Twins Minor League Report (5/2): Wade's World, Anderson Just Saving It

RED WINGS REPORT

Rochester 0, Pawtucket 8 (Game 1)

Box Score

Yuck. There’s not much more to say. Kennys Vargas provided Rochester’s only hit and the team only took three at-bats with runners in scoring position. (And they obviously went “oh-fer”.)

The pitching of David Martinez was equally inept. In 4.2 innings, Martinez allowed 12 hits - including three home runs - and eight runs crossed the plate. He struck out three. Dan Runzler ended the fifth inning, stranding both inherited runners, but allowed a double in the scoreless final frame.

Luckily for the Red Wings, this game was done after six and half innings because it was the first leg of Saturday’s double-header.

Rochester 3, Pawtucket 2 (Game 2)

Box Score

The bats didn’t come roaring back in the second half of Saturday’s pair of games, but the four hits were just enough.

Max Kepler tripled for the third time of the season to start the fourth inning and later scored on a - you might want to sit down for this - John Ryan Murphy single. The Red Wings scored twice more in the fifth on a Kennys Vargas double that drove James Beresford (single) and Max Kepler (walk) in.

Byron Buxton went a combined 0-for-6 on Saturday, dropping his batting average in AAA to .278.

Jason Wheeler struck out six in five innings, but allowed three hits and walked four. The two earned runs pushed his ERA up to 1.80.

Marcus Walden was credited with the save. Walden allowed two hits in two scoreless innings, striking out three.

The 14-16 Red Wings finish their series with Pawtucket on Sunday afternoon.

CHATTANOOGA CHATTER

Chattanooga 0, Mobile 1

Box Score

Though I don’t have research to back it up, what Chattanooga did on Saturday has to be some sort of statistical anomaly. Getting shut out happens. But how often does a team with nine hits get shut out? How many times does a team reach base in eight out of nine innings and never score? And how, with nine hits, did they manage only four at-bats with runners in scoring position?

The offense was led by Leo Reginatto and Travis Harrison, who each collected two hits. Zach Granite got a hit and stole his 13th base.

Aaron Slegers pitched well enough to give his team a good chance to win, allowing seven hits in six innings, the lone run of the game was charged to Slegers in the first inning. He struck out two. Corey Williams walked two and struck out two over the final two frames.

Chattanooga finishes their series in Mobile on Sunday before traveling home.

MIRACLE MATTERS

Fort Myers 5, St. Lucie 15

Box Score

The offense certainly did enough, but the pitching left a lot to be desired and the Miracle fell to 17-13 on the season.

Newcomer Tanner Witt took three games to figure out the Florida State League. It might not completely be that, as Witt did struggle in Baltimore’s system last year, but on Saturday Witt looked like he had completely adjusted. Witt went 3-for-4 with a triple and three runs scored.

Edgar Corcino continues to hit the ball really well, driving in four runs on two hits and adding a triple of his own. Kevin Garcia and Chad Christensen also had two-hit games.

Randy Rosario had his worst start as a professional. Failing to make make it out of the third inning, Rosario allowed more hits (9) and runs (10) than he got outs (7). Four of those runs were unearned as Fort Myers committed three errors.

Brandon Peterson allowed four runs in two innings. Luke Bard allowed a run in 1.2 innings. John Curtiss struck out three across the final three scoreless frames.

The Miracle can lick its wounds on Sunday before starting a road series in Bradenton.

KERNELS NUGGETS

Cedar Rapids 10, Great Lakes 7

Box Score

LaMonte Wade is a stud. He walked to the plate five times on Saturday and reached safely all five times. He drove in a run. He tripled and scored twice. His batting average is back up to .352 after dropping all the way to .329 after going hitless in two games (six at-bats) on Wednesday and Friday. Wade’s OBP is back up to 44%. It hasn’t been higher since his batting average dropped below .400. But that happens with you take 10 walks in the last nine games.

Luis Arraez (two runs), A.J. Murray (two runs, double, two RBI) and Zander Wiel (run, triple, 4 RBIs) all had two-hit games as well.

Despite walking six in four innings, Dereck Rodriguez was damaged only by a solo home run. The only run he allowed… on the only hit. He struck out six. Zach Tillery walked four and allowed two hits. He was chased after allowing five runs, all earned. C.K. Irby relieved Tillery, allowing two inherited runners to score and giving up his first run of the season. Irby still picked up the win though.

Nick Anderson closed the game, picking up the save and was absolute garbage. Not bad garbage... but nasty garbage. Six batters faced. Six strikeouts. (Four swinging, one called, one foul-tip.) 25 pitches, 20 strikes. Not a bad way to end it.

The Kernels return home to host Kane County starting on Monday.

TWINS DAILY PLAYERS OF THE DAY

Pitcher of the Day – Nick Anderson, Cedar Rapids

Hitter of the Day – LaMonte Wade, Cedar Rapids

SUNDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS

Pawtucket @ Rochester (12:05PM CST) – LHP Logan Darnell (2-3, 4.66 ERA)

Chattanooga @ Mobile (2:05PM CST) – RHP Ryan Eades (0-2, 7.43 ERA)

Please feel free to ask any questions and discuss Saturday’s games.