Toronto’s affiliates played not one, but two, double-headers last night to give fans an eight-game menu to appease their palate. The teams split both twin billings and Toronto’s other four affiliates went 3-1 on the evening. The multitude of games means there were many outstanding performers yesterday, from Triple-A players hoping to make it back to the big leagues to high-round GCL prospects.

It's a pitcher's week, and Marc Rzepczynski set the tone for the evening with an overpowering performance in Auburn. Adam Lind replied nicely for the hitters in the second game of a rare Chief double-dip sweep. The farm affiliates went 6-2.

A walk-off homer, a big ninth-inning rally and two double digit runs totals were the highlights of a 5-1 day for the farm affiliates.

A 3-4 night in the minors.

The number 10 was a key theme in last night's action.  Among the highlights were a no-hit bid, an overtime thriller and a long losing streak finally coming to an end as the affiliates went 4-0 on the night.  Lansing and Auburn were washed out.

Three wins and two losses as New Hampshire score fifteen runs, not that Ricky Romero needed them.  Dunedin and Auburn each earned ninth inning wins.  Syracuse futility streak has reached ten games. 

The minor league season has just over two weeks to go, a little more for Auburn, a little less for the GCL Jays.  If the season ended today three Jays affiliates would be in the playoffs.  Dunedin and Auburn lead their divisions by 2 and 3 games respectively.  The Midwest league has the most generous allocation of playoff spots, eight in total, and Lansing are looking good to be one of them.   New Hampshire are two games out of a playoff berth.   Syracuse and the GCL Jays have no hope of a playoff spot. 

There were lots of close games on Saturday, Syracuse lost in the bottom of the ninth, New Hampshire lost in the bottom of the eleventh.  Dunedin won in ten and Lansing won in the ninth.  In the ninth inning of the Lansing game, with the scores tied, Dayton walked Travis Snider with a runner already on first moving the go-ahead run into scoring position.  That decision turned out to be a bad one.  The bottom two teams also won, Kevin Ahrens hit a three run home run in the GCL while Brett Cecil and Brad Mills pitched well for Auburn.

Toronto’s highest and lowest level affiliates lost, but the four teams in between all won Friday night. On a night of no jaw-dropping performances or outstanding pitching lines it was a mixture of solid and well-timed hits and strong relief pitching that were the main factors in many of the victories.

As the season winds down, we take our second last look at the hitters. The farm affiliates went 3-3 on Thursday.

The Dunedin Blue Jays, I mean. The farm affiliates went 3-1 last night.

Two more HRs for Travis Snider, making it 5 in 5 games.

A light night on the Monday minor league scene saw the affiliates go 3-1.  The only blemish was an overtime loss in New York State.

 

Saturday and Sunday updates are included in this MLU.  On Sunday the affiliates went 2-3, and on Saturday 2-5.   Josh Banks slipped back in his bid for a call-up, Brandon Magee also was hit hard.

Marc Rzepczynski was the standout on a 1-5 night in the minors.

It is a pitcher's week. The farm affiliates went 3-2.