Jays Notebook: Canadian prospect Romano’s five-no hit innings for Lansing all for naught
Canadian right-hander Jordan Romano was part of a baseball rarity during the major-league all-star break.
On Thursday, Romano, a 14th-round pick of the Blue Jays in 2014, pitched five no-hit innings against Peoria to lower his ERA at Class-A Lansing to 1.09.
However, the Lugnuts lost 1-0 in a combined six-inning no-hitter in the first game of a doubleheader.
After allowing just a walk and a hit batter through the first five innings, Romano, 23, of Markham, walked the leadoff man in the sixth and was replaced by right-hander Josh DeGraaf, a 31st-round pick in 2015.
DeGraaf made an error on a sacrifice bunt, the Lansing infield then booted a grounder to load the bases. Peoria scored on a sacrifice fly then shut the Lugnuts down in the seventh. ALL-STARS: The four active players representing the Blue Jays at the all-star game had a busy night with mixed results. Right-hander Marco Estrada was in the American League dugout but was not available to pitch because of a sore back.
In the fourth, much to the delight of Red Sox fans who believe in symbolism, Edwin Encarnacion replaced David Ortiz, pinch-running at first.
It offered up one of the game’s memorable moments, as Big Papi hugged his teammates on the field during a standing ovation.
Josh Donaldson entered defensively for Manny Machado in the sixth and flied to left off of Jon Lester. Michael Saunders got his chance in the eighth, replacing Yankees’ Carlos Beltran in right and later popping up to third base against Fernando Rodney of the Marlins. BUSY A’S: Prior to Friday’s game, the Athletics purchased the contract of corner infielder Ryon Healy from Triple-A Nashville and optioned outfielder Billy Burns to their top farm team. The A’s designated reliever Ryan Tepesch for assignment to create room on the 40-man roster.
Healy, 24, was drafted by the A’s in the third round of the 2013 amateur draft out of the University of Oregon. He started the season at Double-A Midland and in 374 minor-league plate appearances has hammered 14 homers with a .326 average and a .940 OPS. NICE BREAK: During the all-star break, while five of their teammates participated in festivities in San Diego, four Blue Jays documented on social media their lively mini-vacation in Cabo San Lucas.
Second baseman Devon Travis, pitchers Marcus Stroman, infielder Ryan Goins and shortstop Troy Tulowitzki left on a private jet for a few days of rest and relaxation before rejoining the team in Oakland. Instagram pics show the group fishing for marlin and playing golf, with Stroman chipping in after apparently taking a drop from the ocean.