The Toronto Blue Jays organization was just one win away from an organization sweep.
Four of the six affiliates played on Sunday, with the Florida Complex League Blue Jays and the Dominican Summer League Blue Jays both off. Of the four “A” affiliate teams, three of them won.
Let’s dig into the latest Minor League Report!
Buffalo salvages the series with a 6-4 win
It wasn’t a great series for the Buffalo Bisons, as they lost four of six games against the Lehigh Valley IronPigs. However, they won their second game on Sunday, defeating the Philadelphia Phillies affiliate 6-4 to bring their record to 32-31.
Sadly, there were no home runs for the Bisons on the day, but they had a whole lot of doubles. Max McDowell hit his second double of the season, while Riley Tirotta hit his third double in 44 plate appearances in Triple-A. Phil Clarke hit his first double in Triple-A, while Orelvis Martinez hit his 12th double of the season.
Perfect placement by Martinez 🤏 pic.twitter.com/e306lbIGLS
— Buffalo Bisons (@BuffaloBisons) June 9, 2024
Martinez and Clarke each had multi-hit games, as did Addison Barger who had two singles. Steward Berroa and Michael Turconi each had a single, while Tirotta, Will Robertson, and Cam Eden each had two walks. Berroa also walked once and stole his 27th base.
The base with the assist on this Barger RBI 🤭 pic.twitter.com/En2gWrU0B3
— Buffalo Bisons (@BuffaloBisons) June 9, 2024
The Bisons used a whole bunch of pitchers, which is surprising because starter Andrew Bash finished with a line of 5.1 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 4 K to bring his season ERA to 3.91. Hayden Juenger struck out a batter in his two thirds of an inning, while Mason Fluharty struck out the side in his inning of work.
Erik Swanson’s struggles with the long-ball continue, as he gave up another home run, as well as three earned runs in a third of an inning pitched. It’s really tough to see this. Mike Mayers gave up an earned run finishing that inning, while Connor Cooke pitched a clean inning.
New Hampshire was the only team that lost
The New Hampshire Fisher Cats are the only “A” affiliate team in the organization who isn’t at or above .500, as they fell 4-1 to the Erie SeaWolves to move to 26-31.
Their only run came off Andres Sosa’s second home run of the season. He also had a multi-hit game, as did Alex De Jesus who had two singles and two strikeouts. Miguel Hiraldo had the Fisher Cats’ only other extra-base hit, a double, while Devonte Brown hit a single.
Sosa SMASH 🤯 Cats strike first in Erie!
Mid 2 | NH 1, ERI 0#ScratchingtheSurface pic.twitter.com/OpENx6go9c
— New Hampshire Fisher Cats (@FisherCats) June 9, 2024
Trenton Wallace had his worst start in a while, finishing with a line of 4.1 IP, 3 H, 3 ER, 3 BB, 7 K with two home runs given up to bring his season ERA to 2.94. Abdiel Mendoza was the first Fisher Cat out of the bullpen, giving up an earned run and two walks in an inning and two thirds.
Here's one of seven strikeouts from Trenton Wallace on Sunday afternoon. pic.twitter.com/Y20WcMGITz
— Ryley Delaney (@Ryley_L_D) June 10, 2024
Jimmy Burnette continued to torch Double-A, striking out three batters, two to start the inning before loading the bases with three straight singles. Of course, he got Gage Workman to strike out swinging.
Jimmy Burnette had… an eventful outing. Struck out the first two batters, allowed three straight singles, before striking out Gage Workman to end the inning.
2.42 ERA and a 33 K% this season, may be time to move up to Triple-A soon. pic.twitter.com/ySK69Sflux
— Ryley Delaney (@Ryley_L_D) June 10, 2024
Eric Pardinho’s scoreless outing streak continued, as he struck out a batter and allowed a hit in his scoreless inning of work. Not really sure what more he needs to do to earn a promotion to Triple-A at this point, as this was his 15th straight appearance without giving up an earned run. His season ERA sits at 1.14.
Would you look at that, Eric Pardinho's streak of games without giving up an earned run hit 15 games yesterday.
