Blue Jays MiLB Recap: Teams Go 2-3

Jays Journal takes its daily look into the Toronto Blue Jays minor league system. The teams played a total of five games on the day, going a respectable 2-3. While their record for the day was not a horrible, the affiliates will certainly be looking to better their play on Thursday.

AAA: Buffalo Bisons vs. Rochester Red Wings (Twins) + (Doubleheader) – 5-3 loss, 4-1 win

GAME ONE: After being rained out on Tuesday, the Buffalo Bisons were set to play a doubleheader against the Rochester Red Wings on Wednesday. Unfortunately for the Bisons game one did not go their way, dropping the game 5-3 in seven innings.

Jarrett Grube (2-2) started for the Bisons, and he did not give the team his best stuff. The right-hander picked up the loss after going five innings, allowing four runs off of six hits and one walk while striking out striking out four. Grube’s ERA for the season inflated to 4.68.

The next two pitchers to come in relief of Grube were Murphy Smith and Chad Girodo. The righty Smith went one inning, allowing one run off of one hit – a home run. The left-handed Girodo pitched one perfect inning while tallying one strikeout.

Offensively, the Bisons had a decent outing. The team was able to score three runs while registering eight hits and walking three over seven innings.

The player who led the way at the plate was Mike Ohlman. The catcher/designated hitter went 2-3 on the day with a walk, a homerun, and two RBIs.

The other players to make a difference at the plate in game one were Christian Lopes (1-4, R), Dwight Smith Jr. (1-3, BB), Jake Elmore (1-3), Rowdy Tellez (2-4, 2B), Darrell Ceciliani (1-3, R), Jason Leblebijian (0-3, BB) and Alex Monsalve (0-2, RBI).

GAME ONE MVB: Mike Ohlman – 2-3, HR, 2 RBI, BB

GAME TWO: After taking the loss in the first game, the Bisons were looking to get back in the win column by beating the Red Wings in game two. The game was all Bisons, as the team won 4-1 in seven innings. After splitting the two games today, the team now sits with a 15-9 record on the season.

Recently demoted right-hander Casey Lawrence (1-0) took the hill for the Bisons in game two, and he quite simply spun a gem. The 29-year-old picked up the win after going five innings, allowing one run (zero earned) off of five hits and one walk. Lawrence now sits with a minuscule 0.90 ERA for the season.

The next two pitchers to pitch were right-handers, Matt Dermody and Leonel Campos. Dermody was credited with the hold after going one shutout inning while allowing two hits. Campos came in for the seventh to close the door, earning his second save of the season. The native of Venezuela did not allow a single hit or walk while striking out one.

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The bats in game two were very similar to the ones that showed up in game one. The team was able to score four runs off of six hits and four walks over just seven innings.

The player to lead the Bisons offensively in game two was outfielder Ian Parmley. The left-hander hitter went 2-3 with two RBIs for the day, improving his average on the season to .278.

The other players to make a difference at the plate were Christian Lopes (1-4, SB), Dwight Smith Jr. (1-4, R), Mike Ohlman (1-3, R), Rowdy Tellez (1-2, BB, R), Jason Leblebijian (0-1, 2 BB), Jake Elmore (0-3, R, SB) and Roemon Fields (0-2, BB, SB).

After splitting the first two games of the series, the Bisons will be looking to come out victorious and win the series with the Red Wings on Thursday. First pitch is scheduled for 1:05 p.m. EST.

GAME TWO MVB: Casey Lawrence – 5 IP, W, 1 R, 0 ER, 5 H, 1 BB

AA: New Hampshire Fisher Cats vs. Reading Fightin Phils (Phillies) – 3-2 loss

After splitting the first two games of the series with the Reading Fightin Phils, the New Hampshire Fisher Cats were looking to pick up the win for the game and the series. While it was a close game from the first pitch, the Fisher Cats dropped the game by a score of 3-2. The team now sits with a putrid 9-16 record for the season.

Shane Dawson (1-3) started for the Fisher Cats, and while he was hooked with the loss, he really did not pitch that poorly. The left-hander went six innings, allowing three runs (two earned) off of four hits while striking out three. Dawson lowered his ERA on the season to 4.97, which is still much too high.

The pitcher to pitch the final two innings of the game was Justin Shafer. The righty kept them in the game as he did not allow a run, and only allowed a single hit while striking out three.

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The pitching was definitely not the problem today for the Fisher Cats, as it was the hitting that kept the team from winning. The team was only able to muscle out four hits and drew just four walks, leading to two runs and a loss.

