Jay Blue: Bichette, Diamond, Jones, Opitz, Pentecost, Rios, Romano, Williams

LHP Scott Diamond (Guelph, Ont.) pitched seven innings for triple-A Buffalo allowing one run in a win over Rochester. Photo: Jay Blue. 

    
July 4, 2016 Minor League Report
By Jay Blue
Blue Jays from Away
Happy Fourth of July went out to all of our American readers. The Blue Jays’ minor league clubs had a stellar record of 7-2 in nine games at all levels of the organization.

Buffalo Bisons 5, Rochester Red Wings 2
Scott Diamond came out with another strong outing, holding the Rochester Red Wings to one run as the Bisons defeated their I-90 rivals 5-2. Diamond went seven innings, allowing a run on four hits with two walks and two strikeouts to earn his sixth win of the season. Franklin Morales allowed a hit and struck out a batter in his inning of work as he works his way back to the majors and Ryan Tepera allowed a run on two hits and a walk with a strikeout in one inning.

Darrell Ceciliani had a strong game, going 2/4 with a double, three RBI and a run. Jesus Montero also had two hits, going 2/5 with a double and an RBI.

Player of the Game: Scott Diamond and Darrell Ceciliani

New Hampshire Fisher Cats 4, Portland Sea Dogs 3
The Fisher Cats scored in the eighth inning to go ahead of the Portland Sea Dogs and win on the Fourth of July by a 4-3 score. Luis Santos went 6 1/3 innings, allowing all three runs on seven hits and just one walk with five strikeouts. Matt Dermody stranded his inherited runner and retired all five batters he faced, striking out two to earn the win while Chris Smith pitched to the minimum in the ninth, saving his third game.

The offense chipped in with eight hits including a two-run home run by Shane Opitz. Dwight Smith, Jr. and Emilio Guerrero each hit a double while Jason Leblebijian was 1/3 with a sac fly and two RBI.

Player of the Game: Shane Opitz and Jason Leblebijian

 
Dunedin Blue Jays 0, Brevard County Manatees 3
The Blue Jays’ bats were silent as the Manatees blanked the birds 3-0 on Monday. The Blue Jays had just three hits (singles from Richard Urena, Mike Reeves and Dickie Joe Thon) without scoring any runs.

Francisco Rios had a good start, allowing no runs on five hits with five strikeouts while Brad Allen allowed all three Brevard County runs on two hits and two walks over two innings with three strikeouts. Dusty Isaacs pitched a scoreless eighth to finish the game.

Player of the Game: Francisco Rios

Lansing Lugnuts 12, Dayton Dragons 5
The Lugnuts’ bats were deadly, demolishing the Dayton Dragons by a 12-5 score, rapping out 11 hits and taking seven walks. Max Pentecost continued his hot streak by hitting a single and a double, taking a walk, driving in two runs and scoring twice. Carl Wise (2/5, RBI), Juan Kelly (2/3, 2 BB, 2 RBI, R) and Connor Panas (2/5, 2B, RBI) each had two hits.

Jordan Romano started the game and needed 80 pitches to get through four innings, walking two and giving up three hits with four strikeouts. Nate Abel picked up the win despite allowing three runs over two innings while Ryan Cook also gave up a pair of runs in two innings. Daniel Lietz finished the game, striking out two in the ninth inning.

Player of the Game: Max Pentecost and Jordan Romano

Vancouver Canadians 4, Salem-Keizer Volcanoes 2
The Canadians had a strong game, particularly from the bullpen, beating the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes 4-2. Dalton Rodriguez started and allowed two solo home runs among eight hits with five walks and two strikeouts. Grayson Huffman allowed three hits in two innings to earn the win while the Jacksons, Jackson McClelland and Jackson Lowery, each pitched a scoreless inning with Lowery earning the save, striking out the side.

J.B. Woodman (2/4, 2B, BB, RBI, SB), Christian Williams (2/3, 2B, BB, HR) and D.J. McKnight (2/4, 2B, 2 R) had two-hit games while Cavan Biggio was 1/3 with a walk, a run and an RBI.

Player of the Game: Christian Williams

Bluefield Blue Jays 10, Elizabethton Twins 5
In a game that was called early due to rain, Bluefield doubled the Elizabethton Twins by a 10-5 score to extend the club’s winning streak to four games. The offense was front and centre with Nick Sinay going 3/6 with two runs and two stolen bases. Vladimir Guerrero, Jr. (2/5, 3B), Bradley Jones (2/5, HR, 3 RBI), Juandy Mendozy (2/5, 2 2B, 2 RBI, 2 R) and Matt Morgan (2/3, HR, 2 BB, 2 RBI) each had two hits.

Osman Gutierrez was roughed up by the Twins, giving up four runs on eight hits and three walks with five strikeouts before Luke Gillingham took over, allowing a run on two hits and a walk with four strikeouts in just three innings. Andrew Deramo didn’t get anyone out but he allowed a hit before the game was called.

Player of the Game: Bradley Jones and Matt Morgan

GCL Blue Jays 8, GCL Braves 2
The GCL Blue Jays played a solid all around game on Monday, defeating the Braves by an 8-2 score. The hitters contributed 11 hits including two each from Bo Bichette (2/5, 2B, RBI), Antony Fuentes (2/5, 2B, RBI, R) and Joshua Palacios (2/3, R). Norberto Obeso drove in two runs with a double and Danny Jansen drove in two, going 1/3 in his return from injury.

Dany Jimenez got the start and allowed two runs on two hits and two walks in five innings with five strikeouts. Jake Fishman shut the Braves down over three innings, allowing three hits and striking out one while Jared Carkuff allowed a hit with a strikeout in one inning.

Player of the Game: Bo Bichette, Antony Fuentes and Joshua Palacios

Roster Notes: Danny Jansen was assigned to the Blue Jays for a rehab assignment and Zach Jackson was assigned there after signing.

DSL Blue Jays 11, DSL Orioles1 1
In Game 1 of a double header, the Blue Jays thumped the Orioles 11-1. Luis De Los Santos led the hit parade with three, hitting a double and driving in a run and scoring one. Cristian Peguero was 2/4 with a double, two runs and three RBI while Jonelvy Molina was 2/3 with two RBI and a run.

Jose Dominguez started and allowed just one run on six hits and two walks over five innings, striking out eight. Wilton Mueses walked only one batter, striking out four in two innings to finish the game.

Player of the Game: Jose Dominguez and Cristian Peguero

DSL Blue Jays 0, DSL Orioles1 5
Game 2 of the double header wasn’t as kind to the Blue Jays as they were shut out by the Orioles. Yhordegny Kelly was 2/3 and Aldo Ovando was 1/2 with a walk but that was pretty much all the offense the club got.

Ruben Ventura started, allowing four runs (two earned) on six hits and three walks with three strikeouts in five innings. Emmanuel Reyes allowed an unearned run on a hit and a walk in two innings.

Player of the Game: Yhordegny Kelly and Aldo Ovando

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