Twins Minor League Report (9/16): Saints Remain Alive

[Matt Braun]

Image courtesy of Rob Thompson, St. Paul Saints (photo of Gabriel Gonzalez)

TRANSACTIONS

INF Ben Ross recalled by Twins
C Ian Daugherty activated from Development List (AAA St. Paul)

Saints Sentinel

St. Paul 3, Columbus 2
Box Score
Aaron Rozek: 5 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 K
HR: None
Multi-hit games: Alan Roden (2-for-4, 2B, R), Gabriel Gonzalez (2-for-4, 2B, R, RBI)

The Saints netted a close win on Wednesday. 

All may be in limbo, as the Saints play out the rest of the season in vain hope for a playoff spot, but that didn’t stop Aaron Rozek from pitching one of his finest games of the season. The lefty was up to his crafty tricks; pounding his mid-80s funk like Prince with a deft and controlling sensibility. He whiffed five. Only one run scored against him.

The Saints started the game with a trio of doubles, as Alan Roden, Gabriel Gonzalez, and Matt Wallner all stroked two-baggers to push across a pair before Clippers starter Logan T. Allen could net an out. None were hit particularly hard, with Gonzalez’s 92.6 MPH slash down the line serving as the relative screamer. Still, you hit them where they ain’t, and good things are going to happen. 

A third and final run arrived on a Wallner sacrifice fly in the fifth.

Rozek gave way to Eric Orze, who wobbled in his frame, allowing a run before picking off a runner at second to end the inning. Matt Bowman then surrendered two hits before coaxing a bizarre double play that counted as a double for the batter yet resulted in two outs on the basepaths. Only in minor league baseball. Marco Raya blitzed through a crisp eighth with two strikeouts before Julian Merryweather netted the save, working around a walk in an otherwise harmless appearance.

The win pushed the Saints to 80-65, an impressive total—best overall in the International League West—but one that likely won’t send them to the playoffs, as minor league postseason spots are based on first and second half performances. St. Paul finished third before the All-Star break and now find themselves four games back of Indianapolis with four to play. 

The Clippers are led by Ralphy Velazquez, the 31st overall prospect in MLB. The DH doubled once in four trips to the plate. 

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TWINS DAILY PLAYERS OF THE DAY

Twins Daily Minor League Pitcher of the Day – Aaron Rozek
Twins Daily Minor League Hitter of the Day – Alan Roden/Gabriel Gonzalez

PROSPECT SUMMARY

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

#1 – Walker Jenkins (Twins) - 0-0, R
#6 – Emmanuel Rodriguez (Twins) - 0-4, BB, K
#9 – Gabriel Gonzalez (St. Paul) - 2-4, 2B, R, RBI

THURSDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS

St. Paul @ Columbus (5:35 PM) - LHP Kendry Rojas

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