Blue Jays MiLB Recap – Rain, Rain, Rain

Jays Journal takes its daily look into the Toronto Blue Jays minor league system. The weather played a major factor today, as the teams were only able to play two games, splitting them by going 1-1.

AAA: Buffalo Bisons vs. Rochester Red Wings (Twins) – DNP

RAIN OUT: The Buffalo Bisons and Rochester Red Wings were unable to play today due to the weather, and the game has been rescheduled for June 26. The Bisons are set to play next on Friday against the Lehigh Valley IronPigs, with first pitch being scheduled for 7:05 p.m. EST.

AA: New Hampshire Fisher Cats vs. Binghamton Rumble Ponies (Mets) – 9-4 loss

The New Hampshire Fisher Cats and Binghamton Rumble Ponies were set to open their series on Thursday, and it was not the start the Fisher Cats were looking for. The team did not pitch well at all today, losing the game by a score of 9-4. The Fisher Cats now sit with an awful 9-17 record for the season.

Sean Reid-Foley (1-3) started the game for the Fisher Cats, and he had yet another bad outing. Considered by some to be the top pitching prospect in the Blue Jays organization, the right-hander did not even last an inning on Thursday, picking up his third loss of the season. Reid-Foley went just 0.2 innings, allowing four runs off of three hits and three walks. His ERA for the season is now an abysmal 7.80.

The pitchers to see action out of the bullpen on Thursday were Kender Villegas, Dusty Isaacs, Blake McFarland and Tim Mayza. Realistically none of them pitched all that well except for Mayza, as the other three each allowed at least one run.

Villegas, a right-hander, struggled with control and went 2.1 innings allowing two runs off of one hit and five walks. Isaacs, who pitched after Villegas, went 2.2 innings also allowing two runs but it was off of three hits and one walk. McFarland entered the game next, going two innings while allowing one run off of two hits. Finally the left-hander Mayza came in for the final 1.1 innings, allowing zero runs off of one hit and one walk.

The pitching was definitely the problem today for the Fisher Cats, as the hitting wasn’t all that bad. The team scored four runs off of eight hits and eight walks – enough to win on some days, but not when four of the five pitchers who saw action allowed at least one run.

The player who led the way offensively for the Fisher Cats on Thursday was Raffy Lopez. The catcher continued to hit for power, going 3-5 on the day with a home run, an RBI and two runs scored. Lopez now has an OPS for the season of 1.062.

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The other players who contributed at the plate today were Tim Lopes (0-2, 3 BB), Richard Urena (1-3, RBI, 2 BB), Harold Ramirez (1-4, BB, R), Gunnar Heidt (1-4, BB, R), Derrick Loveless (2-4, 2B, 2 RBI) and J.C. Cardenas (0-3, BB, SB).

After losing the first game of the five-game series with the Rumble Ponies, the Fisher Cats will be looking to pick up two wins tomorrow when they play a doubleheader with Binghamton. First pitch for game one is scheduled for 5:35 p.m. EST.

MVFC: Raffy Lopez – 3-5, HR, RBI, 2 R

A+: Dunedin Blue Jays vs. Tampa Yankees (Yankees) – 3-2 win/10

After taking two of the first three games of the series with the Tampa Yankees, the Dunedin Blue Jays were looking to win the series with a victory on Thursday. In a game that was a tight battle from start to finish, the Blue Jays ended up winning in extra innings by a score of 3-2. The team now sits with a season record of 16-12.

Jordan Romano started the game for the Blue Jays, and he had himself a masterful outing. The right-hander pitched to a no-decision after going six innings, allowing one run (zero earned) off of four hits and zero walks while striking out nine. Romano has had a great season so far, and his ERA now sits at 2.76.

The relief pitchers to take the hill for the Blue Jays on Thursday were Danny Young, Philip Walby and Andrew Case (3-1). The left-hander Young went 1.2 innings while allowing one run off of one hit. The next pitcher to enter the game was Walby, who pitched 1.1 innings of shutout ball, allowing just two hits. The final pitcher to toe the rubber was Case, and he came in for the tenth and picked up the win after going one shutout inning, allowing zero hits or walks while striking out two.

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Offensively the Blue Jays did not have a game to gloat about, but it certainly could have been a lot worse. The team scored three runs off of six hits and two walks – which was ultimately enough to win the game.

The players who contributed for the Blue Jays on offense were Cavan Biggio (0-3, BB), Juan Kelly (1-4, HR, 2 RBI), Danny Jansen (1-4, R) Matt Dean (0-3, BB), Connor Panas (1-4, HR, RBI), and D.J. Davis (2-3).

The Blue Jays play again on Friday when they open a three-game series with the Bradenton Marauders. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. EST.

MVDJ: Jordan Romano – 6 IP, 1 R, 0 ER, 4 H, 0 BB, 9 SO

A: Lansing Lugnuts vs. Peoria Chiefs (Cardinals) – DNP

RAIN OUT: The Lansing Lugnuts and Peoria Chiefs were unable to play today due to the weather, and the rescheduled date when they will play is yet to be announced. The Lugnuts are set to play next on Friday against the Burlington Bees, with first pitch being scheduled for 7:05 p.m. EST.

Next: Q & A With Jordan Romano

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