A New League—a Toronto Blue Jays Franchise

[JoeyKirby]

[JoeyKirby]

The Toronto Blue Jays lose two of three to the Washington Nationals (formerly Montreal Expos) in their interleague series. Toronto managed to salvage the series sweep today as they won big 8-1 as the bats finally came to play on the last day of the series after the only put up one run in each of the first two games. Toronto still holds a four and a half game lead in the AL East, meanwhile the Nationals currently sit seven and a half games back in the NL East and are in the basement of their division.

Rubby De La Rosa (6-3, 4.26) started for the Bluebirds today and lead his team to victory as he surrendered just one run on eight hits, three walks and three strikeouts in seven frames. Aaron Crow pitched a third of an inning after him and had a scoreless appearance, he was followed by Jake McGee who pitched the remaining two thirds of the eighth without any damage against. Jeremy Jeffress came on in the ninth and put the Nats bats to bed as he struckout two in a scoreless appearance out of the 'pen.

Toronto was lead on offense by their slugger Giancarlo Stanton who went three for five with two round trippers and five runs batted in on the day. Lorenzo Cain continues to tear the cover off the ball as he went two for three with a double and a triple. Struggling catcher Devin Mesoraco also had a good game in this one as he went two for four with a pair of runs batted in.

Toronto will host the Philadelphia Phillies at home next for a weekend series to continue interleague play. Toronto's probably starters are Zach Britton, Danny Duffy, and staff ace Stephen Strasburg will pitch in the series finale.

[JoeyKirby]

[JoeyKirby]

The Blue Jays win their first series after dropping the past two to the Nationals and Atlanta Braves as they beat the Phillies today in comeback fashion by a final score of 7-5 in the decisive rubber match in the series. Toronto still holds a four game lead on the Tampa Bay Rays in the AL East and the Phillies hold a two and a half game lead in the NL East.

Stephen Strasburg started today for the Bluebirds and surrendered three runs (two earned) on seven hits in seven innings of work, he struck out five Phillies batters. Tim Collins would be next in line to pitch, he went one third of an inning and allowed a solo homer, he struck out the lone batter that he got out. Aaron Crow would be credited with the win but he wasn't all that great in relief either as he went two thirds of an inning and allowed one run on two hits whilst ringing up one. Aroldis Chapman shut it down for the Blue Jays in the ninth as he provided them with a scoreless frame.

Giancarlo Stanton once again had another big day for the Jays in this one as he hit the round tripper in the Blue Jays four run eighth inning to give them the lead, he went four for four with a walk on top of the three run blast. Josh Thole went two for three with a walk and a double, Dee Gordon had the other double in the game as he went two for four.

Toronto will head to Milwaukee next for a three game set against the Brewcrew. The probables for those games for the good guys are Madison Bumgarner (6-3, 2.98), Rubby De La Rosa (6-3, 4.27), and Zach Britton (9-2, 3.03).

[JoeyKirby]

[JoeyKirby]

The Blue Jays take the series today in an interleague three game set against the Milwaukee Brewers today as they squeak by with a 3-0 vicotry. Toronto won the previous game by a score of 3-2 and lost the opener 6-5. Toronto still holds a commanding four and a half game lead in the AL East meanwhile the Brewers are four and a half games back in the NL Central.

Left-handed starting pitcher Zach Britton (10-2, 2.80) started today for the Blue Jays in the rubber match and puzzled the Brewers lineup for seven innings as he surrendered just four hits, no walks, no runs and ten strikeouts. Aaron Crow was first in line out of the bullpen and pitched a scoreless frame in which he earned his eleventh hold on the year. Aroldis Chapman pitched a scoreless ninth inning en route to his nineteenth save on the year.

Eduardo Nunez had another good game today against a left-handed starter as he went one for two with a homerun, a walk and he also nabbed a base in the victory. Brett Lawrie had a one for five day at the plate, his lone hit went for extra bases (a double), Dayan Viciedo had the other extra base hit in the game when he also hit a double while he was pinch hitting for pitcher Aaron Crow.

Toronto will have their final interleague series of the year when they head down to the Sunshine State to play the Miami Marlins in a three game weekend set. Toronto's probables are Danny Duffy (4-5, 5.83), Stephen Strasburg (6-3, 3.41) and Madison Bumgarner (6-3, 3.18).

[JoeyKirby]

[JoeyKirby]

We are currently nearing the end of June in the baseball season, and in a few weeks time it'll be the halfway point of the year for both the big league squads and their affiliates. It has been well documented in Blue Jays land that the teams Double-A affiliate the New Hampshire Fisher Cats have gotten off to a blistering start out of the gate, the team currently has a record of 58-17, good for first in the Eastern League's Eastern division and they currently hold a fourteen game lead there. Though obviously this teams lineup is very deep and their success can't be all pinned on one man, the guy that is the spark plug to this lineup is one that you would simply not expect.

In steps 22 year-old Fisher Cats infielder Alexi Amarista, a 5'8" 150lb native of Venezuela. Amarista's small and slender frame doesn't exactly inspire you to think that this young man has the pop in his bat to lead/carry an offense for an extended period of time, though through the better part of two months this season, that is exactly what Alexi has managed to do.

Amarista, known to his teammates as "Little Ninja" or "Mighty Mouse" was signed as an amateur free agent by the Los Angeles Angels in 2007 out of his home country of Venezuela. Amarista showed promise as he quickly rose through the ranks of the Angels system before making it to the big leagues last year for a cup of coffee. The Little Ninja didn't exactly have a great start to the big leagues as triple slashed .154/.182/.250 in 23 games with the Halos.

Alexi was then plucked up by Blue Jays general manager Alex Anthopoulos in this years past draft, assigned to New Hampshire and all he has done is performed well as the Fisher Cats table setter on offense batting in the leadoff spot. Thus far this season Amarista is hitting .360/.400/.583 with 8 homers and 42 runs batted in through 61 games and is also leading Double-A in many offensive categories. Mighty Mouse has been no slouch in the field either as he has made just three errors and his .988 fielding percentage is good for fifth highest on the team. Amarista also possesses plus speed on the basepaths but he has yet to hone the craft of stealing bases as he's just 5 for 7 in steal attempts this year.

Though Dee Gordon will likely hold down the keystone position for Toronto for a long time, Amarista is just a good reminder of the great depth that Alex Anthopoulos has built for this organization after last winter's draft.