Twins Minor League Report (5/3): Couple of Starters Shove

TRANSACTIONS

• RHP Adam Plutko signed to minor league contract by Minnesota
• Util Austin Martin recalled by Minnesota
• RHP Jorge Alcala recalled by Minnesota
• INF Dalton Shuffield transferred to St. Paul from Wichita
• RHP Cory Lewis transferred from the 7 to 60 day IL by Wichita
• OF Byron Chourio reinstated from the 7 day IL by Fort Myers
• OF Gregory Duran placed on the 7 day IL by Fort Myers with a lumbar spine strain

SAINTS SENTINEL
St. Paul 4, Louisville 0
Box Score

Louie Varland was on the bump Friday night for the Saints and he was nothing short of exceptional. Working seven scoreless innings, the Minnesota native punched out eight while walking none and giving up just three hits. Looking to work his way back into the Twins favor, starts like this one are the way to do it.

The sides remained scoreless through the first five innings of the game before St. Paul broke through in the 6th inning. Anthony Prato’s sacrifice fly drove in Yoyner Fajardo before a passed ball allowed DaShawn Keirsey Jr. to score. Matt Wallner then homered for the third time on the year, and the second consecutive night, to make it a 3-0 game. Tony Kemp’s 7th inning ground out drove in Yunior Severino and gave the Saints their eventual game-winning 4-0 tally.

With just five hits on the evening, Wallner recorded two of them.

WIND SURGE WISDOM
NW Arkansas 7, Wichita 6
Box Score

Pitching prospect Marco Raya was on the bump for the Wind Surge tonight and he turned in 3 1/3 innings of work. Allowing two runs on three hits he walked a pair and struck out five on the evening.

Down 2-0 into the 6th inning, Wichita finally got on the board. Kala’i Rosario doubled for the sixth time this season and scored Noah Cardenas and Carson McCusker in the process. Alerick Soularie then launched his first home run, a two run shot, to make it a 4-2 ballgame.

Another Rosario double, this time in the 7th inning, brought home Emmanuel Rodriguez and McCusker to make it a 6-2 game. Wichita was comfortably in the lead while entering the late innings.

The Wind Surge gave up a pair in the 7th inning and then allowed a trio in the 8th inning. The five runs in the late frames were enough to do Wichita in. Of the six hits on the night, only Rosario recorded more than one with a pair of his own.

KERNELS NUGGETS
Cedar Rapids 1, Peoria 0
Box Score

Zebby Matthews was Friday night’s starter for the Kernels and he was little short of perfection. Allowing three hits during seven innings of work, he struck out nine while giving up no runs or walks. It was truly a dominant start for the Cedar Rapids pitcher.

The sides remained scoreless until the 9th inning when Misael Urbina reached on a fielding error that allowed Danny De Andrade to score and walk it off for the good guys.

Cedar Rapids grabbed just four hits on the night, but it was enough to come up victorious.

MUSSEL MATTERS
Bradenton 4, Fort Myers 0
Box Score

Paulshawn Pasqualotto was on the bump Friday for the Mighty Mussels and he started hot out of the gate. With five strikeouts through his first two innings it looked like Fort Myers was going to be in good hands. Unfortunately he got beat in the 4th and 5th innings to finish with three runs on eight hits. He struck out six and allowed a walk.

Fort Myers managed just four hits, and with no runs crossing the plate, the four they gave up did them in.

TWINS DAILY MINOR LEAGUE PLAYERS OF THE DAY
Pitcher of the Day – Louie Varland (St. Paul) - 7.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 8 K
Hitter of the Day – Kala’i Rosario (Wichita) – 2-3, R, 4 RBI, 2 2B, BB, K

PROSPECT SUMMARY
#3 – Emmanuel Rodriguez (Wichita) – 1-3, R, 2 BB, K
#5 – Marco Raya (Wichita) – 3.1 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 5 K
#7 – Austin Martin (Minnesota) – 0-1, R, K
#10 – Brandon Winokur (Fort Myers) – 0-4, K
#11 – Tanner Schobel (Wichita) – 0-4, 2 K
#12 – Luke Keaschall (Cedar Rapids) – 0-4, 2 K
#13 – Kala’i Rosario (Wichita) – 2-3, R, 4 RBI, 2 2B, BB, K
#15 – Danny De Andrade (Cedar Rapids) – 1-3, R, K
#16 – Yunior Severino (St. Paul) – 1-3, R, 3B, 2K
#17 – Matt Canterino (IL) – Shoulder injury
#18 – Connor Prielipp (IL) – UCL Surgery
#19 – Ricardo Olivar (Cedar Rapids) – 0-4

SATURDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS
St. Paul vs Louisville (2:07 PM CST) – RHP Randy Dobnak (1-3, 5.96 ERA)
Wichita @ NW Arkansas (6:05 PM CST) –RHP Aaron Rozek (0-1, 0.75 ERA)
Cedar Rapids vs Peoria (6:35 PM CST) – RHP Darren Bowen (1-2, 5.84 ERA)
Fort Myers @ Bradenton (5:30 PM CST) – RHP Ty Langenberg (0-2, 4.70 ERA)

Please feel free to ask questions and discuss Friday’s games!

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