Article: Twins Minor League Report (4/9): Turner, Michael Lead Lookouts To First Win

[Seth Stohs]

On Saturday, the Twins fell again and are now 0-5, with Ricky Nolasco set to make his first start on Sunday. We’re getting increasingly close to Twins minor league reports becoming the most important part of Twins Daily. Then again, minor league coverage is always fun and exciting from day to day. Even when things are bad in the big leagues, there are three or four more box scores to give us something to get excited about. Of course, now Max Kepler is not going to be appearing on minor league reports, at least for a little while, after today.

 

A couple of relief pitchers provided reason for optimism, and the Lookouts recorded their first win of the season thanks to a huge inning. The Kernels now have a winning streak.Continue reading to find out all that happened in the minor league games on Saturday as we look forward to JO Berrios’s first start of the season on Sunday.

 

TRANSACTIONS

With Danny Santana placed on the disabled list after Saturday night’s Twins loss, the Twins called up outfielder Max Kepler from AAA Rochester.

 

For Cedar Rapids, Zack Tillery was placed on the disabled list.

 

 

RED WINGS REPORT

The game was postponed already on Friday afternoon. The Red Wings home opener will now be on Sunday. JO Berrios will start for Rochester opposite former Twins pitcher Anthony Swarzak.

 

 

CHATTANOOGA CHATTER

Chattanooga 9, Biloxi 5

Box Score

 

A big inning helped Chattanooga to post their first win of the season on Saturday. Down 2-0 through two innings, the Lookouts offense, woeful to that point in the season, put together a rally to score six runs. Levi Michael got things going with an RBI triple and scored when Engelb Vielma singled him in. Later, Dalton Hicks singled in a run before Joe Maloney doubled in two more runs.

 

Levi Michael led the way. He went 3-4 with the triple and three RBI. Stuart Turner continues his hot start with a 3-5 day. Dalton Hicks, who wasn’t in the original lineup, went 2-4 with a walk.

 

David Hurlbut got the start and worked the first five innings. He gave up three runs (2 earned) on four hits and two walks. He struck out two. Corey Williams came in and got four outs. He gave up no runs on one hit two walks and strike out. He was replaced by Marcus Walden who was charged with two runs on two hits and a walk in 1.2 innings. JT Chargois came on for the ninth inning and struck out the side to give the Lookouts the win.

 

MIRACLE MATTERS

Ft. Myers 5, Bradenton 1

Box Score

 

Lefty Tyler Jay made his first start of the season for the Miracle. The 2015 top pick had some issues with control, but he also showed how dominant he can be. He needed just over 80 pitches to get through five innings. He gave up just one run on three hits. He walked three and hit one batter. He also struck out seven.

 

Jay left after five and was replaced by Todd Van Steensel. He walked three and struck out one over two scoreless and hitless innings. Luke Bard came in and worked the final two innings. He was perfect and struck out three batters to record the Save.

 

The offense didn’t come up with a lot, but they were able to bunch some hits together. They managed six hits and walked four times. TJ White and Alex Swim each had two hits in the game. Nick Gordon and Trey Vavra each had one.

 

KERNELS NUGGETS

Cedar Rapids 6, Quad Cities 2

Box Score

 

After playing two games in Cedar Rapids, these teams shifted their match-up to the southwest and played in Davenport, Iowa. The result at the end of the day was the same, a Kernels’ win.

 

Australian Sam Gibbons started and went the first five innings. He gave up one run on five hits and three walks. He struck out four. Logan Lombana came on for his first appearance and worked three innings. He gave up one run on one hit. John Curtiss came in for the ninth. He walked the first batter he faced, but responded by striking out the next three batters.

 

The River Bandits committed three errors that helped two of the runs score. However in the 3rd inning, Rafael Valera hit a two-run triple. In the 6th inning, LaMonte Wade knocked in two runs with a double. Valera also walked twice while Wade walked once. Bryant Hayman was the catcher and played in his first game. He was 1-3 with a walk. Luis Arraez, on his 19th birthday, made his first start, batting ninth and playing second base. He went 1-3 with a walk.

