Jay Blue: Brown, Burns, Clarke, Kirwer, Lopez, Rivera, Wall

Otto Lopez went 4-for-5 for the low-A Lansing Lugnuts on Wednesday. Photo: Jay Blue

July 31, 2019 Toronto Blue Jays Minor League Report

By Jay Blue

Blue Jays from Away

On trade deadline day, the Blue Jays' minor league clubs were 5-2 with the Dunedin Blue Jays rained out and one of the pitchers acquired for Marcus Stroman getting his debut in the Blue Jays' system.

Buffalo Bisons 7, Lehigh Valley IronPigs (PHI) 11

Andy Burns had a huge game for the Buffalo Bisons but it wasn't enough to give the Bisons a win while Anthony Kay was making his first start for The Herd as they lost 11-7 to the Lehigh Valley IronPigs.

Burns was 3/4 with a home run, a walk, three RBI and three runs. Jordan Patterson had another big game, going 3/5 with a solo home run while Rowdy Tellez drove in two, going 1/4 with a double and a walk. Richard Urena was 1/4 with a walk and Patrick Kivlehan was 1/5 with an RBI. Michael De La Cruz (1/5), Alen Hanson (1/5, R) and Roemon Fields (1/3, R, HBP) each had a hit.

In his first Buffalo start, Anthony Kay allowed seven runs (six earned) on 11 hits (including a home run) with three walks and three strikeouts over 4 2/3 innings. Kirby Snead allowed a couple of hits and one of his two inherited runners to score, striking out one in 1 1/3 innings. Zach Jackson was victimized for three runs on three hits with two walks and one strikeout in one inning and Ty Tice allowed a run on four hits in the eighth.

L: Anthony Kay (1-4)

Player of the Game: Andy Burns

Roster Notes: Anthony Kay was assigned to Buffalo following his trade from the Mets while Buddy Boshers was promoted to Toronto. Anthony Alford was sent to the GCL for rehab. RHP Brock Stewart, whom the Blue Jays claimed on waivers from the Dodgers, was optioned to Buffalo.

New Hampshire Fisher Cats 3, Akron RubberDucks (CLE) 2

With two runs in the top of the ninth, the New Hampshire Fisher Cats rallied to take the lead and beat the Akron RubberDucks 3-2.

Forrest Wall had another multi-hit game, going 2/4 with a double, a walk and an RBI while Santiago Espinal was 2/4 with a walk, two RBI and an outfield assist but he was caught stealing. Chad Spanberger hit a double, going 1/4 with a run while Joshua Palacios was 1/3 with a walk and a run. Logan Warmoth was 1/4 with a stolen base and a run.

Justin Dillon was solid again, allowing two runs on seven hits and a walk with three strikeouts in six innings. Brad Wilson struck out two, giving up just a hit in two frames and Dany Jimenez got his first save in Double-A, walking one in the ninth.

W: Brad Wilson (1-0)

S: Dany Jimenez (1)

Player of the Game: Justin Dillon, Forrest Wall and Santiago Espinal

Dunedin Blue Jays, Fort Myers Miracle (MIN)

Game postponed due to rain.

Roster Notes: Jesus Navarro was activated off the 7-day IL.

Lansing Lugnuts 10, Lake County Captains (CLE) 8

The Lansing Lugnuts won their second straight game against the Lake County Captains, going to 10 innings and beating them 10-8 after coughing up the lead in the bottom of the ninth.

Otto Lopez (Montreal, Que.) was 4/5 with a double, a triple, a walk, two RBI and two runs while Tanner Kirwer (Sherwood Park, Alta.) had three hits, going 3/4 with two runs and a stolen base. Griffin Conine was on base three times, going 1/4 with a home run, two walks, two RBI and two runs. Ryan Gold was 2/4 with a walk and an RBI. Gabriel Moreno was on base five times, going 1/2 with three walks, three runs and was hit by a pitch. Jake Brodt (1/5), L.J. Talley (1/5) and Hunter Steinmetz (1/5, BB, RBI) also had a hit each.

Cobi Johnson got the start, surrendering four runs (three earned) on two hits and four walks with three strikeouts over 2 2/3 innings while Justin Watts allowed a run on two hits with three strikeouts in 1 1/3 innings. Fitz Stadler pitched three hitless frames, walking two and striking out four and Josh Hiatt blew a save, allowing three unearned runs on three hits and two walks in 1 2/3 innings. Marcus Reyes got the win, retiring all four batters he faced to end the game.

