Article: Twins Minor League Report (6/12): Jorge Dominates, Turley Honored

[Cody Christie]

On a night when big league teams were changing the future of their franchise, three Twins affiliates were continuing to try to secure first half playoff spots. Chattanooga entered play on Monday with a slim half game lead over Tennessee. Montgomery, the Lookouts' opponent on Monday, sits two games behind Chattanooga.

 

Cedar Rapids is in a similar situation. They enter the final week of the first half with a one game lead over Kane County and a two game lead over Quad Cities. The Kernels start a series in Quad Cities on Tuesday but they couldn't look past their Monday match-up with Burlington.

 

Did either team get closer to clinching a playoff birth?News and Notes: Nik Turley was named International League Pitcher of the Week. The left-handed pitcher struck out a career-high 15 batters over six scoreless innings. He was rewarded for his strong start as he made his MLB debut on Sunday.

 

CHATTANOOGA CHATTER

Chattanooga 5, Montgomery 0

Box Score

Felix Jorge pitched into the seventh inning for the sixth straight start and he allowed two runs or fewer for the fourth straight appearance. In this game, he pitched seven scoreless frames and limited the Biscuits to three hits. Jorge struck out five and walked two as he lowered his season ERA to 3.00. The Lookouts improved to 11-1 in games started by Jorge this season.

 

Chattanooga took a while to get their bats moving in this one. In the top of the fifth, Dan Rohlfing singled before Nick Gordon's 18th double of the season moved him to third. Edgar Corcino drove in the first run of the game with a one-out single. However, Gordon ended up being stranded ninety feet from home.

 

When the seventh frame rolled around, the Lookouts scored without recording a hit. Edgar Corcino walked and moved around the bases on a passed ball and two wild pitches. Things opened up in the top of the ninth with two outs. Corcino singled and LaMonte Wade reached on a throwing error that saw both runners move up a base. Jonathan Rodriguez collected a two-run single and came around to score on a Andy Wilkins double. Two more wild pitches pushed across another run to make the score 6-0.

 

Mason Melotakis struck out the side during a perfect eighth inning. After watching a long top of the ninth, Melotakis allowed a double in the bottom half of the inning, He still managed a pair of strikeouts to end the night with five strikeouts in two innings of work. Tennesse lost for the second straight day so the Lookouts moved to a game and half up in their division.

 

MIRACLE MATTERS

Fort Myers --, Charlotte -- (Postponed)

Fort Myers and Charlotte were postponed on Monday. The teams will play a doubleheader on Tuesday starting at 4:30 CST. Each game is scheduled to be seven innings. The Miracle have already been eliminated from first-half playoff contention.

 

KERNELS NUGGETS

Cedar Rapids 0, Burlington 1

Box Score

The Kernels were nearly no-hit hit in this contest as an eighth inning single from Travis Blankenhorn was the lone hit. Blankenhorn reached base twice in four plate appearances. Mitchell Kranson drew a pair of walks. Christian Cavaness and Ben Rortvedt also reached base once. Cedar Rapids only had two opportunities to bat with a runner in scorning position.

 

Tyler wells did his best to keep the game close. He allowed one run on four hits over five innings of work. He struck out eight and walked two. It was his first loss since last August. Ryan Mason and Alex Robinson each pitched two shutout frames with neither walking a batter. Mason struck out one and Robinson struck out two.

 

Had they been no-hit it would have been the first time since May 1, 2015.

 

TWINS DAILY PLAYERS OF THE DAY

Pitcher of the Day – Felix Jorge, Chattanooga Lookouts (7 IP, 0 ER, 5 K, 2 BB, 3 H)

Hitter of the Day – Andy Wilkins, Chattanooa Lookouts (2-for-5, 2 2B, RBI, R)

 

TUESDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS

Rochester @ Scranton/WB (5:35 CST) - TBD

Chattanooga @ Montgomery (7:05 CST) - TBD

Fort Myers vs. Charlotte (4:30 CST) - LHP Lewis Thorpe (0-2, 1.38 ERA)

Fort Myers vs. Charlotte (Game 2)- RHP Brady Anderson (2-2, 3.86 ERA)

Cedar Rapids @ Quad Cities (6:35 CST) - RHP Sean Poppen (4-1, 2.63 ERA)

 

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

 

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[Cody Christie]

Jorge is quietly putting together quite the season. It will be interesting to see if he gets a look with Rochester in the second-half

[Steve Lein]

I haven't been much of a believer in Jorge in the past, but he has been fantastic this season. 

