August 21, 2019 Toronto Blue Jays Minor League Report

By Jay Blue

Blue Jays from Away

The Blue Jays' affiliates were 6-2 on Wednesday, getting a couple of strong pitching performances through the organization.

Buffalo Bisons 7, Rochester Red Wings 4

The Buffalo Bisons got their third straight stellar start from a pitcher and managed to score late to secure their victory over the Rochester Red Wings 7-4.

While the tandem of T.J. Zeuch and Nate Pearson are a hard act to follow, Anthony Kay made Rochester his own, tossing six scoreless innings, allowing three hits and three walks with six strikeouts to give the Bisons three straight games in which the starter has gone at least six innings without giving up a run. Zach Jackson was tagged for three runs on two hits and two walks in 1 2/3 innings, striking out one and Bryan Baker finished the eighth, allowing both inherited runners to score and giving up a hit. Jordan Romano (Markham, Ont.) allowed a run on three hits with one strikeout in the ninth.

The Bisons had 11 hits for their seven runs and Kevin Vicuna made some noise in his call up to Buffalo, going 2/4 with two runs and a triple, adding a stolen base. Jonathan Davis had a pair of hits, going 2/5 with an RBI, a run and a stolen base while Santiago Espinal also had two hits, going 2/4. Patrick Kivlehan hit yet another home run, going 1/3 with the blast, a walk and two RBI while Roemon Fields was 1/4 with a run and a stolen base. Socrates Brito (1/4, BB, RBI), Andy Burns (1/4, RBI, R, SF) and Forrest Wall (1/5, RBI, R) all had a single.

W: Anthony Kay (2-4)

HR: Patrick Kivlehan (27)

Player of the Game: Anthony Kay

Roster Notes: Travis Bergen was returned to Toronto by the San Francisco Giants and sent to Buffalo. Kevin Vicuna and Nash Knight were promoted to the Bisons (Vicuna from Dunedin and Knight from New Hampshire) while Sean Reid-Foley was sent back. Jason Adam was promoted to Toronto and Andres Sotillo was sent back to New Hampshire.

New Hampshire Fisher Cats 0, Trenton Thunder (NYY) 4

In afternoon action, the New Hampshire Fisher Cats were shutout on the road by the Trenton Thunder, falling 4-0.

The Fisher Cats had just four hits including a single and a double by Vinny Capra while Chad Spanberger was 1/4 and Riley Adams was 1/3.

Justin Dillon was on the mound, allowing two runs on four hits with a walk and three strikeouts in four innings to take the loss and Brad Wilson allowed a run on four hits with a strikeout in two innings. Vinny Nittoli allowed an unearned run, giving up a walk and striking out one in the seventh and Jake Fishman finished the game, striking out the side with one hit against him in the eighth.

L: Justin Dillon (5-3)

Player of the Game: Vinny Capra

Roster Notes: Andres Sotillo was sent back to New Hampshire from Buffalo and Nash Knight was promoted to Buffalo.

Dunedin Blue Jays 5, Daytona Tortugas (CIN) 4

The Dunedin Blue Jays won yet another one-run game, beating the Daytona Tortugas 5-4.

Maximo Castillo got his 10th win, going 5 2/3 innings with three runs on seven hits and a walk against him with three strikeouts. Mike Ellenbest allowed a run on four hits with a walk and three strikeouts in 1 1/3 innings, allowing his inherited runner to score and Emerson Jimenez allowed one of three inherited runners to score, giving up a hit and striking out two in two innings.

Demi Orimoloye (Orleans, Ont.) had a monster game, hitting two home runs and going 3/4 with four RBI and three runs, adding a stolen base, giving him three home runs in the past two games. Reggie Pruitt was 1/4 with a double and a run and a stolen base and Chavez Young was 1/4 with a double. Samad Taylor was 0/2 with an RBI from a sac fly while Nick Podkul was 0/1 but walked twice and stole a base.

W: Maximo Castillo (10-5)

S: Emerson Jimenez (2)

HR: Demi Orimoloye 2 (12)

Player of the Game: Demi Orimoloye

Roster Notes: Kevin Vicuna was promoted to the Buffalo Bisons and Hugo Cardona was promoted from the GCL Blue Jays to the Dunedin Blue Jays.

Lansing Lugnuts 2, South Bend Cubs (CHC) 3

The Lansing Lugnuts couldn't hold off the South Bend Cubs, carrying a 2-1 lead into the eighth inning but single runs in consecutive innings gave the Cubs a walkoff 3-2 victory.

Otto Lopez was 3/4 with two doubles and a run while Tanner Kirwer (Sherwood Park, Alta.) was 2/4. Yorman Rodriguez was 1/3 with a double, a walk, an RBI and a run while Griffin Conine and Rafael Lantigua were each 1/4.

