Twins Minor League Report (6/20): Matt Wallner, Cody Morissette Power Saints to Second-Straight Walkoff Win

[Seth Stohs]

Image courtesy of Rob Thompson (photo of Cody Morissette)

TRANSACTIONS   
Kyle DeBarge was activated from the temporarily inactive list. 

Poncho Ruiz was placed on the 7-Day injured list. 

RHP Abraham Martinez was signed to the Twins. He is a 17 year old from Venezuela who will join the DSL Twins roster soon.   

SAINTS SENTINEL
St. Paul 7, Omaha 6 (10 innings)    
Box Score
For the second straight game, the Saints were able to win on a walkoff. The game truly was a back-and-forth game and came down to a two-out game-winner by a guy with less than a week with the team. 

Omaha scored a run in the top of the first inning. So in the bottom of the inning, Matt Wallner hit a one-out solo homer to tie the game at 1-1. It was his ninth Saints homer. 

Omaha scored a run in the top of the second inning. So, in the bottom of the inning, Cody Morissette led off with a home run, his second of the week with the team, to tie the game at 2-2. 

Omaha scored two runs in the top of the third inning. So, in the bottom of the inning, David Banuelos was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning. With one out, Matt Wallner drilled his second homer of the game, his 10th with the Saints, to tie the game at 4-4. 

Omaha scored zero runs in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings. So, the Saints scored zero runs in the fourth, fifth and sixth inning.   

Omaha scored a run in the top of the seventh inning. So, in the bottom of the seventh, Ben Ross led off with his 15th Saints double. With one out, Henry Kusiak’s fourth double drove in Ross. With two outs, Gabriel Gonzalez singled to center to drive in Kusiak with the go-ahead run to make it 6-5. 

Omaha scored a run in the top of the eighth inning. Having scored an extra run in the seventh, the Saints didn’t score in the bottom of the eighth frame. 

Both teams went scoreless in the ninth inning, so we got a little Overtime! 

Omaha went scoreless in the top of the tenth inning. Matt Wallner started the bottom of the 10th inning as the Manfred Man on second base. With one out, he stole third base. On 2-2 with two outs, Cody Morissette lined the eighth pitch of the at-bat to right field to drive in Wallner with the winning run.   

Ryan Gallagher made the start. He gave up four runs on seven hits (2 home runs) and two walks. He struck out three. C.J. Culpepper got a strikeout to end the fifth inning. Ty Langenberg came in and gave up two runs on four hits and two walks over three innings. He struck out three batters. Grant Hartwig struck out two batters over two scoreless innings. 

Wallner went 3-for-5 with his ninth and 10th home runs. He drove in three runs. Morissette went 3-for-5 with his second homer and the game-winner. Henry Kusiak went 2-for-4 with his fourth double. Ben Ross and David Banuelos each added a double. Ross also walked twice.  

WIND SURGE WISDOM
Wichita 3, Springfield 5
Box Score
The Surge took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second innings when Jose Salas launched his sixth home run of the season. 

That was it for the Wichita offense until two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning when Kyle DeBarge hit his seventh home run of the season. DeBarge returned to the Wind Surge lineup after spending a few days on the temporary inactive list. 

Sam Armstrong made the start for the Surge. He gave up one run on three hits and a walk over the first five innings. He had five strikeouts. Important to note, he was pitching on just three days rest. In his two starts against Springfield this week, he gave up two runs (1 earned) on four hits and two walks. He had 10 strikeouts. He has now made five starts in June and his 1-1 with a 2.74 ERA in 23 innings. 

Sam Ryan came in and gave up only a solo home run over his two innings. Jaylen Nowlin gave up two runs (1 earned) on one hit and one walk. Jacob Webb gave up one run on a solo homer in the ninth.

Wichita had just three hits and walked seven times in this game .Khadim Diaw walked twice. Salas and Maddux Houghton each had a hit and a walk.     

KERNELS CHRONICLE 
Cedar Rapids 3, Beloit 9
Box Score
Beloit scored five runs in the third and three more in the sixth inning to win a bit of a laugher in Iowa.

Eston Stull started a bullpen game. He gave up three hits but no runs in the first two innings. He had three strikeouts and no walks. Veteran Jesse Bergin made his Kernels debut. He got two outs in the third inning and was charged with five runs on two hits, two walks and a hit batter. Michael Ross came in with the Kernels down 2-1.Two singles later, all three inherited runners scored and it was 5-1. Ross tossed three more innings and gave up three of his own runs on four more hits and a walk. Mitch Mueller gave up one run on one hit (a solo homer) over two innings. Ivran Romero pitched a scoreless ninth. 

The Kernels scored one run in three separate innings. In the bottom of the second, Yasser Mercedes singles, stole second and scored on a balk. In the fourth inning, Jay Thomason walked, went to second on a wild pitch and scored on a Miguel Briceno single. In the sixth Enrique Jimenez led off with a double and scored on a Thomason single. 

