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Steve Lein

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  1. Steve Lein
    The Twins were lifeless for the entire game against Rangers starter Nick Tepesch, before Twins Daily’s #8 prospect Jorge Polanco made a big splash in the ninth inning with a two-RBI triple off closer Joakim Soria to make the score 5-4. Unfortunately, a Brian Dozier strikeout and Kurt Suzuki groundout would prevent him from becoming the Miracle ninth-inning hero.
     
    In the minors it was a very eventful night, including two walk-off games and near history among the affiliates. I apologize in advance for the let-down after that remark, however…
     
    TRANSACTIONS
     
    The Twins placed Danny Santana on the 15-day disabled list after he tweaked his knee in yesterday’s game. They recalled SP Yohan Pino to take his place, who hopefully didn’t fly back to New York only to get right back on a plane to Texas!
     
    RED WINGS REPORT
    Rochester 6, Lehigh Valley 5
    Box score
     
    The Red Wings found themselves in a 4-0 hole going into the seventh inning, after Lehigh Valley starter, and former Twin, Jason Marquis blanked them for six innings. Rochester’s lineup managed only three hits and a walk against him, but would come alive when he left the game after giving up a leadoff single to Chris Colabello to start the seventh inning.
     
    Marquis was replaced by Jeremy Horst, who quickly gave up an inherited run on a Chris Herrmann triple. Herrmann would score the second run of the game for the Red Wings on a Brad Nelson groundout to put two on the board in the seventh.
     
    In the eighth, Rochester completed the comeback with a furious two-out rally. Eric Farris doubled with one out to put the first runner of the inning on base, which was followed by a “productive” groundout that moved him to third. Deibinson Romero then drew a walk to put runners on the corners, and Colabello brought Fryer home with another single. After a pitching change, Herrman drew a walk to load the bases before a Brad Nelson double brought home all the ducks on the pond, and gave Rochester the 6-5 lead. Aaron Thompson and Ryan Pressley would close out the final two innings with two perfect frames to secure the win. The save was Pressley’s fourth of the season.
     
    Starter Sean Gilmartin pitched six innings, but allowed seven hits, two walks, and four earned runs with only one strikeout. Deolis Guerra pitched the seventh inning, but gave up a run after a wild-pitch strikeout put a runner on first, which was followed by an RBI double.
     
    The Rochester offense got multiple hits from Colabello (2-4, R, RBI) and Herrmann (2-3, BB, 2R, RBI), and Nelson provided the clutch hit and collected four RBI on the game.
     
    ROCK CATS REVIEW
     
    New Britain had a scheduled seven-inning double-header with New Hampshire to make up a postponed game from April 15th.
     
    Game 1 - New Britain 2, New Hampshire 3
    Box Score
     
    In game one, New Britain took a 2-0 lead in the fourth, but were unable to muster any more offense. As a team they were 1-10 with runners in scoring position, and scattered six hits and four walks. In the second game of his rehab assignment, Eduardo Nunez reached base all four times he came up, going 2-2 with two walks. Reynaldo Rodriguez was 2-4 with two doubles and a run scored, and Kennys Vargas went 1-3 with a walk.
     
    On the mound Tyler Duffey gave a quality start effort, pitching 6.1 innings and allowing only three hits, two walks, and two runs (one earned). He struck out three. Ryan O’Rourke was asked to face only one batter in the seventh, and picked up a strikeout. Cole Johnson recorded the final out of the inning, but would get only one more out in the game before surrendering a walk-off double in the (extra) eighth inning.
     
    Game 2 - New Britain 0, New Hampshire 8
    Box score
     
    Former Minnesota Gopher Mike Kvasnicka was a hero in this game, but not for the reason you would hope as history was nearly made by New Hampshire starter Casey Lawrence. His bid for a perfect game was lost with two outs in the final inning of the shortened game, after Kvasnicka pinch hit for Eduardo Nunez and snuck a ground ball through the left side of the infield for a single. Lawrence struck out eight Rock Cats in the nearly perfect effort.
     
    Mark Hamburger made his first start of the season for New Britain, and was solid in four innings. He allowed just one hit, two walks and one run with three strikeouts. Daniel Turpen didn’t have a good night in relief, as he gave up six earned runs on seven hits and a walk in 1.2 innings. Jim fuller recorded the final out for the Rock Cats, but not before giving up a run of his own.
     
    MIRACLE MATTERS
    Bradenton -, Fort Myers –
     
    The Fort Myers Miracle game against the Bradenton Marauders was postponed due to rain. The game will be made up on …. as part of a double-header.
     
    KERNELS NUGGETS
    Clinton 5, Cedar Rapids 6
    Box score
     
    Cedar Rapids put enough runs on the board in the third (1), fourth (2), and fifth (3) innings to stave off a late comeback from the Lumberjacks. For some great quotes on Lewis Thorpe and more, check out Seth’s full game report as he reports live from Cedar Rapids.
     
    Chad Christensen (2-4, 2R’s, 2B, RBI) and Jason Kanzler (2-4, R, 3B, RBI) collected multiple hits for the Kernels, and every hitter in the lineup collected a hit except for cleanup man Bryan Haar.
     
    Thorpe pitched 5.1 innings to pick up his first win of the season. Alex Muren relieved him in the sixth and allowed two earned runs over two innings. Todd Van Steensel picked up his seventh save on the year with a five out effort, three of them via strikeout.
     
    E-TWINS E-NOTES
    Elizabethton 3, Burlington 4
    Box Score
     
    Burlington struck for two runs and an early lead in the bottom of the first against starter Chih-Wei Hu, but he would settle down and retire the final seventeen batters he faced to finish six strong innings. His overall line for the night included just three hits, zero walks and the two earned runs, with three strikeouts. Randy LeBlanc pitched two perfect innings before Cameron Booser was charged with a hard-luck blown save after allowing three hits and two runs (1 earned) after a play at the plate that resulted in an error from catcher Brett Doe that put the winning run in scoring position.
     
    Elizabethton’s lineup tied the game at two in the seventh inning after Nick Gordon led off the inning with his second triple of the year in as many days, and scored on a strikeout misthrow to first base that put Austin Diemer on second. Diemer would score the second run on a wild pitch.
     
    The E-Twins would take a 3-2 lead in the top of the ninth after a run-scoring-balk with runners on second and third after a Diemer single and Tyler Mautner double, but the bottom half of the inning would result in the second walk-off loss of the night for Twins affiliates.
     
    Gordon went 2-4 and has collected multiple hits in three straight games, but the rest of the E-Twins lineup only managed two hits and three walks on the night.
     
    GCL TWINS TAKES
    GCL Twins 2, GCL Red Sox 3
    Box Score
     
    There wasn’t much offense in this game from either side, as collectively there were only eleven hits. But five walks from Twins pitchers would provide the difference Boston’s affiliate needed in the late innings, where they put one run on the board in each of the seventh, eighth, and ninth innings to secure the win.
     
    Twins hitters had only five singles on the night, with Roberto Gonzalez and Ariel Montesino collecting the two RBI’s.
     
    Starter Zach Tillery surrendered only two walks in three innings with four strikeouts. He was relieved by Brandon Easton who pitched four innings, allowing three hits, two walks, and one run, while notching seven strikeouts. Reyson Zoquiel was charged with a blown save and the loss after surrendering two runs (one earned) on two hits and a walk between the eighth and ninth innings. Trevor Hildenberger finished the ninth with no further damage.
     
    TWINS DAILY MINOR LEAGUE PLAYERS OF THE DAY
    Pitcher – Chih-Wei Hu, Elizabethton Twins (6 IP, 3 H’s, 2 ER’s, 0 BB, 3 K’s)
    Hitter – Brad Nelson, Rochester Red Wings (1-3, 2B, 4 RBI)
     
    SATURDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS
    Norfolk @ Rochester – Alex Meyer (4-4, 3.79 ERA) 6:05PM CST
    New Britain @ New Hampshire – Virgil Vasquez (4-3, 3.71 ERA) 6:05 CST
    Palm Beach @ Fort Myers – TBD 5:05PM CST
    Clinton @ Cedar Rapids – Ryan Eades (4-7, 6.08 ERA) 6:35 CST
    Bristol @ Elizabethton – TBD 5:00PM CST
    GCL Twins @ GCL Red Sox – TBD 9:00AM CST
  2. Steve Lein
    The big news of the day in Twins territory was the signing of free agent 1B/DH Kendrys Morales, but the Twins also shutout the Houston Astros at Target Field behind a strong start from Kyle Gibson. He improved to 5-5 on the year and lowered his ERA to under 4.00.
     
    In the minors, one top pitching prospect matched Gibson’s performance while another made his 2014 debut. Let’s get to it:
     
    RED WINGS REPORT
    Rochester 3, Gwinnett 2
    Box score
     
    Rochester jumped out to a 3-0 lead by the end of the fourth inning, and it would be just enough offense to give Alex Meyer his fourth victory of the season. Meyer worked six shutout frames allowing only four singles and a walk, while striking out eight. He retired twelve in a row at one point and his 75 strikeouts on the season now lead the International League in that category.
     
    Ryan Pressly was the first to come on in relief, and after working a 1-2-3 seventh, lost his control a bit in the eighth. An infield single, passed ball, and two walks led to the end of his appearance. With the bases loaded, Aaron Thompson was summoned and limited the damage as best he could, allowing two of the inherited runners to score on a single before escaping with Rochester’s lead still intact. Michael Tonkin worked a perfect ninth inning to record his fourth save.
     
    The Red Wings offense pounded out thirteen hits on the night, but were just 2-16 with runners in scoring position and left twelve men on base. Chris Colabello was 3-5 with a double, Eric Farris was 2-4 with a double, RBI, and run scored, and Eric Frying was 2-4 with an RBI. Despite the lack of clutch hitting, every starter in the Wings lineup recorded a hit on the evening.
     
    ROCK CATS REVIEW
    New Britain 6, Binghamton 4
    Box score
     
    Twins Daily’s #5 prospect, Eddie Rosario added to his solid 2-5 AA debut on Friday by going 3-5 in this one, including his first home run of the year, a two run blast in the fifth inning. Rosario started the game at second base, before moving to center field in the sixth inning. Three other New Britain hitters collected multiple hits, including Nate Hanson (2-4, RBI), Reynaldo Rodriguez (2-4, R, RBI), and Brad Boyer (3-4, 3B, 2 RBI).
     
    Sam Fuld also began his rehab assignment with the Rock Cats, and went 1-3 with a double and a run scored before being pitch hit for in the fifth inning.
     
    Pat Dean made the start for New Britain and went five innings. He gave up a solo home run in the second inning, and surrendered three additional runs in the fourth before New Britain came back for the win. Adrian Salcedo, Ryan O’Rourke, and Mark Hamburger combined to pitch four innings of shutout baseball to finish the game, allowing only one hit and two walks collectively. Hamburger struck out two in the ninth to record his first save of the year.
     
    MIRACLE MATTERS
    Lakeland 3, Fort Myers 4
    Box score
     
    Matt Tomshaw took the hill for the Miracle and pitched seven strong innings. He allowed only one earned run on five hits, with two base-on-balls and six strikeouts. He struck out the side in the third inning and the run scored on a sacrifice fly in the fourth. B.J. Hermsen came on to start the eighth inning, and promptly gave up a solo home run, a walk, and a single before being replaced by Brian Gilbert who escaped the jam. Tyler Jones gave up one run on two hits in the ninth, but recorded his seventh save.
     
    The Fort Myers offense was led by Jorge Polanco and the surging Adam Brett Walker II. At the top of the order Polanco was 3-5 with a double and a run scored. Batting fifth, Walker was 2-4 and slugged his fourteenth home run of year, a two-run shot in the fifth inning that gave the Miracle a 4-1 lead. The two RBI for Walker gave him thirty-one in his past twenty-one games, and he now leads the Florida State League with fifty RBI on the year in addition to pacing the circuit in home runs.
     
    KERNELS NUGGETS
    Cedar Rapids 2, Kane County 5
    Box score
     
    The story of this game was the 2014 debut of lefty Lewis Thorpe. Through three innings, he had allowed just three singles and kept the Cougars off the board, but that changed quickly in the fourth. A leadoff home run was followed by a single, hit batter, walk, and a sac fly to put the Kernels down 2-0. Thorpe also wasn’t able to get back on track in the fifth, as two walks, a wild pitch, and a single would end his night after 4.2 innings. Brandon Bixler entered the game with the bases loaded and walked the first batter he faced to score a run, and a two run single would follow. Hudson Boyd pitched two innings of scoreless ball to finish the game, walking two and striking out two.
     
    The Kernels weren’t able to muster much offense in this one, and their only runs came in the eighth inning when a Chad Christensen double scored Ryan Walker and Engelb Vielma. Walker was 2-4 with a triple and walk on the night, and Jon Murphy was 2-4.
     
    TWINS DAILY MINOR LEAGUE PLAYERS OF THE DAY
    Pitcher – Alex Meyer, Rochester Red Wigns (6.0 IP, 4 H’s, 1 BB, 8 K’s)
    Hitter – Eddie Rosario, New Britain Rock Cats (3-5, 2 R’s, HR, 2 RBI)
     
    SUNDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS
    Rochester @ Gwinnett – Logan Darnell (1-3, 2.58 ERA), 1:05PM CST
    New Britain @ Binghamton – Taylor Rogers (5-4, 4.88 ERA), 12:05PM CST
    Fort Myers @ Jupiter – TBD, 4:05PM CST
    Cedar Rapids @ Kane County – Ethan Mildren (1-3, 4.76 ERA), 1:00PM CST
  3. Steve Lein
    The title of this blog entry was a phrase expressed in talking with a coworker this morning about his recent knee surgery, and what his doctor had told him in regards to the expectations for recovery that he had expressed. The timetable just wasn't nearly as fast as he had thought it would be.
     
    He went on to explain that he probably applies this "unrealistic optimism" to several other elements or moments in his life.
     
    For whatever reason, I immediately correlated this thought/phrase to the Minnesota Twins of 2013, another disappointed season no matter what metric you choose to look at.
     
    In the offseason and during Spring Training, all you heard from the front office of the Twins and all the local beat writers columnists, was that they "expected to be better," "there would be improvement," "so and so is healthy," "can't be worse," etc...
     
    This led to many fans into believing that this year would be better.
     
    Well I say shame on those fans, and even more shame on those scribes and executives for fueling the ignorant fan fire, because they should have known better.
     
    The Twins finished the 2011 season with
     
     
    It got me thinking that this was a very applicable statement to the Twins 2013 season as well.
     
    Talking Points:
    -players on roster due for regression (Diamond, Willingham)
    -Worst staff last year and replaced them with nobody who was an actual improvement
    -baseball smarts of minnesota
  4. Steve Lein
    Much has been made recently about the boo birds in Target Field singling out Joe Mauer while he’s up to bat. It is somewhat hard to understand this early in the season while he’s actually performing pretty well from a grand scheme perspective, batting .319 with a .410 On-Base Percentage.
     
    He’s played in every game, has knocked in some runners, and has even hit a HR over the limestone wall in right field.
     
    But people’s eyes (including mine) are seeing something different, and that’s a lack of production in big moments and late in games. Hence the boo’s.
     
    You can point to statistics like his .400 batting average with runners in scoring position, or his 1.125 OPS while the Twins have a lead in a game, and think to yourself, “Joe is back!”
     
    That’s fine. But here are some other (admittedly small sample size, just like all these statistics, good or bad) stats that demonstrate clearly why many fans are frustrated with him thus far.
     

    The Twins have not lead many games this year, and while they’ve been behind on the scoreboard, Mauer’s tri-slash line is .256/.304/.326, good for a .630 OPS. Not exactly bringing his team back into any games…
    In the 7th, 8th, and 9th inning of all games, that tri-slash line is .200/.360/.200, a paltry .560 OPS. In those same innings, he has just 1 RBI and no extra-base hits. Not exactly producing in crunch time…
    Baseball-Reference.com has a statistic that tracks situational hitting called “late and close” (admittedly, I’m not sure on the exact specifics of it), in those situations, his OPS is .397. You’re not reading that incorrectly.
    Here’s some season tri-slash lines for Player X:


    2001: .327/.378/.415
    2004: .326/.374/.407
    2009: .308/.365/.392
     

    Mauer in 2012: .319/.410/.403. Pretty similar, right?
     
     
    So, any guesses as to who Player X is? I’ll give you the answer in the form of another question: Would you pay Juan Pierre $23 million dollars?!
     
    Personally, you won’t find me joining the boo-birds in getting on Joe’s case, as the title of this post states, it’s asinine.
     
    He’s a once-in-a-lifetime hitter, playing the games most physically demanding position a vast majority of the time.
     
    He’s won 3 batting titles.
     
    He’s won an MVP.
     
    He’s Joe freakin’ Mauer, a born and raised Minnesotan.
     
