Call it a clean sweep! All four Blue Jays minor league teams were in action yesterday and all four won their competitions.
Buffalo Bisons 6, Toledo Mud Hens 4
Scott Copeland got the start for the Bisons and, while he wasn’t as outstanding as he has been this year, he got the job done, picking up his third win of the season with six innings of five-hit, two-walk work, allowing four runs and striking out four. Greg Infante followed with two hitless innings while Bo Schultz picked up his seventh save with a 1-2-3 ninth.
The offense went deep twice to snap a long homer-less streak that dates back to before Chris Colabello was promoted to Toronto. Brad Glenn hit a two-run blast in the first inning to get the Bisons stampeding and Melky Mesa followed with his first Buffalo home run in the fourth. Both players had two hits and Mesa added a double while Glenn also took a walk. Dalton Pompey had a pair of singles and a stolen base and A.J. Jimenez was 2/4 with a double and an RBI. Andy Burns was 1/5, extending his hit streak to nine games and drove in two.
Player of the Game: Brad Glenn and Melky Mesa
New Hampshire Fisher Cats 4, Binghamton Mets 3
The Fisher Cats registered a win but it took a new opponent to produce that result. The Fisher Cats jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first two innings and held on the rest of the way despite getting just four hits on the night. Taylor Cole had another strong start, going 5 1/3 innings and allowing two runs (although one was charged after Danny Barnes allowed after he came in with two runners on) on six hits and two walks with three strikeouts and eight groundouts (with just four flyouts). Barnes allowed two hits but struck out three in 1 2/3 innings. Gregu Burke allowed the final run and Luis Perez picked up his first save with the Fisher Cats with a scoreless ninth.
For the hitters, Shane Opitz had a two-run home run in the second innings and also took a walk while Jon Berti and Kevin Nolan drove in runs and Andy Fermin was 1/3 with a double and a walk.
Roster Notes: 1B Jake Fox was released by the Blue Jays to pursue an opportunity in Korea while Tiago Da Silva was loaned to a Mexican League team. OF Ian Parmley was called up from Dunedin.
Player of the Game: Shane Opitz
Dunedin Blue Jays 6, Fort Myers Miracle 3
The Dunedin Blue Jays put up their 15th win of the season (to go with 19 losses) after a 6-3 victory over the Fort Myers Miracle. Like the Fisher Cats, the D-Jays got their runs early, scoring all six of their runs in the first two innings. Dickie Joe Thon and Matt Dean led the way, each getting three hits and an RBI with Thon connecting for a triple and Dean getting a double. Dawel Lugo was 2/4 with an RBI and a walk while Roemon Fields was 2/4 with a walk and a stolen base (his 14th).
Justin Shafer tossed five scoreless innings for the D-Jays, allowing just five hits and a walk while inducing six groundouts to three flyouts. Alonzo Gonzalez struggled with his control, walking three and allowing two hits and a run over 1 1/3 innings while Michael Kraft gave up two more runs. Wil Browning finished it off by pitching 2/3 of an inning.
Roster Notes: The corresponding move for the Dunedin Blue Jays receiving Michael Kraft was putting Scott Silverstein on the DL. Matt Dermody was activated off the DL while Ian Parmley was promoted to New Hampshire.
Player of the Game: Justin Shafer, Matt Dean and Dickie Joe Thon
Lansing Lugnuts 8, South Bend Cubs 6
The Lansing Lugnuts also scored six runs over their first two innings but would have to score two more times to ensure their victory over the South Bend Cubs. The Lugnuts got a huge game from Ryan McBroom who was three for four with a double and two RBI but Jonathan Davis (J.D.) was even better, going 3/4 with a home run, a walk, three stolen bases, two RBI and four runs scored. Boomer Collins also chipped in with a pair of singles and an RBI and Tim Locastro stole a couple bases, hitting a double and scoring twice.
On the mound, Conner Greene only lasted one inning, allowing five hits and four walks while Starlyn Suriel provided stellar relief, giving up just one unearned run (who was cashed while Jose Fernandez relieved him) on three hits over 6 1/3 innings. Fernandez allowed the three hits and a run of his own (surrendered by Phil Kish who relieved him and inherited the runner) on three hits. Kish picked up the save despite giving up two hits.
Player of the Game: J.D. Davis
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