Twins Minor League Report (5/9): Double Headers Galore

SPLITZKY FOR ST.PAUL

GAME ONE: Saints 8, Storm Chasers 2
Game one Box Score
HR: Roberto Peña (1)
Multi-hit games: Ryan Jeffers (2-for-3, 2B, 2 RBI), Peña (2-for-3, HR, 3 RBI)

GAME TWO/7: Saints 1, Storm Chasers 6
Game two Box Score
HR: None
Multi-hit games: Brent Rooker (2-for-3, RBI)

The St.Paul Saints resumed play after Saturday night’s game was suspended in the 5th inning. The Saints had an 8-1 lead over the Omaha Storm Chasers heading into Sunday. They would surrender just one more run by way of a bases-loaded walk induced by Robinson Leyer. Shaun Anderson and Luke Farrell, two right-handed relief additions from this offseason, combined to throw four scoreless innings with six strikeouts and just two hits allowed.

Bailey Ober started Saturday and allowed one run on three hits and two walks. Ober, who owns a 2.38 ERA and a 32% strikeout rate in over 180 minor league innings, struck out three in his outing.

Ryan Jeffers went 2-for-3 with a double and a walk. Roberto Peña launched a two-run homer in the second inning as the Saints recorded eight hits and 10 walks in the winning effort.

Game two wasn’t as breezy. Ian Gibaut started and allowed two runs on two hits and a walk. Andrew Albers relieved for Gibaut and allowed two more runs on eight hits. Brent Rooker had two hits while Rob Refsnyder stayed hot with a double. Rooker also made a great catch in left field.

Albers was forced to bat for the Saints after their DH, Drew Maggi, left the game with an injury. Keon Broxton was moved to second base for the first time in his career and Tomás Telis moved to third for just the sixth time in 1,100 pro games.

WIND SURGE WHISTLE PAST CARDINALS

FINAL: Wind Surge 3, Cardinals 2
Box Score
Josh Winder: 5 IP, 6 H, 2 R/ER, 2 BB, 5 K
HR: None
Multi-hit games: Aaron Whitefield (2-for-5, HR, 2 RBI), Jermaine Palacios (2-for-4)

Josh Winder made headlines this winter after Keith Law reported that he touched 97 MPH with his fastball in instructs. Winder was strong in his debut Tuesday, allowing zero runs and striking out six in 4 2/3 innings. He struck out another five in his start Sunday while allowing two runs on six hits and two walks. Winder’s ERA rose to 1.86.

José Miranda doubled in the first, furthering his outstanding start to the season. The Surge had trouble driving in runs and left a staggering 17 men on base before Aaron Whitefield blasted a two-run homer to take the lead in the seventh.

The Wind Surge bullpen was fantastic in holding the 3-2 lead, a trend we haven't seen in Minnesota this year. Alex Phillips and Josh Mitchell combined for four scoreless innings.

KERNELS MAKE HAY OVER PEORIA IN DOUBLE HEADER

GAME ONE/7: Kernels 3, Chiefs 0
Box Score
Matt Canterino: 3 IP, 2 H, 2 BB, 0 R/ER, 6 K, 41 of 63 pitches for strikes (65%)
HR: None
Multi-hit games: None

GAME TWO/7: Kernels 3, Chiefs 2
Box Score
Jon Olsen: 4 IP, 5 H, 1 BB, 1 R/ER, 5 K
HR: None
Multi-hit games: Matt Wallner (2-for-4, RBI)

Canterino turned heads this offseason after ticking his fastball to the upper 90s. Twins Daily ranked him as the No. 9 prospect in a deep system, noting the velocity increase as a main factor. His first start of 2021 went well. Canterino worked around a couple hits and walks, ultimately flashing his plus-stuff with six strikeouts in three innings.

