Blue Jays MiLB Recap: Teams Go 2-2

Jays Journal takes its daily look into the Toronto Blue Jays minor league system. The teams played a total of four games, going 2-2 on the day. While the affiliates will be looking to improve, today was certainly something to build off.

AAA: Buffalo Bisons vs. Syracuse Chiefs (Nationals) – 9-3 win

GAME ONE: The Buffalo Bisons and Syracuse Chiefs played the first of three games in their series on Monday, and both teams were looking to get out to an early series lead. The game was all Bisons from the start, picking up a 9-3 win and improving their record on the season to 17-11.

Murphy Smith took the hill for the Bisons, and in his limited time, impressed. The right-hander went a strong three innings, allowing just one run off of four hits and one walk. Smith’s ERA for the season is now sitting at a minuscule 1.46.

The two pitchers to see action out of the bullpen were Leonel Campos (1-0) and Chad Girodo. Campos relieved Smith and picked up his first win of the season, pitching two shutout innings, allowing just one hit. Girodo then came in to close out the game, picking up his fourth save of the season after going four innings, allowing two runs (one earned) off of three hits. Girodo also had four strikeouts.

The team had a great offensive performance today, as the Bisons scored 9 runs off of 13 hits and 4 walks.

The player who led the way at the plate was recently promoted catcher Raffy Lopez. After starting the season with the AA New Hampshire Fisher Cats, Lopez has raked. His hot bat continued to wreak havoc on Monday when he went 2-4 for with two homeruns, a walk and five RBIs.

The other players who contributed offensively were Dwight Smith Jr. (1-5, 2B, R), Rowdy Tellez (2-4, RBI, 2 R, SB, BB), Jason Leblebijian (4-4, 2 RBI, 2 R, BB), Jake Elmore (2-4, 2 R, 2 SB), Ian Parmley (1-3, BB) and Roemon Fields (1-4).

After taking game one of the series on Monday, the Bisons will look to stay hot and clinch a series win by winning on Tuesday. First pitch is scheduled for 1:05 p.m. EST.

MVB: Raffy Lopez – 2-4, 2 HR, 5 RBI, BB

AA: New Hampshire Fisher Cats vs. Hartford Yard Goats (Rockies) – 5-0 loss

The New Hampshire Fisher Cats and Hartford Yard Goats were set to begin their three game series with one another on Monday. Unfortunately for the Fisher Cats they couldn’t get anything going offensively, losing the game by a score of 5-0. With the loss, the team dropped to an overall record of 10-20 on the season.

Right-hander Jon Harris (1-3), started the game for the Fisher Cats, and he had by far his best outing of the season. Considered by some to be one of the best pitching prospects in the organization, Harris took the loss today but went seven strong innings, allowing just one run off of seven hits and one walk. Harris also had six strikeouts over his seven innings.

The pitchers to see action out of the bullpen on Thursday were Jose Fernandez and Alonzo Gonzalez. The first of the two, Fernandez, did not have a good outing at all. The left-hander went 0.2 of an inning, allowing four runs off of four hits and two walks. Gonzalez came in to relieve Fernandez of his duties, and recorded one out – a strikeout.

Related Story: Prospect Report: Jon Harris

The pitching was definitely the problem today for the Fisher Cats, as they were only able to muster up four hits and three walks, leading to zero runs scored.

The players that pulled that actually did something at the plate today were Jonathan Davis (1-4), Tim Lopes (1-4), Harold Ramirez (1-3, 2B), Emilio Guerrero (0-2, BB), Mike Reeves (1-2, BB) and Derrick Loveless (0-2, BB).

After dropping the first game of their series with the Yard Goats, the Fisher Cats will be looking to draw even in the series with a win on Tuesday. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. EST.

