Blue Jays MiLB Recap: Great day as affiliates go 3-1

Jays Journal takes its daily look into the Toronto Blue Jays minor league system, from the AAA-A levels. The team’s played a combined four games on Friday, going an impressive 3-1, with the only loss coming from Lansing. The affiliates are back in action on Saturday, where they will look to continue their great play from Friday.

AAA: Buffalo Bisons vs. Louisville Bats (Reds) – 13-2 win

After losing the first game of their series with the Louisville Bats, the Buffalo Bisons were looking to get back to even playing ground in game two. Fortunately both the bats and pitching came through mightily for the Blue Jays’ AAA affiliate, with the final score being 13-2 in favour of the Bisons. With the win on Friday, the team now sits with a season record of 41-58.

Veteran Brett Oberholtzer (2-7) took the hill for the Bisons, and he spun a gem. The left-hander picked up the win after going seven innings, allowing two runs (one earned) off of seven hits and zero walks while striking out six. He now sits with a season ERA of 4.53.

The two pitchers to see action out of the bullpen were Taylor Cole and Matt Dermody. Both of the two relievers pitched a scoreless inning each, allowing zero hits and one walk between the two of them.

While the team certainly pitched well, they hit even better. The Bisons scored 13 runs off of 19 hits and six walks – a ridiculously high number in all categories.

The players who contributed offensively were Jon Berti (2-5, RBI, 2 R, BB), Dwight Smith Jr. (3-6, RBI, 3 R), Mike Ohlman (2-3, 2 RBI, 3 BB, R), Gregorio Petit (3-6, RBI, R), Rowdy Tellez (2-6, 2 RBI, R), Ian Parmley (1-5), Andrew Guillotte (3-4, 2B, 3B, BB), Jason Leblebijian (1-4, HR, 3 RBI, BB, R) and Roemon Fields (2-5, RBI, 2 R).

The Bisons will be looking to take game three out of four from the Bats on Saturday when they square off. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. EST.

MVB: Brett Oberholtzer – 7 IP, W, 2 R, 1 ER, 7 H, 0 BB, 6 SO

AA: New Hampshire Fisher Cats vs. Trenton Thunder (Yankees) – 5-1 win

After losing the first game of their series with the Trenton Thunder, the New Hampshire Fisher Cats were looking to get back to .500 in the series with a win in game two. Fortunately the Fisher Cats pitched very well, leading them to a 5-1 victory. With the win, the team now sits with a season record of 40-58.

Highly touted prospect Sean Reid-Foley (7-7) started the game for the Fisher Cats, and he had one of his better outings of the season. The hard-throwing right-hander picked up the win after going 6.2 innings, allowing just one run off of four hits and two walks while striking out an impressive 12 batters. Reid-Foley has had his ups and downs this year, sitting with a 4.48 ERA on the season.

The pitchers to see action out of the bullpen were Dusty Isaacs and Carlos Ramirez. Isaac, the first of the two to pitch, went 1.1 innings, allowing zero runs, hits or walks while striking out two. Ramirez also pitched a shutout inning, allowing just one walk while keeping his season ERA at 0.00.

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The Fisher Cats offense had a pretty solid showing today, scoring five runs off of nine hits and five walks – a total that should win you a lot of games.

The players that pulled their weight at the plate today were Jonathan Davis (0-4, BB), Tim Lopes (1-4, RBI), Richard Urena (1-5), Harold Ramirez (1-4, RBI, R) Gunnar Heidt (0-3, BB), Danny Jansen (2-4, 2B, RBI), Ryan McBroom (1-4, HR, 2 RBI, BB, 2 R), Lourdes Gurriel Jr. (2-3, BB, R) and Anthony Alford (1-4, 2B, BB, R).

After tying up their series with the Thunder, the Fisher Cats will be looking to take game three of four on Saturday. First pitch is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. EST.

MVFC: Sean Reid-Foley – 6.2 IP, W, 1 R, 4 H, 2 BB, 12 S0

A+: Dunedin Blue Jays vs. Lakeland Flying Tigers (Tigers) – 1-0 win

After taking their series with the Clearwater Threshers, the Dunedin Blue Jaya were set to begin a series with the Lakeland Flying Tigers on Friday. In a tight, low scoring game from start to finish, the Blue Jays were able to hold on for a 1-0 win. With the win, the team sits with a season record of 49-48.

Conor Fisk (5-5) started the game for the Blue Jays, and to say he pitched incredible is an understatement. The right-hander picked up the win after he pitched eight shutout innings, allowing just one hit and zero walks while striking out six. After this gem, Fisk now sits with a season ERA of 3.82.

The only pitcher to toe the rubber out of the pen was Kirby Snead. The left picked up the save after he pitched a shutout ninth inning, allowing zero hits or walks while striking out one.

At the plate, the Blue Jays did not shine. The team only scored one run off of four hits and one walk – however it was enough to win today, and that is what is important.

The players to contribute on offense were Bo Bichette (1-4, 2B), Connor Panas (1-2), Cavan Biggio (1-2, BB, R), Darrell Ceciliani(1-2) and J.C. Cardenas (0-2, RBI).

After taking game one of their series with the Flying Tigers, the Blue Jays will be looking to take game two when they play on Saturday night. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. EST.

MVDJ: Conor Fisk – 8 IP, W, 0 R, 1 H, 0 BB, 6 SO

A: Lansing Lugnuts vs. Quad Cities River Bandits (Astros) – 14-3 loss

After splitting the first two gams, the Lansing Lugnuts and the Quad Cities River Bandits were set to play the third and final game of their series. Unfortunately the Lugnuts were absolutely trounced, losing by a score of 14-3. With the loss on Friday, the Lugnuts now sit with a season record of 47-47.

Osman Gutierrez (2-8) started the game for the Lugnuts, and it was not a pretty performance. The native of Nicaragua took the loss after he went just three innings, allowing six runs off of six hits and four walks. With another poor performance today, Gutierrez now sits with a brutal 10.13 ERA for the season.

The three pitchers to see action out of the bullpen were Juliandry Higuera, Andrew Deramo and Griffin Glaude. The first of the three, Higuera, had an absolutely brutal outing. The left-hander went three innings, allowing seven runs off of eight hits and two walks. Deramo, who pitched a single inning, allowing one hit, two walks and one run, relieved Higuera. Finally, Glaude came in to put an end to the mess, pitching a shutout eighth and final inning.

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Offensively the Lugnuts had runners on base, they just could not cash them in. The team scored just three runs off of five hits and an impressive nine walks – they just simply were not clutch at the plate.

The players to contribute with the sticks were Rodrigo Orozco (0-3, 2 BB, R), Nash Knight (0-2, 3 BB, R), Joshua Palacios (1-4, BB, SB), Luis Silva (0-4, RBI), Mitch Nay (2-5, 2B, 2 RBI), Mattingly Romanin (1-4), Javier Hernandez (1-3, BB), Nick Sinay (0-3, BB) and Yeltsin Gudino (0-3, BB).

After losing the game and their series with the River Bandits, the Lugnuts will be looking to get back on track when they begin a series with the Cedar Rapids Kernels. First pitch is scheduled for 7:35 p.m. EST.

MVL: Mitch Nay – 2-5, 2B, 2 RBI

Next: Meet The Prospect Hotter Than Bo Bichette

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