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I hope that everyone had a good Mother’s Day yesterday. The sun popped out for a bit here in Southern Ontario and that always helps when you are stuck in lock down. As for the Jays organization, all four affiliates were in action 3 times over the weekend, finishing their final games in their first series of the 2021 season. As noted, all the clubs have off-days Monday.
Buffalo (1-2 on the weekend & 4-2 overall)
Buffalo suffered their first loss and losing streak of 2021 before breaking it on Sunday
Friday - 8-6 Loss
Saturday - 4-2 Loss
Sunday - 4-1 Win
Friday’s starter was Jacob Waguespack who had a rough go, despite missing a lot of bats. His final line was 4 innings, 5 earned runs allowed on 10 hits and 1 walk, while striking out 9. Dany Jimenez followed and also had a rough go, allowing 3 runs on 3 hits and a walk. 2 of the hits were HR’s, which accounted for all 3 runs. The bullpen did continue striking out guys, as they ended up with 18 K’s on the night.
Offensively, Riley Adams had a big game with 2 solo HR’s. Forrest Wall & Kevin Smith had 2 hits, including a double. Tyler White had a double and a walk. All 9 starters had at last 1 strikeout, as the Bisons struck out 15 times on the night.
TJ Zeuch took the loss in Saturday’s game, allowing 3 runs on 6 hits and a walk over 4 innings. The runs came in the 4th when Worcester was able to string a few hits together, and then back-to-back triples. Taylor Saucedo was good out of the bullpen, going 3 shutout innings, allowing a hit, a hit batter and striking out 4.
At the dish, Tyler White had the big game, going 2-2 with 2 walks. White had a double, and Dilson Herrera had a double, as the Bisons were only able to manage 6 hits and 7 walks. Cullen Large had 2 singles, while Christian Colon & Richard Urena both walked twice.
In Sunday’s finale, Connor Overton made his first start in the Jays organization, throwing 4 innings of shutout ball. Overton allowed only 1 hit and 1 hit batter, while he struck out 6. The bullpen was solid as 4 pitchers combined for 5 innings of 1-run ball on 3 hits and 3 walks. Jeremy Beasley, Jackson Rees, Jackson McClelland & Kirby Snead did the job in this one.
On offense, Josh Palacios, Cullen Large & Juan Graterol each had 2 hits. Palacios was also hit by a pitch and left the game. Christian Colon had a walk and a hit in this one, adding 2 stolen bases (though he was caught once as well). Breyvic Valera drove in 3 of the 4 runs on the day, as Buffalo was able to win despite a 2-15 mark with runners in scoring position.
New Hampshire (0-3 for the weekend, 1-5 on the season)
New Hampshire had a rough opening week as they have now lost 5 straight after an opening day win
Friday - Loss 9-4
Saturday - Loss 5-1
Sunday - Loss 12-6
Friday night saw New Hampshire fall behind Kyle Johnston who was hit around a bit. Johnston went 3 innings, allowing 3 earned on 8 hits and a walk. He did not record a strike out either. Fitz Stadler did have a rough outing as well, allowed 6 runs (5 earned) in 1 inning, on 2 hits, 3 walks and a hit batter. That included giving up a grand slam as well. James Dykstra did make his organization debut, after a 3 year absence from minor league ball. He went 2 shut out innings, giving up a hit and striking out 3.
At the plate, Gabriel Moreno continued his strong started, adding 2 hits, including his 3rd double of the year. Kevin Vicuna also had 2 hits and scored 2 runs. Demi Orimoloye had 2 hits as well. Austin Martin had a triple and a walk. Both Chavez Young & Moreno were caught stealing in this one. Defensively, Otto Lopez was in LF and he threw out two runners at the plate.
On Saturday, Maximo Castillo started and gave up 5 runs (3 earned) in 3 innings. Castillo gave up 7 hits and a walk, striking out 2. Jordan Groshans, Samad Taylor & Austin Martin all made errors which didn’t help, as all 3 played infield in this one. Mike Ellenbest, Brody Rodning & Curtis Taylor combined for 5 shutout innings from the bullpen. They gave up 2 hits and walk, while striking out 8.
The Cats didn’t do a lot at the plate, as they combined for 7 hits, 2 hit batters and 11 strikeouts. Chavez Young had a single and a double. Vinny Capra doubled in a run.
Sunday’s finale had Zach Logue starting and fading as he tired. Logue gave up 5 runs in 4.2 innings. Logue allowed 4 hits, a walk and a hit batter. The downside was 2 of the hits left the park. The Cats were able to come back and save Logue from taking the loss though Emerson Jimenez and Connor Law took the worst of it in the 8th inning as neither could find the strike zone. Jimenez recorded 2 outs, but walked 4, which was followed by Law giving up a hit and 4 walks without recording an out. Infielder Vinny Capra came in to get the last out of the 8th.
At the plate, the Cats had a better game, getting 8 hits and walking 5 times, but were unable to overcome the 8th inning. Demi Orimoloye & Otto Lopez each had 2 hits and a walk. Both had a double and a stolen base in this one. Chavez Young had a 3-run double. Jordan Groshans had a double to go with 3 K’s. Kevin Vicuna had a walk and a single, to go with 2 stolen bases.
