Twins Minor League Report (5/2): Olivar and Salas Power Kernels to Win

[Ted Schwerzler]

With all four Twins affiliates in action on Thursday night, it was only the Cedar Rapids Kernels that secured a Win. A particular outfielder remained in action for St. Paul, and a top prospect had a tough start for Fort Myers.

Image courtesy of Seth Stohs, Twins Daily

TRANSACTIONS

• Recently DFA’d Matt Bowman traded to Arizona for cash considerations. 
• Caleb Boushley was optioned back to the Saints and made his regularly-scheduled start. 

SAINTS SENTINEL
Louisville 8, St. Paul 4
Box Score
It was an eventful 30 or so hours for Caleb Boushley who was promoted to the Twins, traveled to Chicago, did not pitch, and returned to start for St. Paul on Thursday night. He worked 4 2/3  innings allowing a pair of runs on five hits. Boushley walked one and struck out no one.

Alex Isola kicked off the scoring with a sacrifice fly that scored Austin Martin. The Twins outfield prospect playing in this game, especially following a rainy day, seems to be a decent suggestion as to how Minnesota center fielder Byron Buxton’s knee is responding. The Saints put up a pair of solid defensive plays to highlight the early action as well with DaShawn Keirsey Jr. and Michael Helman contributing. In the 3rd inning, Keirsey Jr. cracked a solo shot for his fourth big fly of the season.

A two-run homer in the 5th inning evened things up, and Louisville knocked Boushley out of the game while taking the lead and scoring two more in the frame. The Saints didn’t allow the lead to bombard them though as Keirsey drove in Martin to bring them within one during the bottom half, and with the bases empty, Matt Wallner launched his second Triple-A homer to tie it.

Ronny Henriquez worked himself into trouble during the 6th inning, and the Bats made him pay, adding a pair of runs to make it a 6-4 game. Still looking to debut with the Twins, Josh Staumont turned in a solid first inning of relief while striking out a pair. Back out to make it a multi-inning night, he got former Saints utility man Hernan Perez on strikes before giving up a solo shot and walking the next batter. Going 3-2 to Rece Hinds, Staumont picked up his fourth strikeout of the night. Getting a fly ball from the next batter, he ended the inning.

Needing a late inning comeback the Saints went down in order before Hobie Harris came on for the 9th inning. He gave up another run and the St. Paul hole grew. Martin stepped in as the final out but drew a walk before Keirsey went down on strikes. Only Keirsey finished with a multi-hit game for the Saints.

WIND SURGE WISDOM
NW Arkansas 12, Wichita 3
Box Score

Veteran A.J. Alexy started Thursday night, and it was all downhill from the jump. Getting just four outs, Alexy gave up six runs on five hits and a trio of walks. He struck out one. Hunter McMahon came on in relief and allowed another three runs on three hits spanning 1 2/3 innings of work.

Down 9-0 after just three innings of action, the Wind Surge were up against it early on Thursday night. Continuing the onslaught against Wichita pitching, the Travelers added three more runs against Rafael Marcano in the 5th inning to make it a 12-0 game.

Tanner Schobel put the good guys on the board for the first time in the 6th inning when his first home run of the season brought home Emmanuel Rodriguez. It was Schobel again in the 7th inning, this time ripping a single to score Jorel Ortega and their third run of the game.

That's where the scoring stood the rest of the way, and Wichita dropped a game with a nine-run deficit. Schobel was joined by Carson McCusker as the lone Wind Surge hitters to record a pair of hits on the evening. Both Taylor Floyd and Jared Solomon worked scoreless relief outings for Wichita.

KERNELS NUGGETS
Cedar Rapids 4, Peoria 1
Box Score
Threatened by rain throughout the day, the tarp came off and this one was underway. Miguelangel Boadas took the ball for the Kernels on Thursday night and turned in 4 2/3 innings of solid work. Giving up just one run on two hits and a pair of walks, the Cedar Rapids starter also struck out seven.

Rubel Cespedes opened up the scoring with a 3rd inning ground out that scored Willie Joe Garry Jr. Peoria was able to tie things at one in the 5th inning, but Cedar Rapids went back to work in the 6th inning. Jose Salas hit his first home run of the year to regain the lead before Misael Urbina doubled home Agustin Ruiz. In the 7th inning the Kernels tacked on again when Ricardo Olivar launched a solo shot, his third of the year, to make it a 4-1 game.

