Article: Twins Minor League Report (4/16): Vargas Leads Red Wings To Win

[Seth Stohs]

There was only one Twins minor league affiliate whose game was postponed. Of course, only two of the four teams were even scheduled to play. The result? Well, tonight’s Twins Minor League Report has a few transactions and a Rochester Red Wings game story. But it was a good game in which Kennys Vargas and Tyler Duffey starred, and Fernando Romero started.

 

Keep reading to find out more on the night in the Twins minor league system.TRANSACTIONS

With Ryan LaMarre headed to Puerto Rico as the Twins 26th man, relief pitcher Ryne Harper was promoted to the Red Wings. Cody Stashak was then promoted from Ft. Myers to Chattanooga to take Harper’s spot. Presumably Ft. Myers will add a pitcher on Tuesday when they return to play. Will that be a pitcher from Cedar Rapids, or will they just bring someone over from extended spring training for a game or two?

 

 

RED WINGS REPORT

Rochester 6, Charlotte 3

Box Score

 

The Red Wings traveled to Charlotte from Gwinnett after being rained out on Sunday.

 

There’s no question that Kennys Vargas would much prefer to be hanging out in Puerto Rico than in North Carolina this week. But after a DFA-filled spring training, he’s not on the 40-man roster, and not with his countrymen Jose Berrios and Eddie Rosario in the Caribbean. Maybe he decided to take it out on the baseball. Or maybe he just wanted to lead the Red Wings to a win, and that’s what he did. Vargas got the Red Wings on the board in the top of the first inning with a sacrifice fly. In the sixth inning, he knocked his first home run of the season to give the team a 3-2 lead. In the seventh inning, he gave the team some insurance with another sacrifice fly. He ended the game 2-3 and added his first double of the season to go with his first home run.

 

Taylor Featherston found himself on base often. He went 1-2 with three walks. Jake Cave reached three times via the walk. Brock Stassi was 1-3 with a walk.

 

Fernando Romero was supposed to start on Sunday, but instead he made the Monday night start. He gave up two runs on four hits and three walks. He struck out four batters. However, he came out one out shy of being able to record a win, 4.2 innings, because his pitch count was already at 81 (48 strikes).

 

Tyler Duffey came on and got the final out of the fifth inning. He then worked three more innings. In his 3.1 innings, he gave up just one hit. He didn’t issue any walks and struck out six. 28 of his 37 pitchers were strikes. John Curtiss came on for the ninth inning. He gave up a run on two hits. He struck out two.

 

 

CHATTANOOGA CHATTER

Chattanooga, Jacksonville

 

The Lookouts were scheduled to start a home series against Jacksonville, but rains caused the game to be postponed. The teams will play a doubleheader on Wednesday.

 

 

MIRACLE MATTERS

 

The Miracle had a scheduled off day on Monday.

 

 

KERNELS NUGGETS

 

The Kernels had a scheduled off day on Monday. It will be interesting to see if they are able to play in Beloit starting on Tuesday.

 

Steve Buhr recently caught up with Kernels manager Toby Gardenhire who said that the team has “a lot of guys are doing some really good things.”

 

 

STARS OF THE DAY

Twins Daily Hitter of the Day: Kennys Vargas, Rochester Red Wings

Twins Daily Pitcher of the Day: Tyler Duffey, Rochester Red Wings

 

 

TOP PROSPECT SUMMARY

Here’s a look at how the Twins Daily Top 20 Twins Prospects (or, I guess just “Prospect” tonight, performed:

 

#2 - Fernando Romero (Rochester) - 4.2 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 4 K

 

 

TUESDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS

Rochester @ Charlotte (6:04 CST) - LHP Dietrich Enns

Jacksonville @ Chattanooga (6:15 CST) - RHP Zack Littell

Ft. Myers @ Dunedin (5:30) - RHP Sean Poppen

Cedar Rapids @ Beloit (6:35 CST) - RHP Edwar Colina

 

 

Please feel free to ask any questions about Monday’s game, or ask any questions you may have.

 

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[h2oface]

81 pitches the pitch limit for Romero? 

[launchingthrees]

I for one am really excited for Romero closing games for us in 2019. 

[rdehring]

It is great seeing Duffy doing well, especially in long relief.  If he can build on this, he could be a key man in the Twins pen later this summer.  Come in for anywhere from a couple batters to 3 or so innings.  

 

With the move up to AAA, expect to see Romero be a work in process for the first half dozen starts or so.  By mid-May, he should be a fine tuned clock!

[Seth Stohs]

 

81 pitches the pitch limit for Romero? 

 

I may have missed one, but I believe that is the most pitches that any Twins minor league starting pitcher has thrown in a game so far this season. I think it's more about it being his second start of the year, and how disjointed the season has been due to weather and such. 

[Steve Lein]

 

81 pitches the pitch limit for Romero? 

 

Since it has been so consistent across the board for Twins MiLB starters so far this year, in addition to Seth's thoughts, I imagine their may be a new process in place when it comes to pitch counts early in the season.

 

Don't fire all your bullets early type thing. If so, I'm in favor. Could also be nothing.

[diehardtwinsfan]

 

I for one am really excited for Romero closing games for us in 2019. 

 

I'd much rather see him starting. 

[nicksaviking]

 

I'd much rather see him starting. 

 

Yeah, this front office hasn't shown much desire to move starters to the pen thus far. Tyler Jay did but it sounded like that was his desire.

[jkcarew]

I don't think it was so much a limit...or even the coach wanting to be cautious...as it was that Romero had already thrown 81 pitches, only 48 strikes, had walked his 3rd batter that inning, the score was 2-2, and the manager wanted to win the game.  I have no problem with it.

 

He'll come around...but in AAA, he is actually pitching against more polished hitters than several of those that he dominated in spring training games last month...and in much cooler weather (54 at first pitch last night).

[Mr. Brooks]

I don't think it was so much a limit...or even the coach wanting to be cautious...as it was that Romero had already thrown 81 pitches, only 48 strikes, had walked his 3rd batter that inning, the score was 2-2, and the manager wanted to win the game. I have no problem with it.

 

He'll come around...but in AAA, he is actually pitching against more polished hitters than several of those that he dominated in spring training games last month...and in much cooler weather (54 at first pitch last night).

The minor leagues are for player development.

Clearly, I have no idea what went into the decision, but if winning the game trumped Romero's development, I'd have a problem with that.