    But I also think you’re a little off on your analysis if you feel this is the same Joe Mauer that won those batting titles and an MVP award. When it has mattered this year, when the Twins and their fans have needed him to come through up to this point, he simply put, hasn’t. It’s a “what have you done for me lately” situation.
     
    In New York that would get you run out of town. In Minnesota, I guess you just have to deal with some boo’s until everything regresses (or progresses) back to the mean (which it will).
     
    You can follow me on Twitter: @MNTwinsGUFS, send any thoughts or questions to: twins.gufs@gmail.com, or leave your comments below! (Also available at: http://Twins.GearUpForSports.com/blog/ )
  5. Steve Lein
    It’s that time of the year again when Top Prospect Lists come out for teams all across Major League Baseball. Baseball America gives Top 10’s for each team leading up to their Top 100 Prospects, blogs everywhere chime in on their favorite teams, and universally fans complain that their favorite guys aren’t rated higher.
     
    A lot of fans seem down on the farm system of the Twins after watching prospect after prospect come up and flounder last year while they tried to fill the gaping holes in their lineup with Joe Mauer, Justin Morneau, Tsuyoshi Nishioka, Alexi Casilla, and Denard Span all missing significant time. Fact is, many of those guys were rushed out of necessity, and it showed. The Twins Minor League system isn’t one of the best in baseball, more of a middling group, but one should expect that when over the past 10 seasons they’ve been so successful in the AL Central that they’ve had just 1 draft pick above slot #20. Fortunately for them, that will change this June when they select #2, but until then, there’s still plenty to be excited about.
     
    Despite their strength being at the lower-levels, fans saw plenty of the immediate future in 2011. Trevor Plouffe took a wrecking ball to International League pitching, then squandered his chance at Shortstop with the Twins and should see more time in the outfield than infield in 2012. Ben Revere’s speed and smile patrolled Center Field in Span’s absence. Then Rene Tosoni, Chris Parmelee, Joe Benson, and Liam Hendriks (and more) all made their MLB debuts.
     
    So with Spring Training right around the corner (will you be there?), here is my 2012 Twins Top Ten Prospect List:
     
    10. Brian Dozier, SS
    2011 MiLB Stats (A+, AA): 127 games; .320/.399/.491, 33 2B’s, 12 3B’s, 9 HR, 56 RBI, 24 SB’s.
     
    The 2009 8th round pick was the recipient of a lot of praise from Coach Ron Gardenhire after being invited to Spring Training for the first time in 2011. He receives the same compliments from his lineup mates and pitchers who play alongside him. Steady, confident, in charge, leader; hefty praise indeed, and deserved. Dozier took the confidence gained is ST and ran with it in 2011, quickly earning a promotion to AA, where he continued to thrive, slugging a career best .502 in 78 games and taking home the Twins 2011 Minor League Player of the Year Award. A darkhorse candidate to win an MLB roster spot this Spring Training, Dozier is very likely to see action with the Twins before September if Casilla, Nishioka, or Jamey Carrol hit the disabled list. Former Twins Comparison: Jason Bartlett. Will get on-base, make all the plays at SS or 2B (likely his best position), and swipe a few bases.
     
    9. Chris Parmelee, 1B
    2011 MiLB Stats (AA): 142 games; .287/.366/.436, 30 2B’s, 5 3B’s, 13 HR, 83 RBI.
    2011 Twins Stats: 21 games; .355/.443/.592, 6 2B’s, 4 HR, 14 RBI.
     
    Parmelee led the entire Twins organization in RBI, with 97 on the season, and made his Major League Debut on September 6th, going 2-4 to collect his first career hits. Parmelee is one of many former 1st round picks the Twins have selected that took awhile to come into his own, but after his September performance, Twins fans should feel a little better about having him around as the backup plan for Morneau at 1B. He’s likely not going to be a mega-slugging 1B-man, but in cavernous Target Field could be able to mirror the double and HR power from the left side of the plate lost with Jason Kubel’s departure to Arizona. Former Twins Comparison: Corey Koskie with the bat, Ron Coomer with the glove.
     
    8. Alex Wimmers, RHP
    2011 MiLB Stats (A+): 12 games, 4 starts; 2-3, 4.20 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 40.2 IP, 39 K’s, 22 BB’s.
     
    Wimmers 2011 couldn’t have started any more disastrous. 0.0 IP, 6 BB’s, 6 batters faced. I tuned-in to this game through internet radio, excited to see Wimmers continue his brief dominance of the Florida State League the year before. Instead, the Fort Myers Miracle play-by-play guy, Alex Margulies and I, were left flabbergasted. In his commentary, Margulies recounted 4 pitches Wimmers sent over the head of the Catcher into the netting of the backstop. The Twins shut him down immediately and worked to cure what ailed him in Extended Spring Training. He returned out of the bullpen in July and gradually gained back his mojo and starter status, culminating with a 7 inning No-Hitter in his last game of the season. If he’s put the unexpected control issues behind him, he should move fast in 2012. Former Twins Comparison: Kevin Slowey. Probably a bit better, and hopefully with none of the “issues” (that’s blatant sarcasm on the “issues” part if you didn’t notice).
     
    7. Kyle Gibson, RHP
    2011 MiLB Stats (AAA): 18 games, 18 starts; 3-8, 4.81 ERA, 1.427 WHIP, 95.1 IP, 91 K’s, 27 BB’s.
     
    Gibson was well on his way to forcing himself onto the Twins roster through the months of April and May, going 3-3 in 10 starts, with a 3.60 ERA and 59 K’s in 55 IP. But it was about this time where his fortunes turned for the worse. In June and July, he made 8 more starts, but went 0-5 with a 6.47 ERA and just 32 K’s in 40.1 IP. His elbow finally barked at him, and further examination showed he would require Tommy John surgery. This effectively ended his 2011 and all of 2012 in an unfortunate turn of events for a team in need of a top-end starting pitcher. It’s not out of the question Gibson will make it back to pitching this year as Stephen Strasburg of the Nationals returned in 12 months, but I wouldn’t expect to even discuss Gibson with the Twins until 2013. Former Twins Comparison: Worm-burning version of Scott Baker. If his recovery goes well, he’s a potential staff ace (different from “ace”) with above average but not otherworldly strikeout potential.
     
    6. Liam Hendriks, RHP
    2011 MiLB Stats (AA, AAA): 25 games, 24 starts; 12-6, 3.36 ERA, 1.134 WHIP, 111 K’s, 21 BB’s.
    2011 Twins Stats: 4 games, 4 starts; 0-2, 6.17 ERA, 1.500 WHIP, 23.1 IP, 16 K’s, 6 BB’s.
     
    Hendriks was easily the Twins 2011 Minor League Pitcher of the Year, and finished the season toeing the rubber for the MLB club with mixed results. Half a year of further seasoning at AAA will do him some good, but at this point he’s #1 on the Starting-Pitching-call-up depth chart, so it’s likely he could be back in the bigs before the summer months heat up. Hendriks will never be overpowering, but with his plus makeup and plus command, should see mid-rotation results as he progresses further. Former Twins Comparison: Brad Radke. The prototypical “Twins Pitcher.” Will give up hits but limit the damage due to his ability to locate all 4 of his pitches for strikes.
     
    5. Joe Benson, OF
    2011 MiLB Stats (AA): 111 games, .285/.388/.495, 28 2B’s, 4 3B’s, 16 HR, 67 RBI, 56 BB’s, 109 K’s.
    2011 Twins Stats: 21 Games, .239/.270/.352, 6 2B’s, 1 3B, 2 RBI, 2 BB’s, 21 K’s.
     
    Benson’s power numbers fell some during a season in which he had knee surgery right in the middle of it, but by the end of August was back to his old self and got a September look with the Twins. Benson has a plethora of tools (power, speed, and arm) that are perhaps only surpassed by Aaron hicks in the minors, and they could make him a consistent 20-20 guy in the majors. The knock on him is he strikes out too much, but he also has been able to get on base at a very high clip throughout his minor league career (.094 OBP-AVG split), so the K’s don’t bother me as much as some others. He’ll get his first taste of AAA in 2012, and if any outfielders from the Twins miss significant time, Benson likely gets the call. Former Twins Comparison: Michael Cuddyer. He’s less advanced with the bat as far as making contact is concerned, but should maintain a respectable OBP and make up for it with similar power numbers and much better speed and outfield defense.
     
    4. Oswaldo Arcia, OF
    2011 MiLB Stats (Rk, A-, A+): 81 games, .291/.335/.531, 23 2B’s, 4 3B’s, 13 HR, 51 RBI.
     
    Arcia demolished the Midwest League to the tune of a .352 batting average and .704 slugging percentage in his first 20 games of 2011 with the Beloit Snappers. Even more impressive, was the fact he did so while dealing with a hurting elbow that kept him from playing in the outfield. When the pain finally became too much, he underwent arthroscopic surgery to repair it and missed 2 months of the season. Upon his return, Arcia was promoted to Fort Myers and endured his first struggles, batting just .263 with a .300 OBP. Arcia has been allergic to drawing free passes so far in his career, and this fact was made more apparent in his time with the Miracle where he drew just 9 BB’s in 59 games, the same number he drew in just 20 games while at Beloit. Much of his struggles at Ft. Myers can probably be attributed to the elbow, but Arcia was also added to the 40-man roster in the offseason, so a big 2011 where he demonstrates improvement in this area of his game is important. He was promoted aggressively even after the injury, so a return to the Florida State League and mid-season promotion to New Britain is very likely in 2012. Former Twins Comparison: Jason Kubel. “Professional” left-handed hitter with power and a strong arm from the outfield.
     
    -ESPN prospect guru Keith Law’s #85 Prospect.
     
    3. Aaron Hicks, OF
    2011 MiLB stats (A+): 122 games, .242/.354/.368, 31 2B’s, 5 3B’s, 5 HR’s, 38 RBI, 17 SB.
     
    Hicks likely starts the season back in Fort Myers, but could make the move to AA New Britain after an Arizona Fall League campaign where he hit .294/.400/.559, with 8 doubles, 5 triples, 3 home runs, and 21 RBI in 30 games.
     
    I bring up the comparison to Torii Hunter all the time when talking about Hicks. Both were 1st Round picks as toolsy high school hitters with elite defensive potential. I find it even more important now because this will be Hicks’ age 22 season, the same age Hunter’s bat finally started showing promise. They’re similar players when you look at their Minor League stat lines, but a trait Hicks has that Hunter never did, is the ability to get on base by working the strike zone. He’s often too passive of a hitter and this is a trait he needs to improve, but this also has allowed him to score 208 runs in the past 3 seasons (in 304 games), while Hunter scored just 171 at the same ages (in 343 games).
     
    Hunter made it to the Majors almost exclusively because of his defense, and adjusted to become a dangerous hitter. Hicks has shown more promise with a bat and approach, and his defense profiles very similar. You’ll see Hicks in a Twins uniform some day, but 2012 is a big year for him that will go a long way in determining if the end result of the comparison is fair. Former Twins Comparison: Do I even have to say it?!
     
    -ESPN prospect guru Keith Law’s #80 prospect.
    -MLB.com’s #72 prospect.
     
    2. Eddie Rosario, OF/2B
    2011 MiLB stats (Rk+): 67 games, .337/.397/.670, 9 2B’s, 9 3B’s, 21 HR, 60 RBI, 17 SB.
     
    For the second year in a row, an Elizabethtown player took home the Appalachian League Player of the Year Award. After Arcia did so impressively in 2010, Rosario perhaps was even more so in 2011 (was co-PotY). He led the league in slugging percentage, triples, home runs, total bases, and was 2nd in RBI’s, hits, and OPS. Then, in the fall instructional leagues, Rosario began to transition to the infield as a second baseman in an attempt to maximize his skill set. As an outfielder, Rosario wasn’t likely to receive as much publicity due to the organizational strength there, but as a second baseman, his profile could skyrocket. Former Twins Comparison: Chuck Knoblauch. I’d be surprised if the power numbers remain as high as they were in Elizabethtown, but Rosario will still be an offensive-minded second-basemen if the move sticks.
     
    -ESPN prospect guru Keith Law’s #50 prospect.
     
    1. Miguel Sano, 3B
    2011 MiLB stats (Rk+): 66 games, .292/.352/.637, 18 2B’s, 7 3B’s, 20 HR, 59 RBI.
     
    While Rosario was taking home the Appy League co-MVP, Sano was leading the league in extra-base-hits and right on his heels in several other categories. Where Rosario’s power was more of the line drive variety and viewed with caution by many scouts, Sano’s was legit, with many of his HR’s being described as “mammoth shots” (except for his 1 inside-the-parker). The Beloit Snappers should be a very interesting roster to watch this season, and expectations remain high for Sano’s first taste of full-season league play. He’s already ranked highly on many national Top 100 lists, and is without a doubt the most heralded Twins prospect since Joe Mauer. Questions remain about whether his glove and size will allow him to stick at third base, but his bat will play anywhere. Former Twins Comparison: Don’t know if there is one. His raw-power is off the charts (30+ HR potential) and should hit for average as well as he continues his development. Many experts make the Miguel Cabrera comparison, so that’s the reason he’s the #1 prospect in the system.
     
    -ESPN prospect guru Keith Law’s #28 prospect.
    -MLB.com’s #23 prospect.
     
    ‘Til next time…Win Twins!
     
    You can follow me on Twitter: @MNTwinsGUFS, send any thoughts or questions to: twins.gufs@gmail.com, or leave your comments below! (Also available at http://twins.gearupforsports.com/blog/)
  6. Steve Lein
    In the minors on Tuesday there were a few shortstop prospects who collected hits in bunches, including a near-cycle, but they couldn’t quite match the effort of a starter called up to AAA earlier in the day. He did something not many pitchers could say they’ve done over the first three innings, along with setting a career high for K’s on the game. Bad weather in Florida also wreaked havoc on the Miracle’s attempt at a mid-week series.
     
    To find out who made the headlines on 2-1 night in the system on Tuesday, read on.
     
    TRANSACTIONS
     
    Nik Turley was assigned to Rochester on Tuesday and made the start for the Red Wings, and made more than a statement to stay in AAA for good this time, and maybe even a call-up to the Twins. To make the room, right-handed pitcher Ryan Eades was swapped back to AA.
     
    RED WINGS REPORT
    Scranton Wilkes-Barre 1, Rochester 8
    Box Score
     
    The Red Wings offense exploded for multiple runs in each of the sixth, seventh, and eighth innings in this one to put the RailRiders away. But the story wasn’t that late offensive explosion to secure the victory.
     
    The story was starter Nik Turley whose name has appeared quite frequently in these reports this season, but even he hadn’t done something like this.
     
    What you ask? How about record his first ten outs of the game via the strikeout.
     
    He did punch out fourteen in a seven inning start for Chattanooga on April 25th, but would eclipse that number in six innings in this one, with fifteen K’s total. He did allow four hits (including two doubles) and two walks on the game, but whenever any trouble materialized he simply shrugged it off and overpowered the next hitter(s).
     
    Mitch Garver started that scoring for Rochester with his fourth home run of the season, a three run shot in the sixth. Zack Granite added an RBI single in the three-run seventh inning that also included three errors, and John Ryan Murphy added an RBI double in the two-run eighth to account for most of that late offense. Granite finished 3-5 with two runs scored.
     
    Out of the bullpen, Drew Rucinski pitched two perfect innings including one strikeout, while Michael Tonkin allowed a run on two hits and a walk in the ninth to close out the game. He also struck out one.
     
    CHATTANOOGA CHATTER
    Jackson 4, Chattanooga 2 (14 innings)
    Box Score
     
    The Lookouts were taken into extra innings in this one, as the pitching staffs of both teams limited the chances throughout.
     
    Matt Tracy made the start for Chattanooga, and went the first six innings. He gave up a two-run home run in the fourth that made the score 2-1 in favor of the Generals, but that was it. He allowed five hits and two walks along with five strikeouts on the game.
     
    Chattanooga scored single runs in the third and fifth innings thanks to the bat of Nick Gordon, who brought in the run with a single in both frames. The Lookouts would leave the bases loaded in that fifth inning, and with the game tied the bullpens took over.
     
    Todd Van Steensel, Luke Bard, and Mason Melotakis all pitched two scoreless frames for the home team, extending into the extra frames. Van Steensel was perfect in the seventh and eighth. Bard allowed two hits but struck out three in the ninth and tenth. Melotakis walked one and struck out three in the next two innings.
     
    Jackson’s bullpen pitched nine scoreless innings, combining to allow just five hits and four walks, while striking out fourteen to keep Chattanooga from walking this one off.
     
    Nick Anderson came on in the thirteenth frame and kept the game tied, but ran into trouble that spelled doom for the Lookouts in the fourteenth. Three singles, a walk, and a sac fly plated two runs for 4-2 Jackson lead.
     
