Another day, some more wins for the Blue Jays’ affiliates.
On Thursday evening, four teams were in action, with three teams winning their games. One of Toronto’s top prospects hit another home run, while both lower-minor teams had a nice bounceback.
Let’s dig in!
On Friday, the Buffalo Bisons defeated the Columbus Clippers 8-7, winning their second straight game. This brings their record to 10-7, good enough for third in the International League East.
For the second consecutive game, Orelvis Martinez hit a go-ahead home run in the final inning of the game. The 22-year-old is in the midst of a 12-game hit streak, and has at least one hit in 14 of the 15 games he has played in. I’ve seen enough, call him up.
Orelvis Martinez (@BlueJays) comes through in the clutch again!
MLB's No. 81 prospect hits a go-ahead 9th-inning homer to help lead the @BuffaloBisons to a win. pic.twitter.com/w3KB0ZwqZL
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) April 19, 2024
Steward Berroa hit a game-tying home run in the top of the ninth, as both his and Martinez’s home runs came off former Blue Jay Anthony Gose, who is now a pitcher, fun fact. Payton Henry was a late replacement in this game, and he hit his second home run of the season.
THE BOYS AREN'T GOING AWAY QUIETLY!
STEWY HOME RUN TO TIE IT! pic.twitter.com/AY6u2vBFni
— Buffalo Bisons (@BuffaloBisons) April 19, 2024
On top of the home runs, all three of those guys had multi-hit games, with Martinez and Henry also hitting doubles, and Berroa a single. Damiano Palmegiani was the only other player with an extra-base hit and a multi-hit game. He’s turned his season around in recent times.
Other players with a hit were Spencer Horwitz, Rafael Lantigua, Luis De Los Santos, and Cam Eden. Horwitz is now batting .351 on the season. I’d say that’s not sustainable, but he’s hit everywhere he’s played.
Paolo Espino started the game, finishing with a line of 4.2 IP, 7 H, 4 ER, 6 BB, 3 K, bringing his Triple-A ERA to 3.38. Paxton Schultz ate some innings as well, finishing with a line of 2.1 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 3 BB, 2 K, while Andrew Bechtold was tagged with a blown save and the win, going 1 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 1 K.
Hayden Juenger picked up the save, pitching a clean inning with no strikeouts.
On Thursday, the New Hampshire Fisher Cats were shutout 3-0, losing their second consecutive game to the Portland Sea Dogs.
They were able to scrounge just four hits, as Alan Roden, Alex De Jesus, Zach Britton, and Miguel Hiradlo all had singles. Gabriel Martinez, Britton, and Glenn Santiago also walked, while Roden was hit by a pitch.
Michael Dominguez had a great start, finishing with a line of 5 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 3 BB, 9 K, much better than his prior start. Gabriel Pone was tagged with the loss, as he finished with a line of 1.1 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2 K. Former Top 100 prospect Eric Pardinho also pitched in this game, giving up two earned runs, four hits, with a walk and a strikeout.
The Toronto Blue Jays were the first major league team that was no-hit this season. Evidently, there’s something with Canadian baseball teams, as the Vancouver Canadians were the first minor league team that was no hit on Wednesday evening. Thankfully, they won the second game of the series 7-2 and had 13 hits.
There was only one home run from a Canadian, as Brennan Orf hit his first professional home run to give the Canadians a 5-2 lead at the time. Jace Bohrofen was the only other player with an extra-base hit, as he hit a double and two singles.
Brennan Orf belts 1st pro home run in Vancouver Canadians 7-2 win over Eugene on Thursday. #VanCanadians #MontysMounties #BlueJays #LosAzulejos #TOTHECORE pic.twitter.com/RMyYftPuFc
— CsPlusBaseball.ca ⚾ (@csplusbaseball) April 19, 2024
Bohrofen wasn’t the only player with a multi-hit game though, as Dasan Brown hit four singles, and Jackson Hornung hit two singles. Moreover, Ryan McCarty, Jeffrey Wehler, and Jaden Rudd also had a single, with McCarty walking twice.
Kevin Miranda started the game, finishing with a line of 3.2 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 3 K, while Alex Amalfi finished with a line of 2 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 3 BB, 2 K. Anders Tolhurst picked up the win, striking out two batters, while allowing a hit and a walk in his 1.1 innings pitched. Justin Kelly and Rafael Ohashi pitched clean innings, with the latter striking out a batter.
A back-and-forth game eventually ended in a Dunedin Blue Jays win, as they defeated the Clearwater Threshers 5-4.
The D-Jays only had five hits, with the rehabbing Riley Tirotta picking up the only multi-hit game and the only extra-base hit, a double. Moreover, he walked twice, meaning he reached base every plate appearance.
Riley Tirotta drives in the first run of the game with a single here. pic.twitter.com/FhyA9BkGZX
— Ryley Delaney (@Ryley_L_D) April 18, 2024
Yhoangel Aponte, Manuel Beltre, and Edward Duran all finished with a single, while Aponte, Duran, and Tucker Toman all walked once.
Pitching has been Dunedin’s strong suit this season, and that didn’t change on Thursday. Grant Rogers started the game, finishing with a line of 5.1 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 4 K. The fastball maxed out at 92.6 mph and averaged 91.7 mph, while he generated five swings and misses on 15 total swings from the fastball. The slider also generated a pretty nasty swing and miss.
Grant Rogers with a nasty 83.1 mph slider for his second strikeout of the game. pic.twitter.com/MGeN0uNd7Q
— Ryley Delaney (@Ryley_L_D) April 18, 2024
Kai Peterson finished with a line of 1.1 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 3 K , while fellow 2023 draftee Aaron Munson finished with a line of 2 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2 K. Keiner Leon picked up the save, pitching a third of an inning with a walk.
me on Twitter @Ryley_L_D.
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