Twins Minor League Report (6/7): Rooker and Kirilloff Tee Off on Opponents

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The Twins reinstated Tervor May from the 60-day DL and optioned him to Rochester, to make room for Trevor May, Omar Bencomo was transferred to Chattanooga. A spot for Bencomo was opened up when the Lookouts placed Anthony Marzi on the DL with a lower back strain. Cedar Rapids placed Blayne Enlow on the 7-day DL with a left ankle sprain and activated and released Nick Brown from the DL. No corresponding roster move was made after the release of Brown and the Kernels roster is at 24 active players.

RED WINGS REPORT

Indianapolis 8, Rochester 0

Box Score

The Rochester Red Wings managed seven hits but were 0-for-14 with men in scoring position and left 12 runners on base, falling to Indianapolis 8-0. Nick Gordon had a triple, his only hit of the night. Zack Granite and Jake Cave each had doubles, but again, their only hits of the night. In fact, the only Red Winger with multiple hits was third basemen Taylor Motter who went 2-for-3 with a pair of doubles and a walk.

Starter Dietrich Enns dropped to 4-6 after 4 2/3 innings of baseball in which all eight Indianapolis runs were charged to him. He gave up eight hits, two walks, struck out three, and served up a couple of long balls. The bullpen held Indianapolis scoreless the rest of the way with 1 1/3 innings from Jake Reed and three one-hit innings from Alan Busenitz.

CHATTANOOGA CHATTER

Mobile 9, Chattanooga 7

Box Score

With the game tied at seven in the top of the ninth, the Lookouts brought in reliever Zack Jones who quickly got two outs but then a walk, a single, a stolen base, and another single put two runs on the board and then Lookouts bats were not able to respond in the home-side of the ninth inning. Jones’ ninth inning woes were indicative of the Lookouts pitchers on the night.

The Lookouts went with a good old-fashioned bullpen game with Todd Van Steensel making his first start since 2011 when he was in rookie ball with the Elizabethton Twins. Van Steensel pitched two innings, gave up a hit, no runs, walked two and struck out two. He was lifted for Tyler Jay who gave up two runs on two solo home runs. He walked one and struck out three. Sam Clay gave up four runs over an inning on just two hits. He walked two and struck out two. Ryne Harper gave up a run on three hits and struck out four over three innings, and picked a guy off first base before turning the game over to Jones.

Brent Rooker had a big day at the plate going 4-for-5 with a run scored, a triple, an RBI and a strikeout. Right fielder Edgar Corcino had a big day as well, 3-for-5 with a run scored, a home run, an RBI and a strikeout. Chris Paul provided plenty of run support with a three RBI night on 2-for-4 hitting with a double and strikeout. The rest of the Kernels lineup added three more hits, and eight more strikeouts.

MIRACLE MATTERS

Palm Beach 3 @ Fort Myers 3 - SUSPENDED

Box Score

Heavy rains suspended the Miracle game after six and a half innings on Thursday night with the score tied at 3-3. The Miracle picked up their three runs on a pair of solo home runs from Shane Carrier and Joe Cronin, plus an RBI single from Luis Arraez. Carrier and Cronin were both 2-for-3 with a dinger when the game was suspended.

Starter Griffin Jax gave up three runs over 6 2/3 innings, giving up seven hits, walking zero and striking out six. He was replaced by Tom Hackimer who finished the seventh inning without giving up a run before the game was suspended.

KERNELS NUGGETS

Cedar Rapids 8, Beloit 0

Box Score

Beloit and Cedar Rapids were in a one-run game through six and a half innings before the Kernels put a three-spot on the board in the bottom of the seventh and then added another four runs in the eighth to put them ahead 8-0. The Kernels were led by Alex Kirilloff who was 2-for-4 with a triple and an RBI, and the Kernels were powered by an Akil Baddoo three-run home run in the eighth inning. Royce Lewis struggled to a 1-for-5 night punctuated with three strikeouts.

A really strong pitching performance from Bailey Ober put the Kernels in position to win even before their late game scoring outburst. Ober went seven full innings giving up six hits, no runs, no walks, and six strikeouts. Jovani Moran finished the previously tight game with two perfect innings that included four strikeouts.

DSL TWINS TAKES

DSL Twins 13, DSL Rockies 5

Box Score

A lot of these DSL Twins games are going to look a lot like bullpen games, especially early on this season, with pitchers throwing 30-50 pitches and then making way for the next guy. Starter Yordin Mateo struggled through the first two innings with two hits, two runs (both earned), three walks, and a strikeout. But the DSL Twins gave him an early 3-0 lead in the first inning, so he left with a lead intact. Jose Bermudez came in and gave up a run and a hit while striking out two over 2.0 innings. Jose Guevara went 3.2 innings giving up just a single unearned run on five hits. He walked no one and struck out two. Finally, Francisco Martinez pitched the final 1.1 innings, giving up a run on a couple of hits. He walked one and struck out three of the seven batters he faced.

The DSL Twins had their bats out in full force en route to a 13-5 victory that included 17 hits and another six walks. Leading the way for the Twins was DH Jeferson Morales, 3-for-5 with a double, a run scored, and two RBIs. Ruben Santana had a big day as well going 2-for-4 with a pair of doubles and two walks. He scored three times and drove in another run. Every regular reached safely at least twice as the DSL Twins won this one going away.

STARS OF THE DAY

Twins Daily Minor League Pitcher of the Day – Bailey Ober, Cedar Rapids Kernels

Twins Daily Minor League Hitter of the Day – Brent Rooker, Chattanooga Lookouts

TOP 20 PROSPECT PERFORMANCE

1. Royce Lewis, Cedar Rapids – 1-5, 1 R, 3 K

3. Nick Gordon, Rochester – 1-5, 1 3B, 1 K

5. Alex Kirilloff, Cedar Rapids – 2-4, 1 3B, 1 RBI

7. Brent Rooker, Chattanooga – 4-5, 1 R, 1 3B, 1 RBI, 1 K

10. Akil Baddoo, Cedar Rapids – 1-5, 1 R, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 1 K

14. LaMonte Wade, Chattanooga – 1-5, 1 R, 1 RBI

19. Tyler Jay, Chattanooga – 2.0 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 3 K, 2 HR

FRIDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS

Rochester (6:05pm) – Adalberto Mejia (1-1, 4.24)

Chattanooga (7:35pm) – TBD

Fort Myers (6:00pm) – Charlie Barnes (1-4, 4.00)

Cedar Rapids (7:05pm) – TBD

Please feel free to ask any questions and discuss Thursday's games.

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