W: Marcus Reyes (6-1)

HR: Griffin Conine (15)

Player of the Game: Otto Lopez

Vancouver Canadians 13, Boise Hawks (COL) 5

The Vancouver Canadians unleashed an offensive barrage on the Boise Hawks, beating them 13-5.

Former Vanderbilt catcher Philip Clarke had a huge game, going 4/5 with a double, a walk, three RBI and four runs. while Jesus Lopez continued to swing the bat well, going 3/6 with two doubles, two RBI and a run. Will Robertson was 2/4 with a triple, two walks, two RBI and two runs while Cameron Eden was 2/4 with a double, a triple, an RBI and a run. Tanner Morris was 2/5 with a walk and a run. Trevor Schwecke was 1/6 with a run and a stolen base. Mc Gregory Contreras was on base three times, going 1/4 with a double, two walks and three RBI, scoring a run. Brett Wright was 1/5 with an RBI and Ronny Brito was 1/5 with an RBI and a run.

Nick Fraze allowed a run on three hits with four strikeouts in three innings and Jared DeCesare allowed three runs on five hits (including a home run) with two walks and four strikeouts, picking the win. Grayson Huffman gave up a run in an inning, allowing three hits with a strikeout and Parker Caracci finished it off with two innings of one-hit ball with two strikeouts.

W: Jared DiCesare (2-0)

Player of the Game: Philip Clarke

Bluefield Blue Jays 7, Kingsport Mets (NYM) 5

The Bluefield Blue Jays held off a late charge by the Kingsport Mets to come away with a 7-5 win on Wednesday.

Naswell Paulino started, allowing two runs (one earned) on five hits and three walks with three strikeouts in three innings before Juan Acosta tossed three hitless frames, walking one and striking out four. Julian Valdez allowed a run on two hits (including a home run) with one strikeout in two innings and Austin Havekost was charged with two unearned runs, walking one in the final inning.

Eric Rivera was 3/4 with a double, a walk, an RBI and two runs, stealing a base while Spencer Horwitz was 2/4 with a sac fly and an RBI. Scotty Bradley was 2/3 with a walk, an RBI and a run while Anthony Morales was 2/4 with a double and a run. Justin Ammons was 1/5 with an RBI and a run and Miguel Hiraldo was 1/5 with a double, an RBI and a run. Davis Schneider was hitless, going 0/2 but he was hit by two pitches and Angel Camacho was 0/4 with a sac fly and an RBI.

W: Juan Acosta (3-2)

Player of the Game: Eric Rivera

GCL Blue Jays 2, GCL Tigers East 4

The GCL Blue Jays were taken to 11 innings after they lost the lead in the top of the ninth, eventually falling 4-2 to the GCL Tigers East.

The Blue Jays mustered just five hits, with Dasan Brown (Oakville, Ont.) (1/5), Hugo Cardona (1/4, 3B, BB), Orelvis Martinez (1/4, 3B, 2 R) and Alberto Rodriguez (1/4) contributing a hit each. Anthony Alford was rehabbing and was 1/2 with a double before coming out of the game for Erickvi Celedonio. Javier D'orazio was 0/3 with an RBI on a sac fly.

Andrew McInvale went three hitless innings, allowing just one walk and striking out four while Alexis Carmona tossed five scoreless frames, allowing four hits and a walk with one strikeout. Juanfer Castro went three innings, giving up all four Tigers runs but only one was earned as he allowed just three hits and a walk to take the loss.

L: Juanfer Castro (0-1)

Player of the Game: Andrew McInvale and Alexis Carmona

Roster Notes: Anthony Alford was assigned to the GCL Blue Jays for rehab.

DSL Blue Jays 1, DSL White Sox 2

The DSL Blue Jays were held to just six hits and while the pitching staff was solid, they still lost to the DSL White Sox 2-1.

Gabriel Martinez led the "hit parade," going 2/4 with one of the club's four doubles and scoring a run. Emmanuel Sanchez was 1/4 and Yeison Jimenez as 1/2 with a double, two walks and an RBI. Juan Pizarro was 1/4 with a double and two stolen bases and Gustavo Ruiz hit a double, going 1/4.

Fernando Chacon tossed five scoreless innings, allowing five hits and two walks with four strikeouts before Juan Martinez took the loss, giving up two runs (one earned) on three hits with two strikeouts over the final three innings.

L: Juan Martinez (1-1)

Player of the Game: Fernando Chacon

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