    Ryan walker led off the bottom of the inning with a walk and Gordon reached base as the tying run with an infield single before an out was recorded, but a double-play ball and ground out shut the door on the extended game.
     
    Gordon (4-6, 2 RBI, BB), Edgar Corcino (3-7), and Walker (2-5, R, 2B, BB) accounted for nine of the Lookouts eleven hits on the game. The rest of the team was 2-33 with twelve of their sixteen total strikeouts. They were just 2-14 with runners in scoring position and left thirteen men on base.
     
    MIRACLE MATTERS
    Cancelled – Rain.
     
    After their game was postponed due to rain yesterday, the weather persisted in Palm Beach and both games today were cancelled. Per a press release from the Miracle, the games will not be made up.
     
    Lewis Thorpe had started the game yesterday and his team was down 2-0 when it was postponed in the bottom of the fourth due to a couple of unearned runs, but no stats from that game will count.
     
    KERNELS NUGGETS
    Cedar Rapids 7, Clinton 2
    Box Score
     
    Cedar Rapids notched runs in four of the first five inning in this one, jumping out to a 5-0 lead that would be more than enough offense for their pitching staff.
     
    Lewin Diaz put them up 1-0 with an RBI double in the first inning, keeping his name at the top of the leaderboard for extra-base hits on the season with twenty-eight (21 2B, 3B, 7 HR). They scored two in the third thanks to an RBI triple from Jermaine Palacios and an RBI single from Jaylin Davis. After his first double of the season in the fourth, Hank Morrison raced home on wild pitch before Palacios clubbed his eighth home run in the fifth to make it 5-0.
     
    The LumberKings were held scoreless through the sixth inning thanks to the effort of Kernels starter Tyler Wells. In the high quality start, he allowed just two singles to the opposing offense while striking out seven. Of his 83 pitches, 56 went for strikes including eight swing-and-misses and striking out the side in the fifth inning. He lowered his ERA to 2.05 on the season along with picking up his third win.
     
    The Kernels tacked on two more runs in the eighth thanks to a Caleb Hamilton double, and he would later score on a wild pitch.
     
    In relief of Wells, Max Cordy allowed a run on a walk that was followed by an RBI double in the seventh, but struck out two in his inning. Colton Davis pitched a scoreless eight, striking out one. Patrick McGuff came on to finish the game, and gave up a run on a walk and a hit for the final score of 7-2.
     
    Palacios finished a double short of the cycle with a 3-5 night and scored three runs in addition to his two RBI. Davis was the only other player with multiple hits and also drove in two.
     
    TWINS DAILY PLAYERS OF THE DAY
     
    Pitcher of the Day – Nik Turley, Rochester Red Wings (W, 6 IP, 4 H’s, 2 BB’s, 15 K’s)
    Hitter of the Day – Jermaine Palacios, Cedar Rapids Kernels (3-5, 3 R’s, 3B, HR, 2 RBI)
     
    WEDNESDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS
     
    Scranton Wilkes-Barre @ Rochester (11:35AM CST) – LHP David Hurlbut (3-3, 3.35 ERA)
    Jackson @ Chattanooga (10:15AM CST) – RHP Felix Jorge (5-1, 3.39 ERA)
    Tampa @ Fort Myers (6:05PM CST) – RHP Brady Anderson (2-1, 4.01 ERA)
    Cedar Rapids @ Clinton (6:30PM CST) – RHP Sean Poppen (4-1, 2.12 ERA)
     
    Please feel free to ask questions and discuss Tuesday’s games!
  7. Steve Lein
    The Surprise Saguaros headed into the final day of the AFL season needing to win their game with the Salt River Rafters to clinch a spot in the AFL Championship game, and were able to do so with contributions from four of the Twins players.
     
    Stephen Gonsalves punctuated his shortened time in the AFL with a six strikeout effort in his start on Tuesday, Nick Gordon finished the year near the top of several statistical categories, and a couple of the bullpen arms closed out their showings with good weeks.
     
    To see how all of the Twins prospects fared in the final week of the AFL season, and how the title game against the Mesa Solar Sox went, read on!
     
    (links provided to each player’s overall stats by clicking their name)
     
    Stephen Gonsalves – 1 game started, 3.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 H’s, 6 K’s, 8.31 ERA (overall).
     
    Gonsalves made his final start of the AFL season in Tuesday’s tilt against the Glendale Desert Dogs. After the leadoff man singled to start the game, Gonsalves came back with a strikeout for the first out of the game. A wild-pitch to the next batter put the runner on second base, but he got out number two with a fly ball to left field. Gonsalves then gave up a run-scoring single before he struck out another batter to end the inning.
     
    Unfortunately, that one run would loom large as it would be the only scoring for the game from either team.
     
    In the second inning, Gonsalves settled in nicely, striking out the side in a one-two-three inning. In the third, he gave up a leadoff single, but a flyout, caught stealing play, and another strikeout ended that inning with just three hitters stepping into the batters box.
     
    Gonsalves threw thirty-eight pitches in this one, with twenty-five of them going for strikes. He finishes his injury-shortened AFL on a high note, and pitched a total of 8.2 innings in his time with the Saguaros. Overall, he allowed eight earned runs on ten hits and four walks, while striking out seven.
     
    Nick Gordon – 4 games (3 started), 5-14, 2 R’s, RBI, 4 K’s.
     
    Gordon saw action in all four regular season games on the week, though he started three of them.
     
    In Monday’s 9-3 win over Peoria, Gordon was a big reason why as the leadoff man. In their three run second inning, Gordon delivered his first hit of the game to put two runners on with one out. A double later in the inning would score him and another runner to make it 5-0.
     
    In the fourth he added another single to right field, but was then caught stealing second base. In the bottom of the sixth he led off the inning with the first of three consecutive singles, and would score on the third to make it 8-2 Saguaros. He finished this one 3-5 with two runs scored.
     
    In Tuesdays 1-0 loss, Gordon was summoned as a pinch-hitter with two outs in the bottom of the ninth, and a runner on first, but he grounded out to end the game.
     
    Back into regular action on Wednesday, Gordon finished the game 1-4. He singled in the top of the fifth, but was then picked off at first base. He also had a fielding error in the eighth that led to both of Peoria’s two runs in the inning being unearned.
     
    In Thursday’s 4-2 win over Salt River to clinch a AFL Championship appearance, Gordon contributed to the effort with an RBI single in the fifth inning to give his team the lead for good at 3-2.
     
    Gordon finished the AFL season by leading his team in batting average (.346), on-base percentage (.418), stolen bases (5), and triples (2); and was second on the team in runs scored (15) and OPS (.862).
     
    Mitch Garver – 4 games (3 started), 2-12, 2 R’s, 2B, RBI, BB, 3 K’s.
     
    Garver also played in all four games on the week with one of those appearances coming as a pinch-hitter. He was the catcher for Stephen Gonsalves start, and designated hitter in the other two games.
     
    In Monday’s 9-3 win, Garver was the DH and batted fifth. In the bottom of the first his double scored one to make it 2-0 Saguaros early. His fifth inning walk started a two-out rally, and he would later score the first of their two runs in the inning to extend their lead to 7-0. He finished 1-3.
     
    Catching on Tuesday, Garver went 0-4 out of the five-hole in the lineup. He also was in the boxscore for a caught stealing (though it’s not clear if he threw the runner out).
     
    In Wednesday’s loss to Peoria, Garver came in as a pinch hitter to lead off the top of ninth with his team down 5-2, but he flew out to center field and the next two hitters also went down to end the game.
     
    Back in the lineup as the DH for Thursday’s final regular season game and a trip to the AFL Championship on the line, Garver caught the comeback started for the Saguaros in the fifth inning. Down 2-0, he led off the inning with a single and found his way to third after another single and a wild pitch. He would score after a throwing error on a ground ball to third from an organizational teammate, and then Gordon capped off the three run inning with his single. Garver was 1-4 with the run scored on the day.
     
    Garver finished the AFL season with a .229/.299/.457 tri-slash line and led his team in home runs with four. He was also second on the team in RBI’s with fourteen.
     
    Tanner English – 3 games, 1-9, BB, 3 K’s.
     
    English made the start in center field in three of the four games on the week, and batted ninth in each.
     
    In Monday’s 9-3 win, he was 0-4. He flew out three times and struck out once but made a bigger impact in his next game on Wednesday. In the loss to Peoria English finished 1-2 with a walk. He singled in the second inning and drew a walk in the sixth to put two runners on with two-outs in both innings, but Gordon wasn’t able to follow with a hit to do any more damage. He also added an outfield assist in the seventh, nabbing a runner at third base.
     
    In the clincher on Thursday, English played a pivotal role despite being 0-3 in the box score. His catch-and-throw to nab a runner at home in the second inning kept the Salt River lead at 2-0 (such plays turning into a theme for English). In the fifth, his ground ball to third made the fielder rush his throw and the resulting error scored two runs to tie the game before Gordon put them in front.
     
    English finished his showing in the AFL by batting .239/.333/.338 overall and played in twenty-two of the Saguaros thirty-two games, good for second on the team.
     
    Mason Melotakis – 1 game, 1.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 H’s,1.64 ERA (overall).
     
    Melotakis made just one appearance on the week, and in came in Surprise’s 5-2 loss to Peoria on Wednesday.
     
    He pitched the seventh inning with his team down 2-1, and for only the second time in the AFL season, did he allow a run to score. Three singles around a line-out loaded the bases with one out, but he did well to limit the damage with the ever-rare sacrifice-double-play to the innings final hitter. In case you need to know how such a thing is possible, the fly ball out was hit to center fielder Tanner English. Knowing the situation, English fired his throw toward third base instead of home and caught the runner there dead-to-rights. But the runner tagging for home also made the smart play and hustled to cross home before that out was recorded.
     
    Melotakis had a strong showing overall in the AFL and looks to be in a similar position going into 2017 as J.T. Chargois was coming into 2016. He finished the AFL season with 11.0 IP, and allowed just two earned runs on twelve hits and one walk, while striking out eleven. AAA could be his destination at next year’s outset, but even if he’s back in AA to start with he likely won’t be there long and could be knocking on the MLB doorstep all season.
     
    Randy Rosario – 1 game, 1.0 IP, 2 R’s (0 earned), H, BB, 2 K’s, 4.26 ERA (overall).
     
    Rosario also made one appearance on the week, and it was the inning that followed Melotakis’ appearance in Wednesday’s loss.
     
    Unfortunately for Rosario, his inning started on a bad note as Gordon misplayed a ground ball for an error. He struck out the next batter, but a hit-by-pitch and wild pitch later there were runners on second and third. He got a groundball for the innings second out (would have been the third, making any runs afterward unearned), but then a walk and single scored two to give Peoria the 5-2 lead.
     
    Rosario pitched a total of 12.2 innings in the AFL season, and allowed eight runs (six earned) on eighteen hits and five walks, while striking out ten. His best appearance came on November 11th when he went two innings, allowing no hits or walks, and struck out three.
     
    John Curtiss – 1 game, 2.0 IP, 0 H’s, BB, 2 K’s, 2.84 ERA (overall).
     
    Curtiss pitched in the season final on Thursday, going the sixth and seventh innings for his team after they had taken the lead.
     
    Hi faced the minimum in the sixth by picking up two strikeouts and his defense erasing the other runner trying to stretch an error to an extra base. In the seventh he walked the leadoff man, but got a double play ball and line-out to end his day with the Saguaros up 3-2. He earned his second hold of the season in doing so.
     
    After allowing three runs in his first two games of the AFL season, Curtiss settled in well and allowed just one more in his final 10.2 innings pitched. Over that time he allowed just seven hits, two walks, and struck out fourteen. He also saved one game.
     
    AFL Championship Game:
    Surprise 1, Mesa 6
    Box Score
     
    With their win on Thursday the Saguaros clinched the West division with a 17-14-1 record, beating out Glendale by half a game and virtue of their tie.
     
    All three Twins position players started the game with Nick Gordon at shortstop and batting leadoff, Mitch Garver as the designated hitter and batting fourth, and Tanner English in center field batting ninth. Two Twins pitchers also made an appearance out of the bullpen.
     
    There wasn’t much to talk about on the hitting front as the hitters combined to go 0-10 on the day with four K’s, but a couple of performances did stand out.
     
    The first, was the defense from Tanner English. He made two standout plays in centerfield, a diving stab to prevent an extra-base hit, and cutting down a runner at home for another outfield assist on the week.
     
    Mitch Garver hit a long drive in the fifth, but was robbed on the warning track of extra bases when the score was 5-0 Mesa.
     
    Mason Melotakis was summoned for the start of the seventh inning, and gave up a home run to the Cubs Ian Happ (who was the robber of Garver, and was 4-4 with two HR’s to claim the MVP award) to start the inning. He retired the next three hitters in order, including a strikeout to end the inning.
     
    In the eighth it was John Curtiss, and he put down the Solar Sox in order, bookending the one-two-three inning with Strikeouts. Curtiss was also singled out in the game as the most impressive of the six Surprise pitchers by MLB.com’s Jim Callis, saying he worked 95-97 MPH with his fastball and getting both K’s with hard sliders. English’s defensive play was also called out in that link.
     
    So while it’s disappointing their team didn’t come away with the Championship Game victory, it had to be a fun season out in Arizona for all of the Twins prospects!
     
    Please feel free to ask questions and discuss the performances during the week!
  8. Steve Lein
    (Author Note: Apologies on the late report again this week, but it’s still hunting season)
     
    Twins prospects playing with the Surprise Saguaros helped their team to a 4-2 record in Week 5, and their (current) record of 16-13 overall is tops in the West Division. On the position player front, Nick Gordon continued looking like a legitimate leadoff man, Mitch Garver stood out defensively, and Tanner English continued to pose as a piranha at the end of the Surprise Saguaros lineup. On the pitching side of the coin, the bullpen stood out and made up for the hiccup from Stephen Gonsalves.
     
    To see how they all fared in week 5 of the AFL season, keep reading!
     
    (links provided to each player’s overall stats by clicking their name)
     
    Stephen Gonsalves – 1 game started, 0.2 IP, 4 ER’s, 3 H’s, 3 BB, 11.12 ERA (overall).
     
    Gonsalves got the start in Wednesday’s game against the Scottsdale Scorpions, and before he even took the mound his teammates had spotted him a 3-0 lead.
     
    Unfortunately for the lefty, that is the most positive thing that came out of this one. He walked the first hitter he faced, threw a wild pitch and allowed a single to the next, then made an errant pickoff throw that scored the first run of the game for Scottsdale. Another walk and single loaded the bases before he got a double-play ball and a chance to limit the damage to just two runs. But it was another walk followed by a two-run triple that ended his day without finishing an inning.
     
    Gonsalves racked up thirty-one pitches with just thirteen of them going for strikes. He will look to bounce back next week!
     
    Nick Gordon – 4 games, 5-14, 3 R’s, 2 2B’s, 3B, RBI, 2 BB’s, 3 K’s.
     
    Gordon picked up a hit in each of his four games on the week, and also reached base multiple times in all of them, proving quite useful as a leadoff man.
     
    In Monday’s 8-5 win over Salt River, he was hit by a pitch to start the game as the leadoff man, but it was his single in the third inning that led to him scoring the Saguaros first run of the game. The play included a throwing error that moved him into scoring position, and he would later score on a single. He also drew a walk in the fifth inning to reach base in three of five plate appearances on the day.
     
    On Wednesday Gordon was again the leadoff man, and again reached base to start the game. This time it was a single to right field and he would go on to score the first of three runs in the inning. That would be it for runs until the ninth inning in the 5-4 loss to the Scorpions, but in between Gordon doubled and struck out twice in his other three trips to the batters box.
     
    Gordon started the game off with a bang on Thursday, when he drove a triple to center field as the first hitter. He would score the first of Surprise’s three runs in the inning, and for the game, on a double from the next batter. He drew a walk in the second to reach base for a second time, but was left stranded and did not reach base again in any of his final three at-bats.
     
    In Saturday’s 4-2 win over the Mesa Solar Sox, Gordon finally failed to reach base in his first plate appearance would come through late for his squad. Up 3-2 in the bottom of the seventh, Gordon followed a leadoff double from Tanner English with one of his own to drive him in and make the final score of 4-2. Gordon was also hit by a pitch in the fourth inning and was thrown out stealing third after his double.
     
    After another strong week, Gordon’s .343 batting average was good for fifth on the AFL leaderboard and his .429 on-base percentage was fourth.
     
    Mitch Garver – 3 games, 3-13, R, 2B, RBI, 2 K’s.
     
    On Monday, Garver hit the ball hard in three of his four plate appearances, but only had a single to show for it. His line drive deep to centerfield in the second inning allowed the runner to tag up from first and advance a base, and he lined out to third in the fourth. His single in the two-run sixth inning put runners on the corners and helped tie the game at three, then he went down looking in his final plate appearance in the eighth.
     
