Twins Minor League Report (7/12): Bonus Baseball For Lookouts

Find out everything and more that happened happened in the Twins system on Wednesday.

RED WINGS REPORT

Rochester

Box Score - AAA All Star Game

Wednesday marked the third and final day of the International League’s All-Star break. The AAA All-Star game was played in Tacoma, Washington. The Red Wings had two players named to the International League’s roster. Drew Rucinski is one, and Zack Granite was the other. However, with Granite’s call up to the Twins, he did not participate in the All-Star festivities as he remains on the big league roster.

Since the Twins DFAd him and sent him back to Rochester, Rucinski has been remarkable. Since the beginning of June, he has pitched in ten games for the Red Wings. He has given up zero runs in 16.2 innings. He has given up nine hits, walked none and struck out ten. In short, he’s been fantastic.

He started the sixth inning for the IL and got two outs. He gave up a hit before being replaced, though the runner was stranded.

CHATTANOOGA CHATTER

Chattanooga 5, Pensacola 3 (12 innings)

Box Score

The Lookouts needed some bonus baseball to determine this one.

Down 2-0, the Lookouts scored three runs in the fifth inning. Nick Gordon singled in a run right before LaMonte Wade knocked in two runs with his 15th double.

Felix Jorge made his first Lookouts start in weeks. His past two starts have been in the big leagues for the Twins. On this night he gave up two runs (one earned) in six innings. He walked three and struck out three. Raul Fernandez came in next. He gave up the tying run on two hits and two walks over the next four outs. Todd Van Steensel was able to keep the game tied through the ninth inning. Nick Anderson struck out three batters over the next two innings.

Nick Gordon led off the 12th inning by being hit by a pitch. Wade bunted him to second. Jonathan Rodriguez walked to set up a double play, but Andy Wilkens came through with an RBI double. Max Murphy followed with sacrifice fly to score Rodriguez.

With a two-run lead, Luke Bard was brought into the game. A groundout was followed by a double. However, he got a line out and a strikeout to record the save.

MIRACLE MATTERS

Ft. Myers , Charlotte

Box Score

Game postponed by rain. The two teams will play a doubleheader on Thursday.

KERNELS NUGGETS

Cedar Rapids 0, West Michigan 2

Box Score

It’s safe to say that the Kernels offense is struggling right now. After being shut out on Wednesday night, they have not scored in 19 innings. On this night, they had just four hits. Trey Cabbage led the way with two hits, including his first double with the Kernels.

Lefty Domenick Carlini started and provided the Kernels with a quality start. He gave up two runs on six hits over the first six innings. He struck out five without issuing a walk. Patrick McGuff struck out five (and walked two) over two scoreless, hitless innings of relief.

E-TWINS E-NOTES

Elizabethton 9, Burlington 3

Box Score

The E-Twins used a five-run second inning to jump out to an early lead and held on throughout the game.

Brent Rooker’s sixth home run was the big hit early. He went 1-3 with two walks and his second stolen base. Jose Miranda also homered, his fourth of the season. Mark Contreras went 2-4 with a walk. Ariel Montesino went 2-4 with a walk, his first E-Twins double and first E-Twins stolen base in 2017.

Moises Gomez was the beneficiary of the offensive output. The right-hander went the first 5.1 innings. Despite giving up ten hits, he held Burlington to three runs (two earned). He struck out four, with no walks. Ricky Ramirez was the Twins 15th round pick this year out of Fresno State. He recorded his first pro save with 3.2 shutout innings. He gave up just one hit and struck out two.

GCL TWINS TAKES

GCL Twins 14, GCL Orioles 0

Box Score

It was a great all-around game for the GCL Twins.There was plenty of offense. There was some fantastic pitching. There was even a triple play.

Let’s start with the offense. Humberto Maldonado led the way. He went 3-4 with his first two doubles and his first home run. He drove in four runs. Royce Lewis had another strong game. He went 2-4 with two walks and three runs scored. He also stole his fifth and sixth bases. He is now hitting .340. Victor Tademo went 2-4 with two walks and his second double. Alex Robles and Ben Rodriguez each had two hits. Akil Baddoo added his fourth double. Darling Cuestro hit a double, his first hit in the States.

Carlos Suniaga started and gave up just two hits over six shutout innings. He struck out six without walking any. He improved to 2-0 with a 1.35 ERA with the GCL Twins. Matz Schutte threw the final three innings. He walked two and struck out two.

With runners on first and second and nobody out in the seventh, there was a ground ball to Royce Lewis. He fielded it, tagged one runner, threw to second and the triple play was complete on the throw to first base.

TWINS DAILY PLAYERS OF THE DAY

Twins Daily Minor League Pitcher of the Day – Carlos Suniaga, GCL Twins

Twins Daily Minor League Hitter of the Day – Humberto Maldonado, GCL Twins

THURSDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS

Rochester @ Lehigh Valley (6:05 CST) - RHP Bartolo Colon

Jacksonville @ Chattanooga (6:15 CST) - LHP Stephen Gonsalves

Ft. Myers @ Charlotte (DH at 3:30 CST) - LHP Lewis Thorpe, RHP Brady Anderson

Wisconsin @ West Michigan (6:00 CST) - LHP Evan Sanders

Elizabethton @ Burlington (6:00 CST) - RHP Melvi Acosta

GCL Orioles @ GCL Twins (11:00 am CST) - TBD

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

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