Article: Twins Minor League Report (8/18): Saturday In The Minor League Parks

[Seth Stohs]

It was a very busy Saturday. The Vikings played. The Twins honored Jack Morris pre-game and played the Tigers. All six Twins stateside affiliates played, including two games for Chattanooga and the GCL Twins. Jhoan Duran and Austin Schulfer put together strong starts. Chase De Jong and Sean Poppen were also very good. Byron Buxton hit well. Luis Arraez and Brian Navarreto hit well for Chattanooga. So much happening. Check in on everything that happened in the Twins minor league system.Keep reading to find out more on the night in the Twins minor league system on Saturday. As always, please feel free to discuss and ask questions.

 

TRANSACTIONS

• On Friday night, the Kernels announced that right-hander Calvin Faucher had been placed on the DL with elbow tendinitis. On Saturday afternoon, they announced that right-hander Johan Quezada has been promoted from Elizabethton to the Kernels.
• Following the Twins game, Paul Molitor announced that Johnny Field would be sent back to Rochester. He will be optioned with, most likely, Robbie Grossman returning from the Disabled List.

RED WINGS REPORT

Rochester 3, Toledo 2

Box Score

 

The Red Wings got some strong pitching and enough offense to get the win in this game. In the first inning, Byron Buxton doubled and scored on a double by Robbie Grossman. Buxton went 2-for-5 in with his sixth and seventh doubles. Grossman went 2-for-4 and is expected to return to Minneapolis on Sunday. Kennys Vargas went 2-for-4 including his 18th home run.

 

Jake Reed was the “opener” for the Red Wings. He gave up one run on two hits and a walk in the first inning. He struck out one. Chase De Jong came on and gave up one run on five hits over seven innings. He walked one and struck out four. DJ Baxendale worked a scoreless ninth inning to secure De Jong’s first win in the Twins organization and his first save of the season for the Red Wings.

 

 

CHATTANOOGA CHATTER

Game 1: Chattanooga 0, Mississippi 1

Box Score

 

Sean Poppen gave the Lookouts exactly what they needed in the first game on Saturday, a complete game. The right-hander from Harvard gave up just one run over six innings. The lone run came on the 16th home run of the season for Mississippi’s cleanup hitter Travis Demeritte.

 

Unfortunately, he only needed to go six innings because the Lookouts were shut out. The team had just five hits. Luis Arraez and Brian Navarreto each had two singles.

 

Game 2: Chattanooga 7, Mississippi 10

Box Score

 

The Lookouts went with an all-lefty bullpen game in Game 2. Andrew Vasquez started and gave up nothing over the first two innings. He struck out three. Sam Clay came on and got just two outs. He gave up four runs on four hits and a walk. Devin Smeltzer came on and got the next four outs, three on strikeouts. However, he was also charged with an unearned run on three hits. Tyler Jay got the final two innings. He gave up five runs (three earned) on five hits and two walks.

 

Jaylin Davis led the offense. He went 1-for-3, but he hit his fifth home run, a three-run shot and added a fourth RBI. Brent Rooker was 2-for-5 with his 31st double. Luis Arraez went 3-for-4. It was his third straight multi-hit game. Brian Navarreto was 2-for-3 with a walk. Luke Raley went 1-for-1 with two walks and was also hit by a pitch. Zander Wiel had a single and two walks.

 

 

MIRACLE MATTERS

Ft. Myers 0, Clearwater 4

Box Score

 

The Miracle bats just were not able to figure out Clearwater’s Mauricio Llovera. Well, except for Taylor Grzelakowski. “Gelly” had three of the team’s four hits. Royce Lewis had a single for the other.

 

Charlie Barnes started and gave up four runs on six hits and two walks over 3 1/3 innings. He struck out two. Colton Davis got the next five outs, three of them on strikeouts. He walked two. Alex Robinson threw two scoreless innings. Adam Bray threw two zeroes on the board as well.

 

Alex Kirilloff went 0-for-3 with a walk. It was his second straight game without a hit. He hadn’t gone back-to-back games without a hit since July 7th and 8th.

 

 

KERNELS NUGGETS

Cedar Rapids 1, Wisconsin 2

Box Score

 

This was quite the pitcher’s duel. Jhoan Duran threw seven innings and gave up just one run on five hits. He struck out a career-high nine batters while not issuing a walk. Unfortunately, the TimberRattlers’ starter, Dylan File, also threw seven innings of one-run ball.

 

Starter Randy Dobnak, whose most recent appearance lasted just one inning before the rains came, worked a scoreless eighth inning. However, an error to lead off the ninth was followed by two strikeouts. Unfortunately, they were followed by two singles which ended the game.

