Minor League Report (7/15): Funder-Struck and Encarnacion-Stranded

[Lucas Seehafer PT]

Christian Encarnacion-Strand continued his mammoth season while Kody Funderburk pitched a gem to propel the Wind Surge to victory. 

 

 

TRANSACTIONS

• INF Spencer Steer reported to Future's Game
• OF Matt Wallner reported to Future's Game
• C Caleb Hamilton promoted from Triple-A St. Paul to Minnesota Twins
• RHP Hunter Wood on 7-Day IL for the Saints. 
• RHP Tyler Palm promoted from High-A Cedar Rapids to Double-A Wichita
• RHP Alex Scherff placed on IL

SAINTS SENTINEL
Toledo 7, St. Paul 3
Box Score

Jake Cave (2-for-4, 2 2B, 2 R) and Jermaine Palacios (2-for-4, 2 2B, 2 RBI, R) contributed the bulk of the Saints offense and all of their extra-base hits, an effort that was ultimately not enough to best the Mud Hens. Miguel Sanó finished 0-for-4 with two strikeouts.

Aaron Sanchez started for St. Paul and allowed four runs in 5 2/3 innings. Ian Hamilton and Juan Minaya pitched the final 3 1/3 innings and combined to surrender three runs.

WIND SURGE WISDOM
Wichita 9, Arkansas 2
Box Score

It’s Christian Encarnacion-Strand’s world and we’re all just living in it. The Twins’ best power bat in the minors continued his incredible season with a two, home run performance in only his second Double-A game. He now has 26 to go along with 26 doubles and a .996 OPS in 98 career Minor League games. 

 

 

But his bat wasn’t the only one lighting up the night sky in Wichita Friday evening. Chris Williams (2-for-3, 2 RBI, 2 R, BB) also launched two home runs—his 14th and 15th of the season—while DeShawn Keirsey Jr. (4-for-4, 2 RBI, 2 R) *only* hit one. In total, the Wind Surge erupted for 12 hits with seven going for extra bases.

On the mound, lefty Kody Funderburk did more than enough. He pitched six innings and struck out eight while surrendering only one run and allowing five Travelers to reach base. 

KERNELS NUGGETS
Cedar Rapids 4, Beloit 2
Box Score

Aaron Sabato’s 10th home run of the season could not have come at a better time. The solo shot gave the Kernels a 3-2 lead in the top of the 8th inning, a lead they would ultimately not surrender. He finished 2-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored. Seth Gray drove in two runs and finished 1-for-3 with a double and a walk.

Sean Mooney was lights out on the mound after the first inning when he allowed two runs after Cedar Rapids scored two of their own in the top of the frame. Mooney finished with nine strikeouts and zero walks. Miguel Rodriguez and Bobby Milacki allowed only one Sky Carp batter to reach base in four innings of relief.

MUSSEL MATTERS
Fort Myers 6, Clearwater 1
Box Score
Fort Myers 7, Clearwater 4
Box Score

The Might Mussels came away with two victories over the Threshers in Fort Myers Friday.

They took Game 1 behind the bats of Carlos Aguiar (2-for-3, HR, 3 RBI, 2 R), Noah Cardenas (2-for-3, 2B, HR, RBI, 2 R), and Rubel Cespedes (1-for-3, 2B, RBI, R). Marco Raya and Malik Barrington combined to strike out seven and walk five, but the duo allowed only a single run and no extra-base hits.

During the second game, it was the bats of Misael Urbina (2-for-3, HR, 3 RBI, BB, R), Noah Miller (3-for-3, BB, R), Mikey Perez (2-for-3, 2 2B, RBI, R), and Keoni Cavaco (1-for-4, 2B, RBI, R) that pushed Fort Myers over Clearwater. The Mighty Mussels pitching staff once again struggled with walks—they allowed six compared to seven strikeouts—but they were able to limit the damage thanks to only one of the Threshers’ six hits going for extra bases (a double). 

COMPLEX CHRONICLES
FCL Red Sox 9, FCL Twins 3
Box Score

It was a difficult day at the plate and on the mound for the FCL Twins. 

Only one batter—Alexander Peña (2-for-3, BB)—registered multiple hits, both being singles. Danny De Andrade (1-for-4) and Breilin Ramirez (1-for-4, RBI, R) each contributed doubles.

Juan Nuñez started on the bump and struck out eight batters across four innings of work. However, he was saddled with the loss after surrendering three runs, two of them earned. 

DOMINICAN DAILIES
DSL Angels 5, DSL Twins 3
Box Score

Bryan Acuña (2-for-3, BB, R), José Rodriguez (1-for-3, HR, 2 RBI), and Yasser Mercedes (1-for-4, 3B, R) provided the thump for the DSL Twins lineup Friday afternoon, but it wasn’t enough to cover the DSL Angels and their 12 hits.

Christian Jimenez, Eduardo Soriano, and Juan Mercedes struck out seven combined and did not allow a walk, but ultimately weren’t able to overcome the Angles’ lineup.

TWINS DAILY MINOR LEAGUE PLAYERS OF THE DAY
Pitcher of the Day – Kody Funderburk (Wichita): 6 IP, 3 H, 1 R/ER, 2 BB, 8 K
Hitter of the Day – Christian Encarnacion-Strand (Wichita): 2-for-3, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 2 BB, 2 R

PROSPECT SUMMARY

We will again keep tabs on the Twins top prospects. You’ll probably read about them in the team sections, but if they aren’t there, you’ll see how they did here. Here’s a look at how the current Twins Daily Top 20 performed:

#8 - Noah Miller (Fort Myers) - 3-for-6, BB, R
#9 - Marco Raya (Fort Myers) - 4 IP, 3 H, 1 R/ER, 2 BB, 4 K
#15 - Edouard Julien (Wichita) - 1-for-4, R
#16 - Christian Encarnacion-Strand (Wichita) - 2-for-3, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 2 BB, 2 R

SATURDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS
St. Paul vs. Toledo (7:07 PM CST) - RHP Mario Sanchez (4-3, 3.24 ERA)
Wichita vs. Arkansas (6:05 PM CST) - RHP Daniel Gossett (1-1, 2.22 ERA) 
Cedar Rapids @ Beloit (6:35 PM CST) - LHP Brent Headrick (7-2, 2.39 ERA)
Fort Myers vs. Clearwater (6:00 PM CST) - RHP Pierson Ohl (4-4, 4.42 ERA) 

 

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[RJA]

Thanks for the detailed summary, Lucas. Three thoughts. CES is a great power bat, but do you think he is better than Wallner?  It would be an interesting comparison article I think. Glad we have both!  Second, Raya continues to impress.  The Twins are going easy with him this year which is the right approach, but I think as he gains strength and has another off season to refine his stuff, he could have a real breakout year next year.  Finally, it is great to see Hamilton in the bigs. He has worked hard and put in his time, and now he gets the reward. Good for him. I am pulling for him. 

[puckstopper1]

Sano looks great in a Saints uniform - so much so that he should wear it the rest of the season...

[Dave The Dastardly]

Loved the headline! And really appreciate the report!