Well, Jays fans, it was a brutal day yesterday with the big club dropping both halves of a double header and the minor league teams losing all four games. Here’s what happened.
In Game 1 of Buffalo’s double header, The Herd ended up losing a tight, extra-inning battle 2-1 in nine innings (yes, that’s extra innings: minor league double headers are regularly scheduled for seven innings). The good news was that Ricky Romero was fairly effective, throwing six strong innings of one-run, two-hit ball, despite only two strikeouts and four walks. Ryan Tepera threw two scoreless innings but new call-up Austin Bibens-Dirkx was saddled with the loss, giving up the winning run in the ninth. Easily the best day on the offense was Kevin Nolan who was 2/3 with a walk in the first Triple-A game of his career.
Blue Jays from Away Player of the Game: Kevin Nolan
Game 2 wasn’t nearly so close, losing 7-2 to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Kyle Draben took the loss, giving up five runs on ten hits (including three home runs) with four strikeouts. Rob Rasmussen gave up a run in his two innings and John Stilson gave up a solo shot in the seventh. For the offense, Kevin Pillar had two hits (including a double) while Jared Goedert went 1/3 with a home run.
Blue Jays from Away Player of the Game: Jared Goedert
With the Fisher Cats’ planned starter, Austin Bibens-Dirkx, called up to Buffalo, righty Scott Copeland took the hill and took his third loss of the season as New Hampshire fell 4-1 to the Binghamton Mets. Copeland only lasted an inning and two-thirds, giving up three runs (only one was earned) while John Anderson walked two in finishing off the second inning. Casey Lawrence took it most of the rest of the way home with 5 2/3 innings of one-run ball. The offense remained quiet with only six hits for the visitors. Two of those came off the bat of Andy Burns who had a single and a double while Brad Glenn had a double and walked.
Blue Jays from Away Player of the Game: Casey Lawrence
The Dunedin Blue Jays’ game was suspended after one inning and is scheduled to be completed today.
The Lansing Lugnuts dropped another game, this time losing 7-2 to the Beloit Snappers. Starter Jeremy Gabryszwski gave up six runs (four were earned) on eight hits including two home runs while Jimmy Cordero (1 IP, 3 H, 1 R) and Roberto Espinosa (1 IP, 2 H) finished things off. Things were quiet on offense with Santiago Nessy have the best game of the day, going 2/3 with a single, a double, a walk and an RBI. Matt Dean wears the goat horns for the evening, with an error and three strikeouts while Derrick Loveless had another solid game with the bat, going 1/2 with a sac fly.
Blue Jays from Away Player of the Game: Santiago Nessy
April 18 Preview
Buffalo Bisons (7-5)
The Bisons head to Pawtucket to play at McCoy Field at 6:15 ET (shown on MiLB TV). Liam Hendriks goes for the Bisons and Allen Webster throws for the Herd. Hendriks has been excellent so far this year: the Australian righty hasn’t allowed a run in 9 2/3 innings while Webster, one of the Red Sox’ top prospects, has been solid but has struggled with his control, both walking and striking out eight batters in 14 2/3 innings.
New Hampshire Fisher Cats (4-8)
The Fisher Cats hope that Aaron Sanchez can pull the club out of their tailspin. Sanchez was roughed up in his last start but always has the potential to be electric. He goes against the Binghamton Mets’ Darin Gorski, a 26-year-old lefty from Pennsylvania. Gorski has been outstanding in his two starts for the Mets this year, only allowing one earned run in 9 2/3 innings with five walks and 12 strikeouts. The game goes at 7:05 pm.
Dunedin Blue Jays (11-2)
The D-Jays have a full schedule with their regularly scheduled game at 6:35 ET. First, they’ll make up their suspended game from yesterday which was called in the bottom of the first inning of a 0-0 tie. I’m not sure who will take the mound in this one: Jesse Hernandez made the start but may not be able to answer the bell on consecutive days. Daniel Norris is scheduled to make the start for the regular game. He’s been outstanding so far this year with a 2-0 record and a 0.82 ERA in his two starts. He goes against Chad Pierce of the Brevard County Manatees who has only thrown two innings so far this year.
Lansing Lugnuts (3-10)
Another team in a bit of a slide is the Lansing Lugnuts who continue their series against the Beloit Snappers. Kendall Graveman gets the call against Dylan Covey. 22-year-old Covey has made two mediocre starts so far, posting a 5.06 ERA in 10 2/3 innings while 23-year-old Graveman (0-0, 0.75 ERA) has been the model of poise and consistency in a pitching rotation that is very young. With the rest of the Lugnuts pitchers still trying to figure things out at a new level, Graveman has been outstanding, only allowing one run in 12 innings with a sub-1.00 WHIP and 11 strikeouts.
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All photos are copyright Blue Jays from Away (2013-2014) and may not be used without permission.