Article: Twins Minor League Report (7/4): Fireworks

[Jeremy Nygaard]

I hope you all enjoyed the holiday weekend and survived the Fourth. Now you find yourself back at work - and trying not to work - so you’ve come back to Twins Daily to see what you’ve missed. Perfect. It’s all here for you.The Twins game wasn’t televised on Monday. No one understands or will explain why. It just wasn’t. Before the game, Kennys Vargas was recalled and Trevor Plouffe was placed on the disabled list with cracked ribs. After the game, Trevor May was activated and Buddy Boshers was optioned to Rochester.

 

Jose Berrios was named International League Pitcher of the Week.

 

The Twins have signed all of their draft picks who were selected in the Top 10 rounds. Jordan Balazovic, a young Canadian pitcher, was the last to agree to terms - an above-slot $515,000. The Twins now have $147,600 that they can still spend - allowing them to spend up to $247,600 on any single player without incurring a tax penalty. They still have almost two weeks before the deadline.

 

Let’s check out all that took place on Independence Day.

 

RED WINGS REPORT

Rochester 2, Buffalo 5

Box Score

 

The Red Wings failed to take advantage of #oldfriend Scott Diamond and couldn’t mount a comeback after spotting the Bisons a three-run lead.

 

Byung Ho Park had two singles, including a line drive off of the wall, and didn’t strike out. He scored a run. Jorge Polanco was the only other Red Wing with a multi-hit game, he had two hits, which included a double and also reached base on a walk. Carlos Paulino doubled and drove in both runs.

 

Logan Darnell took the loss, allowing four runs in 5 2/3 innings. He walked five and struck out five. D.J. Baxendale and Ryan O’Rourke each got four outs in scoreless relief outings. David Martinez gave up a run. He recorded two outs.

 

The Red Wings fall to 50-36, dropping 3.5 games behind Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

 

CHATTANOOGA CHATTER

Chattanooga 11, Birmingham 5

Box Score

 

The Lookouts provided enough offensive fireworks to extend their winning streak to three games.

 

Led by Zach Granite (4-5, two runs, two stolen bases) and Mitch Garver (3-3, two walks, double, home run, two RBIs, four runs), Chattanooga scored runs in six of the eight innings they batted. Daniel Palka added his 21st home run of the year.

 

David Hurlbut improved to 6-4 on the season. He allowed five runs (three earned) on five hits and a walk. He struck out six in 5 2/3 innings. Raul Hernandez picked up a hold and Zack Jones got the last six outs, four by strikeout.

 

The Lookouts are 7-4 in the second half, one game out of first place in their division.

 

MIRACLE MATTERS

Fort Myers 1, St. Lucie 3

Box Score

 

Entering the game, the Miracle had a season-high six-game winning streak. Lack of offense caused that run to erupt in flames.

 

Joe Maloney (single, double, run) and Tanner Witt (two singles) provided the only multi-hit games on a night that saw the offense strike out 13 times, go 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position and leave 10 runners on base.

 

Fernando Romero was very good. He struck out seven in six innings and dropped his ERA to 2.50. He did give up five hits and walked three, though it only resulted in one run. Michael Theofanopoulos took the loss, giving up two runs on three hits in an inning. John Curtiss pitched a scoreless frame.

 

At 8-3 in the second half, Fort Myers has a one-game lead in the FSL South.

KERNELS NUGGETS

Cedar Rapids 6, Wisconsin 5

Box Score

 

The Kernels gave up the first five, but scored the final six to secure a come-from-way-behind win.

 

A balanced offensive attached helped chip away at the Wisconsin lead. Nelson Molina doubled to drive in a run before Zander Wiel drove him in. Luis Arraez had an RBI triple. Brian Olson had a two-run double.

 

Sam Clay struck out seven over five innings. He allowed five runs (four earned) in picking up a no-decision. The winning pitcher was Sam Gibbons who got ten outs while pitching no-hit (with one walk) ball. He struck out three. Kuo Hua Lo picked up his third save on the year.

 

The 42-39 Kernels are 6-6 in the second half.

 

E-TOWN E-NOTES

Elizabethton 5, Bluefield 10

Box Score

 

The E-Twins lost their seventh game in their last eight in a game that was ended a half-inning early because of rain.

 

Brandon Lopez had three hits and two RBIs. Trey Cabbage had two hits - both doubles - and scored twice. Alex Kirilloff had two hits. Jaylin Davis didn’t hit a home run, but he did steal a base. He also struck out four times; twenty-three Ks in 47 at-bats good. At all.

 

None of Jose Martinez, Quin Grogan or Alex Robinson were able to limit runs, but Martinez struck out five in five innings and Grogan and Robinson each struck out four in two innings.

 

E-town is now 5-7.

 

GCL TWINS TAKES

GCL Twins 4, GCL Orioles 3 (11 innings)

Box Score

 

Kolton Kendrick decided to hit his first professional home run at the perfect time - the home half of a tie game in the 11th inning for a walk-off winner. Kendrick was the only player with more than one hit.

 

The GCL Twins had a half-dozen pitchers contribute. Garrett Kelly and Patrick McGuff both struck out four in 2 1/3 and 2 2/3 innings, respectively. Daniel Martinez blew the save in giving up two runs in one inning, but Callan Pearce was credited with the win after the amazing home run.

 

TWINS DAILY PLAYERS OF THE DAY

 

Pitcher of the Day – Sam Gibbons, Cedar Rapids

Hitter of the Day – Mitch Garver, Chattanooga

TUESDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS

 

Rochester vs Buffalo (6:05PM CST) – LHP Andrew Albers (6-2, 3.27 ERA)

Chattanooga vs Birmingham (6:15 CST) - RHP Ryan Eades (5-3, 4.11 ERA)

Fort Myers at St. Lucie (5:30PM CST) - RHP Felix Jorge (8-3, 1.67 ERA)

Cedar Rapids vs Wisconsin (6:35PM CST) - RHP Miles Nordgren (3-4, 2.93)

Elizabethton at Johnson City (6:00PM CST) - TBD

GCL Twins at GCL Rays (11:00AM CST - TBD

 

Please feel free to ask any questions and discuss Monday’s games.

 

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[RedBull34]

End of second paragraph about ETown needs some editing.

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I hope you all enjoyed the holiday weekend and survived the Fourth. Now you find yourself back at work - and trying not to work - so you’ve come back to Twins Daily to see what you’ve missed.

 

Accurate.

[gunnarthor]

Very nice news on Balazovic signing.  I really liked this draft class although it'll be a long time before we know how it shakes out.

 

Sounds like Park is doing well against AAA pitching, which is good.  Hopefully, he fixes his timing quickly and is back in the majors soon.

[Yossarian]

Granite should move up before seasons' end, and there's room for him next year in the majors.

[bluechipper]

 

Granite should move up before seasons' end, and there's room for him next year in the majors.

I'm really interested in Granite too. He's hitting .302 with 32 stolen bases now. He looks like a possible 4th OFer type of guy.

[FormerMinnasotan]

Another good start for Fernando Romero!! He's looking real good.

[Jeremy Nygaard]

I posted on Twitter last week that I had a scout tell me last year that Granite will be the next Billy Burns. It wouldn't shock me if he made his debut this year. Of course, if Buxton becomes who we hope, that's a major road block.

[ashbury]

I posted on Twitter last week that I had a scout tell me last year that Granite will be the next Billy Burns. It wouldn't shock me if he made his debut this year. Of course, if Buxton becomes who we hope, that's a major road block.

You can never have too many CF prospects. If we reach the point we can't add him because we don't want to carry a fifth outfielder, let's talk.