Article: Twins Minor League Report (7/4): Independence Day Blast

[Seth Stohs]

We certainly hope that you and your family had a safe and special Independence Day. Below you’ll find a quick 4^th of July Minor League Report blast. Maybe not as long or detailed as normal, but it was a busy day as all six Twins affiliates were in action. There were more transactions and big pitching and hitting performances.TRANSACTIONS

Jorge Polanco was promoted from Chattanooga to Rochester. Nate Hanson was placed on the disabled list.

 

 

RED WINGS REPORT

Rochester 3, Lehigh Valley 4

Box Score

 

Oswaldo Arcia hit a LONG blast on the 4^th of July off of Phillies top pitching prospect Aaron Nola. It measured at well over 450 feet and was his fourth with the Red Wings.

 

However, on this day, the story was Tyler Duffey. The right-hander was charged with two unearned runs on four hits in seven innings. He walked four and struck out two. However, he extended his streak without allowing an earned run to 29.1 innings . The last time he gave up an earned run was on June 11. He left the game with a 3-2 lead. Alex Meyer, just back from Minnesota, came on and gave up two runs in the eighth inning to take the loss.

 

Jorge Polanco’s AAA debut was a mixed bag. He went 1-4, but he also committed two errors. James Beresford went 2-4 with his 13^th double. Reynaldo Rodriguez, Danny Ortiz and Wilkin Ramirez each went 2-4.

 

 

CHATTANOOGA CHATTER

Chattanooga 0, Jacksonville 3

Box Score

 

Brett Lee was terrific, and efficient, but the Lookout bats were only able to manage two hits and continued to struggle since not playing for three straight days. Max Kepler and Heiker Meneses each had a single and a walk in the game. Due to frustration, hitting coach Chad Allen was ejected in the sixth inning.

 

Brett Lee fell to 0-2 on the season, but he worked all eight innings and threw just 77 pitches (58 strikes). He gave up three runs on seven hits. He walked none and struck out two.

 

MIRACLE MATTERS

Ft. Myers 5, St. Lucie 3

Box Score

 

Things got a bit scary at the end, but in the end, the Miracle held on for another win.

 

Mat Batts started and gave up just two hits over six shutout innings. The southpaw walked two and struck out six. His Miracle ERA drops to just 2.01 since his promotion. Dallas Gallant struck out two over two scoreless innings. With a 5-0 lead in the ninth, Tyler Jay came in to the game. He gave up three runs (one earned) on two hits and a walk and recorded the first two outs. Todd Van Steensel came on and gave up a hit before recording the final out and his tenth save.

 

Mitch Garver led the offense. He went 1-1 with two walks, was hit by a pitch, scored three runs and stole a base. Ryan Walker and Chad Christensen each went 2-4 with an RBI. Jason Kanzler was also 2-4. Zach Granite went 2-4 with a walk and a triple.

 

KERNELS NUGGETS

Cedar Rapids 4, Burlington 0

Box Score

 

Zach Tillery was terrific and improved to 5-3 on the season. He threw seven shutout innings. He gave up five hits, walked one and struck out three. Randy LeBlanc came on for the final two innings. He walked two, struck out two and didn’t allow a run.

 

Edgar Corcino led the offense. He went 2-4 with his seventh double. Zack Larson hit his 15^th double. Pat Kelly hit his fourth triple, and TJ White hit his fifth triple.

 

 

E-TWINS E-NOTES

Greeneville 10, Elizabethton 3

Box Score

Brandon Easton is a left-hander who throws gas. When he left Ft. Myers this spring, he was hitting 98 mph with his fastball. Through two starts, Easton has struggled. In this game, he walked five in 1.2 innings. He was charged with three runs on three hits. Through four innings (two starts), he has given up eight runs, seven hits and walked nine. That said, he has huge potential in that arm, so they’ll need to be patient.

 

Onesimo Hernandez came on and got four outs and within that he gave up five runs on eight hits and a walk. Nate Gercken gave up one run on four hits in three innings. He walked one and struck out two. Tyler Stirewalt gave up just one hit over two scoreless innings. He struck out two.

 

Manuel Guzman went 2-4 with a walk. Daniel Kihle went 2-4. Ariel Montesino drove in two runs and stole a base.

 

 

GCL TWINS TAKES

GCL Twins 11, GCL Red Sox 1

Box Score

 

It was a big day for the GCL Twins bats. Luis Arraez went 3-6 with his fourth and fifth doubles. Jermaine Palacios went 3-5 and stole his second base. Travis Blankenhorn went 2-3 with two walks and his fourth double. Bryant Hayman went 1-3 with two walks and his first double. Brian Olson went 2-5.

 

Williams Ramirez went five innings and gave up one run on two hits. He walked three and struck out six. Rich Condeelis struck out four over two, one-hit innings. Stephen Pryor made a rehab appearance, striking out two in a perfect inning. Johan Quezada walked one and struck out one in a scoreless inning.

 

TWINS DAILY PLAYERS OF THE DAY

 

Twins Daily Minor League Pitcher of the Day – Mat Batts, Ft. Myers Miracle/Zach Tillery, Cedar Rapids Kernels

Twins Daily Minor League Hitter of the Day – Luis Arraez, GCL Twins

 

SUNDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS

 

Lehigh Valley @ Rochester (12:35 CST) – LHP Taylor Rogers

Chattanooga @ Jacksonville (5:05 CST) – RHP DJ Baxendale

St. Lucie @ Ft. Myers (3:05 CST) – RHP Kohl Stewart

Burlington @ Cedar Rapids (2:05 CST) – LHP Randy Rosario

Elizabethton @ Princeton (4:00 CST) – RHP Cody Stashak

GCL Twins – No Game Scheduled.

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

 

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