Baby Jays Recap - Nick Frasso debuts and LJ Talley hit two HR’s

It was another positive night for the Baby Jays on Thursday, as they were able to pick up 3 wins in 4 games. LJ Talley & Samad Taylor had big games with the bat, but the real positive was the 2021 debut of Thomas Hatch, a strong start from CJ Van Eyk and the professional debut of Nick Frasso

Buffalo (10-5) - Loss 4-1 to Worcester

Buffalo picked up the lone loss for the Baby Jays on Thursday night, as they lost 4-1 against Worcester. Aside from it being a Red Sox affiliate, the big piece for Buffalo (and the Jays as a whole) was Thomas Hatch’s 2021 debut. Hatch pitched decently, going 3 innings on 43 pitches. Hatch gave up 3 hits, including a solo HR, while striking out 4 and hitting a batter. Final line showed 2 runs allowed, 1 of which was unearned. Jacob Waguespack followed with 4 innings of relief, allowing 2 earned on 3 hits. Carl Edwards Jr. finished things up with a scoreless inning. The Herd staff did not allow a walk, but struck out 10.

On offense, Buffalo only picked up 5 hits and 5 walks for the game. Kevin Smith had the best night at the plate, with a solo HR, his 3rd, a double and a walk. Logan Warmoth also had a solid night going 2-3 with a double and adding a walk. Christian Colon had the fifth hit for Buffalo. Riley Adams, Dilson Herrera & Nash Knight each walked once.

New Hampshire (6-9) - Win 12-2 over Portland

Thursday night was the LJ Talley show for New Hampshire, as Talley picked up 2 HR’s and 6 RBI. The big shot was a grand slam in an 8-run 3rd inning that erased an early deficit and put the Cats on cruise control. Samad Taylor was also a machine in this one, as he went 4-4 with his 2nd HR of the season. Taylor added 3 runs, stole a base and drove in 3. Austin Martin went 1-4 with a run scored and an RBI sac fly in his return. Otto Lopez was able to extend his hitting streak with a single. Demi Orimoloye & Rodrigo Vigil added singles, while Orimoloye stole 2 bases. Vinny Capra finished with an 0-1 line, but walked 3 times, stole a base and scored 2 runs.

Maximo Castillo started for NH and was shaky to start, giving up a single and a 2-run HR to the first 2 batters of the game, but then settled in. Castillo ended up going 5 innings, allowing the 2 earned runs on 4 hits, 2 walks and striking out 4. Fitz Stadler, Jon Harris and James Dykstra shut down Portland the rest of the way to secure the win.

Vancouver (11-4) - Win 2-1 over Hillsboro

Vancouver found itself in a pitchers duel Thursday night, but were able to score 1 in the top of the 9th inning to pick up a 2-1 win. CJ Van Eyk started and had the best start of his short professional career, going 6 innings, allowing 1 run on 2 hits and a walk. Van Eyk struck out 9 batters while throwing 55 of his 79 pitches for strikes. Brandon Eisert had 2 scoreless innings of relief, while Parker Caracci pitched the 9th for his 2nd save of the year, allowing a single.

At the plate, Vancouver was only able to manage 2 hits, but showed great patience with 11 walks. The two runs came on a Spencer Horwitz ground out in the 4th and a bases loaded walk by Rafael Lantigua in the top of 9. Cameron Eden had a single and scored a run. Luis De Los Santos added a single. Tanner Kirwer walked 3 times in the game, and picked up a stolen base, but was also picked off 1st base. Spencer Horwitz walked twice, but also was caught stealing. Davis Schneider & Lantigua both walked twice. Schneider was also caught stealing. Sebastien Espino had a pinch hit walk in the 9th, while DJ Neal also walked.

Dunedin (5-10) - Win 6-2 versus Clearwater

On the heels of Jol Concepcion’s strong start on Wednesday, Dunedin got another strong pitching performance on Thursday. The exciting news was the professional debut of 2020 draftee Nick Frasso, who started this one. Frasso ended up going 2 no-hit innings, allowing a walk and striking out 2. Alejandro Melean scatted 4 hits over 3 shutout innings of relief, striking out 4. Juan De Paula followed with 3 more shutout innings, allowing 2 hits and getting 5 K’s. Roither Hernandez pitched the 9th and gave up 2 runs (1 earned) on 2 hits and a hit batter.

At the Plate the D-Jays had 12 hits and 4 walks in the game. Miguel Hiraldo went 3-5 with 3 singles and an RBI. Hiraldo was also caught stealing and had an error in the field. Orelvis Martinez & Justin Ammons each had a single, a double, scored a run and drove in one. Zach Britton had 2 singles and 2 walks, scoring a run and adding an RBI. Luis Rivas had 2 singles and an RBI. PK Morris had a single and a walk and scored a run.

Today’s Probables

Buffalo - Nate Pearson takes the ball tonight at 6:35

New Hampshire - Zach Logue is on the mound. First pitch is 6:35

Vancouver - The starter is TBD for the late game, underway at 9:35. My guess is Nick Fraze starts

Dunedin - Winder Garcia starts in this one, game starts at 6:30