Nasty movement on this pitch here, think it was a slider. pic.twitter.com/Xk5z5wS6wN
— Ryley Delaney (@Ryley_L_D) June 10, 2024
Vancouver hit three home runs en route to an 8-3 win
The Vancouver Canadians are starting to gain some traction, as they defeated the Everett AquaSox 8-3 to move back to .500 with a 26-26 record.
It was home runs galore for the Canadians, first off, Estiven Machado hit his first home run of the season, a three-run shot, to give the Canadians a 4-1 lead. Once a Top 30 Blue Jays prospect, High-A has been tough for 21-year-old shortstop.
Estiven Machado is a former Top 30 prospect who has had a rough start to his season.
However, he absolutely destroyed this baseball yesterday, his first homer of the season. pic.twitter.com/gkW7lRe7BW
— Ryley Delaney (@Ryley_L_D) June 10, 2024
Jamari Baylor hit his second home run in as many games, as well as his third home run of the season in the top of the sixth, giving the Canadians a 5-3 lead. In 43 plate appearances with the Canadians, Baylor is slashing .270/.372/.514 with three homers, not too shabby for the third-round pick in the 2019 draft.
Jamari Baylor was selected in the third round of the 2019 draft and recently signed with the Jays.
Well, this was his third home run of this series, and I gotta say, I'm intrigued. pic.twitter.com/XQSPJLxPHz
— Ryley Delaney (@Ryley_L_D) June 10, 2024
The last home run for the Canadians was also a first of the season, as Jommer Hernandez hit his first of the year to give Vancouver an 8-3 lead, not a super necessary homer from Jommer, but good to see him hit one. He also walks up to John Cena’s theme song, it’s awesome.
Jommer Hernandez walks up to John Cena's theme song at Nat Bailey Field.
Yes, he whipped out a "You Can't See Me" celebration in his home run trot.
Yes, it's awesome. pic.twitter.com/waGAUJr9t5
— Ryley Delaney (@Ryley_L_D) June 10, 2024
All three of those players had at least two hits, with Hernandez having three hits on the day. Jace Bohrofen hit a double and also had a multi-hit game, while Jackson Hornung hit a single.
Rafael Sánchez had a good start for the Canadians, finishing with a line of 4.2 IP, 8 H, ER, 2 BB, 10 K to bring his season ERA to 5.27. Easily his best start of the year. Grayson Thurman was the first out of the bullpen, pitching a scoreless inning and a third with a strikeout. Johnathan Lavallee struck out two in his two innings of work, and Brazilian Rafael Ohashi walked a batter in a scoreless inning.
One of 10 strikeouts from Rafael Sánchez yesterday.
He finished with a line of 4.2 IP, 8 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 10 K to bring his season ERA to 5.27. One of his best starts of the season. pic.twitter.com/NsEU0Zpnqt
— Ryley Delaney (@Ryley_L_D) June 10, 2024
Dunedin had two big innings to propel them to an 8-1 win
For the first time in a long time, the Dunedin Blue Jays are finally above .500, defeating the Palm Beach Cardinals 8-1 to move to 29-28. It’s a little bit too late though, as they are eight games out of the division lead.
Crisitan Feliz has some type of power, as he hit his 10th home run of the season on Sunday, alon, the second-most in the organization, trailing Orelvis Martinez. Victor Arias hit a double, but also had a four-hit performance. Feliz was the only other player with a multi-hit performance, but Damiano Palmegiani, Tucker Toman, Edward Duran, Daniel Pérez, Bryce Arnold, and Jean Joseph all hit a single. Alexis Hernandez was the only player without a hit, but he reached on a walk.
Gage Stanifer continues to pile up good starts, this time finishing with a line of 5 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 0 K to bring his season ERA to 3.86. The 2022 draftee is someone to monitor. Yondrei Rojas struck out the side in a clean inning, while Aaron Munson struck out three in two innings. Jordan Powell walked two batters in his inning of work.
As always, you can follow me on Twitter @Ryley_L_D.