A 1-for-3 night for the affiliates doesn't sound that great but three bullpen implosions kept the squads from going 4-0. There were also some impressive hitting performances in low-A and a nice pitching line for a 2010 No. 1 draft pick in high-A.
Fresno 8 Las Vegas 5
Pitcher Mike MacDonald made a triumphant return to the Jays organization by allowing just one earned run (three runs overall) in 5.1 innings. Josh Roenicke, Mike Hinckley and Winston Abreu didn't pitch overly well but got the lead into the eighth inning. Unfortunately, Rommie Lewis blew the save and took the loss by allowing three runs in one-third of an inning. Fresno base runners embarrassed catcher Brian Jeroloman - known for his defense - by stealing 10 bases in the game. The club played sloppy ball in the field with four errors (Manny Mayorson (2), Brett Lawrie, and Jeroloman).
Darin Mastroianni, who could end up being a very valuable bench player in the not-too-distant future, went 3-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI. Chris Woodward (now there is a flashback) and Eric Thames each had two hits. Thames hit a double and drive in two batters. David Cooper has now recorded a hit in each of his first four games in 2011 after recording a double. He also took a walk and scored a run. Every batter had at least one hit except poor Mr. Jeroloman.
New Hampshire 5 Trenton 0
The Jays rode minor league veteran starter Willie Collazo to a shutout win over the baby Yankees. He gave up just two hits and no walks in 5.2 innings. Ron Uviedo pitched 2.1 innings of scoreless relief, while former top Expos prospect Clint Everts looked good over one inning. Top 10 Yankees prospect and catcher Austin Romine went 1-for-4 with a single.
The Fisher Cats' offense got to Top 10 pitching prospect Dellin Betances for four runs (just one earned) over 4.2 innings. Third baseman Mark Sobolewski went 2-for-3 with a walk and two RBI. Adam Calderone went 1-for-4 but made the most of his opportunity with three RBI and a stolen base. Moises Sierra was 1-for-3 with a steal and two runs scored. He was also hit by a pitch. Michael McDade went 1-for-3 with a double and also took his first walk of the season. After recording four hits in his last two games, Adeiny Hechavarria went hitless. Travis d'Arnaud had his first hit of the young season.
Clearwater 5 Dunedin 4
It was a promising game for the baby Jays until rehabbing MLB veteran Frank Francisco entered the game in the seventh inning. He allowed four runs on three hits and two walks while recording just two outs. Matt Wright gave up the final run and took the loss. The final two innings ruined a solid 2011 debut from 2010 No. 1 draft pick Asher Wojciechowski. He three five shutout innings and gave up just two hits with no walks and two strikeouts. The right-hander also induced eight ground-ball outs and just two in the air. Casey Beck also threw a scoreless inning in relief.
On offense, the baby Jays faced one of Philadelphia's top pitching prospects in Brody Colvin. They hit him around for three runs in 2.0 innings. Outfielder Chris Hopkins recorded three hits and drove in two runs. Rehabbing veteran Corey Patterson and Justin Jackson both had two hits. Sean Ochinko, Brad McElroy and Kevin Nolan each had a hit a piece. McElroy was the only player to get an extra base hit (a double). Ryan Goins had a rough day with and 0-for-5 and three strikeouts.
West Michigan 13 Lansing 12
The Lugnuts club finally made it onto the baseball diamond after an embarrassing start to the season (for the stadium operators and organization) at home. Unfortunately, the club came out on the losing end of a slugfest with the Detroit Tigers low-A affiliate. The Lugnuts appeared poised to take the game before the bullpen melted down and allowed eight runs in the final four innings. Drew Permison gave up four runs in 1.1 innings of work, while Dayton Marze was torched four four runs over 2.1 innings.
Misaul Diaz received the start for the Lugnuts but he had zero control and gave up five runs (just two earned) over 2.2 innings of work. He allowed five hits, two walks, a wild pitch and hit two batters. On the plus side, he did record seven outs to one ground-ball out. Veteran A-baller Scott Gracey was the only pitcher to go unscathed with 2.1 scoreless innings in middle relief. The Lugnut pitchers faced two Top 10 Tigers prospects (according to my off-season rankings at FanGraphs.com) in Dixon Machado (who went 4-for-5) and Nick Castellanos (0-for-5).
At the plate, catcher Carlos Perez paced the offense with three hits in five at-bats. He also scored two runs. K.C. Hobson, Gustavo Pierre, and Michael Crouse all had two hits. The latter prospect - a Canadian - hit a three-run homer and stole a base. His exciting power-speed combination is one of the reasons why he's one of my favorite sleepers. Markus Brisker was the only starter who failed to get a hit (0-for-4) but he did walk and steal a base. Another Top 10 prospect for the Tigers - Bruce Rondon - came in for the ninth inning and retired the side (and struck out two batters) and recorded the win.
