AA
New Hampshire 7 Somerset 2
The Fisher Cats were bolstered by Otto Lopez’ four-hit night, and five strong innings from starter Maximo Castillo in downing the Yankees’ affiliate.
Southpaw reliever Brody Rodning ran his scoreless streak to 9 IP over four appearances with three frames of one hit relief. Gabriel Moreno had a pair of hits, his fifth multi-hit game of the young season.
AAA
Buffalo 5 Rochester 2
Jacob Waguespack pitched into the 7th, and Christian Colón hit his 3rd round tripper of the season as the Bisons/Thunder improved to 7-3.
The Bisons had celebrated Colón’s 32nd birthday earlier in the game with a video tribute from his family on the CF scoreboard, which gave the 1st baseman and his teammates a huge lift. Waguespack turned the game over to the bullpen in the 7th; Kirby Snead came in to retire the side. Danny Jimenez got into a bases-loaded jam in the 8th but came out unscathed. Bryan Baker pitched a scoreless 9th for the Save.
High A
Vancouver 8 Spokane 2
Nick Fraze tossed six splendid innings in his first High A start, and Sherwood Park, AB’s Tanner Kirwer hit a grand slam to lead the C’s to their third straight win.
Fraze allowed only a pair of earned runs on 4 hits for Vancouver. He struck out a half dozen and didn’t walk a batter. Kirwer’s blast, his third of the season, came in the 8th to seal the Vancouver W. Phil Clarke and Tanner Morris added a pair of hits each to the ‘s attack. Parker Caracci and Hagen Danner combined for three innings of shutout relief to preserve the victory.
Low A
Bradenton 8 Dunedin 4
The young D-Jays took one on the chin from the Pirates’ affiliate.
Dunedin starter Winder Garcia gave up three runs (all earned) over 4 innings and was tagged with the L. Miguel Hiraldo has had a nice homestand, rapping out a pair of hits. Then there was Orelvis Martinez’ 2nd homer of the season:
Some Blue Jays organization transaction news over the past few days:
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Manoah or Pearson?
It was asked earlier this week after Manoah’s most recent dominant performance if the mountain man, he of the size 17 cleats, has passed Big Nate on the prospects list.
Given Manoah’s start and Pearson’s struggles, that’s a good question.
There is an intensity, and maybe even some athleticism, to Manoah that you don’t see to the same extent in Pearson. Manoah has handled the spotlight that he’s been under extremely well. With GM Ross Atkins in the stand his last start, Manoah was the model of composure, with only a brief wobble in the 4th.
Manoah also appears to have greater command of his pitches than Pearson does – at least this year. His fastball/slider combination has utterly humbled AAA hitters.
You have to feel for Pearson just the same as we learned a shoulder impingement will force him to miss his next start with Buffalo. The Blue Jays are desperate for starting pitching, but it did seem a little odd that he was summoned to the big club after only one AAA start, especially given how carefully he’s been handled through his pro career.
Pearson was likely summoned on the basis of the observations of the Buffalo coaching staff, high performance group, and scouting department. That he didn’t require a corresponding 40 man move may have also been part of the reason he was elevated. But it’s entirely reasonable to expect that one more dominant outing from Manoah will see him on his way to Tor – sorry, Dunedin.
And then there’s Simeon Woods Richardson, who would likely take Manoah’s place in the Buffalo rotation……
