The Jays affiliates won two and lost three on Wednesday.
Lehigh Valley 7 Buffalo 1
The Phillies affiliate got to Anthony Kay for six runs over 3-2/3 innings. The lefty allowed six hits, three walks and hit a batter while striking out two. Patrick Murphy stranded a runner and struck out three over 1-1/3 innings of shutout relief. Connor Overton and Trenton Thornton pitched a scoreless frame to sandwich an unearned run allowed by Bryan Baker in the seventh.
Otto Lopez picked up his first Triple-A hit by driving in the Herd's only run in the eighth. He also stole a pair of bases. Rodrigo Vigil singled, walked and scored the only run. Kevin Smith went 0-for-1 before being replaced at short by Richard Ureña in the bottom of the third inning. Smith bobbled a grounder off the bat directly in front of the second base bag in an attempt to start a 6-3 double play. He collided with the sliding runner but was still able to throw out Mickey Moniak at first. After watching the replay on MiLB.TV, I'm not sure how Smith was hurt. He walked off the field without any help.
Hartford 12 New Hampshire 1
The Rockies affiliate scored 11 runs over the first four innings to embarrass the Fisher Cats. Johnny Barbara was jolted for five runs on five hits, a walk and a plunk over two innings, striking out one. Like Barbara, Mike Ellenbest was also blasted for five runs and served up a homer in the third. Adrian Hernandez gave up a run in two innings in his Double-A debut. Emerson Jimenez allowed an unearned marker in 1-2/3 innings. Graham Spraker struck out three in 1-1/3 shutout frames and Brandon Eisert posted a goose egg in his first inning with New Hampshire.
Samad Taylor singled home the only Fisher Cats run and also had a double. Taylor is now hitting .313 with a .936 OPS. Vinny Capra, Demi Orimoloye and Reggie Pruitt also had a notch in the hit column.
Dunedin 5 Fort Myers 4 (Game 1 - 7 Innings)
Trent Palmer pitched five innings of two-hit ball, giving up just one run on two hits against the Twins affiliate. He retired the side in order in the first, second and fourth innings and struck out seven. Free-agent signee Justin Kelly gave up three runs in his first professional inning. 13th round pick Matthew Svanson earned the save in his pro debut by striking out one in the seventh.
Mac Mueller and Riley Tirotta—the Jays 12th rounder this year—had two hit games with Tirotta stealing a base. Dasan Brown singled, walked and stole his 10th base of the year. Steward Berroa was 1-for-4 with two RBI and stole a base. J.J. D'Orazio was 0-for-3 with an RBI groundout in his Dunedin debut.
Fort Myers 6 Dunedin 5 (Game 2 - 7 Innings)
Jackson Melean struck out nine but yielded two homers resulting in five runs on three hits and three walks over four innings. Harry Rutkowski—a free-agent signing from Rutgers—took the loss by giving up a run over two frames but struck out four in his first appearance as a pro.
Riley Tirotta added two more hits and stole a base. Steward Berroa and P.K. Morris reached base three times with a hit and two walks. Berroa stole two more bases to give him 34 on the year. Addison Barger belted his 12th homer of the year, a two-run shot.
Vancouver 3 Hillsboro 2
Adam Kloffenstein gave up a two-run home run in the first inning but settled down after that to pitch 5-2/3 innings of three-hit ball, walking three and striking out seven. He got six groundball outs but uncorked three wild pitches. Will McAffer got the win with 1-1/3 innings of shutout ball, giving up just one hit and striking out three. Hagen Danner and Cobi Johnson finished off the shutout relief with one inning apiece, getting a hold and a save respectively.
Tanner Morris had an RBI single to drive in Vancouver's first run before Davis Schneider dialled long distance to tie the game at 2-2 in the second inning. The winning run scored on a wild pitch. Philip Clarke had a double while Luis De Los Santos and Will Robertson singled. Orelvis Martinez was 0-for-4.
