July 6th Blue Jays Minor Leagues Recap: Robbins and Gallagher shine in starts. Lantigua triple double trouble

Buffalo- The Bisons exploded for 19 runs on 20 hits. Buffalo scored 3 runs in the 1st and 2nd inning. They scored 2 runs in 3rd, 4th, and 7th before erupting for 7 runs in the 9th inning. Buffalo collected 4 doubles and 3 home runs. Wes Parsons improved to 2-2, allowing 2 runs on 5 hits over 6 innings with 8K. Jimmy Burnette allowed a run in the 7th. Trent Thornton and Paul Fry pitched a scoreless 8th and 9th.

New Hampshire- LHP Jimmy Robbins made his first start since June 30th, pitching 7 shutout innings. Robbins looked better in June, finishing the month with 3.38ERA and 23 strikeouts in 24 innings while walking 15. This should allow him to build more momentum. Mason Fluharty finished the game with 1.2 scoreless. Miguel Hiraldo hit his 5th home run in the 2nd inning, 1-0. Will Robertson double in a pair in the 3rd, 3-0. Trevor Schwecke completed the scoring with an RBI double in the 7th.

Vancouver- Another win for the C’s. That was another good offensive display by a club that is on a roll. Vancouver scored 10 runs on 11 hits. The Canadians were led by leadoff man Alan Roden (2-for-5 with 3RBI) and Devonte Brown (4-for-4 with 5RBI). The club hit two doubles and two home runs. Rafael Sanchez allowed all 7 of the Hops runs, pitching into the 4th. Sam Ryan entered the game in the 4th, stranding both inherited runners. Ryan no-hit the Hops over the next 3.2 innings. Matt Svanson (1.2IP) and Justin Kelly (0.1IP) followed Sam Ryan’s lead with 2 more no-hit innings.

Dunedin- Tampa held the D-Jays to 2 runs on 4 hits. The Tarpons were held scoreless through 7 innings by Pat Gallagher. Gallagher no-hit the Tarpons over 6.1 with 3BB and 8K. Leam Mendez entered the game in the 7th with a runner on. He stranded that inherited runner and returned in the 8th. Unfortunately, he struggled, allowing 4 runs on 2 hits and a walk, allowing a 2-run home run. Grayson Thurman finished the game (1.1IP), allowing an inherited run to score (charged to Leam).

Triple-A

Buffalo Bisons (39-45)

Won 19 to 3

HR- Rafael Lantigua (5), LJ Talley (4), Luis De Los Santos (5)

Starter- Wes Parsons 6.0IP, 5H, 2R, 1B, 8K

W- Parsons (2-2, 4.07ERA)

Double-A

New Hampshire Fisher Cats (38-40)

Won 4 to 0

HR- Miguel Hiraldo (5)

Starter- Jimmy Robbins 7.1IP, 2H, 0R, 1BB, 7K

W- Robbins (4-6, 4.39ERA)

Advanced-A

Vancouver Canadians (47-31)

Won 10 to 7

HR- Alan Roden (4) and Devonte Brown (6)

Starter Rafael Sanchez 3.1IP, 8H, 7R, 2BB, 5K, and 1HRA

W- Sam Ryan (1-0, 2.78ERA)

H- Matt Svanson (2)

SV- Justin Kelly (2)

A-Ball

Dunedin Blue Jays (38-41)

Loss 4 to 2

HR- none

Starter- Pat Gallagher 6.1IP, 0H, 0R, 3BB, 8K

L- Leam Mendez (1-1, 3.52ERA)/BSV1

FCL Blue Jays (8-16)

Loss 8 to 7

HR- none

Starter Perez 4.0IP, 5H, 3R, 2BB, 5K

L- Vasquez (0-1, 11.12ERA)/BSV1

DSL Blue Jays (8-14)

Loss 9 to 8

HR- Aneudi Escanio (2) and Daniel Perez (2)

Starter Flores 3.0IP, 4H, 4R, 4BB, 4K

L- Guerra (1-1, 1.59ERA)

BSV- Gomez (1)

Top Performers

• Buffalo- Davis Schneider (1-for-3, 2R, 2RBI, 3BB, K), Addison Barger (1-for-4, R, 2RBI, 2BB, K), Jordan Luplow (2-for-6, 2R, RBI), Rob Brantly (2-for-4, R, RBI), Luis De Los Santos (2-for-4, 3R, 5RBI, BB, HR), LJ Talley (3-for-6, R, 3RBI, K, 2B, HR), Cam Eden (4-for-6, 2R, 2K), Tanner Morris (1-for-4, 2R, RBI, 2BB, K)
• New Hampshire- Trevor Schwecke (2-for-5, R, RBI, 2B), Will Robertson (2-for-4, 2RBI, K, 2B), Miguel Hiraldo (2-for-4, R, RBI, HR, CS, K), Mason Fluahrty (1.2IP, 2H, 0R, 0BB, 2K)
• Vancouver- Alan Roden (2-for-5, R, 3RBI, 2B), Kekia Rios (2-for-4, 2R, 2B, BB, 2K), Garrett Spain (1-for-4, 2R, RBI, BB), Devonte Brown (4-for-4, 2R, 5RBI, 2B, HR)
• Dunedin- Tucker Toman (2-for-3, RBI, 2-2B, K)
• FCL- Munoz (2-for-5, 2R, 3RBI, 2-2B, 2K), Vasquez (2-for-4, RBI), Fernandez (2-for-4, R)
• DSL- Perez (1-for-4, R, HR, 3RBI, BB, K), Tejada (2-for-3, R, RBI, 2BB, K, 2B)

Player Spotlight

Today we turn our attention to  Rafael Lantigua.

The 25-year-old utility player batted leadoff and played short for the Buffalo Bisons on Friday. He doubled and scored in the 1st inning. He jumped on a 1-0 pitch in the 2nd inning with two runners on for a 3-run jack. Leading off the 5th inning, Rafael doubled but did not score. In the 7th inning, Lantigua walked and scored on an Addison Barger 2-run single. In Buffalo’s 7-run 9th inning, Rafael Lantigua doubled and scored and grounded into an inning-ending double play.

He finished 4-for-6 with 4 runs scored, 3 runs batted in, a walk, a strikeout, a home run, and three doubles. Lantigua had been scuffling a little of late, going 2-for-34 between June 20th and July 5th watching his BA dip from .298 to .263 during this stretch. He struggled in June, slashing just .200/.326/.238 with 3 doubles.

For the season (71GP), Rafael Lantigua is  slashing .277/.415/.430 with 22 doubles and 5HR while stealing 14 bases, driving in 37 runs, and scoring 50 runs. He’s walked 37 times and struck out 58 times while playing 3rd (24GP), SS (21GP), LF (8GP), RF (7GP), and 2nd (4GP).

Transactions

Movement- CF Nathan Lukes to Toronto. RHP Thomas Hatch was sent to Buffalo. RHP Alek Manoah to Toronto. RHP Jay Jackson to Toronto.

Inactive List- Yosver Zulueta (Buffalo)

Released- LHP Brahiam Jimenez (FCL)