Vancouver (2-1 for the weekend; 3-3 for the season)
Vancouver had the best weekend for the Baby Jays, evening their record at 3 & 3.
Friday - Loss 10-6
Saturday - Win 4-2
Sunday - Win 7-2
Friday night saw CJ Van Eyk getting his first start, and it didn’t go well. Van Eyke allowed 4 earned runs on 3 hits and 2 walks in just 0.2 innings. Van Eyk mixed in 2 wild pitches as well and had 2 stolen bases against him. Even with the rough start, Will McAffer took the loss, as he followed with 2.1 innings of relief where he allowed 3 runs on 3 hits and 3 walks.
Offensively it was a weird game as Vancouver picked up 7 hits, walked 10 times, but also struck out 19 times. Spencer Horwitz had a 3-run double, while Rafael Lantigua had 3 hits on the day. Horwitz added 2 walks, as did Phil Clarke, Cameron Eden & Ryan Gold.
Troy Watson started on Saturday and was strong. Watson went 3 innings, allowing a single and 2 walks, while striking out 3. Watson was followed by Nick Fraze who went 4 innings, allowing a single & striking out 2. Overall, Vancouver allowed 2 unearned runs on 3 hits and 4 walks, though only had 6 strike outs.
Vancouver was able to score their 4 runs on only 4 hits and 7 walks. Cameron Eden & Ryan Gold each had 2 hits in the game. Eden added a walk, stole 2 bases and scored twice. Gold double and drove in 3 runs. Phil Clarke added 2 walks and scored a run as well.
Sunday saw the second start of the year for Adam Kloffenstein. This time out he went 3 shutout innings, allowing a single and 2 walks, while striking out 5. His day was done at 66 pitches. Newly acquired Paxton Schultz made his debut, allowing 2 earned on 3 hits and 2 walks in 4 innings. Schultz also struck out 6. Justin Maese continued his return with 2 shutout innings, allowing 2 hits, walking 1 and striking out 4.
On offense Vancouver had 12 hits and 7 walks on Sunday. Tanner Morris had 3 singles. Ryan Gold had a double, a triple and a walk. Rafael Lantigua had 2 more hits, including a double. Tanner Kirwer had a hit and 2 walks. Will Robertson picked up a triple and a walk, scoring two runs.
Dunedin (1-2 on the weekend; 1-5 for 2021)
Dunedin picked up their first win of 2021 on Mother’s Day after getting hit all over the place in the first 5 games
Friday - Loss 25-10
Saturday - Loss 12-11
Sunday - Win 4-1
Friday night was a battle, as the two teams combined for 33 hits & 18 walks while putting up 35 runs. Unfortunately for Dunedin, Tampa had 18 of those hits and 11 of the walks. Jol Concepcion started and gave up 7 earned on 8 hits and 2 walks in 3 innings. The group of relievers after him didn’t have much more success as Tampa put up 4 in the 6th, 6 in the 7th and 5 more in the 8th. Brandon Eisert was the only pitcher who had some success, going 2.1 innings with 1 hit allowed and 4 strike outs.
At the dish, both Miguel Hiraldo and Eric Rivera had 4 hits for Dunedin. Hiraldo had 2 doubles and drove in 2. Rivera added a walk to his 4 singles. Every D-Jay reached base at least once with 8 of the 9 scoring runs also. Harry Ray (sounds much stranger than Harrison) and PK Morris each had 3 K’s for the game. Zach Britton hit his 1st professional HR in the 4th inning.
Saturday afternoon saw more of the same, as the teams combined for 21 hits and 18 walks, but only 23 runs this time. Dunedin was undone by 2 rough innings, where Winder Garcia gave up 5 in the 3rd inning and then Sem Robberse and Jiorgeny Casimiri gave up 7 in the 5th (only 3 were earned after an Addison Barger error).
At the plate, Dunedin put up crooked numbers in 4 innings, but they weren’t enough. PK Morris had a big day with 2 HR’s and 2 walks. He scored 3 runs and drove in 6. Zach Britton had 3 hits and a walk, including a double. The 2-6 hitters (Miguel Hiraldo, Orelvis Martinez, Britton, MacKenzie Mueller & Morris) combined to go 8 for 21 with 11 runs scored. They added 8 walks on the day.
Sunday brought a better day on the mound, which led to Dunedin’s first win. Rafael Ohashi made his debut, throwing 3 no-hit innings, while striking out 4. Ohashi is an 18 year-old from Brazil. Overall the D-Jays allowed only 5 hits a 2 walks, while striking out 16. Throughout the 6 game series, the pitching struggled in general, but Trevor Hauver was the big bat for Tampa as he went 10-18 in the series, with 6 HR’s.
On offense, Dunedin had 5 hits, 4 walks and 4 hit batters, which was enough to break the losing streak to start the year. Addison Barger had his 2nd HR of the year, while Ryan Sloniger had his first. Sloniger also walked and scored twice in this one.
Next Up - Starting Tuesday
Buffalo welcomes Rochester to Trenton
New Hampshire shifts home to take on Somerset in their home debut
Vancouver moves to their home away from home and welcome Spokane
Dunedin is at home and will take on Bradenton