The Blue Jays organization fell just one game short of their third organizational sweep on Tuesday.
Only three of the Blue Jays’ four teams were in action on Tuesday, as the Vancouver Canadians weren’t scheduled for some odd reason. The Buffalo Bisons lost 7-4 to fall to 8-7, while the New Hampshire Fisher Cats won 10-2 to move to 7-3, and the Dunedin Blue Jays won 10-5 to move to 8-2.
Let’s start from the top!
Buffalo fall to sixth in the Eastern Division
On Tuesday, the Bisons lost once again, which brought their record to 8-7. After such a promising start, this is a worrisome sign.
The hitting is still good, as they had nine hits on the day. Leo Jimenez hit the only extra-base hit and was one of two players with a multi-hit game, with Nathan Lukes being the other one. Moreover, Orelvis Martinez extended his hit streak to 10 games, while Spencer Horwitz, Addison Barger, Rafael Lantigua and Cam Eden all had singles. Damiano Palmegiani walked four times and scored twice, while Barger also walked twice.
Orelvis' hitting streak hits double digits!
10 games for Martinez 😤 pic.twitter.com/HIvP2UbcDQ
— Buffalo Bisons (@BuffaloBisons) April 16, 2024
Pitching let the team down though, as starter Andrew Bash finished with a line of 3.2 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 4 K with a home run given up. Mike Mayers was tagged with the loss, going 1.2 IP, 2 H, 4 ER, 3 BB, 1 K. Moreover, Hayden Juenger allowed a run and struck out three in his inning and two thirds of work, while Connor Cooke walked a batter and allowed a hit, but didn’t give up an earned run.
New Hampshire wins again
On Tuesday, Toronto’s Double-A affiliate defeated the Portland Sea Dogs 10-2 to move to 7-3. Like the Buffalo Bisons, the bats are gettin’ going and pitching has been strong for the Fisher Cats.
Devonte Brown hit the only home run for the Fisher Cats, his first of the season, but it was due to an injury. Rainer Nuñez, Gabriel Martinez, Alex De Jesus, and Alan Roden all hit doubles in the evening. That was Martinez’s fifth of the season and De Jesus’ first of the year.
We all know about Orelvis Martinez's start to his season, but Gabriel Martinez is also having a really good start as well.
.275/.310/.550 with two home runs. This double is already his fifth of the season in just 42 PA.
130 wRC+, great start in his redemption season. pic.twitter.com/DUPlDRAQzL
— Ryley Delaney (@Ryley_L_D) April 17, 2024
Martinez was one of three players with a multi-hit game, as both Roden and De Jesus also had multi-hit games, with the latter walking twice and driving in four runs. Other players with a hit were Josh Kasevich and Zach Britton. The two players without a hit, Michael Turconi and Garrett Spain walked five times between the two of them.
Abdiel Mendoza made his first Double-A start, finishing with a line of 4 IP, 1 H 0 ER, 0 BB, 5 K to bring his season ERA to 1. For a guy picked in the minor league portion of the Rule 5 draft, Mendoza has pitched very well since joining the Jays’ organization.
Abdiel Mendoza was selected in the minor league portion of the Rule 5 draft after the '21 season.
2022: 2.78 ERA, 4.44 FIP in 81 IP in A+
2023: 3.42 ERA, 4.16 FIP in 71 IP in A+/AA
2024: 1.00 ERA, 2.35 FIP in 9 IP in AAHe also has a 37.5 K% this year and hasn't walked a batter pic.twitter.com/4AjzvgqNHG
— Ryley Delaney (@Ryley_L_D) April 17, 2024
Other pitchers out of the pen were Alejandro Melean and Adrián Hernández. The latter pitched two innings, gave up a run, but struck out three to bring his season ERA to 1.59.
Dunedin is first in the Florida State League
With a 10-5 win over the Clearwater Threshers, the Dunedin Blue Jays moved to 8-2 for the season, first in the Florida State League West division.
The D-Jays made up for a lack of home runs in the upper minors, as three different players went deep for the Single-A team on Tuesday. Tucker Toman hit his second home run of the season, while Bryce Arnold and Cristian Feliz both hit their first home runs of the season.
Tucker’s second 𝐡𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐫 of the season!!💥@tuckertoman pic.twitter.com/X1m0DaiOxL
— Dunedin Blue Jays (@DunedinBlueJays) April 16, 2024
Side note on Feliz’s home run, according to Dunedin play-by-play commentator, Larry Larson, this ball had an exit velocity of 112 mph, the second-hardest hit ball in the FSL this season. For context, when I was doing Exit Vel’O’Clock, there were only a handful of balls hit over 110 mph in 2021 and 2022, mainly from Rainer Nuñez.
Revisiting this Feliz homer from last night:
The 112 MPH exit velo marks the second-hardest hit ball in the Florida State League so far this season. https://t.co/V5h0nK2glD
— Larry Larson (@MLBLarry) April 17, 2024
Anyway, Feliz and Arnold both had multi-hit games, as did Alexis Hernandez, who hit one of two doubles on the day. The other extra-base hit came from Manuel Beltre, who went 1-5 with two RBIs.
In fact, Riley Tirotta was the D-Jay player without a hit, but he walked three times. Arjun Nimmala, Yhoangel Aponte, and Edward Duran were the other players with a hit.
Canadian Connor O’Halloran made his second start of the season, finishing with a line of 5 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 2 K with a home run given up, moving his season ERA to 2.70. Irv Carter also made an appearance, finishing with a line of 2.2 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 3 K with two home runs given up, a problem early in his professional career.
Keiner Leon picked up the final four outs, striking out two batters.
As always, you can follow me on Twitter @Ryley_L_D.