Yesterday was not the best day for the Jays’ minor league teams. The major league club had a big day with Colby Rasmus, Jose Bautista and Brett Lawrie going deep but the junior teams did not share the same success with all but one losing their games.
As usual, please check in with the Jays Journal Minor League Report – they’re going to give you some more details while I fill in some of the blanks and give you the Blue Jays from Away Player of the Game here.
The Buffalo Bisons lost the final game in their series to the Pawtucket Red Sox 7-5 in 12 innings. They got to Sox prospect Allen Webster but former Blue Jay Mike McCoy got to Sean Nolin who struggled with control, walking five batters and giving up four runs (on four hits) in five innings despite striking out seven batters. Mickey Storey returned from the DL and walked two and gave up a run in his two innings. John Stilson and Rob Rasmussen had good outings, throwing four shutout innings between them but Chad Jenkins surrendered two unearned runs in the 12th to take the loss (despite an ERA that is still 0.00). The Bisons only had three hits including a home run from Dan Johnson that drove in three.
Blue Jays from Away Player of the Game: John Stilson and Rob Rasmussen (for keeping the Bisons in the game)
In another offensively futile outing, the New Hampshire Fisher Cats dropped to a 3-7 record with a 6-0 loss to the Binghamton Mets. The Fisher Cats had no answer to Mets prospect Hansel Robles who struck out six in five innings while the club as a whole struck out 11 times on Sunday. Team ace Aaron Sanchez got the start but was not effective, giving up three runs on four hits and four walks in three and two-thirds innings and striking out four. Mike Crouse hit a triple and walked while Ryan Schimpf hit a double and walked.
Blue Jays from Away Player of the Game: Mike Crouse and Ryan Schimpf
The Dunedin Blue Jays were the sole winners in the Jays’ system, taking a 6-2 victory over a fairly strong Brevard County Manatees club and pushing their record to 8-2 on the season. The club combined for ten hits including two from Kevin Patterson (including his first home run of the season), Emilio Guerrero (who has been heating up) and Matt Newman (hitting .394 on the season). Additionally, K.C. Hobson‘s batting average fell to .389 with a 1/4 day that saw him hit his first home run of the season. Starter Kramer Champlin got off to a rocky start by giving up two runs on three hits and three walks in 2 1/3 innings but Justin Jackson earned his first career win by throwing 3 2/3 hitless innings and striking out four. Chad Girodo earned a three-inning save by not giving up any hits and walking just one in his outing.
Blue Jays from Away Player of the Game: Kevin Patterson, Justin Jackson and Chad Girodo
The Lansing Lugnuts fell to 3-7 thanks to a 6-2 loss to the Cedar Rapids Kernels. B.C. boy Tom Robson had another rough start, throwing only four innings and giving up four runs on six hits and two walks. Alonzo Gonzalez threw three solid innings of relief, giving up one run on two hits and striking out four. The ‘Nut of the Night was D.J. Davis who went 2/3 with a double and an RBI while Carlos Ramirez and Dickie Joe Thon hit doubles and Mitch Nay hit a triple.
Blue Jays from Away Player of the Game: D.J. Davis
April 14 Preview
Buffalo Bisons (6-3)
The Bisons will stay at home and contend with possibly inclement weather as the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (NYY) come to town with a 5-5 record. Marcus Stroman is set to make his third start of the season and (weather willing) bring home his first “W” of the year. Stroman is coming off a mixed outing in Lehigh Valley in which he only gave up one unearned run but walked five batters while striking out eight. He faces Chase Whitley who has only totaled 4 2/3 innings in his two starts so far this year.
New Hampshire Fisher Cats (3-7)
The Fisher Cats stay at home to face the Minnesota Twins’ Double-A affiliate New Britain Rock Cats (4-6). Deck McGuire is slated to go against an undetermined starter for New Britain. McGuire’s first start was strong but his last one was weak (10 hits in 4 2/3 innings) and he’s got a 1-1 record with a 3.60 ERA but only two walks and seven strikeouts in 10 innings.
Dunedin Blue Jays (8-2)
The D-Jays take on the Daytona Cubs (2-8) with big lefty Matt Boyd on the hill. Boyd has been nothing short of sensational so far this year, amassing a 2-0 record with no runs against and has allowed just eight hits and one walk in 12 innings while striking out nine. His opponent, Felix Pena, has been very good himself, allowing only two runs in 12 innings for the Cubs despite having two losses to show for it.
Lansing Lugnuts (3-7)
Finally the Lansing Lugnuts traveled to Wisconsin to take on the Brewers-affiliated Timber Rattlers where snow fell through the night. Whether the field will be in good enough shape to play is yet to be decided. If there is a game, the piggybacking duo of Jairo Labourt and Alberto Tirado take the mound. I was at their last start and both struggled (although Labourt was better that day). They’ll face Taylor Williams who has yet to give up a run (and only three hits) in nine innings.
Who are these players? Find out in The 2014 Toronto Blue Jays Minor League Handbook, now available as an ebook at Smashwords.com for $7.99 US. It’s coming soon to Amazon, Apple iBooks, Kobo and other fine retailers. You can purchase and preview the book at our Smashwords.com page! If you like us here,“like” us on Facebook!
All photos are copyright Blue Jays from Away (2013-2014) and may not be used without permission.