Reid-Foley makes best start for Fisher Cats

Sean Reid-Foley's goal was to make Saturday's game "fun for everybody," including the contingent of family members he had watching him from the stands. 
And it was enjoyable for most, except for the opposing hitters. 
The second-ranked Blue Jays prospect allowed five hits and struck out eight over six innings as Double-A New Hampshire rolled to an 11-0 victory over Hartford at Dunkin' Donuts Park.

Gameday box score
His maternal grandmother, traveling from Massachusetts, met up with his mom, dad and sister at the stadium after their trip from Florida. They watched a brilliant night by Reid-Foley (3-3).
"It's always a pleasure and it's always good having them there," he said. "Obviously, [my parents and sister] are not close, so it's very special and it's always fun to see them in the stands and enjoying it. I was just doing everything for them." 

The right-hander, who admittedly has battled inconsistencies in his first season at the Double-A level, has thrived against the Yard Goats. He's defeated them in all three meetings, posting a 1.13 ERA over 16 innings. 
"I just stayed getting ahead and establishing the zone, make them get on the attack," Reid-Foley said. "It's hard, no matter who you're facing, if you don't put them in attack mode to get guys out. With deep counts, you get less far in the game. I want to get them on the attack and pitch my game. 
"You can never expect guys to just take the first pitch, especially with Hartford. They like to swing at the first pitch a lot. Some of their guys like to work it. You also have to know who the hitter is." 
Reid-Foley set the tone by striking out the side on 16 pitches in the opening inning. He maintained that poise throughout and threw 59 of 85 pitches for strikes. According to the 21-year-old, his family gave him some extra motivation early. 
"Honestly, I was so excited that my mom, dad and sister were there because they rarely get to see me pitch," he said. "I think I was just more amped up that they were there and I was just trying to show off for them or something. It went really well and after that it was just, 'All right, I have to take it one pitch at a time, get ahead, make quality pitches.'"
After retiting six of the first seven batters, Reid-Foley encountered trouble in the third after Juan Ciriaco and Anthony Phillips started the inning with singles. But the 2014 second-round pick retired the next three, two on strikeouts.
"I just execute each pitch and take it pitch by pitch," he said. "Honestly, that's what I was keeping in my mind. Sometimes it works out, like tonight it worked out, but you can't really look too far ahead in the future at that point. You just have to make pitches." 
Even with a nine-run cushion, Reid-Foley continued to attack and put away nine of the final 11 batters he faced. Drew Weeks posed one last threat with a two-out double in the sixth, but MLB.com's No. 56 overall prospect got Correlle Prime to bounce out to first to end the inning. 
"I was just happy because we got out of the jam and didn't want Weeks to score," Reid-Foley said. "And [No. 21 Blue Jays prospect] Danny Jansen, he called the right pitches at the right time. Fortunately, I was able to execute them and he was happy with me. I was thrilled because that was six good innings of baseball." 

Reid-Foley was 10-5 with a 2.81 ERA in 21 starts between Class A Lansing and Class A Advanced Dunedin last season. He's still ironing out the kinks in the Eastern League, but pitching coach Vince Horsman has him on the right path.
"Vince has always believed in me," he said. "Obviously, whenever you're going through that tough time you have to believe in yourself. Me and Vince didn't worry about it and we worked on getting better. We went each day working and working in sides and bullpens. It's starting to pay off, so it's nice." 
Jansen went 3-for-5 with a double and two runs scored, while Gunnar Heidt homered on a three-hit night. No. 29 Blue Jays prospect Jonathan Davis contributed two hits and an RBI, while fourth-ranked Richard Ureña singled in two runs for the Fisher Cats.