Article: Twins Minor League Report (5/13): Big Day For Murray

[Seth Stohs]

While the big league club extended its losing streak to eight games and it’s record fell to just 8-26, there were some strong performances in the minor leagues. It’s clear that the Twins have focused on pitching the last several drafts, and on nights like tonight, they had four very solid starting pitching performances. There were also some good games by hitters and some clutch hits. So, even while we all hope for a major turnaround in the big league club, it is nice to have four other box scores to follow!Check out everything that happened on Friday in the Twins farm system. There were a few transactions and four good games to follow.

 

TRANSACTIONS

There were also a couple of minor league transactions:

• Rochester infielder Heiker Meneses was placed on the disabled list with a fractured wrist.
• Mitch Garver was placed on the Chattanooga disabled list with a concussion. Jairo Rodriguez replaced him on the roster.
• Andro Cutura was placed on Cedar Rapids’ DL with inflammation in his right elbow. Anthony McIver was called up from extended spring training.

RED WINGS REPORT

Rochester 4, Syracuse 3

Box Score

 

It’s been a rough year for him so far, but John Ryan Murphy’s eighth inning single scored Wilfredo Tovar to give the Red Wings a 4-3 lead. Ryan O’Rourke came in for the 9th and struck out two to record his second straight save since returning to the Red Wings.

 

Jason Wheeler was terrific again. The left-hander struck out nine batters over the first six innings. He gave up two runs on five hits and a walk. The two runs scored on sixth inning home runs from Trea Turner and Scott Sizemore. Buddy Boshers came on to start the seventh inning. He gave up a run on a hit and got just two outs. Marcus Walden got the final out of that inning and worked a scoreless eighth frame.

 

James Beresford led the offense. He went 2-4 with his seventh double and second triple. Max Kepler went 2-4 and drove in the Red Wings first run in the first inning. Kennys Vargas was also 2-4. Stephen Wickens added his second home run. Byron Buxton went 1-4.

 

The win puts the Red Wings at 19-17 on the season.

 

 

 

CHATTANOOGA CHATTER

Chattanooga 2, Pensacola 1

Box Score

 

After a shaky start to his season, Ryan Eades has been improved his last couple of outings. In this game, he gave up just one run on one hit over six innings. He walked three and struck out three. Mason Melotakis pitched a perfect seventh inning. Jake Reed recorded his second save with two scoreless innings. He struck out two.

 

Dalton Hicks led the offense. He went 3-4 in the game. Daniel Palka was 2-4 with his eighth double. TJ White and Shannon Wilkerson were also 2-4.

 

With the win, the Lookouts are now 15-20.

 

 

MIRACLE MATTERS

Ft. Myers 1, St. Lucie 3

Box Score

 

Another day, another long start for Felix Jorge. On Friday, he went 7.1 innings and was charged with three runs. He gave up six hits, walked two and struck out five. Through seven innings, he had given up just two runs. He left the game and Raul Fernandez gave up one run-scoring hit before getting two outs to end the inning. Jorge got 12 ground outs to go with just one fly out.

 

In the top of the first, a Nick Gordon double (his seventh of the year) scored Tanner Witt. That was it for the Miracle scoring. Gordon and Witt were both 2-4. Edgar Corcino added his fourth double, but that was about it for the offense.

 

The Miracle fall to 20-15 on the year. Jorge’s record falls to 2-3 despite a 1.80 ERA.

 

 

KERNELS NUGGETS

Cedar Rapids 13, Wisconsin 2

Box Score

 

 

Fair to say that catcher AJ Murray has been the story of this game. The Georgia Tech alum is currently 5-5 with two home runs (his fourth and fifth of the year) and five RBI through seven innings. He came to the plate in the ninth inning and added a walk to his stat line. He scored five runs along with driving in five runs.

 

Lefty Sam Clay - also from Georgia Tech - made the start. He went 5.2 innings and gave up one run on five hits. He walked four and struck out seven. Michael Cederoth got the final out of the sixth inning. He worked two more innings as well. Overall, he gave up no runs and no hits. He walked three and struck out four. With a big lead, lefty Anthony McIver came on to pitch the ninth, making his Midwest League debut. He gave up one run.

 

Daniel Kihle was 2-5 with a double. Nelson Molina went 2-4 with two walks and four RBI. Cristian Cavaness went 2-4 with a walk. All nine Kernels starters had at least one hit. The team accumulated their 13 runs on 16 hits and 10 walks.

 

 

BONUS VIDEO

 

Bob Sacamento posted the following video of young Huascar Ynoa from extended spring training on Friday afternoon.

 

 

 

 

TWINS DAILY PLAYERS OF THE DAY

 

Twins Daily Minor League Pitcher of the Day – Jason Wheeler, Rochester Red Wings

Twins Daily Minor League Hitter of the Day – AJ Murray, Cedar Rapids Kernels

 

 

SATURDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS

 

Syracuse @ Rochester (6:05 CST) - LHP Logan Darnell

Biloxi @ Chattanooga (6:15 CST) - RHP DJ Baxendale

Ft. Myers @ St. Lucie (5:30 CST) – LHP Randy Rosario

Cedar Rapids @ Wisconsin (1:05 CST) – RHP Dereck Rodriguez

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

 

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[scottz]

If the big club played .500 ball from this point on, it would be a 90-loss season.

 

Box scores! Box scores! Box scores!

[benji21]

It seems like Wheeler is having a bit more success and striking out more batters this year than last. IIRC he got demoted last year? Has he had a change in approach this year to make him more effective? If he can find consistency he may become another starting candidate at some point as if the twins didnt have enough kids needing a shot at the majors.

[clutterheart]

One wonders what more Wade has to prove in CR.

[DJL44]

Wheeler has had a step function improvement

[bluechipper]

Jake Reed ended his streak of giving up at least 1 ER in each of his last 4 appearances. Yikes.

[Seth Stohs]

 

Jake Reed ended his streak of giving up at least 1 ER in each of his last 4 appearances. Yikes.

 

Maybe it was the pressure situation of coming in to a one-run game with two innings to go.