Blue Jays MiLB recap – Bison offense explodes

Jays Journal takes its daily look into the Toronto Blue Jays Minor League system.  The Bisons bash the ball against the Knights and the Lugnuts win in the 9th to avoid the sweep.

Buffalo Bisons vs Charlotte Knights (White Sox)
10-5 Win

Cesar Valdez was magnificent during what turned into a slugfest as the game progressed.  Valdez threw 7 innings allowing just 1 earned run.  He issued just 1 free pass and 6 hits while striking out 7.  This was a great bounce back start from his previous outing in which he allowed 4 runs over 4.1 innings.  Chad Girodo closed the game out and allowed a pair of runs while striking out a pair as well.  His efforts were good enough for the Bisons as the offense trampled the Knights in the late innings.

The king of the Bisons offense for Sunday was Mike Ohlman who drove in 5 RBIs and went 3-5.  The biggest shot was a 3-run homer he hit in the 5th to jump start the offensive burst.  Jason Leblebijian also had a 3 hit game and drove in a pair during the game.   Christian Lopes continues to be hot as he went 2-4 with a couple RBIs to extend his hitting streak to 6 games.  Dalton Pompey started this game but left the game early with a leg injury.

Luis Santos will kick off the series in Lehigh Valley against the Iron Pigs on Monday.  Santos is fresh off of a start in which he threw 6 innings of shut out baseball.

MVB – Cesar Valdez 7 IP, 6 hits, 1 ER, 1 walk, 7 K’s

New Hampshire Fisher Cats at Hartford Yard Goats (Rockies)
6-4 Loss

The Fisher Cats made a valiant attempt at a comeback during this one.  The Fisher Cats were trailing the majority of the game and finally turned on the offense in the 6th inning.  They were able to score 4 runs in the final innings, but came up just short of a comeback win.  Andrew Guillotte hit a 2-run homer in the 7th to put the Cats within striking distance.  Jake Thomas contributed an RBI double and Ryan McBroom had an RBI on a sac fly.

Jon Harris started the game for the Fisher Cats on Sunday.  He was good but a few mistakes were costly.  He allowed a pair of solo home runs to the Goats on his way to surrendering 3 earned runs.  Harris pitched 5 innings of work, allowing 6 hits and striking out 5.  He also struggled with his control at times as he walked 3 batters and threw 54-92 pitches for strikes.

Conner Greene will get the ball to start off the series against the Erie Sea Dogs Monday.  His previous outing was one of his best of the year and he will look to replicate that start in which he allowed 1 run over 6.2 innings.

MVFC – Andrew Guillotte 2-3 with a double, a home run, a run scored, and 2 RBI

Dunedin Blue Jays at Daytona Tortugas (Reds)
5-6 Loss

This extra innings battle ended in a loss for the D-Jays.  The 12 inning game was decided on a walk off home run by Tortugas’ second basemen Shed Long.  The solo home run off of Ryan Cook in the 12th sealed the Jays’ fate.  Jordan Romano got the start in this one and pitched well despite 4 runs (1 earned) being scored while he was on the hill.  He would strike out 7 while allowing just 4 hits.  The bullpen had its ups and downs but they slowly let the Tortugas chip into the lead and tie the game, then eventually win.

Cavan Biggio led off the game with a solo home run in this one.  The home run was his 3rd of the season as he looks to climb out of a slump in which he is batting just .211 in his last 10 games.  Carl Wise was batting in the DH spot and produced 2 RBIs while going 2-6 with a pair of doubles.  The D-Jays may have scored 5 runs in this one but could not hit with runners in scoring position an went just 3-16 during the game.

The D-Jays will be taking on the Tortugas Monday evening and no pitchers have been announced yet.

MVDJ – Carl Wise 2-6 with 2 doubles and a pair of RBIs

Lansing Lugnuts at West Michigan Whitecaps (Tigers)
8-6 Win

The starting pitchers in this one both struggled to shut down the offenses as each team was able to put up crooked numbers in the first.  Bo Bichette got the party started for what became a 5 run first inning for the Lugnuts with a single.  Vladimir Guerrero Jr. followed with a single and Christian Williams walked to load the bases.  Edward Olivares came through with a double to clear the bases to get the Lugnuts on the board.  A single from Nash Knight and a double from Joshua Palacios drove in a pair of runs to complete the 5 run inning.  The Whitecaps stormed back with a 4 run bottom of the inning.

The Caps would score a pair of runs in the middle innings to put them up 6-5.  The Lugnuts offense woke back up in the 9th to score three runs and take the win.  Plenty of singles and some well played small ball coupled with some luck led to the 3 run inning.

Starter Denis Diaz got hit around in the first inning for 4 earned runs, but was able to calm the storm as he pitch 4 more innings to keep the game close.  His final line was 5 innings pitched, 6, hits, 4 earned runs, 3 walks, and 3 strike outs.  Geno Encina allowed a pair of runs during his 2 innings of work to allow the Whitecaps to take the lead.  Nick Hartman would come on and be awarded the win for the Lugnuts late inning heroics at the plate.

Mike Ellenbest will look to continue throwing his best stuff against the Dayton Dragons Monday.  He threw 7 innings of shut out ball in his last outing against the Lake County Captains.

MVL – Edward Olivares 1-5 with a double, 1 run scored, and 3 RBIs

Next: Sparkman here to save the bullpen?