Blue Jays MiLB recap – Maese locks in

Jays Journal takes its daily look into the Toronto Blue Jays Minor League system.  A cold and soggy North East led to a pair of rain outs Friday.  Justin Maese dazzled for the Lugnuts in a win.

Buffalo Bisons vs Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs (Phillies)
Rain Out

The Buffalo area has been a puddle that past few days as rain continues to move through the Great Lakes.  The Bisons are scheduled to play a double header Saturday against the Iron Pigs.  The catch would be there is still an 80% chance of rain throughout the day.

Mike Bolsinger is scheduled to pitch game 1, and T.J. House is on the docket for game 2.  Bolsinger and House could very well be pitching for a shot to at a turn with the Blue Jays in the coming weeks.  Today’s auditions will more than likely be watched intensively by the Jays’ brass.  As you more then likely know, the Blue Jays have been having issues keeping their starters healthy and on the hill.  The first experiment with Mat Latos is over as he was designated for assignment on Thursday.

New Hampshire Fisher Cats vs Binghampton Rumble Ponies (Mets)
Double Header Rain Out

Mother nature goes undefeated in this double header as the Fisher Cats and the Rumble Ponies will gear things back up for it on Saturday.

Francisco Rios will get the ball for game 1.  Rios is coming off of his best start of the season against the Reading Fightin Phils.  He went 7 innings in the game, and did not allow a earned run.  He would pick up his 3rd win while allowing 8 hits and striking out 4.

The starter for game 2 is yet to be determined.

Dunedin Blue Jays at Bradenton Marauders (Pirates)
0-4 Loss

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The D-Jays were unable to turn on the offense in their loss to the Marauders on Friday.  The offense managed just 2 hits in the game against Mitch Keller.  The Pirate’s 3rd ranked prospect cut right through the D-Jays high octane offense.  Keller threw 7 innings of shut out ball on his way to the win.  He allowed just the 2 hits and struck out 9.

Angel Perdomo got the start for the D-Jays and battled through 4 long frames.  Perdomo threw 96 pitches through 4 innings of work.  The Marauders were able to get to him for 3 runs (2 earned).  All 3 runs while Perdomo was on the hill were scored off of the bat of Christian Kelly.  Kelly also hit a 2 run bomb in the the 4th.

Jared Carkuff was great out of the pen to keep the D-Jays in the game.  He was on the mound for 3 innings and he allowed a pair of hits, 2 walks, and struck out 2.  He did not allow a run during the outing.  Connor Eller would pitch the final frame and allowed a tag on run to put the D-Jays down by 4.  The Jays were unable to mount a come back against a solid pitching effort.

T.J. Zeuch will get the ball for Saturdays game.  Zeuch will look to continue the success he’s had to open the season.  He is currently 2-1 with a 2.05 ERA and 19 strikeouts.  He has also not allowed more then a pair of runs in a start this season.

MVDJ – Jared Carkuff 3 IP, 2 hits, 0 ER, 2 walks, 2 strikeouts

Lansing Lugnuts vs Burlington Bees
5-2 Win

A masterful night for Justin Maese led to a win for the Lugnuts Friday.  Maese pitched 7 strong innings and allowed just 3 hits.  Maese did walk 4 batters but struck out 5 during the performance.  He bounced back in this one from a 5 earned run game, to allow just 1 in this one.  During the outing he was in total control and was rewarded with his 3rd win of the season.

The Lugnuts got something going early to support Maese in the 1st inning.  Bo Bichette opened the scoring with an RBI triple that plated J.B. Woodman.  Bichette would go 2-4 on the night with a double and the triple. Woodman would get a pair of RBIs on a double in the 5th to put the Lugnuts up by 3 at the time.  The Bees did strike for a pair in the top of the 6th but the offense negated that quickly.  Chris Hissey doubled in Bradley Jones in the bottom of the inning to put the Lugnuts up 4-2.  Hissey also drove in the tag-on run in the 8th on a sac fly.

The Lugnuts will look for their 3rd win in a row on Saturday as they look to contain the Bees.  Patrick Murphy will do his best super hero impression as he takes the mound on Comic Con night at the home of the Lugnuts.

MVL – Justin Maese 7 IP, 3 hits, 1 ER, 4 walks, 5 strikeouts

Next: Morales coming up clutch