Our own Mike Green, a former member of the roster and minor league reporter, contributes this pinch-hit.  Parts 2 and 3 to follow.....

Seeing new places is the kind of mind-altering experience that the middle aged can tolerate with equanimity.  So it was that my companion and I headed out through Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania and upstate New York on a baseball trip.  First stop, Lansing, Michigan, for Saturday night and Sunday afternoon games.

 

Um, well, kind of. Two affiliates played in completely different Portlands, but got the same result: a win. A couple of rain-outs in Florida meant there were only four games last night.

Sorry for the delay.  Some technical difficulties (and work) kept this from posting this earlier.  By now you're well aware of Kyle Drabek's no-hitter.  So let's just get right to it.

Jays farm clubs went 3-3 on Saturday.  Notable was the 6 RBI performance by Fisher Cats Left Fielder Eric Thames.

It was a wild night on the farm.  Dunedin had two hits through eight innings but won the game in eleven innings with four hits total.  Mike McDade hit a game tying, two-out, two run home run in the ninth to tie the game and the winning run scored thanks to two wild pitches in the eleventh.  Lansing had a comfortable 9-2 lead, that became an uncomfortable 9-8 lead, before winning 11-9.  Las Vegas won behind anoother home run from JP Arencibia.

New Hampshire lost by a run and left the bases loaded in both the eighth and ninth.  Auburn lost with the eventual winning run for Batavia coming on a bases loaded hit batter.

It was a Canada Day performance in a similar vein to the big league club in the minosr, as the top 5 affiliates combined to go 1-4, scoring 6 runs between them. The DSL and GCL Jays combined for more than double that and both won. Go figure.

With the 51s resting, New Hampshire and the GCL Blue Jays provided the only offence on the evening. The Fisher Cats won by a run while the GCL Blue Jays posted the only victory. Meanwhile, Lansing, Dunedin and Auburn were each held to only four hits in their losses. However, there were a highly anticipated debuts from a rehabbing player and a highly publicized prospect, one of which certainly surpassed expectations.

A recently exiled Blue Jay had a big night at the plate and a Jays first round pick earned his first win in high-A ball.  Those are the highlights of a 3-3 night on the farm. 

Some technical problems prevented me from posting Sunday's minor league update.  Shame for you as I had a really clever headline ready to go.  In any event, to make up for it, here's Monday's action where it seems as though every Jay farmhand had two hits last night.

Our farm boys did not do us that proud on Saturday despite wins by the GCL Blue Jays and the Lugnuts.  Las Vegas and Auburn were low producers and New Hampshire was a no producer in runs.  To their credit, the Fisher Cats and the Doubledays have a share of the division lead in their respective league standings

It was a big night on the farm.  Tyler Pastornicky, Eric Thames and Zach Stewart got the stars but many other baby Jays had big nights.

Tyler Pastornicky had six RBI's with a home run and a bases loaded double to lead Dunedin to victory.  Eric Thames had four hits as New Hampshire won game one against their rival for the division lead.  Henderson Alvarez and Zach Stewart pitched well in those wins.  Lansing scored three runs in the eleventh to win.  The GCL Jays win was a team effort but Jake Marisnick hit his first professional home run. 

Auburn led going to the ninth but lost on two wild pitches.  Las Vegas were bombed but JP Arencibia had three hits including his 16th home run.

A 2-3 night on the farm, but both the winners came in the 11th inning.

On a night when the NHL Awards were handed in Las Vegas, the hometown 51s were part of an organizational-wide battle for the Batter’s Box nightly awards. Egan Smith pitched 6 innings and didn’t allow an earned run and it was only the third best start in the minor leagues, while Mike Crouse hit a pair of triples and was shut out, as well. As the affiliates won every game played except in the Gulf Coast League, read on to find out which performances are recognized as the three stars of the night (although will likely only receive cuttlefish instead of shiny trophies).

The Dunedin Blue Jays are the first-half champions of the Florida State League North Division.

Meanwhile, the American affiliates had a 3-3 day while two Lansing Lugnuts saw action in the Midwest League All-Star Game.

On Sunday night, the farm was utterly helpless, losing every game they played. Monday was a little better. Offense was the theme of the night, as the farm scored 26 runs. That may not sound hugely impressive, but only three games were played with one rain-out, one day off, and one all-star break.