned runs. At the plate, Matt Dean had a strong day going 2-for-4 with two runs scored. David Harris and D.J. Davis both went 1-for-3 with a walk, RBI, and run scored while Dickie Joe Thon drove in one run as part of a 2-for-4 day.

Brad Allen took the first three innings of a group pitching effort, allowing five runs (just two earned) on five hits. Francisco Rios (1.2 IP, 3 H, 2 ER), Justin Shafer (0.1 IP, 3 H, 2 ER), Carlos Ramirez (2.0 IP, K), Adonys Cardona (1.0 IP), and Jose Fernandez (1.0 IP, K) rounded out the bullpen contributions.

Lansing Lugnuts (69-70)   –   0
Lake County Captains (71-68)   –   3

The Lugnuts did not manage an extra-base hit and walked just once with 11 strikeouts. J.B. Woodman had two singles in four at-bats while the other hits went to Lane Thomas and leadoff man Cavan Biggio.

T.J. Zeuch pitched five innings and struck out seven, but allowed three runs on three hits and a pair of walks. Jordan Romano picked up with two strong innings of relief, striking out three, to lower his season ERA to 2.11. Dan Lietz handled the eighth cleanly, striking out one.

Next: Blue Jays have a bullpen dark horse in Danny Barnes

Vancouver Canadians (29-44)   –   5
Tri-City Dust Devils (33-42)   –   6

DJ McKnight hit his second home run of the season, a solo shot in the seventh inning. Nash Knight chipped in with three singles and an RBI while first-baseman David Jacob went 2-for-4 with a double and a triple in his Canadians debut. Brett Wellman had a single and two walks in a 1-for-2 day.

Dalton Rodriguez had a strong outing, allowing just one run on five hits over five innings while striking out three. Taylor Durand made his Vancouver debut and allowed three runs, all unearned, while recording two outs. Jared Carkuff, in another debut, allowed one run to score in his inning and a third on three hits while striking out two. Gabe Noyalis (2.0 IP, 4 K), bridged the gap to Grayson Huffman, who allowed the walk-off run on a wild pitch.