In a game where a team gets just four hits, nobody really led the way at the plate. However the players who contributed today were Tim Lopes (1-4, 2B, R), Anthony Alford (1-3, RBI, BB), Harold Ramirez (0-3, BB, R), Raffy Lopez (0-2, 2 BB), Gunnar Heidt (1-4, RBI, SB) and Jonathan Davis (1-2, 2B).

After losing the series with the Fightin Phils, the Fisher Cats will look to start fresh when the begin their series with the Binghamton Rumble Ponies on Thursday. First pitch is scheduled for 6:05 p.m. EST.

A+: Dunedin Blue Jays vs. Tampa Yankees (Yankees) – 3-1 loss

After taking the first two games of the four-game series with the Tampa Yankees, the Dunedin Blue Jays were looking to clinch the series with a win on Thursday. The team pitched well, but the bats did not show up. The Blue Jays ended up losing 3-1, and their record for the season is now 15-12.

Conor Fisk (1-3) started the game for the Blue Jays, and he gave the team a quality outing. The right-hander was handed the loss but went six innings, allowing three runs off of seven hits and one walk. Fisk now sits with an ERA of 4.55 for the season.

The relief pitchers to take the hill for the Blue Jays on Thursday were Josh DeGraaf, Adonys Cardona and Tom Robson. All three of them pitched one shutout inning, allowing a combined three hits while registering four strikeouts over their three innings of work out of the bullpen.

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Offensively the Blue Jays struggled, as they scored just one run off of five hits and three walks.

The player who led the way at the plate today was Max Pentecost. The guy has been absolutely raking, and it continued on Thursday. Pentecost went 2-4 with a double and a run, improving his average on the season to .338 and his OPS to .981.

The other players who contributed for the Blue Jays on offense were Cavan Biggio (1-4), Andrew Guillotte (1-3, BB, SB), Juan Kelly (1-4), Lane Thomas (0-4, RBI) Matt Dean (0-3, BB) and Kevin Vicuna (0-3, BB).

The Blue Jays play again on Thursday and will be looking for a win to take the series with the Yankees 3-1. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. EST.

MVDJ: Max Pentecost – 2-4, 2B, R

A: Lansing Lugnuts vs. Peoria Chiefs (Cardinals) – 9-7 win

The Lansing Lugnuts entered the day looking to claw back into the win column and to stay alive in their current series with the Peoria Chiefs. The team was able to pick up the win and tie the series, beating the Chiefs in a high-scoring affair, 9-7. The Lugnuts now sit with a 14-11 record on the year.

Right-hander Andy Ravel started the game for the Lugnuts, and it was an ugly performance. Ravel was only able to go three innings for the team, allowing five runs off of three hits and three walks. Ravel’s ERA to the season inflated to 7.36, and it is clear he is struggling this season.

The next pitchers to see action were Tayler Saucedo (1-1), Geno Encina, Zach Jackson and Jackson McClelland. Saucedo, the first to pitch out of the bullpen, picked up the win after pitching two shutout innings in relief. Encina was the next to appear, and he had his first rough outing of the season. The right-hander went two innings, allowing two runs (one earned) off of three hits. His ERA for the season is now at 0.47.

After Encina left the game, Jackson entered. The set-up man came in for his second hold of the season, pitching one shutout inning. Finally, the last pitcher to appear was the closer McClelland, and he picked up save number five on the season after pitching a perfect ninth inning.

On offense, the Lugnuts absolutely raked. The team spanked the ball around the park for 12 hits and three walks, leading to nine runs and a victory.

The player who stood out the most at the plate was the Blue Jays’ top prospect, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. The slugging third baseman went 2-4 with a home run and two RBIs. Guerrero Jr. is living up to the hype so far this season, hitting an absurd .342 with an OPS of 1.036.

The other players to make a difference at the plate today were Edward Olivares (2-4, 2B, 2 RBI, 2 R, SB), Joshua Palacios (3-5, RBI, 2 R, SB), J.B Woodman (1-4, RBI), Jake Thomas (1-3, 2B, 2 BB, R), Bradley Jones (0-1, R), Bo Bichette (1-4, BB) Ridge Smith (0-3, R) and Yeltsin Gudino (2-4, 2B, 2 RBI, R).

After splitting the first two games of the series, the Lugnuts will look to win the game and the series with the Chiefs on Thursday. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. EST.

MVL: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. – 2-4, HR, 2 RBI

Next: 1 on 1 With Anthony Alford

That’s all for today’s MiLB recap. Check back in tomorrow when Jays Journal recaps Thursday’s minor-league action.

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