Blue Jays MiLB recap – Power aplenty for Bisons + D-Jays

Jays Journal takes its daily look into the Toronto Blue Jays Minor League system.  The bats pop for the Bisons and D-Jays while pitching struggles for the Fisher Cats and Lugnuts.

Buffalo Bisons at Louisville Bats (Reds)
8-0 Win

The Bisons had things going their way on Saturday in Louisville as Chris Rowley took the mound.  The offense was also able to give him plenty of support as he dominated the Bats through 7 innings.  Rowley allowed just 5 hits and a walk while throwing those 7 shut out innings.  He also struck out 3 on his way to his second win in a row.  Rowley has not allowed a run in his last 14 innings.  Andrew Case would complete the shut out with 2 shut down innings of his own.  Case allowed just 1 hit and a walk to finish off the Bats.

The offense came ready to back up the solid performance on the mound as 3 home runs accounted for 4 of the Herds 8 runs.  Michael Saunders kicked off the scoring with a solo home run in the 4th.  He had an impressive night at the plate as he went 3-5 with 3 runs scored and 2 doubles to go with the homer.  Jason Leblebijian appears to be coming out of his All-Star slump.  He hit a home run for the second straight game which was his 10th of the season.  Not to be out done Dwight Smith Jr. hit a 2 run homer in the 7th.  This home run was more icing on the cake but it did push the Bisons into a commanding lead.   Jon Berti collected a pair of doubles and a run scored as well.  Roemon Fields stole his 26th base of the season and went 2-4 with 2 runs scored.

No starter has been announced for Sunday’s 5 PM start against the Bats.

MVB – Chris Rowley 7 IP, 5 hits, 0 runs, 1 walk, 3 K’s

New Hampshire Fisher Cats at Trenton Thunder (Yankees)
0-4 Loss

Mother nature shortened this game as the rain came in and ended everything after the 6th inning.  This dampened the Fisher Cats hopes of finding their offense to mount a comeback.  The Thunder put the Cats in a hole quickly with a 3 run first inning off of starter Conner Greene.  Greene was pitching in heavy rain in the first and did not come out for the 2nd inning.  The game started 2.5 hours late due to the not so ideal weather.  Greene had to remain loose that entire time and then pitched in the rain anyways.  Daniel Young came on and threw 3 shut out innings to keep the game close.  Tom Robson would allow a run in his inning of work to put the Thunder up by 4.

With the rain the offense was never able to come together and find support for the weakened pitching staff.  The Fisher Cats were only able to put 3 hits on the board and walked 3 times. Alex Monsalve had the only extra base hit with a double during the game.

Ryan Borucki will take the mound Sunday in hopes of riding out the storm.  Borucki will be making his debut with the Fisher Cats after impressing in Dunedin.  He had a 3.58 ERA through 98 innings with the D-Jays.

MVFC – Daniel Young 3 IP, 2 hits, 0 runs, 0 walks, 1 K

Dunedin Blue Jays vs Lakeland Flying Tigers (Tigers)
11-9 Win

No pitcher was safe Saturday evening in Dunedin as the two teams went toe to toe on offense.  The teams scored 20 runs on 27 hits in this one but the D-Jays were able to come out on top.  Tayler Saucedo got the start for the D-Jays but was barely able to escape the 1st.  He allowed 4 runs on 4 hits and 2 walks in his inning of work.  Ryan Cook would allow a run while recording a pair of outs to follow Saucedo.  Then in the 3rd things continued to decline on the hill for Philip Walby.  Walby would throw 3 innings but allow 4 runs on 7 hits.  Alonzo Gonzalez finally calmed things down then Adonys Cardona and Jackson McClelland  followed suite.

The offense was on fire in this one the D-Jays scored runs in bunches.  Cavan Biggio and Connor Panas highlighted a potent offense.  Biggio hit his 7th home run of the season with a runner on in the 7th.  He also went 2-3 with 2 runs scored.  Panas also hit a 2 run homer and went 3-4 with a double and 3 RBI.  Bo Bichette went 1-5 in the leadoff spot and picked up an RBI and a run scored.  Vlad Guerrero Jr. picked up a pair of RBIs during a 1-3 performance.

Kender Villegas will get the start for the D-Jays on Sunday as they wrap the series with the Flying Tigers.

MVDJ – Connor Panas 3-4 with a double, a home run, 2 runs scored, and 3 RBIs

Lansing Lugnuts at Cedar Rapids Kernels (Twins)
4-12 Loss

The Lugnuts pitchers were unable to keep their footing on the mound as the Kernals bats popped all evening.  The Lugnut pitchers were hit for 12 hits which led to 12 runs.  Andy Ravel got the start and struggled through his 3.1 innings of work.  He would be charged for 8 runs on 7 hits while walking a pair.  Geno Encina would pitch 3.2 innings allowing just 1 run while the Lugnuts tried to salvage the game.  Denis Diaz allowed 3 runs in his inning of work to really put the Kernals ahead.

The Lugnuts were able to string in 4 runs on 8 hits during this one.  They scored all 4 of the runs in the second half of the game as the Kernals continued the assault on Lugnut pitchers.  Nash Knight went 2-4 with a RBI and a run scored.  Joshua Palacios had the only extra base hit with a double during his 1-4 showing at the plate.  Ridge Smith went 2-3 and was the only other player to have multiple hits in the Lugnut lineup.  Nick Sinay was hit for the 28th time during this one.  He leads the league in that category.

Kyle Weatherly will make his second start for the Lugnuts and will look to continue to improve the amount of runs he has been allowing.

MVL – Nash Knight 2-4 with a run scored and an RBI