Blue Jays Minor League Recap: Buffalo Is the Only Game in Town, and They Gave Us a Mixed Bag Of Entertainment

[Brian Labude]

Blue Jays Affiliate Overview (September 16-18)

Triple-A Buffalo Bisons
Series vs Rochester Red Wings (Washington Nationals): 2-2
Season Record: 68-77

Double-A New Hampshire Fisher Cats: Season Complete

High-A Vancouver Canadians: Season Complete

Single-A Dunedin Blue Jays: Season Complete

FCL Blue Jays: Season Complete

DSL Blue Jays Blue: Season Complete

DSL Blue Jays Red: Season Complete

Triple-A Buffalo Bisons

• Season Record: 68-77
• Series vs Rochester (Washington Nationals)

September 16: Buffalo sent Josh Stephan to the mound to take on Rochester Wednesday evening. Stephan had a perfect 1-2-3 inning in the first, getting a flyout, lineout, and strikeout. Hopes were high that he would have a strong start after a string of rough ones. The second inning was nearly a repeat of the first, two flyouts and another strikeout in a three-up, three-down frame. The third inning was another stellar one, as Stephan induced two groundouts and registered his third strikeout of the game, completing the first three innings perfectly. The quest for perfection would end in the fourth, as would any hopes of a stellar game. Stephan opened up the frame by hitting a batter, then gave up three singles and a walk leading to two runs. A third run would score and tie the game up at three on an RBI groundout. Buffalo had taken the early lead thanks to a two-RBI single by Peyton Williams and an RBI single by Josh Kasevich. In the bottom of the fourth, Rhylan Thomas singled home Shawn Ross to give the Bisons the lead again, but back-to-back home runs to open up the fifth and an RBI single gave the lead to Rochester for good. Stephan ended up throwing 4.2 innings and coughing up six runs on the day. The Buffalo bats stayed quiet the rest of the game, as their bullpen surrendered more runs. The Bisons lost in a runaway game, 12-4.

September 17: The Thursday matchup between Buffalo and Rochester was a pitcher's duel. Richard Gallardo was on the mound for Buffalo and threw a quality start. He went six innings, allowed seven hits, gave up three runs, and struck out three. Daniel Guerra came on next and starred over 1.2 innings with his elite fastball. He gave up two doubles, but struck out three, and his command was better, not walking anyone. His cutter was still a bit wild at times. He definitely showed improvement from his last appearance. Lazaro Estrada finished things off with 1.1 innings, giving up one hit and no runs. Unfortunately for Buffalo, the bats weren't as good. Lenyn Sosa drove in the lone run on a double-play groundout. Jay Harry, Josh Kasevich, and Rhylan Thomas had two hits apiece. Buffalo lost this one 3-1. 

September 18: Buffalo's offense had a monumental task ahead of them on Friday evening: They had to solve the massive Jarlin Susana problem that faced them on the opposing mound. Susana throws gas like very few in all of baseball can. He routinely tops 100 mph and can run it up even higher on the radar gun; it's what has propelled him to being one of the top pitching prospects in baseball. On Friday night, however, Buffalo worked him over from the start of the game. In the first inning, Daz Cameron walked, Jay Harry singled, and Josh Kasevich walked to load the bases up. They couldn't cash in any of the base runners though, as Susana got RJ Schreck to fly out to end the threat. In the second inning, Nick Goodwin doubled to lead off the inning, unfortunately for Buffalo, Susana quickly squashed that threat with a groundout and two strikeouts. Buffalo opened up the third inning with Rhylan Thomas walking and Daz Cameron singling on a ground ball up the middle. Harry then ripped a line drive to left field for a two-RBI double. After Susana was removed in the inning, Peyton Williams roped a 112.5 mph double to right field that scored two more. Buffalo would add more runs in the eighth on back-to-back home runs by Schreck and Goodwin, then an RBI single from Cameron. The game was never really in question after the big Buffalo third inning, as CJ Van Eyk threw a gem, seven innings, giving up just two hits, one run, and striking out two. The Bisons rolled to a 7-1 win. 

Double-A New Hampshire

• Season Record: 59-74

Season Completed

High-A Vancouver 

• Season Record: 64-66

Season Completed

Single-A Dunedin

• Season Record: 62-66

Season Completed

FCL Blue Jays

• Season Record: 38-20

Season Completed

DSL Blue Jays Blue

• Season Record: 20-35

Season Completed

DSL Blue Jays Red

• Season Record: 33-18
• Playoffs: 2-1

Season Completed

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