Blue Jays MiLB recap – Gutierrez shines for Lugnuts

Jays Journal takes its daily look into the Toronto Blue Jays Minor League system. Nothing but wins for the team that did not have off days on Wednesday. Gutierrez was dominant in the Lugnuts win!

Buffalo Bisons at Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (Yankees)
3-1 Win

The Bisons were able to rally for a big inning behind a solid start by TJ House. House was great through 6.1 innings and allowed just 1 run. He also struck out six batters while getting touched up for 8 hits. As House kept the bats quite the Herd was able to rake in three during the 4th inning. The mayhem started after the RailRiders recorded 2 outs. A wild pitch moved Dwight Smith Jr. to second after reaching on a fielders choice. Rowdy Tellez took advantage of the moment and laced a double to the left center gap to score Smith. Raffy Lopez stroked a double to follow that scored Tellez for the second run. Gregorio Petit would single next and Lopez motored home from second base to score the final run.

The bullpen would dig in and hold the lead. Taylor Cole was up first and he threw 1.2 innings of work and did not allow a run. He also struck out three of his 5 batters for outs. He also did not allow a base runner in that span. Chris Smith would come on to lock things down and pick up his 6th save. Teoscar Hernandez made his Bisons debut during this one and was slotted into the 3rd spot in the lineup. Hernandez went 0-3 with a walk and stolen base.

Nick Tepesch will get the start against the RailRiders for the final game of the road trip. Tepesch pitched five innings in his last start and allowed just one run.

MVB – TJ House 6.1 IP, 8 hits, 1 run, 1 walk, 6 K’s

New Hampshire Fisher Cats vs Bowie Baysox (Orioles)
4-3 Win

After trailing for the majority of the game the Fisher Cats jumped on the Baysox bullpen to score 4 runs in the final 2 frames to claim the win. Lourdes Gurriel kick started the offense with a that scored a pair. Tim Lopes had walked with one out and Harold Ramirez doubled to set the table for Gurriel. An inning later Richard Urena singled in Derrick Loveless who had pinch ran for Alex Monsalve after he singled. Tim Lopes then doubled to score Urena to put the Cats in the lead.

Conner Greene had a good start but was saddled with all of the runs by the Baysox on a Cedric Mullins 3-run homer. Greene did allow 8 hits but walked just one batter and struck out 3. He pitched well outside of the one obvious pitch that was deposited over the outfield wall. Justin Shafer would get the win after pitching a pair of innings and striking out two. Dusty Isaacs picked up his 3rd save as he closed out the game.

Ryan Borucki will get the start on Thursday to close out the series against the Baysox. Borucki has been very impressive in his two Double A starts. He has thrown 14 innings and allowed just 1 run in those two starts.

MVFC – Lourdes Gurriel 1-3 with a double and 2 RBIs

Dunedin Blue Jays
Off Day

This always seems to happen just as a team goes streakin! The D-Jays have won 5 games in a row and will look to extend to 6 games as they take on the Charlotte Stone Crabs on Thursday. John Straka will get the ball to open the series and was magnificent in his previous start. He tossed 5 innings without allowing a run and gave up just 5 hits.

Lansing Lugnuts at Bowling Green Hot Rods (Rays)
8-0 Win

Osman Gutierrez and the Lugnuts had everything hitting on all cylinders on Wednesday evening against the Hot Rods. The offense supported one of the best pitching outings of the season from a Lugnuts pitchers. Gutierrez pitched seven innings of sheer dominance. He allowed just 4 hits during the outing and sent ten batters back to the pine via the strikeout. He did not hurt himself either as he 63 of his 94 pitches for strikes and walked only one batter. Denis Diaz pitched the remaining two innings to complete the shut out.

The Lugnuts hitters followed the example that Gutierrez set on the mound and backed him up with 8 runs. Edward Olivares had a banner day as well as he went 3-5 with two runs scored, a double, and an RBI. Nash Knight also went 2-4 with a pair of RBIs. Knight has had 9 RBIs over his last 10 games. Rodrigo Orozco scored a pair of runs while going 1-3 with a pair of walks during the win. The outburst of offense was key as Gutierrez mowed through the Hot Rod hitters.

Justin Maese will return the mound after having shoulder trouble. He has not pitched with the Lugnuts since May but made three starts for the Golf Coast League Blue Jays. He pitched 9 innings total and allowed five runs in those rehab starts. He will look to continue returning to form as he takes on the Hot Rods on Thursday

MVL – Osman Gutierrez 7 IP, 4 hits, 0 runs, 1 walk, 10 K’s!

Short Season Team Notes
Vancouver Canadians (Northwest League)

Off day for the Canadians on Wednesday as the All-Star game wraps up. The C’s will kick off the post break season with Colton Laws making his Canadians debut. He had a .82 ERA with the Bluefield Blue Jays through 11 innings of work and was the Toronto Blue Jays 7th round pick in this years draft.

Bluefield Blue Jays (Appalachian League)

The Bluefield Jays also had the night off and no pitchers have been announced for Thursday’s game against the Pulaski Yankees.

Next: Blue Jays have successful trade deadline