 

Strikeouts were a big part of this game. Kernels pitchers combined to strike out 11. Meanwhile, Kernels batters struck out 13 times. Michael Helman led the way by going 3-for-4 including his first triple with the Kernels.

 

 

E-TWINS E-TALK

Elizabethton 3, Bluefield 4

Box Score

 

Big runs in the ninth, but unfortunately Bluefield ended their ninth with one more run and the win.

 

Austin Schulfer started for the Twins and worked five shutout innings. He gave up two hits, walked three and struck out four. Jacob Blank came on and gave up two runs on four hits over his two innings. He also struck out four. But then came the rain and there was a delay. When the game returned, Zach Neff worked a scoreless eighth inning.

 

Yunior Severino went 2-for-4 with his eighth double. Alex Robles hit his ninth double. But the score was tied 2-2 going into the ninth.

 

Chris Williams, who had a sacrifice fly earlier in the game, blasted his 15th home run to give the E-Twins a 3-2 lead in the top of the ninth.

 

 

However, Neff returned for the ninth inning. He gave up a solo homer to lead off the inning to re-tie the game, this time at three. He gave up a single, and then on a sacrifice bunt, Neff had an error. He was able to coax a double play, but a two-out single ended the game.

 

 

GCL TWINS TALK

Game 1 - GCL Twins 2, GCL Red Sox 4

Box Score

 

This game started on Friday and went four innings before the rains came and the game was suspended. Donny Breek had started and went the first 3 1/3 innings. He gave up four runs (three earned) on six hits and two walks. He struck out five. Denny Bentley came on and got the next two outs, one on a strikeout.

 

When play resumed on Saturday morning, Landon Leach took the mound. He worked two scoreless, hitless innings. He walked one, hit one and struck out two batters. Petru Balan pitched the final inning. He gave up a hit and a walk, but no runs.

 

Rehabbing Shane Carrier went 2-for-3 with both of the Twins RBIs. Tyler Webb added a double. Austin Hale had a walk and his second double.

 

Game 2 - GCL Twins 2, GCL Red Sox 4

Box Score

 

Kai-Wei Teng gave up three runs in the first inning, but the right-hander from Taiwan went four innings and gave up four total runs on seven hits. He walked two and struck out four batters. Osiris German struck out the side in the fifth inning, and Junior Navas worked a scoreless inning as well.

 

Victor Tademo led the offense with a 3-for-3 game. Agustin Marte went 2-for-4. Alberoni Nunez hit his first triple. Tyler Webb added his third double.

 

 

STARS OF THE DAY

Twins Daily Hitter of the Day: Luis Arraez, Chattanooga Lookouts (5-7).

Twins Daily Pitcher of the Day: Jhoan Duran, Cedar Rapids Kernels (7 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 9 K)

 

PROSPECT SUMMARY

Here’s a look at how the Twins Daily Midseason Top 20 Twins Prospects performed.

 

#1 - Royce Lewis (Ft. Myers) - 1-4

#2 - Alex Kirilloff (Ft. Myers) - 0-3, BB

#3 - Brusdar Graterol (Ft. Myers) - Did not pitch

#4 - Nick Gordon (Rochester) - 1-5, RBI, 3K, SB(10)

#5 - Stephen Gonsalves (Rochester) - Did not pitch

#6 - Trevor Larnach (Cedar Rapids) - 1-4, RBI, 2 K

#7 - Brent Rooker (Chattanooga) - 0-3, K | 2-5, 2B(31), 2 R, K

#8 - Akil Baddoo (Cedar Rapids) - 0-4, 3K

#9 -Wander Javier - out of for the season

#10 - Zack Littell (Rochester) - Did not pitch

#11 - Blayne Enlow (Cedar Rapids) - Did not pitch

#12 - LaMonte Wade (Rochester) - 0-4, K

#13 - Travis Blankenhorn (Ft. Myers) - 0-4, 2 K

#14 - Lewis Thorpe (Rochester) - Did not pitch

#15 - Ben Rortvedt (Ft. Myers) - 0-4

#16 - Yunior Severino (Elizabethton) - 2-4, 2B(8), R, K

#17 - Lewin Diaz (Ft. Myers) - Out for the season (wrist)

#18 - Ryan Jeffers (Cedar Rapids) - 0-4, 2K

#19 - Jacob Pearson (Cedar Rapids) - 1-3

#20 - Luis Arraez (Chattanooga) - 2-3 | 3-4

#21 - Jose Miranda (Ft. Myers) - 0-3, BB

*Since Wander Javier is out, I’d add #21 to the list.

