Tonight marked the first time in over a month that Robert Osuna pitched for Lansing.  Marcus Stroman started on the mound today vs Erie, and performed well.

Kramer Champlin came within one out of a perfect game (7 inning variety). The Lansing twitter feed said the single that broke up the perfect game was a tough hop single past Emilio Guerrero, some thought it could have been scored an error. Lansing got the win to complete the doubleheader sweep. Ben White pitched a shutout in game one. Sean Nolin had nine strikeouts and the Fisher Cats had a three run, two run and a solo home run. Dunedin played three innings and got a win, Rajai Davis had a triple. Buffalo used fifteen hits to win.

Although Champlin wasn't perfect the affiliates were.

AJ Jimenez is back off the DL and recorded four hits. With Austin Bibens-Dirxk doing his part by fanning twelve, Dunedin won. New Hampshire also won a close game on two solo home runs and shutout pitching. Buffalo split a doubleheader with Ricky Romero pitching in the win. Lansing were beaten up.

Only two affiliates in action tonight as two affiliates suffered weather malfunctions. The DSL affiliate played today, but of course we don’t know what happens until a day later. It’s draft night so wild prediction; Richard Urena hit for the cycle and Dean Bell went 1-5, striking out his first four at-bats then hitting the game winning homerun in the bottom of the ninth. His dad was proud. In the real world Deck McGuire had a somewhat typical start for our AA affiliate—cruising through five innings before the wheels came off in the sixth. In fairness he was up to a hundred pitches by that point. The Fisher Cats lost 7-2. The other team playing tonight probably wished they too had been weathered out. Lansing fell to the visiting San Diego affiliate. They committed four errors in this one and if not for a light-hearted comeback attempt in the eighth, there wouldn’t be much here to take home.

Tonight the farm went 0-5, highlighted by another strong performance from Andy Burns.  Chad Jenkins had his first career AAA start, and Dustin McGowan pitched in back-to-back games for the first time in nearly 7 years.

The lowlights were a pair of one-run losses and a shutout. The highlight was a come-from-behind victory.

A 4-0 record by the affiliates is a good way to start the week as the Dominican Summer League Blue Jays begin another season.

This afternoon the farm went 1-3, with the only win coming from Buffalo.  Dustin McGowan continued to struggle, and further-delay his arrival to Toronto.  As well, Dunedin faced a former starting pitcher with mlb success, trying to make it back to the majors.

Ricky Romero had something to take comfort from in his start for Buffalo. He pitched six innings and his last four were good. Many people wonder what's wrong with Ricky? I remember seeing Romero pitch in AA back in 2008. That was when Romero was being looked at as a bust, his ERA in AA was hovering around 5. Romero's WHIP in AA, over parts of four seasons was 1.56. Romero made 52 starts in AA, that is a full two seasons worth. Everyone was wondering why was Romero a bust? I was sitting beside a Blue Jay scout at the game and he said to me, after one inning, "he has the tools, lets see how he uses them". Romero has good pitches, he pitches well when he has some idea of where the pitches are going. Something clicked for Romero in 2009 and he turned from a bust to a full-time starter. If it happened in 2009 I think it can happen again. I do think it is mainly mental and I also think that Ricky needs to have some success, then build on that to restore his confidence and slow down his mind.

Buffalo lost their game when Chad Beck gave up a walk-off home run in the ninth. New Hampshire were well beaten. Dunedin's game was suspended in the second inning. Lansing took a big early lead and held on, barely, for the win.

Deck McGuire pitched five hitless innings on Friday. He also pitched a sixth inning in which he gave up five runs on six hits. That was the second inning, he recovered to go four more. Adam Loewen hit a grand slam as New Hampshire won. Buffalo also won behind Dave Bush. Lansing had to get the 16 year opposing starter out of the game before they could take the lead and hold on for the win. The only losers were the D Jays who led by two runs in the ninth. Andy Burns and Kevin Pillar combined to go 0-9.

A rehabbing Josh Johnson was touched for six earned runs on eight hits in four and two thirds innings. Not really a surprise given he was poor before he got hurt. Dustin McGowan turned in a solid two innings. Buffalo fell to Crash Davis’ old team. New Hampshire won in Portland as first round flameout Kevin Ahrens went four for four. Starter Marcus Walden went six allowing a single run on four hits. Dunedin joined New Hampshire in the win column beating the Tiger High-A affiliate. Jesse Hernandez was solid in this one, going six innings and allowing just the one run. Lansing lost to the San Diego Padres affiliate. The affiliates were 2-2.

Tongiht the farm went 1-3, highlighted by strong performances from Ryan Goins, KC Hobson, and Daniel Norris.  While 2012 first round pick Marcus Stroman, had a start to forget.

A rough night for three of the affiliates as their opponents scored the winning runs in their last at-bats but there was an extra-innings win to prevent the sweep.

The affiliates split a pair of slugfest at the upper levels and came out on the wrong end of a one-run game Monday night.

Today, the farm went 1-3, with the only win being in Buffalo.  Today was highlighted by another strong pitching performance from Casey Lawrence.