The affiliates won five out of eight Tuesday night. The three losses were at the upper levels of the system but three of the wins included double digits in the run column. The most promising developments were at the Gulf Coast level as a few players from the 2014 draft crop made their presence felt. Dunedin was rained out and will play a doubleheader this morning.

The affiliates were 5-0 in the USA with one rainout. The boys in the Dominican tried to keep a perfect day going but they lost in extras. Lansing and Vancouver had the night off.

Second inning, and the Jays are already into the Angels' bullpen! When did that last happen?

The Batter's Box Minor League Player & Pitcher of the Month honours for June go to Franklin Barreto and Daniel Norris.

Franklin Barreto received two first-place selections and one third-place vote in June for 11 points - sneaking by the trio of Adron Chambers, K.C. Hobson and Matt Newman by a single point. Daniel Norris earned three first-place votes and one second-place selection to give him 18 points - five ahead of fellow lefty Matt Boyd.

The affiliates were 3-4 on Sunday, with wins coming from Bluefield, Dunedin, and New Hampshire.  Andy Burns and Kevin Nolan each had great games for New Hampshire.  Kendall Graveman pitched 7 scoreless for Dunedin helping them to victory.

Several high profile starters were on the mound on Saturday. Aaron Sanchez pitched well in his six innings and Buffalo rallied for the win. Matt Boyd is back in AA and he was excellent, nine K's in six innings. Jesus Tinoco had his best start of the season but got no support. Miguel Castro pitched very well to lead Vancouver to the win. Grayson Huffman made his first start as the GCL Jays won. Dunedin won and Lansing lost.

Steve Delabar coughed up a three run home run in the bottom of the ninth to turn a two run lead for the Bisons into a loss. New Hampshire were hurricaned out. Dunedin won with Dwight Smith notching four hits. The Lansing game was scoreless until the fourteenth, Great Lakes scored but the Lugnuts came back for the walk-off win. Anthony Alford had four hits. Vancouver lost big. Matt Smoral ran hot and cold but the Bluefield hitters only had two hits. The GCL Jays were well beaten as Patrick Murphy made his first professional start.

While our neighbours celebrate the fourth of July, today's POTD looks back at the Canada Day match-up between the Vancouver Canadians and Salem-Keizer Volcanoes at Nat Bailey Stadium Tuesday afternoon.

Tim Locastro singled, stole second base, rounded third and scored the first run of the game on a Franklin Barreto single.

Dunedin brought their bats and Buffalo did not. Miguel Burgos turned in a nice outing in Bluefield while the Mississippi boys set the table in Lansing. Someone needs to convince Anthony Alford that baseball is good—football is bad.

The Toronto Blue Jays open up a four game series in Oakland. This is the beginning of a 10-game road trip that will swing through Anaheim and Tampa Bay.

R.A. Dickey gets the call for tonight's game at O.co Coliseum.

This edition of the POTD focuses on Wednesday's game between Vancouver and Salem-Keizer, an affiliate of the San Francisco Giants, at Nat Bailey Stadium Wednesday night.

Canadians third baseman Ryan Metzler gets under a pop fly from Volcanoes leadoff hitter Tyler Hollick in the first inning. Franklin Barreto backs up the play from short.

The affiliates were 5-3 today, with wins coming for Buffalo in a double header, New Hampshire, Lansing, and the DSL Jays. 

I spoke with Doug Davis, the Jays minor league field coordinator, over the weekend. Davis was in Vancouver visiting with the Canadians. As with my interview with Dane Johnson last week I had to take notes during the call and replicate them here as my recorder has gone missing.

A pretty good day on the farm and an especially good one for the lone Canadian affiliate. It all added up to five wins in eight tries.


Canadian Andrew Case got to pitch for Vancouver on Canada Day at Nat Bailey Stadium.

It's a one'o'clock start, people! Stat holiday!