Baby Jays Recap - Alek Manoah is on fire!

Wednesday night saw the Baby Jays end up 3-1 on the night, as the starting pitchers in all 4 games had solid results. All told, the starters provided 22.1 innings and allowed 2 earned runs, while also striking out 22. Having said that, all eyes were on Alek Manoah and his move to line up with Ross Stripling in the big league rotation.

Buffalo (10-4) - Beat Worcester 4-1

Wednesday saw Alek Manoah getting his 3rd start of 2021, and it was pretty just like the first 2 were. Although Manoah allowed his first earned run of the year, and gave up more hits in this one than his first 2 starts combined, the line looked solid at 6 innings, the 1 run, 4 hits allowed, 1 walk (first start of the year he didn’t hit a batter) and 12 strikeouts. The hits in this one were a little more firm, as he gave up a double and a HR this time out. Batters are hitting .119 off of Alek this year, while he has struck out 27 batters in 18 innings. Curtis Taylor, Kirby Snead & Hobie Harris all pitched a scoreless inning of relief.

On offense, the Herd was led by Juan Graterol who had 2 hits, including a 2-run HR in the 2nd to put Buffalo out to a lead. Graterol also took a walk in this one. Cullen Large had a double. Riley Adams had a good game with a single and 2 walks, driving in a run. Christian Colon singled and was hit by a pitch, but was also picked off and caught stealing. Dilson Herrera had a hit also. Forrest Wall and Tyler White both had rough nights, going 0-4 with 3 K’s each.

New Hampshire (5-9) - Lost to Portland 3-2

Kyle Johnston got the start in New Hampshire’s game and was able to work through 5.1 shutout innings. Johnston gave up 4 hits and 2 walks, while striking out 3. Johnston is getting results this year, with only 3 runs allowed in 13.1 innings, but he’s walked 6 and only struck out 5, while allowing a .314 opponents batting average. Brody Rodning had a tough night as he allowed 2 earned on 2 hits, 2 walks and a hit batter. Those were the first 2 earned runs allowed by Rodning in 10.1 innings this year. Andrew McInvale threw 2.1 innings of relief, allowing 2 hits, including a solo HR. McInvale recorded 4 strikeouts and 3 ground outs in his outing.

On offense it was a slow night for New Hampshire. As a club, the Cats had 6 hits and 2 walks. Kevin Vicuna picked up 2 of the hits, and added an RBI. Otto Lopez saw his 5-game multi-hit hitting streak come to an end, but he has now hit safely in 12 straight games as he added a double in this one. Chavez Young & LJ Talley each doubled. Chris Bec added a single and a walk, driving in a run. The Fisher Cats got little from the bottom third of the lineup as Samad Taylor, Nick Podkul and Reggie Pruitt combined to go 0-11 with 8 K’s. None of the Jays top 100 prospects in NH played last night, as Austin Martin, Jordan Groshans & Gabe Moreno were all out of the lineup.

Vancouver (10-4) - Beat Hillsboro 6-1

Troy Miller started for Vancouver and worked 5 innings of 1-run ball. Miller allowed only 2 hits, but walked 5 batters. Miller struck out 4 guys and was able to get his 2nd win of the year. Lazaro Estrada made his high-A debut and pitched 2 scoreless innings of relief, allowing a hit and a walk, striking out 2. Justin Maese pitched the final 2 innings, allowing a single and striking out 3 batters.

Offensively the C’s had 7 hits and 5 walks. Tanner Kirwer had a full night, going 1-3 with his 4th HR of the year. Kirwer had 2 walks, scored 2 runs and was caught stealing. DJ Neal had a solid game with a single and a double, but was also caught stealing. Spencer Horwitz continued swinging a strong bad as he had a double and 2 walks, but was caught stealing. Cameron Eden hit his 1st HR of the year, a 2-run shot in the 5th that helped break a 1-1 tie. Eden also walked and was the only C who was successful in stealing a base. Phil Clarke & Luis De Los Santos each had a double and scored a run in this one.

As you read, the C’s were 1-4 in stealing bases in this one. The catcher responsible for that was Nick Dalesandro, son of former Blue Jay Mark Dalesandro. Mark played parts of the 1998 & 1999 seasons with the Jays, hitting 2 of his 3 career HR’s in 1998. Nick is in his 3rd professional season, and he also picked up his 5th stolen base of the year last night in a 2-3 night, adding a walk.

Dunedin (4-10) - Beat Clearwater 5-1

Dunedin got arguably (not sure there’s an argument) their best start of the season from Jol Concepcion. Concepion went 6 scoreless innings, allowing 3 hits and a walk. Concepion picked up 3 strikeouts and 10 ground outs. The bullpen did allow a run over 3 innings, all the damage coming from 3 walks and a hit against Jiorgeny Casimiri, who struggled to find the plate in two-thirds of an inning.

At the plate, Dunedin was led by PK Morris. Morris had 2 hits, including a double and a walk, scoring a run and driving in a run. Leo Jimenez also had a single and a double. Addison Barger tripled in a run and scored a run of his own. Ryan Sloniger had a double, drove in a run on a ground out and scored once. Jhon Solarte had an RBI double. MacKenzie Mueller and Steward Berroa each walked twice and scored a run. Berroa added a stolen base and an outfield assist, but was also caught stealing.

Today’s Probables

Buffalo - Thomas Hatch makes his 2021 debut tonight at 6:35

New Hampshire - Maximo Castillo takes the ball for his 3rd start of the year, having recorded one good and one bad start. First pitch is 6:35

Vancouver - Starter is TBD. Game gets underway at 9:35

Dunedin - Starter is TBD. Game start is 7:00