 

Still would like to see a higher K-rate, but is looking like the next control artist type for Twins.

[Respy]

So, Andy Wilkins' first game and gets a TD POD honor.  Anything to make of his signing?  Were they really that short on players, specifically first basemen?

[Respy]

 

I haven't been much of a believer in Jorge in the past, but he has been fantastic this season. 

 

Still would like to see a higher K-rate, but is looking like the next control artist type for Twins.

 

Jorge's numbers have never popped, but whenever I check in on him, it seems he's turning in more quality starts than his peers.  At this point, can't complain about that.  His K-rate (32 in 74 1/3 innings) at AA last year was alarming, but has improved significantly this year.  I think we've all gone a bit sour on some of our pitch-to-contact and 'groundball' pitchers in recent years giving up too many homeruns.  Felix Jorge has a 0.63 HR/9 which equates to 14 HR / 200 innings.  He's on the 40-man, so he should see time at least at Rochester, if not the Twins, this year.  Hopefully he doesn't get blasted.

[DocBauer]

Six straight starts pitching in to the 7th inning. Four straight starts with 2 or fewer runs allowed. And the team is 11-1 in games he has started. Wow! Despite pedestrian SO numbers am becoming a bigger and bigger believer in Jorge as a quality SP prospect.

 

[Cody Christie]

 

Six straight starts pitching in to the 7th inning. Four straight starts with 2 or fewer runs allowed. And the team is 11-1 in games he has started. Wow! Despite pedestrian SO numbers am becoming a bigger and bigger believer in Jorge as a quality SP prospect.

He might never be an ace but he could fit nicely into the middle of the Twins' rotation for multiple seasons.

[Seth Stohs]

 

So, Andy Wilkins' first game and gets a TD POD honor.  Anything to make of his signing?  Were they really that short on players, specifically first basemen?

 

He can play in the outfield, and Ryan Strausborger was hurt, so I woudln't make too much about it. He does have some MLB time. 

[bluechipper]

I've always been intrigued by Jorge despite the low K numbers because he's gotten results in every other category and reportedly has good stuff.

 

His time in Ft. Myers last year was amazing, a 1.55 ERA in 93 innings.

[jokin]

 

Jorge is quietly putting together quite the season. It will be interesting to see if he gets a look with Rochester in the second-half

 

I've always been intrigued by Jorge despite the low K numbers because he's gotten results in every other category and reportedly has good stuff.

 

His time in Ft. Myers last year was amazing, a 1.55 ERA in 93 innings.

 

Jorge has really turned it on in his last 5 starts. Superb command and control while upping his K%, WHIP @ .87, AVG @ .192 and 1.83 ERA. And going 7 or nearly 7 IP each outing.

 

Lofty strand rate over career avg. might be a concern... but I think he's ready for an extended look-see at Rochester.

 

Speaking of promotions, it certainly appears that Mason Melotakis is fully healthy. He's dominating both lefties and righties. He might be able to help the major league bullpen before the end of the season... and the way things are going with the Twins SPs, Jorge might even help the Twins, too.

 

Anyone know Melo's velocity so far in 2017?

Edited June 14, 2017 by jokin

[drivlikejehu]

 

I've always been intrigued by Jorge despite the low K numbers because he's gotten results in every other category and reportedly has good stuff.

 

His time in Ft. Myers last year was amazing, a 1.55 ERA in 93 innings.

 

It's fairly common for certain pitchers to do well in the minors but not translate it to the Majors. Jorge has good control and ok stuff, but he's not an MLB starter. He's a C+ prospect due to the potential his stuff plays up in the bullpen.

[drew_7726]

Molitor is considering bringing him up for a doubleheader this weekend. That would be very interesting to watch.