After being promoted to the AA New Hampshire FisherCats at the end of last week, Shenendehowa graduate Murphy Smith won his first start yesterday.

Smith went five innings and allowed three earned runs in a 5-3 win over the New Britain Rock Cats.

The FisherCats are the AA affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays.

Smith had gone 5-4 at the Class A level with the Dunedin Blue Jays, where he teamed up with Shaker graduate Jeff Hoffman.

Smith, a 2006 Shen grad, was released by the Oakland A's towards the end of Spring Training before signing with the Jays.

He spent parts of three seasons with the A's AA affiliate in Midland, Texas. Hopefully he can find a foothold with the Blue Jays and can continue to climb the ladder.

Smith is one of two Capital Region products currently playing in AA. Jaime Schultz of Maple Hill plays with the Montgomery Biscuits of the Rays system.

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