The Kernels had just five hits and two walks. Jimenez’s double was his first with the Kernels. 

Marek Houston and Walker Jenkins both got the day off. Could Houston be heading to Texas (Midland) to join the Wind Surge next week? Could Jenkins go with him, or should he just head north to St. Paul and join the Saints in Louisville next week? 

MIGHTY MATTERS
Ft. Myers 13, Tampa 11
Box Score  
The Mussels had two big innings. The Tarpons had one big inning. The Mussels came out on top of a back-and-forth, entertaining game. 

Jason Reitz started and gave up two runs on four hits and a walk in 3 1/3 innings. He had three strikeouts. The runs came on solo homers by Logan Maxwell and Luis Escudero.     

The Mussels tied the score at one when Luis Fragoza scored on a wild pitch in the top of the third inning. Then down 2-1, Fort  Myers put up a four on the scoreboard in the top of the fourth. Ryan Sprock led off with a single. He scored on a JP Smith single that tied the game at 2-2. Jayson Bass doubled to drive in Smith. Quentin Young then crushed a two-run homer to make it 5-2. 

Merit Jones came on and was changed with seven runs on eight hits and a walk over the next two innings. Jonathan Stevens went 1 1/3 innings and gave up two runs on four hits and two walks. After a six-run bottom of the sixth inning, the Mussels found themselves behind 9-5. 

How did Fort Myers respond? Pretty well, I’d say. They scored seven runs in the top of the seventh inning to reclaim the lead, 12-9. Irvin Nunez led off the inning with a walk. Merphy Hernandez walked too. After a pitching change, the runners advanced on a wild pitch. Dameury Pena singled to left to drive in Nunez. Sprock doubled to drive in two more runs. He moved to third on a wild pitch, and with one out, scored the tying run on a JP Smith "single."   

Jayson Bass was hit by a pitch, and Quentin Young walked to load the bases.  Luis Fragoza drove in two runs with a single. After another pitching change, Nunez was hit by a pitch to load the bases again. After a fielder’s choice kept another run from scoring, a wild pitch gave the Mussels a 12-9 lead. 

In the top of the ninth, Bass provided a little insurance with his seventh home run of the season. 

Nick McAuliffe gave up a hit, walked three, and had struck out two batters over 1 2/3 scoreless innings. Brent Francisco got the final two outs to earn the save. 

Bass went 3-for-4 with his ninth double and seventh home run. He also threw out a runner at second base. Sprock went 2-for-5 with his eighth double. Smith was 2-for-5. The team was efficient. They were 6-for-11 with runners in scoring position, and they only left four runners on base. 

COMPLEX CHRONICLES
FCL Twins 8, FCL Red Sox 1 (suspended in 4th inning)
Box Score  
This game was delayed and eventually suspended due to rain in Fort Myers. There was one out in the top of the fourth inning. The Twins have runners on the corners and four runs already in. 

Of note, Adrian Bohorquez made a rehab start. He struck out two batters and walked one over two scoreless, hitless innings. 

In the top of the third inning, Daiber De Los Santos led off with a walk. Daniel Pena was then hit by a pitch. After a pitching change, Jhomnardo Reyes walked to load the bases. Carlos Taveras followed with a ground-rule double to drive in two runs. Yovanny Duran singled to drive in two more and give the Twins the 4-0 lead.

The top of the fourth inning began with walks to Yilber Herrera and Darwin Almanzar. Jose Barrios reached on an error to lead the bases. De Los Santos walked again to make it 5-1. Daniel Pena singled to drive in two more runs. Reyes grounded into a force out, but De Los Santos scored to make it 8-1. And that’s when the game was delayed and ultimately suspended.  

The game will continue next Friday when the Twins make the short trek over to Jet Blue Stadium again. 

DSL Twins 5, DSL Rockies 4
Box Score  
The Twins jumped out to an early lead in the top of the first inning. Daiyer Barboza reached on an error. He proceeded to steal second and third bases. After Juan Holmann walked and Jhon Gonzalez was hit by a pitch, Anibal Beltre flew out, deep enough to score Barboza.  

The Rockies tied the game in the bottom of the second. The Twins responded by scoring two runs in the top of the third inning. Holmann led off with a walk. He stole second, and with two outs, he scored on a single by Abel Sosa. Sosa then stole second and scored on a Luis Duarte single. 

The Rockies cut the Twins lead to 3-2 with a run in the bottom of the third. The Twins responded by scoring two runs in the top of the fourth inning. Misael Rodriguez led off with a single and stole second base. He advanced to third base on a ground out. Holmann walked, and on the final pitch Rodriguez scored on a passed ball. Holmann stole second and later scored on a ground out to make it 5.2 Twins.