*** 3 Stars!!! ***
3. Adam Kloffenstein, Vancouver
2. Trent Palmer, Dunedin
1. Riley Tirotta, Dunedin
Lehigh Valley 7 Buffalo 1
The Phillies affiliate got to Anthony Kay for six runs over 3-2/3 innings. The lefty allowed six hits, three walks and hit a batter while striking out two. Patrick Murphy stranded a runner and struck out three over 1-1/3 innings of shutout relief. Connor Overton and Trenton Thornton pitched a scoreless frame to sandwich an unearned run allowed by Bryan Baker in the seventh.
Otto Lopez picked up his first Triple-A hit by driving in the Herd's only run in the eighth. He also stole a pair of bases. Rodrigo Vigil singled, walked and scored the only run. Kevin Smith went 0-for-1 before being replaced at short by Richard Ureña in the bottom of the third inning. Smith bobbled a grounder off the bat directly in front of the second base bag in an attempt to start a 6-3 double play. He collided with the sliding runner but was still able to throw out Mickey Moniak at first. After watching the replay on MiLB.TV, I'm not sure how Smith was hurt. He walked off the field without any help.
Hartford 12 New Hampshire 1
The Rockies affiliate scored 11 runs over the first four innings to embarrass the Fisher Cats. Johnny Barbara was jolted for five runs on five hits, a walk and a plunk over two innings, striking out one. Like Barbara, Mike Ellenbest was also blasted for five runs and served up a homer in the third. Adrian Hernandez gave up a run in two innings in his Double-A debut. Emerson Jimenez allowed an unearned marker in 1-2/3 innings. Graham Spraker struck out three in 1-1/3 shutout frames and Brandon Eisert posted a goose egg in his first inning with New Hampshire.
Samad Taylor singled home the only Fisher Cats run and also had a double. Taylor is now hitting .313 with a .936 OPS. Vinny Capra, Demi Orimoloye and Reggie Pruitt also had a notch in the hit column.
Dunedin 5 Fort Myers 4 (Game 1 - 7 Innings)
Trent Palmer pitched five innings of two-hit ball, giving up just one run on two hits against the Twins affiliate. He retired the side in order in the first, second and fourth innings and struck out seven. Free-agent signee Justin Kelly gave up three runs in his first professional inning. 13th round pick Matthew Svanson earned the save in his pro debut by striking out one in the seventh.
Mac Mueller and Riley Tirotta—the Jays 12th rounder this year—had two hit games with Tirotta stealing a base. Dasan Brown singled, walked and stole his 10th base of the year. Steward Berroa was 1-for-4 with two RBI and stole a base. J.J. D'Orazio was 0-for-3 with an RBI groundout in his Dunedin debut.
Fort Myers 6 Dunedin 5 (Game 2 - 7 Innings)
Jackson Melean struck out nine but yielded two homers resulting in five runs on three hits and three walks over four innings. Harry Rutkowski—a free-agent signing from Rutgers—took the loss by giving up a run over two frames but struck out four in his first appearance as a pro.
Riley Tirotta added two more hits and stole a base. Steward Berroa and P.K. Morris reached base three times with a hit and two walks. Berroa stole two more bases to give him 34 on the year. Addison Barger belted his 12th homer of the year, a two-run shot.
Vancouver 3 Hillsboro 2
Adam Kloffenstein gave up a two-run home run in the first inning but settled down after that to pitch 5-2/3 innings of three-hit ball, walking three and striking out seven. He got six groundball outs but uncorked three wild pitches. Will McAffer got the win with 1-1/3 innings of shutout ball, giving up just one hit and striking out three. Hagen Danner and Cobi Johnson finished off the shutout relief with one inning apiece, getting a hold and a save respectively.
Tanner Morris had an RBI single to drive in Vancouver's first run before Davis Schneider dialled long distance to tie the game at 2-2 in the second inning. The winning run scored on a wild pitch. Philip Clarke had a double while Luis De Los Santos and Will Robertson singled. Orelvis Martinez was 0-for-4.
*** 3 Stars!!! ***
3. Adam Kloffenstein, Vancouver
2. Trent Palmer, Dunedin
1. Riley Tirotta, Dunedin
