Jay Blue: Case, Danner, Davis, Espinal, Kirwer, McAffer, Panas, Spiwak

Hagen Danner had two hits - including a home run - and three RBI for the rookie-class Bluefield Blue Jays on Wednesday. Photo Credit: Jay Blue

August 29, 2018 Toronto Blue Jays Minor League Report
By Jay Blue
Blue Jays from Away

Five games were played in the Toronto Blue Jays' system and the club's affiliates won three of them.

Buffalo Bisons 1, Rochester Red Wings 4

The triple-A Buffalo Bisons have been struggling with the Rochester Red Wings, losing yet another game 4-1. Jonathan Davis was 3/5 and Richard Urena was 1/4 with a triple and a run and Jason Leblebijian was 1/2 with a double and two walks.

Shawn Morimando allowed all four runs (three earned) on four hits and a walk but those hits included two home runs and he struck out three over six innings. Jose Fernandez pitched a scoreless seventh, striking out one and Jake Petricka pitched a clean eighth.

L: Shawn Morimando (2-5)

Roster Notes: Andrew Guillotte and Andrew Case (Saint John, N.B.) were sent back to the New Hampshire Fisher Cats and Alberto Mineo was sent to Dunedin. Jason Leblebijian was activated off the DL.

Player of the Game: Jonathan Davis

New Hampshire Fisher Cats 9, Portland Sea Dogs 10

It was a wild one in Portland but the Sea Dogs ended up with a one-run victory over the double-A New Hampshire Fisher Cats, winning 10-9. Santiago Espinal was 3/4 with a home run, a walk, two RBI and three runs for the Fisher Cats while four players had two hits each including Bo Bichette (2/3, 2B, 2 BB, 2 R, CS), Max Pentecost (2/5, HR, 3 RBI), Andrew Guillotte (2/5) and Forrest Wall (2/5, RBI, R). Cavan Biggio was 1/4 with a double and a walk, stealing a base and Jon Berti hit a triple, going 1/5 with an RBI and a run. Connor Panas (Toronto, Ont.) was 1/5 with a double, an RBI and four strikeouts.

Jordan Romano (Markham, Ont.) started, going four innings and giving up eight runs on 10 hits (including two home runs) with a walk and three strikeouts. Danny Young gave up two hits with three strikeouts in two inning while Zach Jackson allowed two runs (one earned) on two hits with a walk in the the seventh. Travis Bergen walked one and struck out two in the eighth, lowering his NH ERA to just 0.26.

L: Jordan Romano (11-8)
HR: Max Pentecost (10), Santiago Espinal (1)

Roster Notes: Andrew Case (Saint John, N.B.) and Andrew Guillotte were sent back to New Hampshire and Justin Dillon was placed on the DL.

Player of the Game: Santiago Espinal

Dunedin Blue Jays, Palm Beach Cardinals

Game postponed due to rain.

Roster Notes: Alberto Mineo was sent back to the Dunedin Blue Jays from Buffalo and Owen Spiwak (Mississauga, Ont.) was placed back on the DL.

Lansing Lugnuts 2, Great Lakes Loons 1

The low-A Lansing Lugnuts used timely hitting and outstanding pitching to beat the Great Lakes Loons 2-1. Ryan Noda put his stamp on the game, going 2/4 with a triple, a home run and both RBI, scoring a run. Jesus Navarro was 1/2 with an RBI.

Turner Larkins went four scoreless innings, allowing three hits with three strikeouts and Donnie Sellers tossed another four, giving up a run on six hits and a walk with two strikeouts. Matt Shannon earned the save, striking out two in the ninth.

W: Donnie Sellers (7-3)
S: Matt Shannon (7)
HR: Ryan Noda (14)

Roster Notes: Turner Larkins was activated off the DL and Matt Gunter was placed on the DL.

Player of the Game: Ryan Noda

Vancouver Canadians 10, Everett AquaSox 3

The class-A Short-Season Vancouver Canadians brought the bats in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings, combining for nine runs over that span to beat the Everett AquaSox 10-3. Yorman Rodriguez was 3/4 with a triple, a walk, three RBI and two runs while Christopher Bec was on base twice, going 1/4 with a single, a walk, two RBI, a run and two stolen bases. Griffin Conine hit his seventh home run of the year, going 2/5 with a home run, three RBI and an outfield assist. Jake Brodt and Tanner Kirwer (Sherwood Park, Alta.) each hit a double and scored and Kirwer added a walk and Nick Podkul was 1/4 with a walk, an RBI and a run.

Nick Allgeyer started, allowing just a hit in two innings, striking out one while Juan Nunez allowed three runs on four hits and two walks in just one inning. Troy Miller walked three and gave up a hit but didn't allow a run in two innings, striking out one and Will McAffer (North Vancouver, BC) got the win, tossing 1 2/3 innings, walking one and striking out one. Orlando Pascual walked three in 1 1/3 innings, striking out two and Cobi Johnson finished it off, walking one and striking out two in the ninth.

W: Will McAffer (7-2)
HR: Griffin Conine (7)

Player of the Game: Yorman Rodriguez and Griffin Conine

Bluefield Blue Jays 9, Burlington Royals 3

The playoff-bound Bluefield Blue Jays beat the Burlington Royals 9-3 on Wednesday. Hagen Danner had a huge day, going 2/4 with a walk, a home run, three RBI and three runs while Andres Guerra also hit a home run, going 1/3 with a walk, two RBI and two runs. Jose Theran was 2/4 with two triples, driving in two runs and scoring once. Luis De Los Santos was 1/4 with a walk, an RBI and a run and Cal Stevenson was 1/4 with a double, a walk, an RBI and a run.

Felipe Castaneda tossed five one-run innings to get the win, giving up two hits and two walks with three strikeouts. Ryan Thurston (1 IP, 1 K), Josh Almonte (1 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 1 K, HR), Gage Burland (1 IP, 1 H, 1 K), and Grant Townsend (1 IP, 1 K) each threw an inning in the win.

W: Felipe Castaneda (2-1)
HR: Andres Guerra (3), Hagen Danner (2)

Player of the Game: Hagen Danner

Jay's Jay of the Day: Santiago Espinal

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