The Three Stars
3. Michael Crouse, OF
2. Carlos Perez, C
1. Asher Wojciechowski, RHP
Fresno 8 Las Vegas 5
Pitcher Mike MacDonald made a triumphant return to the Jays organization by allowing just one earned run (three runs overall) in 5.1 innings. Josh Roenicke, Mike Hinckley and Winston Abreu didn't pitch overly well but got the lead into the eighth inning. Unfortunately, Rommie Lewis blew the save and took the loss by allowing three runs in one-third of an inning. Fresno base runners embarrassed catcher Brian Jeroloman - known for his defense - by stealing 10 bases in the game. The club played sloppy ball in the field with four errors (Manny Mayorson (2), Brett Lawrie, and Jeroloman).
Darin Mastroianni, who could end up being a very valuable bench player in the not-too-distant future, went 3-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI. Chris Woodward (now there is a flashback) and Eric Thames each had two hits. Thames hit a double and drive in two batters. David Cooper has now recorded a hit in each of his first four games in 2011 after recording a double. He also took a walk and scored a run. Every batter had at least one hit except poor Mr. Jeroloman.
New Hampshire 5 Trenton 0
The Jays rode minor league veteran starter Willie Collazo to a shutout win over the baby Yankees. He gave up just two hits and no walks in 5.2 innings. Ron Uviedo pitched 2.1 innings of scoreless relief, while former top Expos prospect Clint Everts looked good over one inning. Top 10 Yankees prospect and catcher Austin Romine went 1-for-4 with a single.
The Fisher Cats' offense got to Top 10 pitching prospect Dellin Betances for four runs (just one earned) over 4.2 innings. Third baseman Mark Sobolewski went 2-for-3 with a walk and two RBI. Adam Calderone went 1-for-4 but made the most of his opportunity with three RBI and a stolen base. Moises Sierra was 1-for-3 with a steal and two runs scored. He was also hit by a pitch. Michael McDade went 1-for-3 with a double and also took his first walk of the season. After recording four hits in his last two games, Adeiny Hechavarria went hitless. Travis d'Arnaud had his first hit of the young season.
Clearwater 5 Dunedin 4
It was a promising game for the baby Jays until rehabbing MLB veteran Frank Francisco entered the game in the seventh inning. He allowed four runs on three hits and two walks while recording just two outs. Matt Wright gave up the final run and took the loss. The final two innings ruined a solid 2011 debut from 2010 No. 1 draft pick Asher Wojciechowski. He three five shutout innings and gave up just two hits with no walks and two strikeouts. The right-hander also induced eight ground-ball outs and just two in the air. Casey Beck also threw a scoreless inning in relief.
On offense, the baby Jays faced one of Philadelphia's top pitching prospects in Brody Colvin. They hit him around for three runs in 2.0 innings. Outfielder Chris Hopkins recorded three hits and drove in two runs. Rehabbing veteran Corey Patterson and Justin Jackson both had two hits. Sean Ochinko, Brad McElroy and Kevin Nolan each had a hit a piece. McElroy was the only player to get an extra base hit (a double). Ryan Goins had a rough day with and 0-for-5 and three strikeouts.
West Michigan 13 Lansing 12
The Lugnuts club finally made it onto the baseball diamond after an embarrassing start to the season (for the stadium operators and organization) at home. Unfortunately, the club came out on the losing end of a slugfest with the Detroit Tigers low-A affiliate. The Lugnuts appeared poised to take the game before the bullpen melted down and allowed eight runs in the final four innings. Drew Permison gave up four runs in 1.1 innings of work, while Dayton Marze was torched four four runs over 2.1 innings.
Misaul Diaz received the start for the Lugnuts but he had zero control and gave up five runs (just two earned) over 2.2 innings of work. He allowed five hits, two walks, a wild pitch and hit two batters. On the plus side, he did record seven outs to one ground-ball out. Veteran A-baller Scott Gracey was the only pitcher to go unscathed with 2.1 scoreless innings in middle relief. The Lugnut pitchers faced two Top 10 Tigers prospects (according to my off-season rankings at FanGraphs.com) in Dixon Machado (who went 4-for-5) and Nick Castellanos (0-for-5).
At the plate, catcher Carlos Perez paced the offense with three hits in five at-bats. He also scored two runs. K.C. Hobson, Gustavo Pierre, and Michael Crouse all had two hits. The latter prospect - a Canadian - hit a three-run homer and stole a base. His exciting power-speed combination is one of the reasons why he's one of my favorite sleepers. Markus Brisker was the only starter who failed to get a hit (0-for-4) but he did walk and steal a base. Another Top 10 prospect for the Tigers - Bruce Rondon - came in for the ninth inning and retired the side (and struck out two batters) and recorded the win.
The Three Stars
3. Michael Crouse, OF
2. Carlos Perez, C
1. Asher Wojciechowski, RHP