    In Thursday’s 3-1 win over Glendale, Garver played a bigger role. He drove in the second run of the first inning with a single, and would score the third on a ground-rule double later in the inning. That was all the lineup’s scoring for the game, but Garver led off the third inning with a double and reached base in the seventh after the ball got away from the catcher on a strikeout. He would finish his day 2-5.
     
    Back at Catcher after DH-ing on Thursday, Garver had his quietest day of the week as a hitter with an 0-4 effort, but made a big impact on defense. Four men attempted stealing second base throughout the game, but only one was successful. This included killing two runners after singles in the third inning and another in the fourth that directly prevented scoring opportunities in the 5-3 for his team.
     
    As Mike Berardino of the Pioneer Press points out, Garver knows his time in the AFL could have a big impact on his future, and is not taking anything for granted.
     
    Tanner English – 5 games, 5-13, 3 R’s, 2B, RBI, BB, 4 K.
     
    English started four games on the week, and also got into action in another as a defensive replacement late in the game. He did not get an at-bat in that one.
     
    In Monday’s 8-5 win, English was 1-3 with an infield single that came in the eighth inning and also scored a run after a throwing error. He also picked up an outfield assist with a force out at second base, catching the runner in no man’s land on a liner. He was also caught stealing after being hit by a pitch in the fifth.
     
    In the Saguaros 5-4 loss on Wednesday, English had just three plate appearances as Scorpions pitchers retired fifteen in a row at one point, and was in the on-deck circle for the game’s final out. He was 0-3.
     
    After entering the game in the eighth inning for defensive purposes in Thursday’s 3-1 win, he was back to starting in center field on Friday. Batting eighth, English notched singles and a run scored in each of the second and sixth innings in the 5-3 win.
     
    To cap off the week on Saturday, English again notched two hits in a win for his team. Back to batting ninth (second leadoff!), he delivered an RBI single in the fourth inning, and later stole third base for his second steal of the AFL season. He led off the eighth inning with a double and would score the insurance run when Gordon followed with one of his own.
     
    Mason Melotakis – 2 games, 2.0 IP, 0 H’s, 0 BB’s, 3 K’s, 0.90 ERA (overall).
     
    Making two appearances on the week, Melotakis extended his scoreless streak to seven games, and has allowed just one run in ten appearances thus far.
     
    In Tuesday’s loss to the Mesa Solar Sox, he pitched the seventh inning with his team down 10-5. It was a one-two-three inning with eight of his twelve pitches going for strikes, and he picked up two K’s.
     
    On Thursday Melotakis got the sixth inning in Surpise’s 3-1 win over Glendale. Again the opposition went down in order, and he picked up his third hold in the process. He struck out one in this one and needed just seven pitches.
     
    Randy Rosario – 2 games, 4.0 IP, 1 ER, 2 H’s, BB, 3 K’s, 4.63 ERA (overall).
     
    Rosario pitched in two games on the week, and went two innings in each.
     
    On Monday he pitched the seventh and eighth innings in their 8-5 victory, picking up the win after his offense exploded for five runs in the bottom of the eighth. He went one-two-three in the seventh, but a walk and two singles in the eighth accounted for his one earned run. Of his twenty-six pitches in this one, seventeen went for strikes.
     
    In the Saguaros 5-3 win on Friday, Rosario pitched the sixth and seventh innings, retiring all six men he faced on twenty-two pitches. He struck out two in the sixth, and one in the seventh in the process.
     
    John Curtiss – 2 games, 2.0 IP, 1 H, 2 K’s, 3.38 ERA (overall).
     
    Like his fellow bullpen counterparts, Curtiss also made two appearances on the week, his coming in the games on Tuesday and Friday.
     
    With his team down 10-6 against Mesa, Curtiss pitched the bottom of the eighth inning to finish the game for Surprise. It was a quick and easy one-two-three effort that took just five pitches.
     
    On Friday with his team up by two Curtiss was summoned for his first save opportunity. After striking out the first two hitters he faced, he allowed a single, but a ground ball back to him on the mound would secure the victory for his team.
     
    After a slow start to his AFL season (3 ER’s and 6 H’s allowed in his first two innings), Curtiss has now allowed just one run on seven hits and a walk in his last eight appearances, totaling 8.2 innings pitched. He has also struck out twelve over that timeframe, and has racked up multiple K’s in seven of ten appearances overall.
     
    Please feel free to ask questions and discuss the performances during the week!
  9. Steve Lein
    Author Note: Apologies on the late report this week, but it’s hunting season! q:-)
     
    The Surprise Saguaros went 3-2 in the fourth week of the AFL season, and all of the Twins prospects were back in action on the week as Stephen Gonsalves made his return to the starting rotation after sitting out with a sore back.
     
    Their squad was also no-hit in one of those losses on the week, but we can take solace in the fact that none of the Twins players contributed to that effort!
     
    To see how each of the Twins prospects performed in Week 4, read on!
     
    (links provided to each player’s overall stats by clicking their name)
     
    Stephen Gonsalves – 1 game started, 2.0 IP, 2 ER’s, 1 H, 1 BB.
     
    Gonsalves made his return to the starting rotation for Friday’s contest against the Salt River Rafters. As he had not pitched in a couple weeks, it was a short appearance for him and he had to shake off a little rust.
     
    He walked the first batter of the game, and then hit the second with a pitch to put two runners on. A lineout to right field from the next hitter advanced the lead runner to third, and then a fielder’s choice groundout scored the first run but got an out at second. This means the batter ended up on first base and this is where the game recap gets a little confusing. With two outs, the next batter singled to centerfield, and the runner whom was on first…scored? However this anomaly went down this accounted for the two earned runs allowed in Gonsalves’ line.
     
    His second inning went much better and was of the one-two-three variety, with all three outs coming via groundouts to third base. Gonsalves threw thirty-three pitches total in his return to AFL action, with nineteen of those going for strikes.
     
    Nick Gordon – 3 games, 4-12, 3 R’s, 3B, RBI, BB, 6 K’s, SB.
     
    On Halloween, Surprise and Glendale were locked in 0-0 pitching staff duel until the eighth inning, when two Twins prospects broke the tie. Tanner English led off the frame with a single, and Gordon promptly drove him in for the game’s first run with a triple. Gordon would score his team’s second run on a double later in the inning and that was it in the 2-0 win.
     
    In a somewhat scary play to start the game, Gordon shook off a 90-MPH fastball to his helmet to stay in the game and then stole his fifth base, but was left stranded.
     
    On Wednesday, Gordon again was in the leadoff spot for the Saguaros 6-0 win over Peoria, but he didn’t factor into the boxscore much in this one. His 0-4 day included two strikeouts.
     
    He would make up for that on Friday, though his team came out on the losing end in the extra-inning affair against Salt River. Down 2-0 after the top of the inning started by Gonsalves, Gordon led off with a single in the bottom half. He would later score on a double that also tied the game at two. After strikeouts to end each of the second and fourth innings, Gordon led off the seventh inning with a single, and trotted the bases on a home run from the next batter. With the game tied at six in the eighth, Gordon again reached base with a single, but was caught stealing second for the innings final out.
     
    Gordon was also the Twins lone representative in Saturday’s Fall Stars game, which his West division squad won 12-4. He was the leadoff man, and finished 0-3 with three groundouts before the mass substitutions came into play.
     
    For some more reading, check out Baseball America’s feature on Gordon, where it discusses what he’s working on in the AFL.
     
    Mitch Garver – 3 games, 1-11, R, HR, 2 RBI, BB, 4 K’s.
     
    It was a bit of a quiet week for Garver, but his lone hit was a big one that came in the first inning of Wednesday’s game against Peoria. With a runner on second, Garver blasted his fourth AFL home run to make it 2-0, and they never looked back in the 6-0 win. He was the designated hitter in this one.
     
    Earlier in the week on Hallow’s Eve, Garver was 0-4 with a pair of strikeouts while playing catcher. He did however, cut top Dodgers prospect Cody Bellinger down at second on a steal attempt late in the game.
     
    On Thursday Garver was back behind the plate, but finished his day 0-3. He drew a two-out walk in the third inning, but advanced no further than that. He also had a throwing error on the defensive side.
     
    Tanner English – 3 games, 2-9, 2 R’s, 3B, RBI, BB, 4 K’s.
     
    English saw action in the same three games as Garver during the week, playing centerfield in each.
     
    As mentioned above, in their Halloween win English broke the stalemate with single leading off the eighth inning and came around to score the first run of the game on Gordon’s triple that followed.
     
    In Wednesday’s shutout victory, he drew a walk in the second inning but played a bigger part in the Saguaros three run fifth to break the game open. His triple drove in the first run of the inning, and he would score the second on a wild pitch.
     
    In Thursday’s 3-1 loss to Mesa, English moved up a spot in the batting order to eighth, but went 0-3 with a pair of strikeouts to halt his hitting streak at six games.
     
    Mason Melotakis – 2 games, 2.0 IP, 4 H’s, 2 K’s, 1.00 ERA (overall).
     
    Melotakis picked up the win on Halloween as he pitched the top of the eighth inning before his organizational teammates accounted for Surprise’s two runs in the bottom half. He got through the inning without allowing a run, but it wasn’t quite that easy. Cody Bellinger led off with a single, but that’s when Garver cut him down trying to move into scoring position. An error and a single later put runners on first and third, but he got the final out on a pop-out to end any threat.
     
    In Thursday’s loss to Mesa, Melotakis again got the eighth inning, and again he had to work out of a jam. The first two batters reached on ground ball singles to centerfield, but that’s when he bucked up. Two strikeouts and a grounder later he was out inning and had lowered his Fall League ERA to an even 1.00.
     
    Randy Rosario – 2 games, 2.0 IP, 3 H’s, K, 5.59 ERA (overall).
     
    The lefty Rosario got the sixth inning on Halloween and kept the game tied at zero with a scoreless inning. He did allow two singles including one to the leadoff batter, but with two outs and runners on the corners he closed the door on the rally with a strikeout.
     
    Like Melotakis, Rosario also saw action in Thurday’s 3-1 loss, pitching the fifth inning in that one to relieve the Saguaros starter Tanner Anderson. The leadoff man again reached base with a single, but essentially two sacrifice bunts (one legit, one a weak tapper back to him on the mound) and can of corn later he had a scoreless inning in the book.
     
    John Curtiss – 2 games, 2.0 IP, 3 K’s, 3.72 ERA (overall).
     
    Curtiss had two solid appearances on the week, pitching in Wednesday’s win and Friday’s extra-inning loss.
     
    In the victory, he was the first reliever up after their starter finished the first four innings, and made quick work of the Javelinas lineup after the offense had made it 5-0 in the top-half. He bookended his inning with strikeouts and threw just ten pitches (seven for strikes).
     
    On Friday he pitched the seventh inning, again making short work of the opposing lineup to keep the game tied at six. On eleven pitches he picked up two ground ball outs to third, and ended the inning with a strikeout, his fourteenth on the AFL season in 8.2 innings pitched (that’s a good ratio, if you were wondering).
     
    Please feel free to ask questions and discuss the performances during the week!
  10. Steve Lein
    Week Two of the AFL season saw the Surprise Saguaros go 3-3, with Twins prospects faring quite a bit quieter than the first week.
     
    The three hitters managed just four hits between them after collecting fourteen in week one, and their prized pitching prospect unexpectedly got the week off for unknown reasons.
     
    That doesn’t mean there wasn’t plenty of action between them in their teams six games, so read on to find out what happened with each player on the week.
     
    (links provided to each player’s overall stats by clicking their name)
     
    Stephen Gonsalves – Did not pitch.
     
    Although Gonsalves was listed as the probable starter leading up to Wednesday’s game against Scottsdale, he did not pitch in the game, or make any appearances during the week due to a mild strain in his back. Hopefully he’s back in action this week!
     
    Nick Gordon – 3 games, 2-11, 2B, 2 RBI, 2 BB, 2 K’s.
     
    Gordon wasn’t nearly as hot in week two as he was in week one, but his first extra-base hit of the AFL season was a big one.
     
    It came in Monday’s 3-1 win over Salt River in the third inning. With two outs and runners on first and third, he ripped a double to centerfield to score them both and put his team ahead 2-0. It was one of just six hits on the day for the Saguaros, and Gordon also drew a walk in the game.
     
    Back to hitting third in the lineup on Wednesday, Gordon was 0-3 but hit a couple balls hard right at defenders. One of those turned into a double play as the runner at first was doubled off by the second baseman. Gordon drew a walk in the fifth inning that helped load the bases with nobody out, but they scored just one and he was left stranded at third.
     
    In Thursday’s 6-4 loss to Peoria, Gordon batted second and was 1-5 on the day. His hit came in the third inning when he got an infield single on a grounder into the hole at shortstop. Unfortunately he was then picked off on a steal attempt, and would go down swinging n his final two plate appearances.
     
    Mitch Garver – 3 games, 1-13, RBI, 3 K’s.
     
    Garver also had a week far less productive than his first, as he collected just one hit in his three games out of the cleanup spot in the lineup. Like week one, he caught two games, and was the designated hitter in the other.
     
    On Tuesday he picked up his lone RBI on the week in the first inning, and it would be his team’s only run on the game. His fielder’s choice ground ball to third brought in Yoan Moncado and gave them the early lead, but would get nothing else from there. He also reached base in the sixth due to an error, but would end up stranded on third. He also threw out the only runner who attempted to steal on him.
     
    In Thursday’s loss Garver was 0-5 with a couple of strikeouts in the loss, but again threw out a runner at second base from behind the plate.
     
    As the designated hitter on Friday, Garver finally picked up a hit for the week and it came in the third inning after Surprise had scored a run. His single was their third consecutive hit on the inning, and they would load the bases with two outs but push across no more. He would finish his day with a pair of groundouts in the fifth and seventh.
     
    Tanner English – 4 games, 1-13, 1 R, 3 BB, 8 K’s.
     
    Monday’s game was one English surely would have liked to forget as soon as possible. Batting sixth, he was 0-3 on the day with three strikeouts.
     
    Tuesday’s game was better, as he picked up a single to lead off the seventh inning, but would be left at second base and this was his only hit on the week. He struck out twice in this one.
     
    After a day off he batted leadoff on Thursday, but was 0-4 with another pair of strikeouts. These two came in his last two plate appearances, but at that point his entire team wasn’t faring much better. Over the final four innings that included those two K’s, he and his teammates went a combined 0-12 with seven strikeouts.
     
    He finished his week with his best game on Saturday, where he drew three walks and scored a run in the Saguaros win over Glendale. He led off the game for Surprise with a walk, and moved to third on an errant pickoff attempt before being thrown out at home on a fly ball to centerfield.
     
    His walk in the third inning was part of their five run burst, and he came around to score on a bases clearing double. His walk in the fourth loaded the bases again, but he would only end up reaching third.
     
    Mason Melotakis – 2 games, 2.0 IP, 1 ER, 2 H’s, 1 BB, 1 K, 2.25 ERA (overall).
     
    Melotakis pitched in two games on the week, getting the sixth inning in both of his squads two losses to the Salt River Rafters.
     
    On Tuesday, he had a quick one-two-three inning, throwing eleven pitches and inducing a flyout, groundout, and pop out. At the time the game was tied at one.
     
    On Friday, Melotakis ran into his first trouble of the AFL season and it came after he retired the first two hitters of the inning, including a strikeout. A single and a walk put a runner in scoring position, and the next single brought him home for a 3-2 Rafters lead. He got the third out of the inning on a ground ball back to himself to limit the damage, but his run allowed held up as the game winner and Melotakis was saddled with the loss.
     
    Randy Rosario – 2 games 3.0 IP, 2 ER’s, 5 H’s, 0 BB’s, 2 K’s.
     
    Rosario pitched two important innings in the Saguaros 2-1 victor over Scottsdale on the 19th, holding them scoreless in the sixth and seventh. He allowed two hits and no runs, while striking out two to keep the game 2-1 going into the late innings.
     
    On Saturday he wasn’t as lucky, but was thrown into a bad situation by Trey Ball, who had started the inning but walked all five men he faced before Rosario was summoned. He got a Sac Fly out, and allowed an RBI single before he was tagged for a three run home run, for which he was responsible for two of those runs. He got the final two outs around a single to finish off the seven run inning for Glendale, but luckily for his team that outburst only left the game tied.
     
    Surprise scored two in the bottom of the seventh and would hold on to win 10-8.
     
    John Curtiss – 2 games started, 2.2 IP, 0 R’s, 3 H’s, 0BB’s, 2 K’s.
     
    In Wednesday’s win, Curtiss pitched the eighth inning with his team up 2-1. It didn’t start out that well as he gave up a leadoff double, but he would retire the next three hitters to preserve the lead. Of his twelve pitches, ten of them went for strikes.
     