MVFC: Jon Harris – 7 IP, R, 7 H, 1 BB, 6 SO

A+: Dunedin Blue Jays vs. Tampa Yankees (Yankees) – 6-5 loss/13

In a game that went on for hours, the Dunedin Blue Jays and Tampa Yankees battled until the end. Unfortunately for the Blue Jays they were on the wrong end of the scoreboard, losing the game 6-5 in 13 innings. The team now sits with a 17-15 record on the season.

Conor Fisk started the game for the Blue Jays and gave the team a quality start. The right-hander went six innings, allowing three runs off of ten hits and zero walks. Fisk also had five strikeouts for the game.

The relief pitchers to take the hill for the Blue Jays on Thursday were Adonys Cardona, Connor Eller, Andrew Case and Jared Carkuff (0-1).

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Cardona did not pitch well, as he went just 0.2 of an inning, allowing two runs off of two hits and two walks. However, he did strikeout two batters. The next to pitch, Eller, pitched a shutout 1.1 innings, allowing just one hit and one walk.

The final two pitchers to see action were Case and Carkuff. The first of the two, Case, pitched great. The Canadian went three shutout innings, allowing two hits and one walk. The final pitcher to work was Carkuff, and he was hooked with the loss after going 1.2 innings, allowing one run off of two hits and a walk.

Offensively the Blue Jays did not have a great game. Over thirteen innings the team was only able to produce nine hits and three walks, leading to five runs.

The players to contribute offensively were Andrew Guillotte (1-6, R, SB), Cavan Biggio (2-5, RBI, BB), Max Pentecost (0-6, RBI), Danny Jansen (0-4, BB, R), Lane Thomas (1-5, BB, SB), Matt Dean (2-5, HR, 2B, 2 RBI) and D.J. Davis (3-5, R, SB).

The Blue Jays play again on Tuesday when they will be looking to get back even on the series with the Yankees with a win. First pitch is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. EST.

MVDJ: Matt Dean – 2-5, HR, 2B, 2 RBI

A: Lansing Lugnuts vs. Clinton LumberKings (Mariners) – 4-3 win

The Lansing Lugnuts and Clinton LumberKings were set to play the first game in their three game series on Monday, and it was a close one from start to finish. Good pitching won the game for the Lugnuts, as they held on for a 4-3 win and improved their record on the season to 17-12.

Mike Ellenbest (1-2) took the hill for the Lugnuts, and he gave the team a very good outing. The right-hander picked up his first win of the season by going six innings, allowing three runs (two earned) off of six hits and one walk. Ellenbest also had six strikeouts, averaging out to one per inning.

Tayler Saucedo was the only pitcher to come out of the bullpen for the Lugnuts, and he pitched extraordinarily well. The lefty earned his first save of the season after going three shutout innings, allowing just two hits and one walk while striking out four.

Toronto Blue Jays

The Lugnuts hit the ball well today, they just didn’t capitalize on their opportunities. While the team still scored 4 runs, they had a12 hits and 4 walks. If the Lugnuts were a little more clutch, they could have scored a lot more than 4 runs and won the game comfortably.

The player who led the way offensively for the Lugnuts was Vladimir Guerrero Jr. The organization’s top prospect went 3-3 with two doubles, two runs, two walks and an RBI. Guerrero Jr. is now hitting .333 on the season with an OPS of 1.027.

The other players to have good at-bats and contribute to the win for the Lugnuts were Joshua Palacios (2-5, 2B, R), J.B. Woodman (1-4, BB, SB), Bradley Jones (1-5, RBI), Christian Williams (1-3, 2B, RBI, BB), Michael De La Cruz (2-4, R, SB), Jake Thomas (1-4, SB) and Yeltsin Gudino (1-4).

After taking the first game of their series with the LumberKings, the Lugnuts will be looking to clinch the series by picking up a win on Tuesday. First pitch for game two of the series is set for 1:00 p.m. EST.

MVL: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. – 3-3, 2 2B, 2 BB, 2 R, RBI

Next: Blue Jays MiLB Standouts

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