Twins Minor League Report (6/19): Wimmers Continues To Dominate

RED WINGS REPORT

Rochester 7, Louisville 3

Box Score

Rochester scored two runs in the fifth inning to take a 2-1 lead in this game. Unfortunately, they gave up two runs in the top of the seventh frame. However, a five-run bottom of the seventh gave them a lead that they were able to hold on to.

Taylor Rogers made the start. Through six innings, Rogers gave up one run. In the top of the seventh inning, he gave up two singles. After a sacrifice bunt advanced the runners, Rogers was replaced by lefty Logan Darnell. Darnell gave up two straight singles, allowing both runners to score before he was replaced by Mark Hamburger. The right-hander got the next two batters out to keep the deficit at 3-2. He worked another scoreless inning as well. After the Red Wings reclaimed the lead, AJ Achter pitched a scoreless ninth.

The Red Wings got a lot of production from their top two hitters. Leadoff man Danny Santana went 3-4 with a walk and his fourth double. James Beresford was 3-5. He had the first three Red Wings RBIs. But the big hit in the team’s five-run seventh came off the bat of Danny Ortiz. He hit a bases-clearing triple (his third of the year) to give the Red Wings the lead and some insurance. Doug Bernier was 1-1 with three walks in the game. On the other side of things, Oswaldo Arcia went 0-4 with three strikeouts.

It may have been a tough outing for Logan Darnell, but it was a good night for the left-hander. He was the Red Wings recipient of the Harmon Killebrew Award in 2014. He has continued to help in the community. On Friday night, he helped organize an Alzheimer's awareness night in Rochester. Darnell's mother was diagnosed with the disease a couple of years ago. Players wore special jerseys that were auctioned. Two season ticket holders bid $650 for Darnell's jersey. They then gave it to the Darnell family and made the $650 a donation. Alex Meyer's jersey went for $500. In all, they raised over $7,000 for Alzheimer's awareness in Rochester. If anyone is interested in donating, click here.

CHATTANOOGA CHATTER

Chattanooga 3, Jacksonville 2

Box Score

A night after clinching the first half North Division title in the Southern League on Thursday night, the Lookouts returned on Friday and continued their winning ways.

There were two primary stories in this game, and both involved former Twins first-round draft picks. Let’s start on the mound. Alex Wimmers made the start and threw seven shutout innings. He gave up three hits and walked two, but he also struck out 11 batters. He needed just 96 pitches, and 67 of them were strikes. An observer at the game reported afterwards, “Did you see Wimmers tonight? He was outstanding! (The Jacksonville hitters) could not do much. If it wasn’t for having a big leaguer (Michael Morse had two hits) in the lineup, they would have only had maybe one hit through six innings.”

In Wimmers’ past three starts, he has thrown 21.2 innings without allowing an earned run. He has given up just eight hits, walked seven and struck out 23. Overall, he is now 5-1 with a 4.31 ERA for the Lookouts this season.

Minnesota native Madison Boer came on and finished the final two innings. He gave up two runs on three hits, but was able to record his first save with the Lookouts.

2011 top pick Levi Michael returned to the field for the first time since injuring his ankle on May 4. He had singles in his first two at-bats, which were followed by a walk. He was 2-4 with that walk and he also stole two bases. Miguel Sano went 2-4 with his eighth double. Max Kepler had just one hit, but it was his eighth triple of the season.

MIRACLE MATTERS

Ft. Myers

Box Score

The Miracle and the rest of the Florida State League are on their All-Star break. The Miracle will be represented by Chih-Wei Hu, Alex Swim, Todd Van Steensel, and Ryan Eades. JT Chargois and Brandon Peterson had been named to the All-Star team, but were promoted to Chattanooga.

KERNELS NUGGETS

Cedar Rapids 1, Clinton 4

Box Score

According to Jeff Johnson of The Gazette in Cedar Rapids, manager Jake Mauer was pretty vocal about his team’s lack of offense following Thursday’s game. He said, “We’re going to have to get creative and figure out a way to reach them, or we’re going to have to get new guys. It’s one of the two. It sounds harsh, but that’s the nature of the beast."

The Kernels had eight hits on Friday night, but they were only able to muster one run in the game. Brett Doe led the way. He went 2-3. Zack Larson drove in the lone Kernels run.

This is the second time already this season that Mauer has gone public with his disappointment in some of the Kernels hitters.

Zach Tillery made the start. He gave up two runs on three hits in five innings. He walked three and struck out five. Jose Velez gave up two runs on four hits in his two innings. He struck out two. Luke Bard walked one and struck out one in his scoreless inning.

TWINS DAILY PLAYERS OF THE DAY

Twins Daily Minor League Pitcher of the Day – Alex Wimmers, Chattanooga Lookouts

Twins Daily Minor League Hitter of the Day – Danny Santana, Rochester Red Wings

SATURDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS

Louisville @ Rochester (6:05 CST) – RHP Ervin Santana

Jacksonville @ Chattanooga (6:15 CST) – RHP JO Berrios

Ft. Myers – Florida State League All Star Game

Cedar Rapids @ Clinton (6:30 CST) – RHP Sam Gibbons

Please feel free to ask any questions and discuss the Friday games. Remember to check back on Saturday morning for the updated minor league statistical leaderboard.

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