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April 23, 2017 Toronto Blue Jays Minor League Update

The Buffalo Bisons (11-4) opened up a three-game lead on their three closest rivals in the International League North division and hold the best record in the league after defeating the Columbus Clippers 5-4. The ball was flying out of Coca-Cola Field in Buffalo on Sunday afternoon as the two teams combined for six home runs including four from The Herd. Mike Ohlman went deep twice, going 3/4 with three RBI and a walk while Jason Leblebijian also had three hits including a solo home run in the second inning and a stolen base. Dwight Smith, Jr. also hit a home run, a solo shot, and was 2/4 with a walk and a stolen base. Christian Lopes was 2/4 with a run and a stolen base.

Brett Oberholtzer held the Clippers to three runs over seven innings, giving up six hits and a walk with four strikeouts. Wil Browning blew the save but picked up the win, giving up a solo home run in 1 1/3 innings while Murphy Smith earned his second save, finishing the game with two strikeouts and a walk.

W: Wil Browning (3-0)

S: Murphy Smith (1)

HR: Mike Ohlman 2 (4), Jason Leblebijian (4), Dwight Smith (3)

Sean Reid-Foley got his first win in Double-A and Anthony Alford continued his torrid hitting as the New Hampshire Fisher Cats (7-9) soundly trounced the Hartford Yard Goats. Reid-Foley was much stronger in this outing, using 77 pitches to throw five innings and hold the Yard Goats to one run on three hits and three walks with five strikeouts. Alonzo Gonzalez gave up a solo home run but struck out three in 1 2/3 innings and Blake McFarland kept his ERA at 0.00 in his second outing, tossing 1 1/3 innings, walking one and striking out a pair. Jose Fernandez finished the game, walking three in his inning of work but not allowing a hit or run.

Alford had a monster game, going 2/4 with a home run, three RBI and a stolen base. Tim Lopes was 1/2 but walked twice, drove in a run, scored three times and stole a base. Roemon Fields also stole a pair of bases, going 0/2 with a walk.

W: Sean Reid-Foley (1-1)

HR: Anthony Alford (2)

The Dunedin Blue Jays (9-9) made Florida Auto Exchange Stadium their launching pad, going one better than their big brothers in Buffalo and hitting five home runs on the way to a 7-1 victory over the Fort Myers Miracle. Danny Jansen was only 1/4 but hit his first home run of the year, as did Juan Kelly who was 1/3 with a walk and two runs scored. Lane Thomas was 2/4 with his second home run of the year and two RBI while Andrew Guillotte also hit his second, going 1/3 with a walk, two runs and an outfield assist. Max Pentecost hit his third of the year, going 2/4 with two RBI. Deiferson Barreto was also 2/4, hitting a double.

J.P. Howell made his second rehab appearance for the D-Jays, striking out the side in a perfect first inning. Jordan Romano came on to throw 4 1/3 innings of scoreless ball, allowing three hits and two walks and striking out six for the win. Connor Eller went 1 2/3 innings of hitless ball while Josh DeGraaf allowed the Miracle’s only run in his inning. Andrew Case finished the game with a scoreless ninth, allowing one hit.

W: Jordan Romano (1-0)

HR: Max Pentecost (3), Andrew Guillotte (2), Danny Jansen (1), Lane Thomas (2), Juan Kelly (1)

The Sluggin’ Lugs reappeared as the Lansing Lugnuts (9-8) scored 11 more runs on the way to an 11-2 victory over the Bowling Green Hot Rods. Four different Lugnuts had two hits each including Vladimir Guerrero, who was 2/3 with a double, two walks, two RBI and two runs. Bradley Jones went deep again for his sixth home run of the year (tying him for the league lead), going 2/4 with a walk and three RBI. Ryan Hissey also hit a home run, going 2/4 with three RBI, a walk, and two runs while Nash Knight was 2/4 with a walk and a run. Bo Bichette also contributed, going 1/5 with a double and two RBI while Jake Thomas was 1/1 with three walks and an outfield assist.

Justin Maese was on the hill and had his best outing of the year, going 5 1/3 innings with just one unearned run allowed on five hits and a walk with three strikeouts and a seven-to-three groundout-to-flyout ratio. Chris Hall made his Lansing debut, giving up a run on three hits and three walks in two innings with two strikeouts. Philip Walby threw 2/3 of an inning, giving up a hit and striking out one while Zach Jackson walked one but kept the Hot Rods off the scoreboard, striking out one in a scoreless ninth.

W: Justin Maese (2-2)

HR: Bradley Jones (6), Ryan Hissey (2)

Jay Blue is the founder of Blue Jays from Away, where you can get the most comprehensive coverage of the Blue Jays’ minor league system.

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