Article: Twins Minor League Report (6/3): Tough Losses

[Seth Stohs]

It wasn’t a particularly good night in Anaheim for the Minnesota Twins, but it was an historic game as Albert Pujols hit a grand slam for his 600th career home run. There were several very close contests in the Twins minor league system on Saturday night, so let’s get to that right away.Find out everything and more that happened happened in the Twins system on Saturday night.

 

 

RED WINGS REPORT

Rochester 7, Norfolk 8

Box Score

 

The Red Wings fell behind early, but a six-run sixth inning gave them a 7-5 lead. Unfortunately, in the bottom of that inning, the Wings bullpen coughed up the lead.

 

Aaron Slegers, hours after being named the Twins minor league starting pitcher of the month for May, made the start for Rochester. He gave up five runs on 12 hits over five innings. He walked one and struck out three. However, because of the timing of the Red Wings rally, he had the chance to pick up a win. But Kam Mickolio came in and gave up three runs on two hits and a walk. Kevin Chapman and Trevor Hildenberger each worked a scoreless inning.

 

Kennys Vargas put the team on the board with a solo home run. He went 2-4 with a walk as well. Tommy Field went 2-5 with his 13th double and three driven in. Zack Granite was 2-4 with a walk. Mitch Garver went 1-3 with two walks. Niko Goodrum added his 13th double.

 

 

CHATTANOOGA CHATTER

Chattanooga 6, Birmingham 7

Box Score

 

The Lookouts also had a six-run inning but it wasn’t enough. TJ White went 2-4 with an RBI. Dan Gamache hit his eighth double and drove in two runs. LaMonte Wade was 1-3 with two walks.

 

Randy LeBlanc made the start. He was charged with six runs on 11 hits and two walks in five innings. He struck out three. Nick Anderson came on to make his AA debut. He threw two scoreless innings. He gave up one hit, walked one and struck out two. Todd Van Steensel pitched a scoreless eighth inning, but with two outs in the bottom of the ninth, he gave up the winning (or losing?) run. Of the five outs he recorded, three came on strikeouts.

 

 

MIRACLE MATTERS

Ft. Myers 1, Palm Beach 8

Box Score

 

David Fischer made the start for the Miracle. He was charged with six runs (five earned) on six hits and four walks in four innings. Anthony McIver came on and gave up a hit and struck one out. Andrew Vasquez came on for his Miracle debut. He struck out four over 2.2 scoreless innings. He gave up three hits and walked one. Michael Theofanopoulos gave up two runs on three hits in his inning.

 

Max Murphy and Zander Wiel each went 2-4. Rafael Valera added a double. Justin Hazard, in his second game since joining the Miracle from extended spring training, recorded his first hit.

 

 

KERNELS NUGGETS

Cedar Rapids 3, Burlington 4 (10 innings)

Box Score

 

Clark Beeker put together another quality start for the Kernels. In seven innings, he gave up two runs on five hits. He struck out four without issuing a walk. Colton Davis came on and gave up an unearned run on three walks in his inning. He struck out two. Alex Robinson worked a scoreless ninth inning before giving up the game-winning run in the 10th.

 

Christian Cavaness went 3-4 in the game with his seventh double and third triple. He drove in two of the three runs. Brandon Lopez went 2-4.

 

 

TWINS DAILY PLAYERS OF THE DAY

 

Twins Daily Minor League Pitcher of the Day – Clark Beeker, Cedar Rapids

Twins Daily Minor League Hitter of the Day – Christian Cavaness, Cedar Rapids

 

 

SUNDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS

 

Rochester @ Norfolk (12:05 CST) - LHP Adam Wilk

Chattanooga @ Birmingham (4:15 CST) - RHP Fernando Romero

Ft. Myers @ Palm Beach (12:00 CST) - LHP Lachlan Wells

Cedar Rapids @ Burlington (2:00 CST) - RHP Eduardo Del Rosario

 

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

 

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[Twinsoholic]

Yikes! 4 teams lose, and Will starts today for Rochester. Like I said, Yikes.

 

Blankenhorn got off to a good start and then has been super mediocre (pardon the oxymoron) ever since.

 

Injuries to some important prospects have obviously been a significant problem.

 

 

[bird]

 

Yikes! 4 teams lose, and Will starts today for Rochester. Like I said, Yikes. Blankenhorn got off to a good start and then has been super mediocre (pardon the oxymoron) ever since. Injuries to some important prospects have obviously been a significant problem.

 

All 4 teams won the day before. The Twin's four full-season teams have collectively won more games than the same teams for any of their Central Division rivals and have a winning record as a group. None of the teams is more than 4 games under .500. The current strength of the system is indisputably at the lower levels, mostly awaiting the start of short season play or getting a first taste in Class A Cedar Rapids, which is 32-24. And things will likely start to look even more rosy after this year's draft. It will be a year or so before we notice more effects from the IFA signings, but I'm guessing that quite a few new names are going to emerge from last year's IFA crop. And they have a large IFA allotment this year, when more teams will be restricted from competing for IFA talent. 

 

The system is better than average and trending upward.

[bird]

 

Yikes! 4 teams lose, and Will starts today for Rochester. Like I said, Yikes. Blankenhorn got off to a good start and then has been super mediocre (pardon the oxymoron) ever since. Injuries to some important prospects have obviously been a significant problem.

 

Blankenhorn thanks you for the anti-jinks. He was 3-5, 4RBI, a 2R HR, and flawless in the field. Our minor league teams won 3 of 4. Wilks, Eades and Pressly combined for the AAA win. Time to promote them. 

[Twinsoholic]

Yes, it was great to see Blankenhorn smacking the ball to good effect today. Also I am impressed that Eades is pitching so well. Up to this point this second round pick has been rather disappointing. I hope there is no jinx on him now.