The Rockies scored a single run in the bottom of the fourth, and another in the bottom of the seventh, but the Twins held on for the 5-4 win. 

Manuel Meza started and was charged with one run on three walks over two innings. He struck out two batters. 16-year-old Sebastian Echavarria was next on the mound. He gave up two runs (1 earned) on two hits and two walks in 1 1/3 innings. He struck out two. Juan Collado gave up one run on two hits over three innings. He had four strikeouts but walked five batters. Aldwin Morillo came on and got the final two outs, one on a strikeout, to record his first save. 

The Twins had five runs on seven hits and five walks. Luis Duarte went 2-for-4. Misael Rodriguez went 2-for-3. Juan Holmann walked three times. He stole his sixth and seventh bases. 

PLAYERS OF THE DAY
Hitter(s) of the Day  
Jayson Bass (Fort Myers): 3-for-5, 2B(9), HR(7), 3 R, 2 RBI, K
Matt Wallner (St. Paul): 3-for-5, 2-HR(10), 3 R, 3 RBI, K, SB(2)
Cody Morissette (St. Paul): 3-for-5, HR(2), R, 2 RBI, K. 

Pitcher(s) of the Day 
Sam Armstrong (Wichita): 5 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 5 K, 54 pitches, 38 strikes (70.4%) 

PROSPECT SUMMARY
Check out the Prospect Tracker for much more on our Twins Top 20 prospects after seeing how they did today.

#4 - C Eduardo Tait (Cedar Rapids) - 0-for-4, 2 K (batted second, played DH).
#10 - OF Gabriel Gonzalez (St. Paul) - 1-for-5, RBI (batted first, played 1B) 
#12 - 3B/CF Brandon Winokur (Cedar Rapids) - 1-for-4, 2 K (batted first, played SS)
#13 - C/OF Khadim Diaw (Wichita) - 0-for-3, 2 BB, K (batted second, played C)
#14 - 3B/SS Quentin Young (Ft. Myers) - 1-for-4, BB, HR(8), 2 RBI, R, 3 K. (batted sixth, played SS)
#15 - RHP Ryan Gallagher (St. Paul) - 4 2/3 IP, 7 H, 4 ER, 2 BB, 3 K, 63 pitches, 44 strikes (69.8%)
#17 - RHP C.J. Culpepper (St. Paul) - 1/3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 5 pitches, 4 strikes (80.0%)
#18 - OF Yasser Mercedes (Cedar Rapids) - 1-for-4, R, K, SB(15) (batted fourth, played CF) 
#19 - 1B/3B Billy Amick (Wichita) - 0-for-4, 3 K (batted third, played DH) 
#20 - 2B/SS/CF Kyle DeBarge (Wichita) - 1-for-4, HR(7), R, RBI, K (batted sixth, played SS)  

UPCOMING PROBABLES
Sunday, June 21
Omaha @ St. Paul (2:07 pm CT) - RHP Trent Baker (3-2, 5.52 ERA)
Springfield @ Wichita (1:05 pm CT) - RHP Cory Lewis (0-2, 4.57 ERA)
Beloit @ Cedar Rapids (1:05 pm CT) - LHP Dasan Hill (1-6, 6.82 ERA)  
Ft. Myers @ Tampa (11:00 am CT) - RHP Hendry Chivilli (0-1, 12.79 ERA)

CURRENT W-L Records
Minnesota Twins: 37-41 (3rd place (of 5) in AL Central, 4.5 GB))
St. Paul Saints: 42-31 (3rd place (of 10) in IL West Division, 3.5 GB))
Wichita Wind Surge: 25-41 (5th place (of 5) in TL North Division, 19.0 GB))
Cedar Rapids Kernels: 31-35 (4th place (of 6) in MWL West Division, 10.0 GB))
Fort Myers Mighty Mussels: 38-29 (2nd place (of 6) in FSL West Division, 2.5 GB))
FCL Twins: 19-16 (3rd place (of 6) in FCL South Division, 1.5 GB))
DSL Twins: 6-9 (4th place (of 7) in DSL East Division, 4.0 GB)) 

Please feel free to ask questions about the teams, the rosters, and discuss today’s games, or anything else Twins minor-league related!                                                                                                         

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[jaimedude]

Seems like Wallner may be earning his way back to the Twins. 

[Patzky]

3 hours ago, jaimedude said:

Seems like Wallner may be earning his way back to the Twins. 

His defense is unusable.. seems like himself and Bell could share DH and get Bell reps at first, Clemens- Lewis at 2nd as needed.

[mikelink45]

Who is ready to replace Lawrence in the pen?  

[DJL44]

4 hours ago, jaimedude said:

Seems like Wallner may be earning his way back to the Twins. 

Maybe after the trade deadline thins out the roster. Otherwise, he is waiting for someone to get injured.

