Article: Twins Minor League Report (7/25): Saturday In The Parks

[Seth Stohs]

On Saturday, there were six games in the Twins minor league system. There were also a couple of transactions. In the games, it became clear how much strong starting pitching helps a team win, but home runs also help. Which 2015 draft pick homered? Which relief pitcher was clocked just shy of 100 mph?

 

These topics and much more can be found as you work your way through today’s Minor League Report.TRANSACTIONS

On Saturday morning, the Twins and Red Wings announced that they had signed RHP Michael Bowden. The 28-year-old had been pitching in AAA Norfolk (Baltimore organization), but he opted out of his contract last week. He’ll join the Red Wings rotation. To make room for him, Greg Peavey was sent back to Chattanooga.

 

Dalton Hicks, who has been on the Lookouts disabled list since early May and has played a handful of games in the GCL, has been added to the Ft. Myers roster. Brett Doe returned to Cedar Rapids.

 

 

RED WINGS REPORT

Rochester 1, Columbus 5

Box Score

 

Taylor Rogers had a bad first inning. He gave up four runs. However, he gave up only those four runs on six hits and three walks in five innings. He struck out three. Alex Meyer came on and gave up one run on two hits in 1.1 innings. He struck out two without issuing a walk. Caleb Thielbar got the next three outs. Cole Johnson came in and got the final two outs, both on strikeouts.

 

The Red Wings managed just five hits in this game. James Beresford hit his 16^th doubles of the season. Oswaldo Arcia hit his 12^th double.

 

CHATTANOOGA CHATTER

Chattanooga 4, Tennessee 3

Box Score

 

The Lookouts got a lead, added some insurance and held on for a win. David Hurlbut made the start. He threw seven shutout innings. In his time, he gave up four hits, walked three and struck out five. JT Chargois struck out one in a perfect inning.

 

Kennys Vargas hit his fourth Double-A home run of the year to give the Lookouts a 4-0 lead heading into the ninth. It’s a good thing because Alex Muren came on for the ninth and gave up three runs on four hits and two walks, but he did walk off the mound with a 4-3 win.

 

Vargas went 2-5 with the home run. Aderlin Mejia went 2-4. Max Kepler hit his ninth triple. Heiker Meneses hit his second triple. Adam Brett Walker hit his 23^rd double and stole his seventh base. Marcus Knecht hit his second AA double and stole his second base.

 

MIRACLE MATTERS

Game 1 – Ft. Myers 0, Tampa 2

Box Score

 

Game 1 of the doubleheader was delayed a little over an hour, but they were able to get both games in on Saturday. When they started, Kohl Stewart took the mound. The right-hander went six innings. He gave up two runs (one earned) on seven hits. He walked three and struck out seven. Corey Williams struck out one in a scoreless seventh inning.

 

The Miracle managed just three hits in the game. Michael Quesada hit his fifth double, and Logan Wade hit his 11^th two-base hit. Dalton Hicks went 0-3 in his first game of the year with the Miracle. Jason Kanzler was ejected from the game following a called third strike in the fourth inning.

 

Game 2 – Ft. Myers 2, Tampa 1

Box Score

 

The Miracle offense was still quiet in game 2 but scored enough runs to pick up a win. Zach Granite went 1-2 with his eighth double. Michael Quesada went 1-2 with his sixth double. Hicks was 0-2 with a walk. The two Miracle runs scored on sacrifice flies from Granite and Mitch Garver, who went 1-2.

 

Stephen Gonsalves improved to 4-1 with 2.36 ERA with the Miracle. It was the tenth win of the season for Gonsalves. The left-hander gave up one run on four hits. In six innings, he walked two and struck out two. Zack Jones got his first Miracle save of the year. He didn’t give up a run despite allowing two hits and a walk. He was helped out by Jason Kanzler. With two outs in the seventh inning (final inning in minor league double-headers), there was a single to right. The runner tried to score from second base, but Kanzler gunned him down to end the game and secure the Miracle win.

