Twins Minor League Report (9/17): Saints Eliminated, But Then Win a Laugher

[Seth Stohs]

Image courtesy of Rob Thompson (photo of Gabriel Gonzalez)

TRANSACTIONS  

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SAINTS SENTINEL

St. Paul 16, Columbus 6
Box Score
The Saints held a fairly comfortable lead throughout most of this game, but a seven-run eighth inning rally put it out of reach. 

Before the game started, the team knew that the Rochester Red Wings had already won an afternoon game which eliminated the Saints from playoff contention. So maybe a game like this, where everyone contributed something. Eight out of nine batters in the lineup had at least one hit, and five hitters had multi-hit games. After two scoreless innings, the Saints scored in six straight innings. 

Trent Baker made the start. He gave up one run on four hits and a walk in four innings. He struck out seven batters. C.J. Culpepper gave up three runs on three hits and a walk in the fifth inning. He struck out two batters. Ricky Castro came in and worked the final four innings. He was charged with two runs on four hits and two walks. He had four strikeouts. 

Hendry Mendez went 3-for-5 in the game with his 12th double. Jake Rucker went 3-for-4 with a walk and his first Saints double.

Matt Wallner went 2-for-5, was hit by a pitch and hit his 17th double. He also hit his 25th home run of the season, tying him with Aaron Sabato for the Saints single-season home run record. With three more games to go, it will be interesting to see who wins that title. 

Gabriel Gonzalez went 2-for-4 and was hit by two pitches. He also hit his 16th home run of the season.   

Alan Roden led off and went 2-for-5 with a walk. Roden, Gonzalez, and catcher Ian Daugherty each drove in three runs in the game. Wallner, Rucker, and Cody Morissette each drove in two runs. Morissette went 1-for-3 and walked three times. 

PLAYERS OF THE DAY

Hitter(s) of the Day 
Matt Wallner (St. Paul): 2-for-4, HBP, 2B(17), HR(25), 2 R, 2 RBI, 2 K.  
Walker Jenkins (Minnesota): 3-for-4, HR(2), 2 R, 2 RBI, K. 

Pitcher(s) of the Day
Trent Baker (St. Paul): 4 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 7 K 

PROSPECT SUMMARY

Check out the Prospect Tracker for much more on our Twins Top 20 prospects. See how they did today.

#1 - OF Walker Jenkins (Minnesota) - 3-for-4, HR(2), 2 R, 2 RBI, K (batted eighth, played CF)   

#6 - OF Emmanuel Rodriguez (Minnesota) - 0-for-4, 3 K (batted fifth, playing LF)  
#7 - OF Hendry Mendez (St. Paul) - 3-for-5, BB, 2B(12), 3 R (batted fifth, played LF)
#9 - 1B/OF Gabriel Gonzalez (St. Paul) - 2-for-4, 2 HBP, HR(16), 3 R, 3 RBI (batted second, played 1B)

UPCOMING PROBABLES

Friday, September 18
St. Paul @Columbus (6:05 pm CT) - LHP Kendry Rojas (2-0, 3.00 ERA) 

CURRENT W-L Records

Minnesota Twins: 71-81 (in progress) (Final Game 9/27)
St. Paul Saints: 81-65 (Final Game (9/20)
Wichita Wind Surge: 55-81 (Season Complete)
Cedar Rapids Kernels: 48-82 (Season Complete)
Fort Myers Mighty Mussels: 68-60 (Season Complete)
FCL Twins: 33-26 (Season Complete)
DSL Twins: 19-35 (Season Complete)

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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