Jacob Wosinski stayed in for a six-out save and was able to get the job done, closing out the victory for Cedar Rapids. The seven hits were split between seven different players and only Danny De Andrade failed to reach base. 

MUSSEL MATTERS
Bradenton 8, Fort Myers 0
Box Score
Two of the bottom teams in the Florida State League West squared off on Thursday night and it was all Bradenton. Pitching prospect Charlee Soto was on the mound for Fort Myers, but it was a night he’d rather forget. Working 3 1/3 innings, Soto allowed eight runs (six earned) on eight hits. He did avoid any free passes while striking out four.

Four runs in both the 2nd and 4th inning by the Marauders were enough to carry them to victory. Fort Myers managed just a single hit all evening, and they struck out 11 times. Leadoff batter Maddux Houghton was the only Mighty Mussels player to get in the hit column. Ruiz recorded three of the four walks with Brandon Winokur taking the other.

TWINS DAILY MINOR LEAGUE PLAYERS OF THE DAY
Pitcher of the Day – Miguelangel Boadas (Cedar Rapids) - 4.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 7 K
Hitter of the Day – DaShawn Keirsey Jr. (St. Paul) - 2-4, R, HR(4), 2 RBI, K

PROSPECT SUMMARY
#3 – Emmanuel Rodriguez (Wichita) – 1-3, R, BB, K
#7 – Austin Martin (St. Paul) – 1-2, 2 R, 3 BB
#9 – Charlee Soto (Fort Myers) – 3.1 IP, 8 H, 8 R, 6 ER, 0 BB, 4 K
#10 – Brandon Winokur (Fort Myers) – 0-3, BB
#11 – Tanner Schobel (Wichita) – 2-4, R, 3 RBI, HR(1)
#12 – Luke Keaschall (Cedar Rapids) – 1-3, BB
#15 – Danny De Andrade (Cedar Rapids) – 0-4
#16 – Yunior Severino (St. Paul) – 0-4, 2 K
#17 – Matt Canterino (IL) – Shoulder injury
#18 – Connor Prielipp (IL) – UCL Surgery
#19 – Ricardo Olivar (Cedar Rapids) – 1-4, R, HR(3), RBI, K

FRIDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS
St. Paul vs Louisville (6:37 PM CST) – RHP Louie Varland (0-0, 1.80 ERA)
Wichita @ NW Arkansas (7:05 PM CST) – RHP Marco Raya (0-0, 2.38 ERA)
Cedar Rapids vs Peoria (6:35 PM CST) – RHP Zebby Matthews (3-0, 2.30 ERA)
Fort Myers @ Bradenton (5:30 PM CST) – RHP Paulshawn Pasqualotto (0-1, 3.00 ERA)

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

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[blindeke]

Yikes.

[Fat Calvin]

So, who's being called up to replace Boushley? Alcala? Topa?

[Old Crow]

Out side of Martin not much help in St. Paul right now.

[Dman]

Rough day to watch the affiliates.  Neither the pitching or hitting was very good for the most part.  Happy Cedar Rapids found a way to win. They are the one team hovering around .500 at least.  The farm feels a bit depleted this year. Hopefully the warmer weather brings better things.

[terrydactyls]

55 minutes ago, Old Crow said:

Out side of Martin not much help in St. Paul right now.

DaShaun Kiersey, Jr. is batting .291, has an OPS of .899, and has stolen 8 bases.  Just because he's an ancient 27 years old is no reason to overlook him.

[LambchoP]

I'm intrigued by Kiersey Jr. Looks like he plays a good center field too. Maybe give him a shot when Buxton goes on the IL? My guess is they call up Martin again though, which I'm cool with. He's fun to watch

[HrbieFan]

Rubel Cespedes is having quite a monster start to the year.  

[D.C Twins]

When is 'Cash Considerations' first start? Please tell me that they will let Cash pitch over 80 pitches and the third time through the order if he is flush with...er....talent.

[Rosterman]

Someone explain the Boushley move to me. A guy who is you take him off he 40-man would walk? Why not just keep Funderburk? Until you need Topa. Does Alcala go, and you can only send guys up-and-down so many times during the season.