 

 

TWINS DAILY PLAYERS OF THE DAY

 

Twins Daily Minor League Pitcher of the Day – JT Chargois, Chattanooga Lookouts

Twins Daily Minor League Hitter of the Day – Levi Michael, Chattanooga Lookouts

 

 

SUNDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS

 

Scranton/Wilkes Barre @ Rochester (12:35 CST) - Jose Berrios (vs Swarzak)

Chattanooga @ Biloxi (1:10 CST) – RHP Aaron Slegers

Ft. Myers @ Bradenton (12:00 CST) – RHP Keaton Steele

Cedar Rapids @ Quad Cities (1:15 CST) – LHP Sam Clay

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

 

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[bluechipper]

Good to see a nice season debut by Tyler Jay. I can see him putting up some really good numbers in the FSL this year.

[jokin]

 

 JT Chargois came on for the ninth inning and struck out the side to give the Lookouts the win.

MIRACLE MATTERS
Ft. Myers 5, Bradenton 1
Box Score

Lefty Tyler Jay made his first start of the season for the Miracle. The 2015 top pick had some issues with control issues, but he also showed how dominant he can be. He needed just over 80 pitches to get through five innings. He gave up just one run on three hits. He walked three and hit one batter. He also struck out seven hitters.

 Luke Bard came in and worked the final two innings. He was perfect and struck out three batters to record the Save.


 

 

Good to see a nice season debut by Tyler Jay. I can see him putting up some really good numbers in the FSL this year.

 

That's 3 straight strong starts from the Miracle elite SPs-- A juggernaut in the making? 13 first-pitch strikes for Jay.

 

Speaking of putting up some good numbers... how's this for an under-the-radar one-game, lights-out-efficient stat line?:

 

Luke Bard- 2 IP, 20 pitches, 18 strikes, 0 H, 0 BB, 3 K

 

Any word on Bard's velo?

Edited April 10, 2016 by jokin

[jokin]

Shag-wah and Turner laying down "Promote Me!" markers in Chattanooga?

[Seth Stohs]

 

That's 3 straight strong starts from the Miracle elite SPs-- A juggernaut in the making? 13 first-pitch strikes for Jay.

 

Speaking of putting up some good numbers... how's this for an under-the-radar one-game, lights-out-efficient stat line?:

 

Luke Bard- 2 IP, 20 pitches, 18 strikes, 0 H, 0 BB, 3 K

 

Any word on Bard's velo?

 

In his first outing, Bard was at 94-96 and hit 97. He's good and finally healthy. Another one of the really good people in the organization. 

 

And yes, that is remarkably efficient.

[Seth Stohs]

 

Shag-wah and Turner laying down "Promote Me!" markers in Chattanooga?

 

3 games, and 3 batters faced, probably won't do it, but 1.) I think Turner getting to repeat is just what he needed. We'll see how it goes, 2.) I think Chargois is the first reliever called up. 

[roger]

 

3 games, and 3 batters faced, probably won't do it, but 1.) I think Turner getting to repeat is just what he needed. We'll see how it goes, 2.) I think Chargois is the first reliever called up. 

Called up to Rochester or the Twins, Seth?

[DocBauer]

So far, early or not, we've seen the SP collectively do very well. That is always encouraging.

 

Really glad to see Turner and Garver at AA. I think it works, and I think Turner needed that slow down.

 

Am I being naive on Jay when I say I expect him in AA for the second half of the season? Not based on one start to be sure. But with his age/maturity/college experience, I'm just not sure he's going to need A ball for very long.

[Seth Stohs]

 

Called up to Rochester or the Twins, Seth?

 

Chargois? To the Twins.

[h2oface]

 

Am I being naive on Jay when I say I expect him in AA for the second half of the season? Not based on one start to be sure. But with his age/maturity/college experience, I'm just not sure he's going to need A ball for very long.

 

Very nice to see. Is Jay on a pitch limit? Going only 80 when you are cruising seems a little light. I know, I know..... he is being converted, but still. 80 pitches seems a little light, nonetheless.

[h2oface]

 

Chargois? To the Twins.

 

....for Fien. Immediately if not sooner.