Twins Minor League Report (5/4): May the Fourth Be With Them

[Ted Schwerzler]

Although the Wichita Wind Surge was rained out tonight, the rest of Minnesota's system was in action and there were plenty of updates to filter in from the farm. No Star Wars shenanigans took place on the field, but there were more than a few notable performances.

Image courtesy of © Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports

TRANSACTIONS
None to report

SAINTS SENTINEL 
Nashville 10, St. Paul 8 (F/10)
Box Score

Brent Headrick, recently back from his debut with the Minnesota Twins, made the start tonight for St. Paul. He worked 3 2/3 innings, scattering seven hits that turned into four runs. Headrick did strike out nine while allowing no free passes.

The Saints jumped out to an early lead with a four-spot in the 1st inning. Kyle Garlick singled allowing both Edouard Julien and Michael Helman to score before Ryan LaMarre drove in Garlick with a single of his own. Chris Williams finished the frame with his third double of the season to score LaMarre, and the good guys were off and running.

After allowing six Nashville runs to cross the plate, St. Paul got back to work. Julien crushed his third homer of the season to draw within one, and then his single in the 6th inning plated Williams and Elliot Soto to regain the lead. Ryan LaMarre crushed his third homer of the season to provide a bit of additional insurance, and it was needed in the 9th inning.

Former Twins prospect Brian Navarreto singled off of Kody Funderburk to pull Nashville within one. Rather than grab his second Triple-A save, Funderburk allowed the tying run to score on a Payton Henry single. With Connor Sadzeck on in the 10th inning, Nashville went back to work and added a pair of runs to put themselves back in the lead. With St. Paul unable to answer in the 10th, that's where this one would end.

Although he is no longer rehabbing, Alex Kirilloff continues to produce for the Saints. Tonight he was 1-for-4 with a double. Kyle Farmer had the night off. The Saints picked up a franchise record 19 strikeouts on the evening.

WIND SURGE WISDOM

Scheduled to square off against NW Arkansas after their 3-1 victory last night, the Wichita Wind Surge saw the action tonight get banged. With the contest canceled due to weather, the clubs will play a doubleheader tomorrow night. Carlos Luna is expected to start game one for Wichita.

KERNELS NUGGETS
Cedar Rapids 8, South Bend 1
Box Score

The Kernels turned to Orlando Rodriguez for the start this evening and he was nothing short of extraordinary. Working five innings allowing only a single unearned run, Rodriguez worked around five hits while punching out six and ceded no free passes. The dominant effort on the mound was more than enough on a night where the lineup did heavy lifting on its own.

Cedar Rapids quickly gave Rodriguez a lead when Jose Salas singled in Ben Ross during the opening frame. After things were evened up in the bottom half, Kala’i Rosario singled in the 5th inning to plate both Ernie Yake and Noah Cardenas.

The 6th inning turned the game into a blowout. Keoni Cavaco brought in Jeferson Morales with a double, and then Yake sent Cavaco home with a triple of his own. Ross found a way on thanks to a throwing error that allowed Yake to score, and Cardenas then doubled to bring him home. When the dust settled it was a four-run inning that led to a 7-1 lead.

Rosario contributed again on a line drive in the 8th inning to score Ross, and the 8-1 lead held up as a final tally. Rosario posted a three-hit game on the evening with both Cavaco and Yake grabbing a pair of their own.

MUSSEL MATTERS
Dunedin 6, Fort Myers 5
Box Score

Zebby Matthews was on the mound tonight for Fort Myers and while he continued to rack up strikeouts, he did give up some traffic on the evening. Across four innings of work, Matthews allowed four runs (three earned) on nine hits. His eight strikeouts came with only one walk.

Dunedin jumped out to an early lead scoring on an RBI single in the 1st inning. Rubel Cespedes did answer things for the Mighty Mussels when he singled in Andrew Cossetti during the bottom half however.

From there, it was largely Dunedin’s ballgame. They plated two more in the 3rd inning, and a double steal of Ricardo Olivar and Jorel Ortega saw the latter swipe home.

Trailing 6-2 entering their final at bats of the night, Ortega again came through as he ripped his 9th double of the season, scoring Yohander Martinez, Fort Myers was within three. Fort Myers made things even more interesting after a Carlos Aguiar single brough in Ortega, and then Cossetti singled to drive him in. Down one with runners on second and third, that's where the rally ended. Ultimately, the 15 hits by Dunedin were too much to overcome.

Ortega was the lone hitter to record multiple hits on the evening, but Cossetti was given his due earlier in the day being named the Florida State League player of the month. During April he slashed an incredible .339/.474/.678 and tallied a league-best 20 RBI.

TWINS DAILY MINOR LEAGUE PLAYERS OF THE DAY
Pitcher of the Day – Orlando Rodriguez (Cedar Rapids) - 5.0 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 6 K
Hitter of the Day – Edouard Julien (St. Paul) - 2-4, 2 R, 3 RBI, HR(3), BB

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:

#5 - Edouard Julien (St. Paul) - 2-4, 2 R, 3 RBI, HR(3), BB
#8 - Jose Salas (Cedar Rapids) - 1-5,  RBI, K
#11 - Matt Wallner (St. Paul) - 1-5, 3 K
#18 - Tanner Schobel (Cedar Rapids) - 1-4, BB
#20 - Misael Urbina (Cedar Rapids) - 0-5

FRIDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS
Nashville @ St. Paul (6:37PM CST) - RHP Simeon Woods Richardson
Wichita @ NW Arkansas (5:00PM CST) - RHP Carlos Luna
Cedar Rapids @ South Bend (6:05PM CST) - RHP Marco Raya
Dunedin @ Fort Myers (6:00PM CST) - LHP Develson Aria

Please feel free to ask questions and discuss Thursday’s games!

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[FlyingFinn]

The box score actually shows Rosario with 4 hits. Great night for him.

[Doctor Wu]

As always, thanks for these minor league reports. Very much appreciated! I particularly like following Ft. Myers, being an old fan of the Florida State League. I used to live in Orlando and followed the Orlando Twins when they were in the FSL, and later when they were "elevated" to become a AA club. Those were the Gardenhire/Knoblauch years! Going back even further, my grandfather was one of the early presidents of the FSL. Great memories of some cool teams back in the 1960s, 70s and 80s. 

[roger]

Double down on the positive comments about Rosario.  Not only did he get four hits last night, he is 8-12 this week.  

I understand that EST or the Complex League teams are playing some games.  I don't think their box scores can be found anywhere.  At last report, Royce Lewis is playing in some of these games.  Do any of the guys at TD who are in the know have any information on how he is doing?