Troy Miller had a strong game, tossing six innings of one-run ball, allowing the unearned run on four hits with a walk and seven strikeouts. Marcus Reyes gave up two runs (one earned) in a rare rough outing, allowing three hits (including a home run) with one strikeout in 2 1/3 innings.

L: Marcus Reyes (7-2)

Player of the Game: Troy Miller and Otto Lopez

Roster Notes: Hagen Danner was placed on the 7-day IL and Randy Pondler was activated off the IL.

Vancouver Canadians 1, Tri-City Dust Devils (SD) 0

The Vancouver Canadians added to the pile of stellar pitching performances the Blue Jays have gotten lately as they beat the Tri-City Dust Devils 1-0 in 10 innings.

Adam Kloffenstein went seven scoreless innings, giving up five hits and two walks with seven strikeouts, needing just 78 pitches in a dominant performance. Luke Gillingham threw three more shutout innings, allowing just a hit and striking out four to get the win.

The C's had just three hits including singles from Mc Gregory Contreras, driving in the winning run, as well as base hits from Tanner Morris and Philip Clarke.

W: Luke Gillingham (2-1)

Player of the Game: Adam Kloffenstein

Bluefield Blue Jays 7, Princeton Rays (TB) 2

The Bluefield Blue Jays tied up the competition for the Mercer Cup (played between the Bluefield Blue Jays and the Princeton Rays, both residing in Mercer County) with one game to play thanks to their 7-2 win over the Princeton Rays.

Justin Ammons stirred the pot with his offense, going 4/5 with three doubles, two RBI, a run and two stolen bases. Spencer Horwitz hit one of the club's three home runs, going 2/5 with a solo shot and a double while Ryan Sloniger was 1/4 with a solo home run but had a rough night behind the plate, committing three passed balls. Patrick Morris was 1/4 with walk and a solo home run. Eric Rivera was 3/5 with an RBI and Steward Berroa was 1/4 with two runs and a stolen base. Leonardo Jimenez walked three times, going 0/2 with a run.

Jol Concepcion returned to action and struck out three, giving up a hit in two innings of work. Sam Ryan allowed two runs in five effective innings, striking out six and giving up four hits while Austin Havekost got through the final two innings, allowing two hits.

W: Sam Ryan (1-3)

HR: Spencer Horwitz (3), Patrick Morris (8), Ryan Sloniger (8)

Player of the Game: Justin Ammons

GCL Blue Jays 8, GCL Phillies East 7

The GCL Blue Jays held off a ninth-inning charge by the GCL Phillies East, holding on to win 8-7.

Alberto Rodriguez hit another double, going 2/4 with a walk, two RBI and a run. Orelvis Martinez was 2/4 with a walk, a double, two RBI and a run while Jose Zepeda was 1/3 with two walks, an RBI and two runs. Rainer Nunez was 1/5 with a solo home run, and Hanley Acevedo was 1/2 with a walk and a run, stealing a base. Jose Rivas walked twice, scoring a run and going 0/3.

Michael Dominguez pitched three hitless innings, walking two and striking out three before Rafael Monsion struck out five in four innings, allowing a run on two hits (including a home run) and Juanfer Castro walked one in the eighth, striking out two. Brayan Mejia got into trouble in the ninth, giving up two hits and walking three without getting a out before he was pulled and Williams Moreno allowed all three inherited runners to score, walking two and giving up a hit and allowing an unearned run of his own but secured the save in the ninth.

W: Rafael Monsion (4-0)

S: Williams Moreno (2)

HR: Rainer Nunez (3)

Player of the Game: Orelvis Martinez and Alberto Rodriguez

Roster Notes: Hugo Cardona was promoted to Dunedin from the GCL.

DSL Blue Jays 5, DSL Reds 1

The DSL Blue Jays won again, beating the DSL Reds 5-1.

Emmanuel Sanchez was 3/4 with a run to lead the offense while Juan Pizarro had a huge game, going 2/4 with a double, four RBI, a run and an outfield assist. Junior Ramos was 1/4 with a double and Daniel oliva was 0/2 but walked twice, had a sac bunt and stole a base, adding a run. Gustavo Gutierrez was 1/2 with a walk and a triple, scoring a run and Willfrann Astudillo was 1/4.

Junior Guzman had a strong game on the mound, allowing just three hits in six innings of work, striking out six for the win. Juan Martinez allowed a run on three hits and two walks in three innings, striking out one.

W: Junior Guzman (4-0)

S: Juan Martinez (1)

Player of the Game: Junior Guzman

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