    In Saturday’s 10-8 win, Curtiss came on in the middle of the fourth inning to relieve starter Josh Staumont, who got a little wild to start the frame. With runners on first and second and one out, Curtiss allowed one inherited runner to score on a single, but got a flyout and strikeout to end the inning with his team up 6-1.
     
    He came back out for the fifth and pitched a scoreless inning, allowing just a single and picking up another strikeout.
     
    Please feel free to ask questions and discuss the performances during the week!
  11. Steve Lein
    Twins prospects in the Arizona Fall League are playing for the Surprise Saguaros this season, and they started off in week one with two wins, two losses…and an extra-innings-tie. Both victories were of the blowout variety, and they also experienced a blowout loss among those games.
     
    Two of the Twins position prospects had big weeks with their bats, and sit near the top of AFL leaderboards in several categories after five total games. Stephen Gonsalves passed his first test with flying colors, while members pitching out of the bullpen had levels of success spanning from good to not so good.
     
    Read on to check out how all the Twins prospects fared in the first week of the 2016 Arizona Fall League season!
     
    (links provided to each player’s overall stats by clicking their name)
     
    Stephen Gonsalves – 1 Start, 3.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 H’s, HR, 0 BB’s, 1 K.
     
    Gonsalves made the start in Thursday’s 5-4 loss, but Surprise was up 3-1 went he left after three innings. He was efficient, throwing just thirty-four pitches, with twenty-four going for strikes.
     
    In the first inning he struck out the first hitter he faces, and then got a fly out and grounder around a single for clean inning. In the second, he again faced just four hitters, but the third of the inning took him deep for a home run, and his only run allowed. In the third inning, it was again four batters Gonsalves would face, but his aggressiveness in the strikezone kept hitters behind in the cound. In his eleven pitches in the frame, just two went for balls.
     
    In his next start, look for Gonsalves to go a little deeper in the game, provided he has the same type of success, but his first AFL appearance was definitely a strong one coming off his spectacular 2016 season.
     
    Nick Gordon – 3 games, 7-13, 4 R’s, 2 RBI, 2 BB, 2 K’s, 2 SB’s.
     
    Gordon came out hot, going 3-4 with two runs scored, an RBI, walk, and stolen base in the AFL season opener that Surprise won 11-2 over Mesa. He scored on a Mitch Garver groundout after his single in a three run third inning, and again after another single in the four run seventh. In the top of the eighth Gordon picked up his RBI driving in Yoan Moncada who had led off the frame with a double.
     
    After a day off on Wednesday he stayed hot against Glendale on Thursday, collecting another three hits in five at-bats with a run scored, RBI, and his second stolen base in a 5-4 loss, but was a catalyst to some early scoring.
     
    Batting second to open the game, Gordon got the Surprise scoring started with a single for the team’s first hit and later scored their first run from second on a single. In the second inning, his two-out-RBI single gave them a 3-0 lead, but it wouldn’t last.
     
    He picked up another two-out single in the seventh, but was left stranded and Glendale would tie it at three in the bottom half. In the top of the ninth, Gordon reached base on an error, and then stole second to put insurance runners at second and third with nobody out, but both runners were left stranded and Surprise was unable to close the door in the ninth.
     
    He finished his week with a 1-4 effort in Saturdays 8-1 win against Scottsdale. He also scored a run and drew a walk so has reached base multiple times in each gamed played so far.
     
    It did take until the sixth inning for Gordon to reach base with a single, but he and another run would come around to score thanks to one of his organizational teammates.
     
    After week one, Gordon sits near the top of the AFL leaderboard in average (.538, 3rd), on-base percentage (.600, 4th), and hits (7, 2nd). Not a bad first week out of the two-hole in the Saguaros lineup.
     
    Mitch Garver – 3 games, 4-9, 3 R’s, 2B, HR, 4 RBI, 5 BB’s, 2 K’s.
     
    Garver made the start at catcher in two games during the week, and DH in another while also having an impressive showing from the cleanup spot in the lineup.
     
    In the season opening win on Tuesday, Garver was 1-2 with a run scored, but also walked three times. His single in the third inning drove in Gordon, and it was all walks after that. On defense Garver had an error on a throw and allowed three stolen bases, but also got in the boxscore for a caught stealing at third when the runner with two of those steals got greedy.
     
    He was the DH in Friday’s 10-4 loss, and reached base only via a walk in an 0-3 effort with two strikeouts, but would make up for it on Saturday.
     
    Behind the dish again, Garver led the Surprise offense with a 3-4 night including two runs scored, and three RBI in the 8-1 win.
     
    He doubled in the bottom of the first to put runners on first and second, and they both scored when the next hitter ripped a single to right field. He added a walk in the third inning, and his big hit came in the fifth as a solo home run to make the score 4-0.
     
    With the bases loaded in the sixth, Garver delivered a two-run single to make it 7-0, but was thrown out at home later in the inning.
     
    Garver sits near the top of AFL leaderboards in on-base percentage (.643, 1st), slugging (.889, 3rd), and OPS (1.532, 4th) after a week of play.
     
    Tanner English – 3 games, 3-12, 2B, RBI, BB, 4 K’s.
     
    English played CF in all three of his appearances on the week, batting ninth, sixth, and leadoff in each of his appearances, respectively.
     
    He didn’t start out immediately hot like Gordon, but finished with two solid games to end his first week.
     
    In the opener, English was 0-4 with two strikeouts, but contributed in a big way with his defense with a diving catch that caught the eye of those in attendance.
     
    In Thursday’s loss, English picked up a single in the eighth inning for his first hit, and finished his day 1-4.
     
    Batting leadoff on Friday, English was one of three Surprise hitters with multiple hits on the day. He led off the game with a ground-rule double, but would be left stranded on third when the next three hitters went down easily, including Garver on a K to end the inning.
     
    He drew a walk in the fifth but would be stranded again, before singling in the ninth to drive in a run and make the final just a little closer in the loss.
     
    Mason Melotakis – 2 games, 2.0 IP, 0 R’s, 2 H’s, 0 BB’s, 3 K’s, 0.00 ERA.
     
    Left-handed reliever Melotakis made two appearances on the week, pitching the sixth inning in the season opener, and the seventh in Friday’s loss to Mesa.
     
    On Tuesday, Melotakis got the first two hitters he faced out on groundouts before allowing a single to Bradley Zimmer, the top prospect in Cleveland’s system and one of the best in Arizona, before picking up a strikeout to end the inning and pick up a hold.
     
    He again got a groundout to start the seventh on Friday before allowing a single, but struck out the next two hitters in another scoreless frame and will look to continue that K-rate and the control he’s displayed so far (21 of 26 pitches for strikes) moving forward.
     
    Randy Rosario – 2 games1.2 IP, 2 ER’s, 4 H’s, 2 BB’s, 2 K’s.
     
    Like Melotakis, Rosario saw action in two games on the week, both coming out of the bullpen.
     
    In Wednesday’s 7-7 tie, Rosario was partially to blame for the game ending up as such after eleven innings.
     
    He came into the game to start the sixth inning with the score 4-3 Surprise, but two walks, two singles, and a run allowed later he was replaced by John Curtiss with the score tied 4-4. He did strike out the last hitter he faced before being lifted, but an inherited runner also later scored.
     
    In Saturday’s 8-1 win, Rosario pitched the seventh inning and though it wasn’t clean, came through with a scoreless frame. He allowed two singles but picked up a strikeout and got some help on a play at the plate with a runner trying to take advantage of an error to end the inning.
     
    Rosario will have to look to keep his pitch counts down this week, as he threw thirty-three (18 for strikes) and sixteen (9 for strikes) in his 1.2 innings on the week.
     
    John Curtiss – 2 games started, 2.0 IP, 3 ER’s, 6 H’s, 2 BB’s, 4 K’s.
     
    Like his fellow bullpen mates, Curtiss also made two appearances on the week.
     
    On Wednesday, he came in for Rosario with two outs in the sixth, and allowed one of his inherited runners to score on a wild pitch, and give the Javelina’s a 5-4 lead. In the seventh, it was three singles to load the bases and two walks that led to his two runs allowed on the game. He recorded two outs, one via strikeout, before he was removed.
     
    On Saturday he got the sixth inning, and again had some trouble keeping runners off the bases. He struck out the first hitter, but was tagged for a solo home run by the next. A ground ball out was followed by two singles before he struck out another to end the frame and his appearance.
     
    The four K’s in two innings pitched look nice in his line for the first week, but Curtiss would be the first to tell you it’s the hits and runs allowed that he’d like to improve.
     
    Please feel free to ask questions and discuss the performances during the week!
  12. Steve Lein
    It was a low-scoring night throughout the system Tuesday, but that means there were several good pitching performances for the Twins affiliates. As an organization, they combined for just 19 runs (2.7 per game) on the day, but because of those performance went 5-2 on the day in the minor leagues.
     
    To see which other starting pitchers came through besides the dominating effort from lefty Jason Wheeler at AAA, keep reading!
     
    RED WINGS REPORT
    Rochester 6, Norfolk 0
    Box Score
     
    Rochester’s offense scored three runs before they played any defense thanks to a 3-run homer from Kennys Vargas, and thanks to their starting pitcher, that would be all they needed and more.
     
    Byron Buxton led off the game with a double and Reynaldo Rodriguez drew a walk before the Vargas blast to account for the other two runs batted in. It was the Jason Wheeler show after that.
     
    Wheeler went the game’s first eight innings, shutting out the Tides in the process. He allowed just two hits and one walk while striking out eight. He retired the last ten batters of the game he faced and from the third inning on the only two baserunners allowed were on a walk that was erased by a double-play ball, and a throwing error from shortstop Tommy Field. Wheeler’s twelfth victory of the season ties him with Stephen Gonsalves for the organizational lead in wins.
     
    D.J. Baxendale came on for the ninth and kept the shutout intact with a scoreless inning. He allowed one hit and struck out one.
     
    Five consecutive hits from Vargas (single), Adam Walker (RBI triple), Daniel Palka (RBI single), Mitch Garver (single), and James Beresford (single) loaded the bases with two runs already scored in the third inning, but a shallow fly out and double play would end the threat of further damage.
     
    Leonardo Reginatto drove in Garver, who had doubled, with an RBI single in the eighth for the Red Wings final run.
     
    Vargas (2-4, 2 R’s, HR, 3 RBI, BB), Garver (4-4, R, 2B), and Reginatto (3-4, RBI) had multiple hits for the majority of Rochester’s thirteen as a team on the game.
     
    CHATTANOOGA CHATTER
    Chattanooga 2, Jacksonville 3
    Box Score
     
    Aaron Slegers made the start for the Lookouts in this one and pitched into the seventh inning. The damage came on a two-run home run in the third inning to give the Suns the lead, but Slegers would leave the game with it tied at two and two runners on in the seventh..
     
    Zack Jones was summoned and gave up a single to load the bases, but struck out the next two batters to close the door and keep the game tied going into the eighth. Slegers allowed just two runs on seven hits and two walks while striking out three in his 6.1 innings pitched.
     
    Chattanooga tied the game at two in the sixth inning thanks to an error that allowed Levi Michael to score (he had led off with a double), and an RBI groundout from Ryan Walker to score Zach Granite who also stole his forty-eighth base of the season while on the bases.
     
    Jones would add a scoreless eighth inning, and came on for the ninth as well. Unfortunately, it was probably a decision manager Doug Mientkiewitz would like to take back. Four base-on-balls later (including one intentional) and the Suns would send their fans home happy with a literal walk-off win.
     
    Jones finished with the loss, and one run allowed on two hits and four walks in his 2.1 innings. He struck out four as well.
     
    Engelb Vielma and Travis Harrison each had two hits in the game, but Michael’s double was the Lookouts only extra base hit.
     
    MIRACLE MATTERS
    Palm Beach 1, Fort Myers 2
    Box score
     
    Fort Myers got an excellent performance from their starting pitcher at Hammond Stadium in this one, as Randy LeBlanc picked up his fifth win with the Miracle.
     
    LeBlanc had been going through some struggles, having allowed fifteen earned runs, twenty-seven hits, and five walks in his past three starts totaling just ten innings pitched, but that didn’t matter in this one.
     
    He allowed just three hits and one walk, and struck out six in his seven innings. He held the Cardinals hitless the first time through the order before a walk and a single started the fourth inning, and then then retired nine in a row again before a single in the seventh inning.
     
    The Miracle took a 1-0 lead in the sixth thanks to a two-out RBI single from Alex Perez that scored Joe Maloney who doubled leading off the frame. They added a needed insurance run in the eighth on a costly throwing error from the Palm Beach first baseman on a bunt attempt trying to catch the lead runner at third.
     
    Michael Theofanopoulos pitched a scoreless inning, walking one and striking out one, before John Curtiss was brought in for the save opportunity in the ninth. He made it interesting by allowing three singles to score one for the Cardinals, but two strikeouts helped him escape with his third save with Fort Myers.
     
    KERNELS NUGGETS
    Quad Cities 1, Cedar Rapids 2
    Box Score
     
    Cedar Rapids took the early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning with a two-out rally from Zander Wiel and Luis Arreaz (this seems like the opposite of how the typical 3/4 spots in the lineup should be occupied by these two, but I’m not complaining…). Weil knocked his twenty-sixth double of the season (his 48th XBH of the year out of 112 hits), and Arreaz drove him in with his one-hundred and seventeenth single of the year (has 33 XBH’s).
     
    Starter Eduardo Del Rosario gave that run back in the top of the second thanks to a solo home run, but he was impressive the rest of the way. He scattered six hits over six innings, and left the game with a no-decision. He struck out six and lowered his ERA on the season to under four after peaking at 6.58 after a six run outing on June 30th.
     
    Williams Ramirez pitched two perfect innings in relief, striking out three in the process.
     
    In the bottom of the seventh, Manuel Guzman led off with a single, and a wild pitch would move him into scoring position before Nelson Molina’s clutch two-out RBI single to put the Kernels out front.
     
    Anthony McIver came on for the ninth, and matched Ramirez with a one-two-three inning of his own for his tenth save. He struck out one.
     
    Arreaz was the only hitter with multiple hits as he went 2-3 with a walk and leads the Midwest League with a .349 average on the year.
     
    E-TWINS E-NOTES
    Game 1: Elizabethton 0, Bristol 1
    Box Score
     
    Thanks to a rainout back on July 29th, the E-Twins got to play a seven-inning double-header on Tuesday.
     
    In the regularly scheduled game, they may have been happy it lasted only one hour and twenty-seven minutes given they had to play another one, but they won’t be proud of why in this one.
     
    As a team they managed just two hits and were 0-2 with runners in scoring position. When they were given extra baserunners by two errors on the Pirates, they were quickly erased by double-plays.
     
    Bristol took the lead for good in the fourth inning against Elizabethton starter Domenick Carlini thanks to three singles. They didn’t manage much more than that as Calini finished all six innings and allowed just the one run by scattering the other four hits allowed and walking only one. He struck out five and falls to 1-6 on the year.
     
    Game 2 (makeup of 7/29 postponement): Elizabethton 4, Bristol 2 (9 innings)
    Box Score
     
    The reason the E-Twins were happy, was because game two went two extra innings instead of the scheduled seven (even given this game lasted just two hours and nineteen minutes).
     
    The pace in this one was largely due to nearly forty percent of the games outs coming via strikeout. Bristol had ten as a team, with Elizabethton outpacing them with eleven.
     
    The Twins took a 1-0 lead in the second inning thanks to Lewin Diaz’s ninth home run of the year. The Pirates tied it at one in the third thanks to a home run of their own off starter Clark Beeker.
     
    He allowed only that run on three hits and a walk in five innings. He struck out six. Colton Davis pitched a scoreless sixth inning despite allowing three hits. His defense came through by cutting down a stolen base attempt and a runner at home for two of his three outs.
     
    Elizabethton took the lead again in the sixth on an RBI ground ball from Alex Kirilloff, then gave it right back again in the seventh.
     
    It was Patrick McGuff’s fault this time and he was charged with the blown save. But as happens sometimes, he came back out for a second inning and recorded three K’s to pick up the win thanks to a two run ninth inning from his offense. A sac fly from Bryant Hayman and wild pitch led to those two runs.
     
    Hector Lujan came on for his save opportunity, and went one-two-three to end the game.
     
    Diaz was 2-3 with the home run, and Caleb Hamilton was the only other Twins batter with a hit. They scored four runs on three hits and four Bristol errors that contributed to the makeup game win.
     
    GCL TWINS TAKES
    GCL Orioles 2, GCL Twins 3
    Box Score
     
    In another close game in the system on the day, the GCL Twins scored early and late to pick up the victory.
     