Canterino was known at Rice University as a command-first starter, hence why there’s excitement that his stuff has greatly improved with it. Speaking of Rice, Canterino was pushed hard there and the Twins have been conservative with his usage. The right-hander threw just 63 pitches Sunday. Two-way pitcher and shortstop Jordan Gore struck out three in two innings of work. Left-hander Kody Funderburk recorded the save. Funderburk has struck out six in five innings of scoreless work this season.

Shortstop Wander Javier drove in a run with a double in game one and picked up another hit in game two. His OPS is approaching the .700 mark.

Matt Wallner continued his excellent start in game two by driving in a run to put the Kernels up 1-0 in the first. The former Forest Lake star is hitting .381 with a 1.271 OPS. The Chiefs quickly responded and tied the game at one in the bottom half. Olsen, making his first career minor league start, allowed just one run in four innings.

With the game knotted at two in an extra eighth inning, Yeltsin Encarnacion singled to left to drive in the walk-off run. The Kernels won five of their six games over the Chiefs this week.

MIGHTY MUSSELS STEAMED BY MARAUDERS

FINAL: Mighty Mussels 9, Marauders 18
Box Score
Sawyer Gipson-Long: 0.1 IP, 7 H, 7 R/ER, K
HR: Yunior Severino (1), Jeferson Morales (1)
Multi-hit games: Severino (3-for-5, HR, 2B, 5 RBI), Anthony Prato (2-for-2, R)

This game was over before it really started for Fort Myers. The Mussels went down 9-0 in the first inning and 17-1 through the fifth. Gipson-Long recorded one out in a tough outing. The Mussels bullpen combined to allow 10 runs in relief. On a brighter note, the Mussels battled back and outscored the Marauders 7-0 in the final three innings, thanks to a six run seventh inning.

Severino blasted a three-run homer and drove in five runs on the day. 2020 first-round pick Aaron Sabato walked twice and tacked on a hit. 2019 first-round pick Keoni Cavaco was replaced by Anthony Prato in the fifth after going 0-for-3. Cavaco is still hitting .304 with a .407 on-base percentage on the year.

Infielder Daniel Ozoria pitched 2 2/3 scoreless innings for the Mussels in a valiant effort.

The Mussels split the six-game series with the Brandenton.

TWINS DAILY PLAYERS OF THE DAY

Twins Daily Minor League Pitcher of the Day – INF Daniel Ozoria
Twins Daily Minor League Hitter of the Day – Yunior Severino

PROSPECT SUMMARY

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

#1 - Alex Kirilloff (Minnesota) – Injured List (wrist)
#2 - Royce Lewis (Rehab) - Out for Season (torn ACL)
#3 - Trevor Larnach (Minnesota) – DNP
#4 - Ryan Jeffers (St. Paul) – 2-5, 2B, 2 BB, 2 RBI
#5 - Jhoan Duran (St. Paul) – DNP
#6 - Jordan Balazovic (Wichita) – Injured List (back)
#7 - Keoni Cavaco (Ft. Myers) – 0-3, K
#8 - Aaron Sabato (Ft. Myers) – 1-3, RBI, 2 BB
#9 - Matt Canterino (Cedar Rapids) – 3 IP, 2 H, 2 BB, 0 R/ER, 6 K
#10 - Blayne Enlow (Cedar Rapids) – DNP
#11 - Gilberto Celestino (Wichita) – 0-4, K
#12 - Brent Rooker (St. Paul) – 2-5, RBI, 3 BB
#13 - Matt Wallner (Cedar Rapids) – 2-for-6, RBI, BB, 4 K
#14 - Misael Urbina (Complex) – N/A
#15 - Cole Sands (Wichita) – DNP
#16 - Edwar Colina (Rehab) - 60-Day IL (elbow)
#17 - Ben Rortvedt (Minnesota) – Off-Day
#18 - Alerick Soularie (Complex) – N/A
#19 - Jose Miranda (Wichita) – 1-4, 2B
#20 - Bailey Ober (St. Paul) – 3 IP, 3 H, 2 BB, 1 R/ER, 3 K

THERE ARE NO MINOR LEAGUE GAMES ON MONDAY.

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