 

KERNELS NUGGETS

Cedar Rapids 3, Beloit 00

Box Score

 

Australian right-hander Sam Gibbons made the start for the Kernels. He threw six shutout innings, giving up four hits, walking four and striking out four. Yorman Landa struck out three in two scoreless innings. He gave up a hit and walked two. Reports from the press box said that Landa hit 99.7 mph with his fastball. Jared Wilson gave up a hit and walked one in the seventh inning to pick up his second save since moving back to the bullpen.

 

Tyler Kuresa went 2-4. Pat Kelly doubled for the 10^th time, and Austin Diemer hit his second double. Nick Gordon went 1-3 with a walk and his fourth triple. Tanner English walked twice.

 

E-TOWN E-NOTES

Elizabethton 5, Kingsport 3

Box Score

 

It was a good day for the E-Town offense. Alex Perez went 3-5 with his third double. Travis Blankenhorn was 2-5 with his second home run and his first stolen base. LaMonte Wade went 2-4. Amaurys Minier hit his fifth double. Kamran Young homered for the second time.

 

Cody Stashak went the first six innings. He gave up two runs (one earned) on four hits. He struck out seven without walking a batter. Jose Abreu struck out three in two perfect innings. Kuo Hua Lo gave up one run on two hits in his inning.

 

GCL TWINS TAKES

GCL Twins @ GCL Red Sox

Box Score

 

These two teams were rained out on Friday, so they were supposed to play a doubleheader on Saturday. However, Mother Nature won this one, pouring rain again, and postponing the games until a later date.

 

 

TWINS DAILY PLAYERS OF THE DAY

 

Twins Daily Minor League Pitcher of the Day – David Hurlbut, Chattanooga Lookouts

 

Twins Daily Minor League Hitter of the Day – Travis Blankenhorn, Elizabethton Twins

 

 

SUNDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS

 

Rochester @ Columbus (5:05 CST) – RHP Tyler Duffey

Chattanooga @ Tennessee (4:05 CST) – Alex Wimmers

Lakeland @ Ft. Myers (DH at 3:05 CST) – RHP Aaron Slegers

Beloit @ Cedar Rapids (2:05 CST) – LHP Luke Westphal

Elizabethton @ Kingsport (3:00 CST) – RHP Dereck Rodriguez

GCL Twins – No Game Scheduled

 

Feel free to leave any questions or comments below.

 

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[BoomBoom]

Noticed after reading this and leaderboard thread - Walker has a chance to get 30 and 30 with 2B (23) and homers (26).  Besides Sano in 2013, I can't remember the last Twin prospect to reach those numbers.

 

Do you think Dalton Hicks will play with Chattanooga again this year?

[Seth Stohs]

I would guess some of those guys from those Edmonton teams (Michael Cuddyer, Michael Ryan, maybe Todd Walker)

 

I would think Hicks will get back to Chattanooga.

[Cap'n Piranha]

Very heartened to see the line from Kohl. IMO, he's the most important prospect for 2016; if he can re-establish his bona fides as a potential #1 or 2, our organizational pitching depth will be in extremely good shape.

[Seth Stohs]

 

Very heartened to see the line from Kohl. IMO, he's the most important prospect for 2016; if he can re-establish his bona fides as a potential #1 or 2, our organizational pitching depth will be in extremely good shape.

 

I'm as guilty as anyone, but I think we make too big of a deal out of the strikeouts. The talent is there. He has a chance to be quite good.

[Badsmerf]

On a scale of 1 to 10 I'm at about a 4 on strike outs by Stewart. It's worth consideration, that's about it. He has an excellent gb ratio, allowed only 1 hr all year and is only in his second season of year round baseball.

 

He is having a good season. I'm hopeful some if this weak contact he is getting will start turning into swing and miss. He has a 3.14 era, so he is doing something right.