Blue Jays MiLB Recap: Teams Dominate, Go 4-0

Jays Journal takes its daily look into the Toronto Blue Jays minor league system, today looking at the AAA-A levels. The team’s played a combined four games on Sunday, going an impressive 4-0. The affiliates are back in action on Monday, where they will look to continue their hot play from Sunday.

AAA: Buffalo Bisons vs. Louisville Bats (Reds) – 7-2 win

After losing the two games of their series with the Louisville Bats, the Buffalo Bisons were looking to avoid a sweep in game three. Fortunately both the offense and pitching was able to come through for the Blue Jays’ AAA affiliate, with the final score being 7-2 in favour of the Bisons. With the win on Sunday, the team now sits with a season record of 45-63.

Lucas Harrell took the hill for the Bisons, and he gave the team a mediocre outing. The right-hander picked up the no decision after going three innings, allowing one run off of three hits and one walk while striking out two. He now sits with a miniscule season ERA of 2.05.

The three pitchers to see action out of the bullpen were Tim Mayza (1-1), Leonel Campos and Wil Browning. The first to pitch, Mayza, picked up the win after he went three shutout innings, allowing just three hits and two walks. Mayza now sports a season ERA of 1.29. The next pitcher to throw was Campos. The right-hander went one inning, allowing one run off of two hits. Browning, the final pitcher to see action, closed out the game after pitching two shutout inning, allowing just one hit and three walks while striking out two.

While the team certainly pitched well today, they also hit quite well. The Bisons scored seven runs off of ten hits and five walks – a very, very solid day at the plate.

The players who contributed offensively were Jon Berti (2-5, 3B, RBI, R, SB), Jake Elmore (2-4, 3B, 2 RBI, BB, R, SB), Dwight Smith Jr. (2-4, 2B, RBI, BB, 2 R, SB), Rowdy Tellez (0-3, BB, R), Raffy Lopez (2-4, 2B, 2 RBI), Mike Ohlman (1-4), Roemon Fields (1-2, BB, R, SB) and Shane Opitz (0-3, BB, R, SB).

The Bisons will be looking to build off this win when they open a series with the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders on Tuesday. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. EST.

MVB: Jake Elmore – 2-4, 3B, 2 RBI, BB, R, SB

AA: New Hampshire Fisher Cats vs. Binghamton Rumble Ponies (Mets) – 3-2 win

After losing the first three games of their series with the Binghamton Rumble Ponies, the New Hampshire Fisher Cats were looking to salvage the final game of the series and avoid a sweep. Fortunately the Fisher Cats pitched very well, leading them to a 3-2 victory in 11 innings. With the win, the team now sits with a season record of 43-64.

Francisco Rios started the game for the Fisher Cats, and he had a short, yet solid outing. The righty picked up the no decision after pitching a shutout 2.1 innings, allowing three hits and two walks while striking out two.

The pitchers to see action out of the bullpen were Kender Villegas, Jose Fernandez, Carlos Ramirez and Dusty Isaacs (3-2). Villegas, the first of the four relievers to pitch, went 2.2 innings, allowing one run (zero earned) while allowing just one hit and one walk. The next pitcher to see action was Fernandez, and he also pitched great. The lefty went 1.2 of an inning, allowing one run (zero earned) off of three hits and a walk while striking out two.

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The third pitcher to toe the rubber was Ramirez. The bullpen ace went 2.1 shutout innings, allowing just two hits while keeping his season ERA at 0.00. Finally, Isaacs came in to pitch the final two innings, picking up the win while allowing zero hits or walks while striking out three.

The Fisher Cats’ pitching was the reason they won today’s game, as they did not hit well at all. The team scored three runs off of eight hits and one walk over 11 innings – an abysmal showing.

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

While they lost the series, the Fisher Cats will be looking to build off their win in game four when they begin a new series with the Bowie Baysox on Tuesday. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. EST.

MVFC: Anthony Alford – 3-5, HR, 2B, RBI, 3 R

A+: Dunedin Blue Jays vs. Florida Fire Frogs (Braves) – 17-1 win

After taking the first game of their series with the Florida Fire Frogs, the Dunedin Blue Jays were looking to clinch the series win with a victory in game two. The Blue Jays came out red hot, and were up 10-0 after four innings. The final score ended up being 17-1 in favour of the Blue Jays, and with the win the team now sits with an overall season record of 55-51.

Josh DeGraaf (5-1) started the game for the Blue Jays, and he gave the team a spectacular outing. The right-hander picked up the win after he pitched seven shutout innings, allowing just four hits and one walk while striking out four. DeGraaf has been great for the Blue Jays so far this year, posting a season ERA of 2.58.

The two pitchers to toe the rubber out of the pen for the Blue Jays were Adonys Cardona and Zach Jackson. Cardona was first to pitch out of the bullpen and he pitched a single inning, allowing one run (zero earned) off of one hit and two walks. Jackson then pitched a shutout ninth inning, allowing one hit and one walk while striking out three.

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At the plate, the Blue Jays absolutely raked. The team scored 17 runs off of 21 hits and five walks – a total that will win you games ten times out of ten.

The players to contribute on offense were Christian Lopes (4-6, 2B, RBI, 4 R), Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (1-2, 2B, 2 BB, 2 R), Connor Panas (2-5, HR, 3 RBI, BB, 3 R), Juan Kelly (3-6, HR, 6 RBI, 2 R), Cavan Biggio (4-6, HR, 2B, 3 RBI, 3 R), Jake Thomas (3-4, 2B, RBI, BB, R), Michael De La Cruz (2-4, R), D.J. Davis (1-4, HR, 2 RBI, BB, R) and J.C. Cardenas (1-2).

After taking the first two games of their series with the Fire Frogs, the Blue Jays will be looking for the sweep with a win in game three on Monday. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. EST.

MVDJ: Juan Kelly – 3-6, HR, 6 RBI, 2 R

A: Lansing Lugnuts vs. Great Lakes Loons (Dodgers) – 7-5 win

After losing in game one to the Great Lakes Loons, the Lansing Lugnuts were looking to get back on even playing ground with a win on Sunday. Fortunately the team came out hot early, which lead to an eventual 7-5 win for the Lugnuts. With the win, the Lugnuts evened up the series and improved their season record to 51-51.

Mike Ellenbest (5-6) started for the Lugnuts, and he pitched well enough to keep the team in the game. The right-hander picked up the win after going five innings, allowing three runs off of seven hits and one walk while striking out six. While he did not pitch awful today, the long ball killed Ellenbest, as he allowed three homeruns over his five innings of work.

The two pitchers to see action out of the bullpen were Yonardo Herdenez and Jared Carkuff. The first pitcher to toss, Herdenez, worked for 2.2 innings. Allowing one run off of two hits and one walk. Carkuff then came in to pitch the final 1.1 of an inning, picking up the save after allowing one run off of two hits and one walk.

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While the team did not pitch that well today, the bats came through. The Lugnuts scored seven runs off of nine hits and five walks – a total that should win a team most games.

The players to make a difference at the plate today were Joshua Palacios (1-4, BB, 2 R), Edward Olivares (3-5, 2 2B, RBI, 2 R), Nash Knight (1-3, RBI, 2 BB, SB), Mitch Nay (1-3, 2B, 4 RBI), Yeltsin Gudino (1-3, 2B, BB), Javier Hernandez(1-4, R) and Nick Sinay (1-3, RBI, BB, 2 R).

After splitting the first two games of the series, the Lugnuts will be looking for a win against the Loons in game three out of four when they square off on Monday. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. EST.

MVL: Edward Olivares – 3-5, 2 2B, RBI, 2 R

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