Blue Jays MiLB recap – Double headers gone wild

Jays Journal takes its daily look into the Toronto Blue Jays Minor League system. Double headers and splits galore. The Bisons led to victory by Hernandez and Tepesch.

Buffalo Bisons vs Pawtucket Red Sox
4-0 Win

Nick Tepesch and the Bisons were able to hold off the Paw Sox for the shut out on Tuesday evening. Tepesch was solid in his first start back with the Herd and held the Sox scoreless for six innings. He would allow just four hits and strikeout seven. Carlos Ramirez continues to impress and pitched two innings to extend the shut out. Ramirez allowed one hit, a walk, and struck out four. Jeff Beliveau would pitch the 9th and allowed a pair of walks but did close the door on the Paw Sox and the shut out victory.

Teoscar Hernandez just won player of the week honors and does not look to be slowing down. He would go 3-4 with a two run homer during the game to put the Herd on top. The first inning homer was his 5th as a Bison and he would add a double and another RBI before the game was over with. Jason Leblebijian also has been swinging a hot bat of late and he would pick up his 60th RBI of the season on a double.

Brett Oberholtzer will take to the mound against the Pawtucket Red Sox on Wednesday.

MVB – Teoscar Hernandez 3-4 with a double, a homer, an outfield assist, a run scored, and 3 RBI

New Hampshire Fisher Cats at Reading Fighting Phils
Double Header

Game One 3-6 Loss

The Phils came out of the corner hot in the first inning with a three run inning off of Thomas Pannone. After allowing a lead off home run to Malquin Canelo a pair of doubles and an error led to the Phils runs. Pannone settled in for a few innings. He cruised until allowing another homerun to lead off the 5th inning. The Phils would also score one more on a sac fly, before Pannone escaped the inning. Pannone would finish with six innings pitched, three earned runs on seven hits. and three strikeouts. Shane Dawson pitched a scoreless 7th inning and Francisco Rios allowed a tag on run in the 8th.

The offense had massive issues trying to figure out Phils starter Jacob Waguespack. The Fisher Cats batters barely put up a fight and were only able to get three hits off of him. As the Cats came out round after round and were sent to the bench against Waguespack for eight innings the offense was knocked out early. Richard Urena collected the only extra base hit with a double that scored a run in the 9th. He also scored on a Reese McGuire ground out.

MVFC – Richard Urena 1-4 with a double, a run scored, and an RBI

Game Two 8-4 Win

After letting the bats take an extended rest in the first game they came back with a vengeance. The Phils jumped out to an early lead once again against Sean Reid-Foley and the Fisher Cats. Reid-Foley allowed three runs over the first three innings, but finished with another solid start. He threw six innings and allowed five hits. He also walked four and struck out five.

In the 4th inning the offense came to life and ran away with the game. Anthony Alford lead off the inning with a single and promptly stole 2nd. A pair of walks later and the bases were now loaded, Lourdes Gurriel Jr. grounded out to score the first run, and Tim Lopes followed with a double to scored the 2nd run. In the 5th Gurriel singled in Alford for a second time and a wild pitch a batter later scored Reese McGuire.

The heart of the order continued its resurgence as they jumped on the Phils bullpen for four more runs in the 7th and 8th. Alford singled and stole another base in the 7th. Harold Ramirez drove him in on a single. McGuire walked just before Gurriel reached on an error that scored Ramirez. McGuire then scored on a Tim Lopes ground out to put a cap on a three run 7th. In the 8th Jonathan Davis scored on an Alford single after singling himself and stealing his 19th base. The Cats had thirteen hits and seven walks.

Conner Greene will get the ball for Wednesday evenings start against the Fightin Phils.

MVFC – Anthony Alford 3-5 with 3 runs scored, 2 stolen bases, and an RBI

Dunedin Blue Jays at Florida Fire Frogs (Braves)
Double Header

Game One 6-4 Win

A late surge of offense was able to make up for a rocky start for the D-Jays in game one on Tuesday. Patrick Murphy had gotten off to a great start with in his first start with the D-Jays. He threw two shut down innings before the Frogs started the fire. Murphy would allow four runs between the 3rd and 4th inning. He was knocked out of the game after recording just one out in the 4th. He was charged with all four earned runs and walked a pair allowing six hits and struck out a batter. Nick Hartman came in and was rather impressive as he pitched 2.2 innings and did not allow a base runner. Hartman would be credited with the win and also struck out a pair. Jackson McClelland would pitch the 7th and record his 6th save of the season.

The D-Jays offense got going in the 4th and was able to put up a three spot during the inning. Bo Bichette led off the inning with a walk which was followed by a Cavan Biggio single. With the table now set the D-Jays struck with three consecutive singles as Connor Panas, Michael De La Cruz, and Juan Kelly drove in a run each. In the 6th, Panas struck again. The end of the season All-Star drove in Biggio who had doubled to open the inning. A wild pitch during the inning would also score Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to take the lead.

MVDJ – Nick Hartman 2.2 IP, 0 hits, 0 runs, 0 walks, 2 K’s

Game Two 0-1 Loss

The bats went silent for both teams in game two as the D-Jays lost a pitcher’s dual. The Jays were able to manage just four hits against the Fire Frogs’ pitchers. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. had two of those hits as he continues to wrap up a solid performance with the Dunedin Blue Jays. Josh DeGraaf got the start and was great through five innings of work. He would allow the only run of the ball game but was masterful on the mound. He walked one batter while allowing just two hits. He also struck out seven but was saddled with the loss. Kirby Snead pitched the 6th and did not allow a run while scattering two hits and a walked batter.

Tayler Saucedo will get the ball for the D-Jays to wrap up the series against the Fire Frogs on Wednesday. Saucedo has not allowed a run over his last two starts. That is good for 11.2 innings of consecutive scoreless innings.

MVDJ – Josh DeGraaf 5 IP, 2 hits, 1 run, 1 walk, 7 K’s

Lansing Lugnuts
Off Day

The Lansing Lugnuts are on their way to Lake County to take on the Captains on Wednesday. Mike Ellenbest will open the series on the mound and look to bounce back from a five earned run outing in his previous start. In his two starts prior to that one he had pitched 10.2 innings and allowed just three runs.

Next: Blue Jays need to do their homework on Shohei Otani