Buffalo 2 Scranton 5
You take victories where you can this year as a Jays fan. And while Buffalo did not win on the night, Ricky Romero threw 60 of his 95 pitches for strikes. He had a ten pitch inning and battled through an error in the third, which produced two runs and 27 pitches. He made it through six innings and perhaps this is the new Romero norm—and I say this optimistically—it ain’t pretty and there will always be at least a couple self-inflicted wounds, but he battles and gives you a quality start every so often. Enough that you slot him in at the bottom of a rotation and just hope the guy he’s facing implodes before he does. Romero finished the evening with six innings pitched, five runs allowed (three earned), two walks, and three strikeouts.
John Stilson replaced Romero and threw two scoreless innings, lowering his ERA to 2.08. At the plate Mike McCoy homered and Kevin Pillar doubled in the three-hole. Pillar, it should be noted, is “ready” for the Big Leagues according to the reports Alex Anthopoulos referenced the other day in an interview. Quite the climb and I must say I was quite wrong about Pillar as I’ve discounted Pillar as a prospect for sometime and to hear that, unless it’s trade posturing, would suggest Pillar is someone to watch out for. Anthony Gose had two hits and stole a bag. He’ll need many more nights like tonight to reconcile his first half.
Binghamton 7 New Hampshire 6
New Hampshire fought back in this one, but ultimately came up short as they lost by one run to the Mets’ affiliate. With runners on second and third, two outs, and down by two, recently called up Andy Burns laced a single to right field. The lead runner scored easily, however, Kevin Ahrens—who was pinch running for Jon Talley—was thrown out by right fielder and former marquee July 2 IFA signing Cesar Puello. Great drama, but the Fisher Cats had lost. Andy Burns had three RBIs and A.J. Jimenez had a hit in four trips to the plate.
Clearwater 4 Dunedin 5
Dunedin came from behind in the ninth to score two on a Gabe Jacobo single and walk away with the win. Jacobo had quite the day for himself as he also homered and doubled in this contest. Other notables include a solid start from Jesse Hernandez who went seven innings and yielded three earned runs. He walked three and struck out four. Jon Berti stole three bases and K.C. Hobson had two hits and two walks.
Lake County 13 Lansing 0
J.P. Arencibia’s partner in infallible baseball skills Brett Lawrie went 0-3 in a rehab assignment in Lansing. The rest of the team didn’t do much either and with the natural rubbing off effect of Brett Lawrie being in town, took no responsibility for losing 13-0 to the overall last place team. Javier Avendano was hit around, so was Kramer Champlin. Tucker Donahue pitched OK. I attribute that to the “Scream” effect. Donahue was of course one of the “punted” picks last year. Of the seven guys picked as part of money savings last year, so far four are not playing professional baseball anymore. Who is going to be next? Donahue is probably pitching for his “life.”
Nothing really to report at the plate. Dalton Pompey and Dwight Smith Jr. both had hits and stole a base.
Vancouver 9 Hillsboro 2
Look at that. Just as I start dumping on punted picks Jordan Leyland goes 3-5 with three RBIs and a very pretty looking .372 batting average on the year. Vancouver won tonight thanks to Leyland and a case of the yips from the opposition third baseman who committed four throwing errors. Starter Eric Brown battled through five innings for the win and newly signed Chaz Frank was on base three times.
Elizabethton 5 Bluefield 6
Bluefield scored all six runs in the bottom of the eighth and then came back to shut down the visiting Twins affiliate in the top of the ninth for the come from behind win. Tom Robson wasn’t so good, allowing four earned runs in his four innings of work, but piggyback partner Jairo Labourt was much better striking out six in his three innings of work.
Tim LoCastro started the comeback in the eighth with a single. Two walks later to D.J. Davis and Derrick Loveless the bases were loaded. Up strode Dawel Lugo. He popped out. There were two out now as John Silviano had struck out to lead off the inning, but here came Mitch Nay—the franchise saviour at thirdbase…ahh, I mean a good looking hitting prospect. Nay singles in a run, and then another crosses on a wild pitch. Two runs in. Jorge Saez then singles in Nay and Loveless, four runs in. Pinch hitter Jonathan Davis then walks. There are two on now, two out, the go-ahead run is at first and up comes Matt Dean—the former franchise saviour at third base and now the Texas guy we gave a lot of money to and hasn’t played well and are converting to a first baseman. Dean doubles to center; both runners score and the Bluefield Blue Jays have the lead.
GCL Yankees2 2 GCL Blue Jays 4
Franklin Barreto continues to hit and kick the ball around. Barreto had a hit and two walks on the afternoon, but committed his seventh error in nine games. Barreto is very, very young and the reports on his defense out of Latin America when he signed were positive. I wouldn't fret too much about this. Canadian Nathan DeSouza homered today and starting pitcher Alejandro Solarte pitched well. Solarte was not a big bonus kid out of Venezuela, but he has performed admirably here early on in his career.
DSL Braves 8 DSL Jays 5
Richard Urena had two hits in a loss and 27 walks in 27 games Michael De La Cruz was on base twice. De La Cruz also threw out four would be thieves on the base paths.
Three Stars
3. Matt Dean
2. Andy Burns
1. Gabe Jacobo
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