    Lean Marrero (2-4, 2 R’s, 2B), Justin Hazard (3-4, R, 2B, RBI), Jose Miranda (2-4, 2 RBI), and Akil Baddoo (2-4, 3B) each collected multiple hits to lead the offense. They scored two in the first and one in the seventh for just enough offense.
     
    Starter Tyler Fox went the first five innings and did not factor into the decision. He allowed two runs (zero earned) on four hits and three walks while striking out three. Garrett Kelly pitched the next three scoreless innings, allowing one hit and one walk with two strikeouts. Zach Strecker picked up his fifth save with a perfect ninth, striking out two.
     
    TWINS DAILY PLAYERS OF THE DAY
     
    Pitcher of the Day – Jason Wheeler, Rochester Red Wings (W, 8.0 IP, 2 H’s, BB, 8 K’s)
    Hitter of the Day – Kennys Vargas, Rochester Red Wings (2-4, 2 R’s, HR, BB, 3 RBI)
     
    WEDNESDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS
     
    Rochester @ Buffalo (6:05PM CST) – LHP David Hurlut (0-1, 3.46 ERA)
    Chattanooga @ Jacksonville (6:05PM CST) – RHP Kohl Stewart (7-6, 3.04 ERA)
    Palm Beach @ Fort Myers (6:05PM CST) – RHP Fernando Romero (4-2, 2.11 ERA)
    Quad Cities @ Cedar Rapids (6:35PM PM CST) – RHP Sean Poppen (0-0, 1.80 ERA)
    Burlington @ Elizabethton (6:00PM CST) – TBD
    GCL Twins @ GCL Orioles (11:00AM CST) – TBD
     
    Please feel free to ask any questions and discuss Tuesday’s games.
  13. Steve Lein
    The Twins minor league affiliates got (nearly) eight full innings of pitching from each of their starting pitchers on Sunday afternoon, but just one of those starters ended the day with a notch in the win column. That was thanks to a lackluster display of offense throughout as two of the lineups were shut out, and the other two totaled just four runs on the day.
     
    In Transaction news, the Minnesota Twins optioned one-day callup Adalberto Mejia back to Rochester after his 2.1 inning MLB debut on Saturday, and recalled right-hander Pat Light about a week after his scheduled flight for his MLB debut chance was cancelled. The Twins also signed free agent Confesor Lara and assigned him to Fort Myers and made an appearance on Sunday.
     
    To see which of the starting pitchers got the victory on Sunday, and just how bad of a day it was in the organization for hitters, read on!
     
    RED WINGS REPORT
    Rochester 3, Gwinnett 2
    Box Score
     
    Rochester scored three runs in the first two innings, and held on for the victory thanks to a strong effort from starting pitcher Nick Greenwood.
     
    He went eight innings in the game, and scattered five hits. He gave up single runs in the second and sixth inning thanks to a pair of solo home runs. He walked nobody and struck out four. In four of his eight innings he went one-two-three.
     
    Rochester scored the first run of the game after Byron Buxton led off the game with a triple, his third of the year with the Red Wings. Wilfredo Tovar followed with an RBI single for the 1-0 lead.
     
    In the second inning, Adam Walker led off with a single, and later a two-out rally was sparked by a two-base throwing error on a pickoff attempt at first. Logan Schafer singled him home, stole second base, and was driven in on a single from Leonardo Reginatto. That was all the Red Wings would need.
     
    Right-hander Alan Busenitz made his first appearance in AAA with his new organization, and closed out the ninth for his first Rochester save with a scoreless inning. He allowed one hit and struck out one.
     
    CHATTANOOGA CHATTER
    Montgomery 2, Chattanooga 0
    Box Score
     
    The Lookouts lineup was unable to solve the mystery that was Biscuits starter Hunter Wood for the first five innings, and had just as much trouble with their bullpen for the final four.
     
    As a team Chattanooga managed just two hits and three walks, and struck out eight times. They were 0-7 with runners in scoring position and left just four men on base for the game.
     
    Zach Granite doubled for one of those hits. Travis Harrison was 1-2 with a single and two walks.
     
    Felix Jorge made the start for the Lookouts, and did everything he could to give his teammates a chance. Over eight innings, he scattered ten hits and one walk that were good for just two earned runs against. He struck out just one, but limited the damage all night with an efficient ninety-six pitches. He also went one-two-three in the third, sixth, and eighth innings.
     
    Reliever Luke Bard pitched a scoreless ninth inning, allowing one hit and striking out one.
     
    MIRACLE MATTERS
    Jupiter 3, Fort Myers 1
    Box score
     
    The Miracle also got an eight inning effort from their starting pitcher, but just like their Southern League counterparts, it wasn’t enough for them to come out with a victory.
     
    In this one it was Keaton Steele who was the hard luck loser. He allowed all three runs (two earned) on six hits in his eighth innings of work. He walked none and struck out four in being saddled with his eleventh loss of the year despite his team outhitting the opposition 8-6 on the game.
     
    Fort Myers tied the game at one in the fifth inning thanks to an RBI double off the bat of Max Murphy to score Brian Navaretto, but another runner would be thrown out at home trying to score from first to end the threat. That was all the Miracle could muster.
     
    Murphy (2-3, 2B, RBI, BB) and Nick Gordon (2-4) each collected two hits on the day to pace the offense.
     
    Organization newcomer (and solid all-around name) Confesor Lara made his debut with the Twins organization and pitched a clean ninth inning for the Miracle, striking out one. He was previously part of the Detroit Tigers system and had reached as high as AA. The Twins signed him as a free agent after about a week with the Joliet Slammers of the independent Frontier League.
     
    KERNELS NUGGETS
    Burlington 9, Cedar Rapids 0
    Box Score
     
    Cedar Rapids also got a pretty good effort from their starting pitcher, but that distinction won’t be discernible from the box score.
     
    Sam Gibbons went 7.2 innings in this one, and allowed four hits. He also walked four, but an unfortunate error on a line drive to right fielder Jaylin Davis cleared the bases for a 3-0 Burlington lead in the fifth inning. That would be all the Bees would need to pop the Kernels on this day as they managed just five hits and no extra base hits as a team on offense.
     
    Gibbons allowed two legitimate runs in the sixth thanks to a double, walk, RBI groundout, and RBI single.
     
    Casey Scoggins, Nelson Molina, and Travis Blankenhorn all reached base twice with one single and one walk apiece. As a team the Kernels were just 0-2 with runners in scoring position, so they didn’t even manage many opportunities.
     
    Right-hander Logan Lombana pitched the final 1.1 innings, but was knocked around in the ninth to the tune of four runs for the final blowout score. He allowed two hits, walked two, and the big blow was a three run home run to cap the game’s scoring.
     
    E-TWINS E-NOTES
    Bristol @ Elizabethton – Postponed by rain.
     
    The E-Twins game with the Bristol Pirates on Sunday afternoon was postponed by rain. They will make up the game as part of a double-header on Monday, starting at 5:00 PM CST.
     
    GCL TWINS TAKES
     
    The GCL Twins, like most of the rest of the Gulf Coast League, enjoyed the afternoon off on Sunday. They get back to action tomorrow morning on the road against the GCL Orioles.
     
    TWINS DAILY PLAYERS OF THE DAY
     
    Pitcher of the Day – Nick Greenwood, Rochester Red Wings, (W, 8.0IP, 2 ER’s, 5 H’s, 4 K’s)
    Hitter of the Day – Logan Schafer, Rochester Red Wings (2-4, R, 2B, RBI)
     
    MONDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS
     
    Rochester @ Buffalo (6:05PM CST) – LHP Andrew Albers (9-6, 3.64 ERA)
    Chattanooga @ Jacksonville (6:05PM CST) – TBD
    Fort Myers – Scheduled day off.
    Quad Cities @ Cedar Rapids (6:35PM PM CST) – RHP Brady Anderson (1-0, 2.12 ERA)
    Bristol @ Elizabethton (5:00PM CST) – Game 1, TBD
    Bristol @ Elizabethton – Game 2, TBD (makeup of Sunday’s postponement)
    GCL Twins @ GCL Orioles (11:00AM CST) – TBD
     
    Please feel free to ask any questions and discuss Sunday’s games.
  14. Steve Lein
    In the minors on Sunday, the offenses of the Chattanooga Lookouts and Fort Myers Miracle combined for nineteen runs and twenty six hits on the day. One team pulled away late, and the other was forced to make a comeback. Would they be able to complete it?
     
    There was also some roster shuffling in AAA and AA due to Rochester’s postponement from Saturday. Andrew Albers was optioned back to AAA in addition to David Hurlbut’s promotion yesterday, and Luke Bard was promoted to Chattanooga so they’d each have some pitching options.
     
    Check out all the action from Minnesota Twins affiliates from Sunday by reading on.
     
    RED WINGS REPORT
    Game 1: Scranton/Wilkes-Barre 4, Rochester 0
    Box Score
     
    In their regularly scheduled game, the Rochester bats were unable to get much going. As a team they collected just six hits and three walks, and went 0-6 with runners in scoring position. All the hits were singles, with Reynaldo Rodriguez going 2-3 on the day to lead the team.
     
    David Hurlbut made the spot start, and went the first six innings of the seven inning game. He allowed four earned runs on nine hits and one walk. He struck out two.
     
    Jake Reed pitched a scoreless seventh inning to finish the game, despite allowing one hit and walking two batters. He struck out one.
     
    Game 2: Scranton/Wilkes-Barre 3, Rochester 4 (makeup of 8/13 game)
    Box Score
     
    In the makeup game from yesterday’s rainout, things went much better despite the Red Wings even though they only had just as many hits as in the first game.
     
    Daniel Palka was the biggest reason why they got four runs instead of zero. He was 2-3 with a double, home run, and two RBI to lead the way. John Ryan Murphy was 2-2 with a run scored and an RBI.
     
    Byron Buxton had a hit in each game, and stole his seventh base in this one.
     
    Omar Bencomo made the start, and in 5.2 innings allowed two earned runs on seven hits and a walk while striking out four. Alex Wimmers recorded the final out of the sixth, but allowed one run on two hits, a walk, and a couple wild pitches in the seventh before Sean Burnett was summoned with the tying run on third. He induced a groundout to end the game and record his third save.
     
    CHATTANOOGA CHATTER
    Chattanooga 8, Birmingham 3
    Box Score
     
    The Lookouts pulled away in this one with a four run eighth inning thanks to a Heiker Meneses RBI double, a two-RBI single from Ryan Walker, and an error off the bat of Niko Goodrum that allowed Shannon Wilkerson to scamper home.
     
    Meneses (3-5, R, 2B, 2 RBI) and T.J. White (3-5, 3 R’s, SB) each collected three hits. Walker (2-5, 2 RBI) and Wilkerson (2-4, R, RBI) each had two hits. Goodrum added a double to their effort. As a team they racked up thirteen hits and were 6-17 with runners in scoring position.
     
    Ryan Eades made the start for Chattanooga, as they were a little shorthanded. It was his first start since July 5th. He went the first 3.2 innings, scattering four hits and a walk and allowing only an unearned run in the first. He struck out seven.
     
    Brandon Peterson finished the fourth and fifth innings. He allowed one hit, walked one, and struck out three in picking up the win. Zack Jones went two scoreless innings. He gave up one hit and one walk while striking out three. Luke Bard pitched the final two frames. He allowed two earned runs on two walks and some defensive indifference.
     
    MIRACLE MATTERS
    Fort Myers 11, Bradenton 9
    Box score
     
    It was all about offense in this one, as the teams combined for twenty runs on twenty five hits, with Fort Myers edging Bradenton on the scoreboard in each category to move to .500 on the season.
     
    But it took a late surge for Fort Myers to take the lead for good. They were down 8-6 going into the top of the eighth but scored three runs to take back the lead. Bradenton tied it in the bottom of the eighth, but a two-RBI single from Chris Ibarra in the ninth would seal the victory.
     
    The Miracle got multi-hit efforts from Tanner English (2-5, 3 R’s, HR, 2 RBI, BB), Nick Gordon (3-5, R, 2B, RBI, BB), Joe Maloney (3-5, R, 3 RBI), and Tanner Witt (3-6, 2B). Ibarra drove in three runs on the game, including the game-winners.
     
    Lefthander Sam Clay was on the mound for Fort Myers, and pitched into the fifth. Three straight hits to leadoff that inning would end his night. In all, he went four plus innings and allowed six runs on eight hits and two walks while striking out three.
     
    John Curtiss came on and finished the fifth, and added a scoreless sixth. He did allow an inherited runner to score, but allowed one hit and two walks in his two innings pitched. He struck out two. Michael Theofanopoulos allowed two runs on two hits and a walk in seventh. Cam Booser blew the save in the eighth and got just two outs. Todd Van Steensel shut the door on the rally then, and pitched a one-two-three ninth to pick up the win. He retired all four men he faced to preserve the victory.
     
    KERNELS NUGGETS
    Cedar Rapids 1, Kane County 5
    Box Score
     
    Cedar Rapids struggled their way to six hits, including just one double off the bat of Jaylin Davis, and pushed their only run of the game across the plate in the fifth inning thanks to an error that followed that double.
     
    Luis Arreaz continues to collect hits in bunches. He was 2-4 as the DH in this one and hitting out of the cleanup spot. He leads the Midwest League in batting average with a mark of .344 on the season.
     
    On the mound for the Kernels was 2016’s sixteenth round pick, right-hander Tyler Beardsley. He went the first five innings and allowed just two earned runs on six hits and a walk. He struck out five but was tagged with his second loss.
     
    Michael Cederoth allowed three runs on four hits and a walk in two innings. He struck out four. Andrew Vasquez pitched a scoreless eighth, going one-two-three in the process.
     
    E-TWINS E-NOTES
    Elizabethton 5, Bluefield 1 (suspended, top of the fourth inning)
    Box Score
     
    The E-Twins game with the Blue Jays was suspended in the top of the fourth inning after Luis Martinez and Manuel Guzman had reached base with singles.
     
    To this point Elizabethton has home runs off the bats of Shane Carrier (his sixth) and Lewin Diaz (his seventh) to jump out to the 5-1 lead.
     
    Starter Miguel De Jesus had allowed one run on two hits in three innings while picking up one strikeout.
     
    The game will be completed tomorrow as part of a makeshift double-header.
     
    GCL TWINS TAKES
     
    The GCL Twins, like most of the rest of the Gulf Coast League, enjoyed the afternoon off on Sunday. They get back to action tomorrow morning in a double-header against the GCL Rays.
     
    TWINS DAILY PLAYERS OF THE DAY
     
    Pitcher of the Day – Ryan Eades, Chattanooga Lookouts (3.2IP, 0 ER, 4 H’s, BB, 7 K’s)
    Hitter of the Day – Tanner English, Fort Myers Miracle (2-5, 3 R’s, HR, 2 RBI, BB)
     
    MONDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS
     
    Rochester @ Buffalo (6:05PM CST) – TBD
    Chattanooga @ Birmingham (7:05PM CST) – RHP Felix Jorge (0-3, 5.06 ERA)
    Fort Myers @ Bradenton (5:30PM CST) – RHP Randy LeBlanc (4-6, 4.27 ERA)
    Cedar Rapids @ Peoria (7:00PM PM CST) – TBD
    Elizabethton @ Bluefield (6:05PM CST) – RHP Tyler Wells (2-2, 5.28 ERA)
    Elizabethton @ Bluefield (makeup of today’s game)
    GCL Twins @ GCL Rays (9:00AM CST) – TBD (Game 1)
    GCL Twins @ GCL Rays – TBD (Game 2)
     
    Please feel free to ask any questions and discuss Sunday’s games.
  15. Steve Lein
    As the Minnesota Twins played an afternoon game with potential trade commodity Ervin Santana on the mound against the White Sox, there were five games being played in the minor leagues by their affiliates on Sunday.
     
    LaMonte Wade had a big game for the Fort Myers Miracle, but it wasn’t enough for his team to come out on top. Rain also affected multiple games on the day, with one being postponed and the other being called complete in the top of the sixth. Who got to play, and would anyone challenge Wade for the Hitter of the Day award?
     
    Check out all the action from Sunday, and discover the answer to those questions by reading on!
     
    RED WINGS REPORT
    Lehigh Valley 5, Rochester 1
    Box Score
     
    The Rochester lineup was unable to muster much offense on Sunday afternoon, as they collected just four hits as a team, were just 1-5 with runners in scoring position, and left eight men on base. Logan Schafer was 2-3 and drew a walk. Wilfredo Tovar hit a triple, and scored the Red Wings only run a batter later on a Daniel Palka sac fly. Buck Britton had the other hit, a single.
     
    Lefty Andrew Albers took the mound for the Red Wings, and made it through 4.2 innings. He allowed three runs on six hits two walks, while striking out five. After a sac fly in the top of the fifth that scored one and advanced the other runner to third, Marcus Walden was summoned from the bullpen for the final out, a strikeout.
     
