Article: Twins Minor League Report (4/24): Polanco's Big Day

[Eric R Pleiss]

Rochester and New Britain both had morning/early afternoon games on Thursday. It was also get-away day for the Twins. The Cedar Rapids Kernels got a day off in Peoria, though it was not planned. Ft. Myers got another strong offensive performance from our Hitter of the Day.

 

Welcome Eric Pleiss, the newest writer of the Twins minor league reports. He'll bring his interesting perspective to what's going on down on the farm, discussing what happens in the Twins system each Thursday. (Note - if anyone is interested in writing either the Saturday or Sunday's minor league report each week, be sure to send a PM to Seth Stohs).

 

TWINS NOTES

The Twins were powered to a win by some clutch hitting from Sam Fuld and a three run dinger from Aaron Hicks. Ricky Nolasco was not great, but he pitched well enough for the Twins to escape with a victory to climb a game over .500 for the second time this year.

 

The Twins are back home tonight to begin a weekend series against the Detroit Tigers.

 

 

RED WINGS REPORT

Rochester 8, Pawtucket 1

Box Score

The Red Wings raced out to an early 2-0 lead thanks to a couple first inning walks issued by Pawtucket's Anthony Ranaudo. The Red Wings eventually tacked on six more runs, highlighted by a four-run fourth inning. Danny Santana was 3-4 with a walk and a double, and Wilkin Ramirez, Brad Nelson, and Eric Farris all had two hits and two RBI to match. Chris Parmelee extended his hitting streak to a Red Wings season high nine games.

 

Wings' lefty Kris Johnson picked up the win with six strong innings, giving up just three hits and a single, unearned run. He walked four Red Sox batters, but had six strikeouts as well. Johnson is now 2-2 and his ERA is just 2.86. Another lefty, Matt Hoffman, came in to the game in the seventh and picked up a rare three inning save, fanning four hitters. Hoffman's best outing of the year lowered his ERA to 1.17.

The Red Wings look for a series win on Friday with Trevor May on the mound.

Download attachment: achter.jpg

 

 

Also of note, from A.J. Achter, the Red Wings went to Dave & Busters tonight.

The @RocRedWings cleaned house at Dave & Buster's tonight. pic.twitter.com/vHBCVfllDo

— A.J. Achter (@ajachter35) April 25, 2014

 

 

ROCK CATS REVIEW

New Britain 3, New Hampshire 5

Box Score

 

Despite an early 2-0 lead in the first inning, the Rock Cats didn't have enough offense to overcome three errors and fell to a New Hampshire team that tallied 11 hits. The top of the Rock Cats lineup was just 1-15, with no walks and five strike- outs, not exactly the production you're looking for from your one, two and three hitters. Kennys Vargas was the bright spot for the Cats, going 1-3 with a double, an RBI and a run scored.

 

Taylor Rogers pitched six full innings (his longest outing as a Rock Cat) and left with a no-decision despite giving up 9 hits and 3 earned runs. Adrian Salcedo took the loss allowing two late runs to score, and Lester Oliveros mopped up in the eighth and ninth, giving up one hit and picking up a couple more strikeouts.

 

The Rock Cats begin a seven-game road trip on Friday, beginning in Richmond, VA, with lefty Sean Gilmartin on the hill.

 

 

MIRACLE MATTERS

Ft. Myers 9, Jupiter 6

Box Score

The Miracle scored all nine of their runs in the second inning after falling to an early 0-2 deficit. Ft. Myers sent 12 men to the plate in that inning. The big hits were a grand slam from Jorge Polanco and a two-run bomb from Mike Gonzales. Polanco was the hero of the day, and the only Miracle hitter with multiple hits, going 2-4 including that grand slam. He's now hitting .333 on the year.

 

Brett Lee picked up the W for the Miracle, helped out by his offense because he gave up four runs (two earned) and walked a couple Hammerhead hitters. Madison Boer picked up his second save of the young season with a 1-2-3 ninth inning, lowering his already impressive ERA to 1.29

 

 

KERNELS NUGGETS

Cedar Rapids @ Peoria

RAINED OUT - PPD

The Kernels were rained out on Thursday night in Peoria, IL, the final game for a four-game series against the Chiefs. The Kernels luck out as the game will be made up at a later date IN CEDAR RAPIDS (as the Kernels are not due back in Peoria during the first half of the Low-A season).

 

The Kernels remain on the road this weekend, at the Clinton (IA) Lumberkings. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 pm on Friday night.

 

TWINS DAILY PLAYERS OF THE DAY

Twins Daily Minor League Pitcher of the Day - Kris Johnson, Rochester Red Wings

Twins Daily Minor League Hitter of the Day - Jorge Polanco, Ft. Myers Miracle

 

FRIDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS

Rochester @ Pawtucket (5:15 p.m. CST) – Trevor May (Listen)

New Britain @ Richmond (6:05 p.m. CST) – Sean Gilmartin (Listen)

Palm Beach @ Ft. Myers (6:05 p.m. CST) – Jose Berrios (Listen)

Cedar Rapids @ Peoria (6:30 p.m. CST) – Kohl Stewart (Listen)

 

 

Please feel free to ask any questions and discuss the Thursday games.

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Also, since the Twins beat the Rays 9-7 yesterday (Thursday), you can get 50% off a L or XL pizza from PapaJohns.com if you use the 'TWINSWIN' promo code on Friday.

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