Twins Minor League Report (5/30): Memorial Day Moves and More Pitching Gems

The first move - though not an actual transaction - was the news that Phil Hughes was being moved into the bullpen and Kyle Gibson will return to the rotation and start on Wednesday.

Shortly after that, came the news that the Red Wings were activating Max Kepler, who had been sidelined with a groin strain.

Lower down the organizational ladder, the Fort Myers Miracle tweeted that Kohl Stewart would be promoted to Chattanooga tomorrow. Congrats to Kohl!

Finally, taking Stewart’s spot in Fort Myers will be Randy LeBlanc, who’s receiving a long-deserved promotion. Cedar Rapids also is sending C.K. Irby and Andro Cutura to Fort Myers to rehab injuries on the extended spring side

Oh, and then there was this from Phil Miller: Santana to DL, Buxton up. Yes, Santana injured a hamstring in Oakland on Monday and Buxton will be flying from Indianapolis to join the Twins there on Tuesday.

And then there were baseball games today too.

RED WINGS REPORT

Rochester 7, Indianapolis 0

Box Score

Jason Wheeler continued to put his 2015 season in the rearview and look like the 2014 version. On Monday, he was dominant over eight shutout innings, allowing five hits and striking out five.

The Red Wings scored in the third inning when Jorge Polanco drove in John Ryan Murphy. Buxton was replaced in the field by Buck Britton in the bottom of the inning.

Rochester tacked on two more runs in the fifth inning. Buck Britton walked and James Beresford was hit by a pitch. They later scored on Polanco's and Kennys Vargas' ground outs.

Not that they needed them, but Rochester scored four more runs in the seventh inning. Polanco, again, was involved. This time with a one-out double. Eddie Rosario drove in Polanco with a single and Max Kepler singled to drive in Vargas, who had reached on an error and Wilfredo Tovar tripled, driving in Rosario and Kepler.

Ryan O'Rourke closed out the game with a scoreless one-hit inning.

Polanco's three hits led the charge with two RBIs. Kepler had two hits as did Tovar.

The Red Wings start their seven-game road trip with a victory.

CHATTANOOGA CHATTER

Chattanooga - Day off

MIRACLE MATTERS

Fort Myers - Day off

KERNELS NUGGETS

Cedar Rapids 3, Wisconsin 2

Box Score

The Kernels won in dramatic fashion on Monday afternoon, improving to 29-21 on the season. This is the second consecutive walk-off win for the Kernels and third in the last eight days.

Cedar Rapids scored first when LaMonte Wade drove in Sean Miller with a third inning single. Wade extended his streak to 30 straight games of reaching base safely. If he is able to extend his streak one more game, he’ll have reached base in every game in May. Wade added a walk later.

The Kernels added a second run in the eighth inning. Zander Wiel hit a one-out double and later came around to score on a throwing error.

Randy LeBlanc (mentioned above) pitched eight scoreless innings. In his last six starts, LeBlanc has allowed one earned run in 43 innings (an ERA of 0.21). LeBlanc allowed six hits and struck out six.

Michael Cederoth gave up a two-run home run in the ninth inning to blow the save and tie the game. It also set up the bottom of the ninth heroics.

Sean Miller, who drove in Sunday’s winning run, singled to start the inning, his second of the game. Miller advanced to second when Luis Arraez drew a walk and later stole third. A wild pitch allowed Miller to score, winning the game for the Kernels.

TWINS DAILY PLAYERS OF THE DAY

Pitcher(s) of the Day – Jason Wheeler, Rochester and Randy LeBlanc, Cedar Rapids

Hitter of the Day – Jorge Polanco, Rochester

TUESDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS

Rochester at Indianapolis (6:05PM CST) – RHP Jose Berrios (3-1, 1.61 ERA)

Chattanooga at Birmingham (7:05PM CST) - RHP D.J. Baxendale (4-5, 3.06 ERA)

St. Lucie at Fort Myers (6:05 CST) – LHP Tyler Jay (3-4, 2.89 ERA)

Cedar Rapids at Beloit (6:30PM CST) – LHP Sam Clay (3-2, 2.47 ERA)

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

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