    Walden also finished the sixth and started the seventh, but gave up a leadoff single that later scored assisted by an error by Tommy Field at second base. Ryan O’Rourke got one out in the inning, a K, and Alex Wimmers stopped the threat by retiring the two batters he faced. Wimmers also threw a scoreless eighth inning, and Neil Ramirez gave up one run in the ninth to finish the game. It was his first run allowed since finding himself in AAA.
     
    The Red Wings fall to 62-48 on the season and are now one game behind the Iron Pigs for second place in the International League North division standings after losing the series 2-1.
     
    CHATTANOOGA CHATTER
    Chattanooga 1, Mobile 0 (Postponed to 08/01/2016)
    Box Score
     
    The Lookouts game with Mobile was postponed for the night in the top of the third inning, as rains came into the area. The game will be completed tomorrow before the regularly scheduled second game of the five game series.
     
    Chattanooga currently holds a 1-0 lead thanks to a leadoff double from Engelb Vielma that was followed by an RBI single from Levi Michael in the third inning. Zach Granite also added a single before the rains brought a halt to the inning.
     
    Starter Aaron Slegers had pitched two scoreless innings thus far. He allowed two hits and had no walks or strikeouts.
     
    MIRACLE MATTERS
    Clearwater 8, Fort Myers 5
    Box score
     
    Fort Myers got a big game out of outfielder LaMonte Wade, but didn’t get the chance to start a comeback as rains came in the top of the sixth, and the game was called complete after an hour long delay.
     
    Wade was 2-3 with his third and fourth Florida State League home runs. He drove in three. Joe Maloney and Nick Gordon added doubles to the effort. Tanner Witt and Gordon drove in the other runs.
     
    Miles Nordgren made the start for the Miracle and went the first four innings. He had a little trouble with the strike zone and got knocked around which is not a good combination. He allowed four runs on seven hits and four walks. He struck out zero. Despite that, the game was tied when he left and did not factor into the decision.
     
    In the fifth, Michael Theofanopoulos fared even worse to get saddled with the loss, as he allowed four more runs on two walks and three hits, including a three-run home run, to put Clearwater out front 8-4. Brian Gilbert got one out in the sixth before the game was called. He allowed one hit, walked one, and struck out one.
     
    The Miracle look to avoid a sweep against the Threshers on Monday night, with Keaton Steele on the mound who pitched seven shutout innings his last time out.
     
    KERNELS NUGGETS
    Cedar Rapids 4, Burlington 6
    Box Score
     
    The Kernels scored first in this one, thanks to a first inning home run off the bat of Zander Wiel (second straight game with a home run), but the Bees did even more damage in the bottom of the first against starter Lachlan Wells.
     
    An RBI double, RBI single, and error led to three runs for Burlington in the inning, and they would add two more in the third thanks in part to another error on the Kernels defense. Though four of the Bees six runs on the day were earned, Cedar Rapids committed four total errors on the game, leading to a lot of extra outs for their pitchers.
     
    Wells managed to finish six innings, allowing just two more baserunners in the fourth, fifth, and sixth innings. He allowed five runs (four earned on seven hits and two walks. He struck out three.
     
    Cameron Booser was charged with an unearned run in the seventh. He allowed one hit, walked one, and struck out one in his inning. Michael Cederoth cam one four the eighth and pitched a scoreless inning while walking one and striking out one.
     
    The Kernels continue their four game series with the Bees on Monday night with Dereck Rodriguez taking the hill.
     
    E-TWINS E-NOTES
    Princeton 6, Elizabethton 1
    Box Score
     
    Like their AAA teammates, the Elizabethton Twins were unable to put much offense together on Sunday night. Their lone run came on a single from Bryant Hayman in the fourth to drive in Alex Kirilloff, who had doubled to lead off the inning.
     
    Ariel Montesino, Luis Martinez, and Caleb Hamilton added the other hits for Elizabethton, who were 1-7 with runners in scoring position and left seven men on base for the game.
     
    Jose Martinez made the start for the Twins and lasted into the fifth inning. In his 4.2 innings, he allowed four runs on eight hits, including two home runs, and a walk. He struck out one.
     
    Hector Lujan came on for the final out of the fifth and added two more scoreless innings, allowing two hits and striking out one. Austin Tribby added a scoreless eighth inning, picking up a double-play ball to end the inning and erase an error that put a runner on base.
     
    Johan Quezada came on for the ninth, and couldn’t keep the game close. Two runs would score on four hits before he got his second strikeout to end the inning. In encouraging news, Quezada did not walk a batter.
     
    GCL TWINS TAKES
     
    The GCL Twins, like most the rest of the Gulf Coast League, had the day off on Sunday. They get back to action tomorrow morning at home in Fort Myers against the GCL Rays.
     
    TWINS DAILY PLAYERS OF THE DAY
     
    Pitcher of the Day – Alex Wimmers, Rochester Red Wings (1.2 IP, 1 H, 1 K) (Wimmers has lowered his ERA by nearly two runs since June 11th, including scoreless appearances in 13 of 17 games along with 5 saves)
    Hitter of the Day – LaMonte Wade, Fort Myers Miracle (2-3, 2 R’s, 2 HR’s, 3 RBI)
     
    MONDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS
     
    Rochester – Scheduled day-off.
    Chattanooga @ Mobile (6:35PM CST) – TBD
    Clearwater @ Fort Myers (6:05PM CST) – RHP Keaton Steele (4-9, 4.29 ERA)
    Cedar Rapids @ Burlington (6:30PM PM CST) – RHP Dereck Rodriguez (3-11, 5.46 ERA)
    Princeton @ Elizabethton (6:00PM CST) – RHP Tyler Beardsley (1-0, 3.33 ERA)
    GCL Rays @ GCL Twins (11:00AM CST) – TBD
     
    Please feel free to ask any questions and discuss Sunday’s games.
  16. Steve Lein
    In the minor leagues on Sunday there were several standout performances on both the pitching side and the hitting side as Minnesota Twins affiliates went 4-1 on the day. Top pitchers were on the mound for Chattanooga and Fort Myers, but they wouldn’t quite compare to the TOP pitcher on the mound Sunday afternoon for Rochester. Elizabethton’s offense unloaded on opposing pitching and there were big RBI efforts in nearly every game.
     
    To see who did what and where on Sunday, keep reading!
     
    RED WINGS REPORT
    Norfolk 2, Rochester 3
    Box Score
     
    Rochester scored single runs in the first three innings to jump out to an early 3-0 lead in support of starter Jose Berrios. Turns out they would be just enough to preserve his ninth win of the year with the Red Wings.
     
    In the first, a double from Adam Walker scored Daniel Palka, who had singled earlier to start the two out rally. In the second, consecutive two out singles from John Ryan Murphy, Tommy Field, and James Beresford made it 2-0. In the third, consecutive errors from the Norfolk defense led to the games decisive run.
     
    Berrios went the first six innings, allowing no runs on four hits and two walks. He struck out nine, including two in the first and two in the third, and retired seven in a row at one point. At ninety-five pitches after the sixth, Buddy Boshers came on for seventh and had a one-two-three inning.
     
    Marcus Waldon was summoned in the eighth, and the Tides finally broke the barrier. All four hitters Walden faced reached base, and the knockout blow was a two-RBI single that brought in Sean Burnett to limit the damage. He retired the next three hitters to preserve the 3-2 lead for Rochester.
     
    In the ninth, it took J.T. Chargois nine pitches to close the door on the game, and pick up his seventh save with the Red Wings.
     
    CHATTANOOGA CHATTER
    Mobile 6, Chattanooga 5
    Box Score
     
    The Lookouts took a 3-0 lead in this one in the third inning, when a Zach Granite single plated Engelb Vielma who had singled earlier, and Mitch Garver followed with a two-RBI double to score Levi Michael and Granite. Michael had reached base by being hit by a pitch in between the singles from Vielma and Granite .
     
    Mobile closed the lead to 3-2 in the top of the fifth, as Chattanooga starter Felix Jorge ran into his first trouble of the game after picking up the first two outs of the inning. Up to that point he had faced the minimum, allowing only a single that was erased with a double play ball in the second. But two singles were followed by a two-RBI double to close the gap before he got out of the inning.
     
    Chattanooga got those runs back in the bottom of the inning, as Garver again delivered a two-RBI hit, this one a single to score Granite and Ryan Walker, making it 5-2 Lookouts.
     
    Jorge came back from the two-run fifth to go one-two-three in the sixth, allowed a solo home run in the seventh, and recorded the first two outs of the eighth before issuing a walk that brought in Jake Reed from the bullpen. Jorge’s final line was 7.2 innings pitched, and four runs allowed on five hits and two walks. Despite recording twenty-three outs against just twenty nine hitters, only one of those outs came via a strikeout.
     
    Reed hit the first batter he faced to put two runners on, threw a wild-pitch to move them to second and third, and walked another batter to load the bases before they were cleared with a double to put the BayBears out front late, 6-5.
     
    The Lookouts offense, including an appearance from Garver, was unable to muster anything else in the eighth or nine, and they went home with the loss to drop them to 50-44 on the season, and 14-10 in the second half. They are tied atop the Southern League North division standings.
     
    MIRACLE MATTERS
    Lakeland 1, Fort Myers 4
    Box score
     
    Fort Myers starter Fernando Romero allowed three consecutive singles in the first inning to put Lakeland up 1-0 right away, but he and bullpen settled in the rest of the way and allowed no further damage on the scoreboard.
     
    Romero went the first six innings, allowing just the one run on five hits and a walk, while striking out six. Luke Bard pitched two scoreless innings in relief, allowing two hits and striking out one. Nick Anderson notched his second save in the Florida State League with a perfect ninth inning.
     
    The Miracle offense got a solo home run from Tanner Witt in the third inning to tie it at one, and a two-run home run in the sixth from Lamonte Wade to make it 3-1. Wade’s home run was his first in the FSL. In addition to Witt and Wade’s 2-4 night’s, they also got multi-hit efforts from Trey Vavra (2-4, R) and Alex Perez (2-4) while knocking out twelve hits as a team.
     
    KERNELS NUGGETS
    Cedar Rapids 8, Fort Wayne 6
    Box Score
     
    The Kernels took the lead late, and held on for a road victory against the TinCaps on Sunday.
     
    Cedar Rapids took a 1-0 lead in the first when Luis Arreaz reached base on a strikeout-wild-pitch that was followed by a Zander Wiel double and Jaylin Davis single to drive him in.
     
    Fort Wayne tagged starter Eduardo Del Rosario for three runs in the second, including a two-run home run but would get no more against the Cedar Rapids starter.
     
    Rosario went six innings, allowing the three runs on five hits and a walk, while striking out seven. Thanks to a two-run double from Nelson Molina in the sixth, and three more runs scored in the seventh Rosario remained in line for the win despite each reliever that followed him allowing at least one run. Davis added his third Midwest League home run in the top of the ninth for an added cushion.
     
    Michael Cederoth pitched the seventh and eighth innings, allowing a single run in each frame on three hits and a walk. He struck out two.
     
    Anthony McIver allowed the TinCaps to close it to 8-6 and had two-runners on base when he struck out the game’s final batter for his fifth save with the Kernels.
     
    The Kernels thirteen hits were on the game were accumulated by multi-hit efforts from over half of their lineup. Casey Scoggins was 2-5 with a run scored out of the leadoff spot. Arraez was 2-5 with two runs scored and an RBI. Zander Wiel picked up an RBI and clubbed two doubles. Davis finished 3-5 with three runs scored, a double, home run, and three RBI. Molina picked up three RBI’s of his own in a 2-5 night. Sean Miller added his fourth triple of the year.
     
    E-TWINS E-NOTES
    Elizabethton 11, Princeton 6
    Box Score
     
    Elizabthton pounded out fifteen hits compared to just the five for Princeton, but four Twins errors and a wild ninth inning for reliever Johan Quezada made the score quite a bit closer than it should have been.
     
    Ariel Montesino went 4-5 with a double and scored three runs out of the leadoff spot for the Twins. He raised his batting average to .423 in the Appalachian League thus far.
     
    Alex Kirilloff went 2-5, scored three runs, and hit his second home run of his professional career out of the three spot in the lineup.
     
    Amaurys Minier drove in four runs, including a three-run home run in the fourth in a 2-4 night.
     
    Lewin Diaz (2-5, R, 2B, RBI) and Andre Jernigan (2-5, R, 2B, HR, 2 RBI) also collected multiple hits. Jernigan’s blast was the first home run of his young professional career, and both his and Minier’s long balls came in the ninth inning to push the game well out of reach for the Rays.
     
    Sean Poppen made the start for Elizabethton and pitched the first five innings. He allowed an unearned run on two hits and three walks, and struck out seven to pick up his first professional win. Patrick McGuff went 2.1 scoreless innings to follow Poppen. He walked two, allowed one hit, and struck out three. Colton Davis was responsible for one run on one hit allowed, as he finished off the last two outs of the eighth, and recorded one out in the ninth before Quezada was brought in.
     
    What followed was a very bizarre sequence, as Quezada had trouble finding the strike zone. There was a wild-pitch to the first batter he faced, but he picked up a strikeout for the innings second out. He then walked the next three batters to score one and load the bases, then a wild-pitch and walk scored another, and an error would score two more before Quezada got an infield pop-up to end the game. All told Quezada allowed four runs (two earned) on one hit and four walks in the inning that started with the Twins out front 11-1.
     
    GCL TWINS TAKES
     
    The GCL Twins had the day off on Sunday. They get back to action tomorrow morning on the road against the GCL Rays.
     
    TWINS DAILY PLAYERS OF THE DAY
     
    Pitcher of the Day – Jose Berrios, Rochester Red Wings (W, 6.0IP, 0 R’s, 4 H’s, 2 BB, 9 K’s)
    Hitter of the Day – Jaylin Davis, Cedar Rapids Kernels (3-4, 3 R’s, 2B, HR, 3 RBI)
     
    MONDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS
     
    Durham @ Rochester (6:05PM CST) – LHP Jason Wheeler (6-2, 2.80 ERA)
    Mobile @ Chattanooga (6:15PM CST) – LHP Stephen Gonsalves (3-1, 3.48 ERA)
    Lakeland @ Fort Myers (6:05PM CST) – RHP Miles Nordgren (0-1, 3.86 ERA)
    Cedar Rapids @ Fort Wayne (6:05PM PM CST) – RHP Cody Stashak (6-5, 3.16 ERA)
    Elizabethton @ Princeton (6:00PM CST) – RHP Jose Martinez (0-1, 7.47 ERA)
    GCL Twins @ GCL Rays (11:00AM CST) – TBD
     
    Please feel free to ask any questions and discuss Sunday’s games.
  17. Steve Lein
    All six of the Minnesota Twins’ Minor League affiliates were scheduled for action on Friday, though only five of them would play their games. It was a tough day however, as only the Gulf Coast League Twins were able to pick up a victory, and two other teams lost despite allowing only three runs combined to opposing teams.
     
    Daniel Palka did something noteworthy (because it wasn’t hitting a home run), Jose Berrios and Kohl Stewart were on the mound at AAA and AA, and the five teams combined for eight errors on the day.
     
    How did it all go so bad on Friday night? Read on to find out!
     
    RED WINGS REPORT
    Rochester 5, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre 7
    Box Score
     
    Jose Berrios was on the mound for Rochester looking to continue his recent surge, as in his last four starts he had allowed just four runs (two earned) on ten hits and seven walks in thirty innings. He also struck out twenty-nine and his last turn in the rotation was an 87-pitch complete game victory.
     
    He wasn’t as good on this night, and it was an error of his own that led to some of the damage.
     
    Scranton/Wilkes-Barre took a 3-0 lead in the second inning after Berrios recorded the first out of the inning on a K, but walked the next two. He induced ground ball with a chance to end the inning with a double play, but Berrios had to cover first and missed the throw. One run scored on the play, and the next two tripled and doubled in a run respectively, leading to three unearned runs for Berrios.
     
    All of Rochester’s runs on the scoreboard came in the fourth inning to give them a 5-3 lead at the time. Daniel Parka started the inning with a single, and ended it with a strikeout, but in between just about everything possible on the offensive side of the scorebook happened. Adam Walker followed Palka with a walk and James Beresford delivered a sacrifice bunt to move them to second and third. Logan Schafer then singled in the first run of the inning. Wilfredo Tovar drove in the second run on an error, John Ryan Murphy the third with a sac fly, and Tommy Field the fourth with a triple. Darin Mastroianni finished off the Rochester scoring for the game with a single to drive in Field.
     
    Berrios pitched into the sixth inning, but a two-run home run put the RailRiders out front for good. For the game Berrios pitched 5.2 innings, allowing six runs (three earned), on nine hits and three walks, while striking out five and falling to 8-4.
     
    Sean Burnett finished the sixth and seventh innings, allowing one hit and one walk with a K. Alex Wimmers allowed one run on two hits and a walk in eighth. He struck out one.
     
