Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports

Aaron Sanchez tagged for six earned runs in season debut with Triple-A Bisons

Originally posted on Bluejaysnation | By Cam Lewis | Last updated 5/11/24

After inking a minor-league contract earlier this week , Aaron Sanchez made his season debut with the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons on Friday.

Facing the Worcester Red Sox, the 31-year-old right-hander allowed six earned runs on five hits and three walks over four innings of work and didn’t strike out a batter. According to Keegan Matheson of MLB.com, Sanchez saw his fastball clock in at an average of 90.2 miles per hour and generated one whiff on 66 pitches.

Sanchez had a three up, three down first inning but ran into trouble in the second. He allowed the first seven batters of the inning to reach on a combination of walks and singles and ultimately surrendered five runs in the frame. After allowing a solo home run to Niko Kavadas in the third, Sanchez tossed a clean fourth inning to finish off his start.

Highlights from our FIVE RUN 2nd inning! ️ pic.twitter.com/mldiLyL6J7

— Worcester Red Sox (@WooSox) May 10, 2024

The Red Sox led the Bisons by a score of 6-0 after that home run but Buffalo’s bats popped off for 12 runs between the third and eighth innings and their bullpen shut Worcester down. Brandon Eisert, Hayden Jeunger, and Hagan Danner combined to allow just one run over five innings of work behind Sanchez. Spencer Horwitz drove in two runs, Leo Jimenez drove in three, and Cam Eden put Buffalo ahead with a grand slam. The Bisons wound up with a 12-7 victory and are now 22-15 on the season.

Another one of Buffalo’s new arms will start for the team on Saturday. Beau Sulser inked a minor-league contract last weekend when Alek Manoah was called up to the Blue Jays and the Bisons needed an arm. Like Sanchez, Sulser was making his first appearance of the season for the Bisons, and he allowed five earned runs over three-and-one-third innings of work.

Given the uncertainty surrounding Manoah’s status as a big-league starter and injuries to Yariel Rodriguez, Bowden Francis, and Ricky Tiedemann, the Blue Jays have had to scramble to add organizational pitching depth. Sanchez and Sulser were acquired primarily to fill Buffalo’s rotation, but there’s certainly a chance that either of them could pitch some innings for the Blue Jays. The organization has four dependable starting pitchers and a lot of question marks after that.

This article first appeared on Bluejaysnation and was syndicated with permission.

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