Blue Jays MiLB Recap – Bisons power through the rain

Jays Journal takes its daily look into the Toronto Blue Jays Minor League system. On Saturday, a power surge leads the Bisons by the Iron Pigs.

Buffalo Bisons vs Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs (Phillies)
8-0 Win

The Bisons were able to battle through the elements and the Iron Pigs to get a win in what should have been just game 1 of a doubleheader.  The second game of the day was postponed due to rain but T.J. House made this afternoon an even gloomier day as he held the Pigs off the board.  House would throw a 7 inning complete game shutout and allowed just 7 hits.  House was masterful as he did not walk a batter and struck out a pair.

The offense was ready and waiting to start this one as they jumped all over Ricardo Pinto in the first inning.  Pinto got 2 of the first 3 batters out when he got into trouble.  A few walks later Jason Leblebijian had the bases loaded.  He promptly laced a double through the left side of the infield to drive in a pair.  Ian Parmley followed with an infield single that scored Rowdy Tellez.  Leblebijian finished with 5 RBIs on the day

The Herd was not done with Pinto, however, as they strung together 4 more runs against him in the 3rd.  A few more walks later and once again the RBI opportunity came to Leblebijian.  Leblebijian crushed a ball to deep left-center field for a 3 run homer.  Parmley followed with a solo home run as the Bisons went back to back on homers in the inning.

Mike Ohlman

would get in on the act in the 5th with a solo home run of his own.  His odd day at the plate included a pair of walks and 3 runs scored as he went 1 for 1.  During the game, the Bisons made the most of their opportunities as they went 3-5 with runners in scoring position.  The combination of timely hitting, some power, and a dominate

T.J. House

spelled victory Saturday.

Brett Oberholtzer

is scheduled to pitch in game 1 Sunday.  The Iron Pigs and the Bisons will try and get their double header in tomorrow as the lovely Western New York weather continues to be dark and dreary.

MVB – Jason Leblebijian 2-3 with a double, a 3-run homer, and 5 RBI

New Hampshire Fisher Cats vs Binghampton Rumble Ponies (Mets)
Game One 4-2 Win

Connor Greene put together another solid pitching performance on Saturday.  Greene allowed one earned run over 6.2 innings.  He also allowed just 4 hits, 2 walks, and struck out 4.  Ryan McBroom backed up Greene’s solid performance with a BOOM.  McBroom hit his 4th home run of the season Saturday and the 3 run home was the main difference in the game.  Anthony Alford got the Cats on the board with a RBI double.  Tim Mayza recorded the final out of the game as the Ponies were threatening in the final inning.

MVFC G1 – Connor Greene 6.2 IP, 4 hits, 1 ER, 2 walks, 2 strikeouts

Game Two 0-9 Loss

The Fisher Cats let this one get away from them fast in the final innings of this short makeup game.  The Cats bullpen allowed all 9 runs in the last 3 frames.  The game started as a pitchers duel as Chris Rowley went toe to toe with P.J. Conlon of the Rumble Ponies.  Rowley threw 4 innings and allowed just 2 hits and struck out 4.  Conlon tossed a 7 inning complete game shutout.

The Ponies offense found themselves against Alonzo Gonzalez in the 5th and scored 4 runs on just 1 hit.  Gonzalez allowed 3 free passes and recorded just 1 out.  Justin Shafer and Jose Fernandez would not fair much better as they allowed 5 runs over the remaining.

Francisco Rios gets the ball on Sunday as the Cats will look to bounce back from a tough loss.

MVFC G2 – Chris Rowley 4 IP, 2 hits, 0 runs, 0 walks, 2 strikeouts

Dunedin Blue Jays at Bradenton Marauders (Pirates)
2-3 Loss

A pitchers duel gets chalked up as a loss as the D-Jays just could not get enough going in the late innings.  T.J. Zeuch was solid once again as he pitched 6 solid innings.  He allowed 6 hits and a pair of earned runs during the game.  He also issued just 1 walk and struck out 3.  The Jays 2016 first round pick has been performing well in Dunedin and appears to be settling in.  He has now had 4 starts and is yet to allow more the 2 runs in a start.

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On offense, the D-Jays had trouble solving Taylor Hearn of the Marauders.  They would finally get to Hearn in the 7th and knock him out of the game but the bullpen shut the door on the D-Jays come back.  Conor Panas drove in the 2 runs in the 7th on a double.  This put them in striking distance but they were shut down in the end.  Panas has been struggling at the dish but has looked better in the past few games.  Last year he was a huge source of power for the Lugnuts so expect him to show that off once he gets settled in his new surroundings.  Max Pentecost had his hitting streak snapped at 17 games during this one.

Ryan Borucki takes the mound Sunday for the D-Jays and will look to continue to trend upward.  In his 5 starts this season he has allowed more than 2 runs in 3 of them.

MVDJ – T.J. Zeuch 6 IP, 6 hits, 2 ER, 1 walk, 3 strikeouts

Lansing Lugnuts vs Burlington Bees (Angels)
3-4 Loss

A close game almost ended with a Lugnuts come back.  The Bees were able to hold off the Lugnuts offense to seal the loss.  Patrick Murphy had a great 7 inning performance that put the Lugnuts in great position to have a chance at winning this game.  Murphy allowed 5 hits and 2 earned runs while walking 4 batters and striking out 1.  Kirby Snead would come on and allow a pair while recording a pair of outs.  Those two tag on runs were the difference in this one.

The offense made a valiant effort in the 9th as a pair of doubles scored a run.  J.B. Woodman started it off with a double and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. followed with another double to bring home Woodman.  The offense struggled and went just 2-11 with runners in scoring position during the game.  If one or two of those cases ended differently this could have been a very different game.

Denis Diaz will get his second start of the season Sunday against the Bees

MVL – Patrick Murphy 6 IP, 5 hits, 2 ER, 4 walk, 1 strikeout

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