 

 

SUNDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS

Rochester @ Toledo (5:05 CST) - LHP Stephen Gonsalves (9-3, 2.96 ERA)

Chattanooga @ Montgomery (5:05 CST) - RHP Jorge Alcala (2-5, 3.99 ERA)

Clearwater @ Ft. Myers (1:00 CST) - RHP Griffin Jax (3-1, 3.16 ERA)

Cedar Rapids @ Wisconsin (1:05 CST) - RHP Edwar Colina (6-4, 2.55 ERA)

Johnson City @ Elizabethton (DH @ 5:00 CST) - TBD, TBD

GCL Twins - No Games Scheduled on Sundays

 

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

 

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[108Stitches]

Poppen getting the Wells treatment; great pitching, zero run support.

[Han Joelo]

I thought Alcala had been scheduled tonight, so I was worried when I didn't see him in the box score. Glad to see him on the docket.

 

Nice to see Duran pitch well.

[Seth Stohs]

 

I thought Alcala had been scheduled tonight, so I was worried when I didn't see him in the box score. Glad to see him on the docket.

Nice to see Duran pitch well.

 

I'm not 100% sure on Alcala starting on Sunday. He was listed for today, but they went with the bullpen game, probably in part because of the Poppen performance. 

[nater79a]

Trevor Larnach this week in six games (23 PA): .136/.174/.273 (.447)

This is not counting his 1-4 tonight.  Not striking out a ton but not taking many walks either.

 

Just a run-of-the-mill slump?  Or perhaps starting to hit the wall after a long spring of OSU Beaver baseball  + playoffs + College World Series + half season of minor league ball?

[clutterheart]

Arraez looks ready to grab 2B for the Twins sometime in 2019. But I do like he is playing all over the field.

If he adds some more power as he gets older he is going to be special.

[RaymondLuxuryYacht]

Excited to see Johan Q get the promotion to CR.   Has a great chance if he can keep the walks under control.

[AZTwin]

Arraez missed a year of development but still only 21. Looking like a gem

 

Duran is looking like a real interesting pick up

[rdehring]

Nice games from Buxton and Grossman.  Expect you are right and Grossman will be at Target Field today.  Best to let Buxton have another ten days to feel real good and then bring him up on September 1.

 

Arraez has not hit for an average under .309 in his career.  After a slow couple weeks following his promotion, he has his average at AA over .300 (over .400 in August and today is the 19th).  No reason to expect he will have anything other than a lot of multi-hit games the rest of the season.  This also appears to answer any question about his going on the 40-man and his future with the Twins.  Only question for me is when?

 

This year's first and second picks are both doing well at Cedar Rapids, but the shining star appears to be Helman.  Highly unlikely he can continue hitting .422, but what a pleasant surprise.  Or is it?

 

Great seeing Duran come back with another fantastic outing.  Maybe someone at the Strib should forward the box score to Patrick Reusse.

 

 

[drivlikejehu]

Helman is hitting a ton of singles at CR, nothing to get that excited about yet.

[David HK]

I'm not sure how I feel about this "opener" motif. 

 

But I am sure about how the Twinks' minor leaguers are pulling it off. It seems every time I read one of these, the "opener" has put the team in a hole in the first. 

 

It could be an interesting tactic, and several teams look like they're trying it- but come on, boys, if you're gonna be the opener, maybe open something besides the floodgates.

[BJames]

I'm hoping Arraez gets invited to ST.  I think he's got to be in the Mix for a spot on the 40 man roster next year.  

[Seth Stohs]

this monring, Twins announced:

 

Ervin Santana to the DL.

Robbie Grossman activated from the DL.

Johnny Field optioned.

Alan Busenitz recalled.

 

Also, Stephen Gonsalves will start for the Twins on Monday.

[AZTwin]

 

this monring, Twins announced:

 

Ervin Santana to the DL.

Robbie Grossman activated from the DL.

Johnny Field optioned.

Alan Busenitz recalled.

 

Also, Stephen Gonsalves will start for the Twins on Monday.

Looking forward to the Gonsalves start!

[Seth Stohs]

 

Helman is hitting a ton of singles at CR, nothing to get that excited about yet.

 

Hit his first homer today in the 1st inning... 

[mikelink45]

Grossman got his hits, but I would still call up Wade.  Field goes down, will we miss him?  Grossman and Vargas both got two hits.  I would bring up Vargas. 

[MN_ExPat]

 

Helman is hitting a ton of singles at CR, nothing to get that excited about yet.

Oh, I'm going to get excited and there's nothing you can do about it Sir...