[DJL44]

14 minutes ago, mikelink45 said:

Who is ready to replace Lawrence in the pen?  

Rojas is with the Twins, but he hasn’t pitched that well of late.

[Bangkok Twins Fan]

Cody Morissette

Yet another new name for me. Doesn't seem like much of a prospect at this point, but cool to see him with a game highlight.

[Jeff K]

With Bell heating up for the Twins, there is nowhere for Wallner to go unless Bell is traded.  Can't have two guys on the team that can't be on the field.

[jorgenswest]

2 hours ago, DJL44 said:

Rojas is with the Twins, but he hasn’t pitched that well of late.

Are you referring to one game? I think the only way to know how he is pitching and if he is healthy is what they see in practice. Is he also pitching poorly there?

[Mike Sixel]

Winokur and Young still playing shortstop..... Truly mind boggling.

I am fairly sure Wallner will be traded for a minor league pitcher, and then have a nice career someplace else. 

[jmlease1]

39 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

Winokur and Young still playing shortstop..... Truly mind boggling.

I am fairly sure Wallner will be traded for a minor league pitcher, and then have a nice career someplace else. 

I'm much less bothered about Young playing SS this season, but it seems nonsensical for Winokur to still be logging time there.

Might be right about Wallner. I think there's a lot of people around here that never want to see him in a Twins uniform ever again, but I'd rather not sell low on him. But he probably doesn't get another look unless someone like Bell or Clemens gets hurt. And the reality is we have other OF in the system that need a look sooner rather than later and have more complete player profiles.

Good to see DeBarge back on the field. Anyone know why he was out?

[soyouresayingtheresachance]

How has Wallners defense been at AAA? It was pretty awful at Target Field. With Bells bat coming around recently, would the team still call him up for another chance? Too many bat only poor defenders on the team already. 

[DJL44]

2 minutes ago, soyouresayingtheresachance said:

How has Wallners defense been at AAA? It was pretty awful at Target Field. With Bells bat coming around recently, would the team still call him up for another chance? Too many bat only poor defenders on the team already. 

It has been pretty much the same defense in St. Paul.

[Obsvr]

6 hours ago, Bangkok Twins Fan said:

Cody Morissette

Yet another new name for me. Doesn't seem like much of a prospect at this point, but cool to see him with a game highlight.

Fun Fact

He's' related to Alanis

[bean5302]

Wallner after his first 5 games in AAA

.318/.392/.664 OPS 1.055 wRC+ 163, 8.3% BB, 25.0% K

Seems pretty apparent Wallner is trying a more contact heavy approach at the plate with a drop off in his walk rate. It's also apparent the Twins have no interest in him on the 26 man and don't consider him a viable MLB player. He's IL replacement depth at this point.

I think the Twins should probably **** or get off the toilet. Trade him or play him at DH. Maybe they want to keep him as a replacement for Larnach, who will likely have some trade value at the deadline.

[tony&rodney]

Wallner with another HR today. Maybe he can bring back a Comp Pick.

[Bangkok Twins Fan]

15 hours ago, Obsvr said:

Fun Fact

He's' related to Alanis

That is a fun fact. Thanks for that!

[ashbury]

21 hours ago, Obsvr said:

Isn't It Ironic:

He's' related to Alanis

FTFY

[jorgenswest]

21 hours ago, bean5302 said:

Wallner after his first 5 games in AAA

.318/.392/.664 OPS 1.055 wRC+ 163, 8.3% BB, 25.0% K

Seems pretty apparent Wallner is trying a more contact heavy approach at the plate with a drop off in his walk rate. It's also apparent the Twins have no interest in him on the 26 man and don't consider him a viable MLB player. He's IL replacement depth at this point.

I think the Twins should probably **** or get off the toilet. Trade him or play him at DH. Maybe they want to keep him as a replacement for Larnach, who will likely have some trade value at the deadline.

It is apparent to me. I think he will be back. I am not confident that he is ready yet. It is encouraging to see his out of zone swing rate is down in this stint in AAA. From 22-24 it was 26% in the majors. It was 28.4% last year and 31.6% this year. It looks better in AAA but I would give it more time. It was so clear he had lost the strike zone. He was even far off on some challenges. He needs to consistently stay in the zone. He will still swing and miss with his swing but he must get the pitcher to throw the ball in the strike zone. He is making progress.

[ashbury]

3 hours ago, jorgenswest said:

He was even far off on some challenges. 

That was the moment, the second such failed challenge earlier this year, I lost faith in him - and I've been a long-time supporter of his potential.  What better way to tell the pitcher - and his catcher! - "hey, put that in your spreadsheet for next time, you really fooled me on that pitch." 

(Not to mention that he'd make these challenges with bases empty and two outs and fewer than two strikes, if I'm remembering even closely.)