    The Red Wings offense pounded out sixteen hits and was also 5-19 with runners in scoring position, compared to the RailRiders twelve hits and 2-8 lines on the game, but the opposing team got big hits (HR, 2 2B’s) to score runners from first, while the Red Wings power went cold for a night outside of Tommy Field.
     
    He led the offense going 3-4 with a double and a triple, scored one, and drove in one. Walker and Beresford each had three hits, and Tovar and Mastroianni each went 2-5. Murphy was the only starter held hitless.
     
    CHATTANOOGA CHATTER
    Birmingham 10, Chattanooga 6
    Box Score
     
    Birmingham was able to jump on Chattanooga starter Kohl Stewart early and often, and knocked him out the game in the fourth inning. It didn’t help any that his defense also committed two errors behind him that led to runs.
     
    He finished 3.2 innings, and allowed seven runs (four earned) on eleven hits, including five doubles and a home run. He walked one and struck out one.
     
    The Lookouts closed the game to 7-4 in the sixth after a Leonardo Reginatto sac fly and Stuart Turner’s sacrifice double play (7-1-5 in the scorebook).
     
    Luke Westphal gave Chattanooga two scoreless innings, but ran into trouble of his own in his third. Before he was replaced by Zack Jones in the seventh, three runs had scored to make it 10-4. Jones also finished a scoreless eighth, and struck out one. Jake Reed allowed a single and struck out two in the ninth.
     
    Rochester’s fifth run scored on a wild-pitch in the eighth, and that would be it. Ryan Walker (2-3, BB, 3 R’s, 2B) and D.J. Hicks (2-3, BB, 2B RBI) had multi-hit games for the Lookouts.
     
    MIRACLE MATTERS
    Dunedin 2, Fort Myers 1
    Box score
     
    Randy LeBlanc outlasted his opposing starter seven innings to five, but it was the shorter of the two outings that picked up the win in this one.
     
    LeBlanc scattered six hits and a walk over those seven innings while striking out ten, but a costly error in the second and slow bases loaded ground ball in the sixth put two runs on the board for Dunedin while his offense managed just four hits and one run in support of him.
     
    Nick Gordon went 2-4 with a double and the lone RBI. Alex Perez and LaMonte Wade each singled. Daniel Kihle drew a walk in his Florida State League debut.
     
    Michael Theofanopoulos finished the game with two scoreless innings. He allowed one hit and struck out two.
     
    The loss evens the Miracle’s record on the year with the Blue Jays at 45-40, and they are within a game of each other at 11-5 and 12-4 respectively, in the second half with three more games in their series that ends on Monday.
     
    KERNELS NUGGETS
    Kane County 1, Cedar Rapids 0
    Box Score
     
    The Kane County Cougars utilized four pitchers to stymie the Kernels offense, with their starter pitching three scoreless innings, and the three others each adding two. The Cedar Rapids offense managed just four hits and was 0-3 with runners in scoring position on the game.
     
    Lachlan Wells was on the hill for the Kernels, and went the first five innings. His allowed a solo home run and just three other hits, and struck out three. Williams Ramirez added three scoreless innings in relief, allowing one hit and walking two, while striking out five. Anthony McIver finished the game with a perfect ninth.
     
    Sean Miller, Luis Arreaz, Zander Wiel, and Christian Caveness all singled to tally the Kernel’s four hits. Miller also stole his sixth base.
     
    E-TWINS E-NOTES
    Elizabethton @ Bristol – Postponed by rain.
     
    Elizabethton’s game on Friday was postponed due to rain. But in transaction news, pitcher Patrick McGuff was promoted to their roster from the Gulf Coast League. The 2016 thirty-sixth round pick out of Morehead State (KY) had pitched 5.2 innings in the GCL, striking out nine with a 0.53 WHIP.
     
    GCL TWINS TAKES
    GCL Twins 8, GCL Red Sox 3
    Box Score
     
    The Twins lineup took advantage of a sloppy Red Sox defense for eight runs early in the game to take a lead they would never be in jeopardy of relinquishing.
     
    Three walks, a hit-by-pitch, two errors, and passed ball would allow five runs to score despite only one hit allowed in the second, an RBI single off the bat of Jean Carlos Arias. Jose Miranda added a Sacrifice Fly in the frame
     
    They added three runs in the third after a hit-by-pitch and an error put two runners on base, and was followed by a Jorge Andrade 2-RBI triple and RBI single from Manuel Guzman with two outs.
     
    Miguel De Jesus went the first five innings for the Twins, improving his record to 2-1. He allowed two runs on four hits and two walks. He struck out five.
     
    Daniel Martinez struck out four in two scoreless innings of relief, and was followed by Callan Pearce who surrendered an unearned run on two hits in his inning, striking out one. Garret Kelly finished the game by striking out three in the ninth.
     
    TWINS DAILY PLAYERS OF THE DAY
     
    Pitcher of the Day – Randy LeBlanc, Fort Myers Miracle (7.0IP, 2 R’s (1 ER), 6 H’s, 1 BB, 10 K’s)
    Hitter of the Day – Jorge Andrade, GCL Twins (2-3, 2 R’s, 3B, 3 RBI, BB)
     
    MONDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS
     
    Rochester @ Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (6:05PM CST) – LHP Logan Darnell (8-7, 3.55 ERA)
    Chattanooga @ Tennessee (6:05PM CST) – TBD
    Dunedin @ Fort Myers (5:05PM CST) – LHP Tyler Jay (5-5, 2.84 ERA)
    Kane County @ Cedar Rapids (6:35PM CST) – RHP Dereck Rodriguez (1-10, 6.55 ERA)
    Greeneville @ Elizabethton (5:00PM CST) – RHP Ryan Mason (0-1, 14.14 ERA)
    GCL Red Sox @ GCL Twins (9:00AM CST) – TBD
     
    Please feel free to ask any questions and discuss Friday’s games.
  18. Steve Lein
    Five of the Twins affiliates were in action on Sunday, as the post-draft minor league seasons get into full swing with the Rookie Leagues added to the slate.
     
    One of those Rookie League teams continued their early season roll with a slugfest against their arch rival. Trevor May joined Miguel Sano at AAA in a rehab assignment with Rochester. Chattanooga got eight strong innings from their starting pitcher and another home run from a guy who keeps being showcased in these reports. Cedar Rapids used timely hitting and pitching luck to win against the Twins former Midwest-League Affiliate.
     
    Read on to find out how it all went down on Sunday in the Minor Leagues!
     
    RED WINGS REPORT
    Louisville 7, Rochester 4
    Box Score
     
    The Louisville Bats jumped on Rochester starter Jason Wheeler in the first inning, taking a 2-0 lead before Rochester’s bats even got a chance with two doubles and a single in the opening frame.
     
    The Red Wings got one back in the bottom of the inning, when Jorge Polanco hit his sixth triple to drive in James Beresford, who had led off with a walk. Wheeler settled in after that, putting zeroes on the board in the second third and fourth innings.
     
    Rochester took the lead in the bottom of the fourth, when Adam Walker doubled in Eddie Rosario and Kennys Vargas, who had walked (!) and doubled respectively, to make it 3-2.
     
    Wheeler surrendered a solo home run in the fifth to tie it at three, but would finish six innings and the quality start. He allowed the three runs on seven hits and one walk, while striking out four, and did not factor into the game’s decision.
     
    Trevor May made his first appearance of his rehab assignment in the seventh, and it didn’t go as well as he could have hoped. He hit the first batter he faced, gave up a single, and threw a wild pitch around a strikeout and ground ball to give the Bats the lead, and saddle himself with the loss. Ryan O’Rourke came on with a runner on third, and struck out the only batter he faced.
     
    David Martinez was next up for the eighth inning but ran into trouble of his own. Before the inning was done, three more runs had scored for Louisville and it was Nick Greenwood on the mound. Greenwood would allow one inherited runner to score, but finished the game with 1.1 innings, including a strikeout.
     
    Rochester got one run back in the bottom of the eighth on a Kennys Vargas solo home run to make it 7-4, and in the bottom of the ninth Buck Britton and Beresford were on base with Miguel Sano at the plate, but he would ground into a double play to end the game.
     
    The loss is the Red Wings third in a row, and places them in a three-way tie for the International League North Division lead, with Lehigh Valley and Scranton/Wilkes-Barre at 45-32.’
     
    Vargas finished the day 2-4 with two runs scored, a double, home run, and RBI to lead the Rochester offense. Walker, Britton, and John Ryan Murphy all added double to the effort.
     
    CHATTANOOGA CHATTER
    Jackson 2, Chattanooga 6
    Box Score
     
    Chattanooga took an early 3-0 lead in this one, as D.J. Hicks knocked his fifth home run of the season in the bottom of the first inning. It scored Zach Granite, who led off with single, and Travis Harrison, who had walked.
     
    The Generals would get one of those back in the second inning, as Lookouts starter Aaron Slegers gave up a home run to make it 3-1, but that’s all the Generals would get against him on the day
     
    Slegers would go on to finish eight innings and pick up his sixth win. He allowed just the one run on five hits and one walk, while striking out six.
     
    Chattanooga would add three more runs in the bottom of the seventh, as Stuart Turner led off with a double, and scored on a single from Engelb Vielma before Daniel Palka stepped in the batter’s box. As expected, he hit his Southern League leading nineteenth home run of year to make 6-1 in favor of the home team.
     
    Omar Bencomo came on for the ninth inning, and allowed one run on two hits to the Generals to make the final score. He struck out one.
     
    Vielma (2-4, R, RBI) and Turner (2-4, R, 2B) collected multiple hits for Chattanooga.
     
    MIRACLE MATTERS
    Bradenton @ Fort Myers – Suspended (Rain)
    Box score
     
    The Miracle’s game with Bradenton was brought to halt in the fourth inning on Sunday, as rain came through the gulf coast. Fort Myers holds a 4-0 lead thanks to home runs from Edgar Corcino, Niko Goodrum, and T.J. White to this point. Randy Rosario made the start and pitched four innings, allowing no runs on three hits and one walk. He struck out four.
     
    The game will be completed on July 7th as part of a double-header with the Marauders.
     
    KERNELS NUGGETS
    Beloit 1, Cedar Rapids 4
    Box Score
     
    The Kernels were outhit ten to seven in this one, but got the timely hits while there pitching staff held the Snappers hitless with runners in scoring position (0-11) on the game.
     
    Starter Lachlan Wells pitched into the sixth inning and picked up the win in his first start with the Kernels. He was replaced by Anthony McIver left with one out and runners on first and second, who induced an inning ending double play to keep Cedar Rapids in front 3-0.
     
    They scored two of those runs in the third inning after a single from Jermain Palacios led off the inning., Brad Hartong followed and reached on an error, and the first run of the game scored on Sean Miller groundout. Luis Arreaz, would drive in Hartong with a single of his own to make it 2-0, and in the fourth J.J. Fernandez drove in a run with his fifteenth double of the year.
     
    Arreaz would add another RBI single in the seventh and finished his day 4-4 with two RBI.
     
    McIver would stay on for the seventh and eighth innings, and allowed one run on three hits and a walk. He struck out one.
     
    Kuo Hua Lo came on for the ninth, and worked a one-two-three inning for his second save with the Kernels.
     
    E-TWINS E-NOTES
    Elizabethton 13, Johnson City 12
    Box Score
     
    The name of the game was offense in this one, as the teams combined for twenty-five runs on twenty-seven hits, six walks, and six errors between them.
     
    Ariel Montesino of the Twins went 5-6 out of the leadoff spot. He scored twice and drove in one, and has two or more hits in all three games he has played thus far. Jaylin Davis was 3-4 with a home run, two RBI, walk, and four runs scored. Lewin Diaz hit a double and a triple, drove in two, and scored three runs. Mitchell Kranson was 2-5 with a double, two RBI, and a run scored. The only hitters in the lineup who did not reach base, were Travis Blankenhorn and Amaurys Minier.
     
    Ryan Mason made the start for the Twins and lasted just three innings. He gave up six runs on six hits and a walk, while striking out four.
     
    2016 Round Six draft pick, Alex Schick made his professional debut next. He allowed four runs on four hits and a walk in one inning.
     
    Hector Lujan pitched the next 3.1 innings, including two that were scoreless to pick up the win. He allowed two runs on two hits while striking out four. Colton Davis pitched the final five outs, striking out two on the way to his second save.
     
    Elizabethton improves to 4-0 on the season.
     
    GCL TWINS TAKES
     
    The GCL Twins enjoyed the afternoon off on Sunday. They get back to action tomorrow morning against the GCL Orioles.
     
    TWINS DAILY PLAYERS OF THE DAY
     
    Pitcher of the Day – Aaron Slegers, Chattanooga Lookouts (W, 8.0IP, 1 ER, 5 H’s, 1 BB, 6 K’s)
    Hitter of the Day – Jaylin Davis, Elizabethton Twins (3-4, 4 R’s, HR, 2 RBI, BB)
     
    MONDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS
     
    Pawtucket @ Rochester (6:05PM CST) – LHP Pat Dean (1-4, 4.07 ERA)
    Jackson @ Chattanooga (6:15PM CST) – RHP Kohl Stewart (1-2, 4.82 ERA)
    Fort Myers @ Bradenton (5:30PM CST) – TBD
    Cedar Rapids@ Quad Cities (7:00PM CST) – RHP Dereck Rodriguez (1-8, 6.71 ERA)
    Elizabethton @ Johnson City (6:00PM CST) – RHP Sean Poppen (0-0, -.—ERA)
    GCL Twins @ GCL Orioles (11:00AM CST) – TBD
     
    Please feel free to ask any questions and discuss Sunday’s games.
  19. Steve Lein
    Happy Father’s Day across Twins territory, including Rochester, NY; Chattanooga, TN; Fort Myers, FL; and Cedar Rapids, IA! If you were out at a ballpark today, I hope you stayed hydrated! There were three games in the minor leagues on Sunday afternoon, with those teams looking to bring home a victory just like their parent club did against the Yankees.
     
    One team got most of their offense in just one inning, while the other two teams scored first and tried to hold on. Did any of them do enough to send their fans home happy?
     
    Let’s check out all the action from Sunday, and find out!
     
    RED WINGS REPORT
    Rochester 8, Toledo 5
    Box Score
     
    Rochester used a big inning to take down the Toledo Mud Hens on Sunday, scoring seven of their eight runs in the sixth inning when they sent eleven men to the plate. Adam Walker led off the inning by reaching base on an error, moved to third on a John Ryan Murphy double, and would score their first run of the inning when James Beresford drove him in with a single. Logan Schafer followed with an RBI single and then both Toledo’s starting pitcher and manager were ejected.
     
    Jorge Polanco (1B), Eddie Rosario (sac fly), Tommy Field (2B), and Wilfredo Tovar (2B) all contributed RBI hits afterward, and the Red Wings took the lead 7-1.
     
    Nick Greenwood made the start for Rochester, his first AAA start of the year, and worked the first five innings. He allowed one run on four hits and a walk, and struck out two. In his five innings, Greenwood threw just fifty-eight pitches.
     
    Dan Runzler was the first man up from the bullpen for the bottom of the sixth, and the Mud Hens got three of those runs back off of him. He struck out the first man he faced, but a single and three walks scored one before Sean Burnett came on, with Runzler responsible for all men on base. Burnett got a ground ball and force at home for the second out, but a single to the next batter scored two more to make it 7-4.
     
    Burnett stayed in the game and pitched a one-two-three seventh inning before giving way to Alex Wimmers in the eighth. The Mud Hens John Hicks led off the inning with a double, and two ground ball outs would allow him to score, closing the gap to 7-5.
     
    The Red Wings got one back in the top of ninth, as Polanco brought in Beresford with a sac fly, but Wimmers would finish off the victory with a scoreless bottom frame for his sixth save.
     
    Rochester improves their record to 42-28 on the year, and in the month of June has gone 13-5.
     
    CHATTANOOGA CHATTER
    Chattanooga 3, Montgomery 5
    Box Score
     
    The Lookouts jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning thanks to a Daniel Palka sac fly to score Zach Granite from third, who had singled to lead off the game. They threatened to score another run, but Engelb Vielma was thrown out at home on a ground ball off the bat of Travis Harrison.
     
    Chattanooga’s starter Kohl Stewart gave that run back in the bottom of the first after recording two quick outs. A single and wild pitch followed by a bloop single tied the game at one. The Biscuits made it 2-1 in the second as a walk was followed by an RBI double, and two doubles in the third made it 3-1.
     
    The Biscuits would never look back. All told, Stewart finished four and one third innings, allowing five runs on eight hits and three walks. He struck out two and raised his ERA to 4.82 in four starts at AA.
     
    Mitch Garver closed the gap to 5-3 in the sixth inning, as his fifth home run of the year was a two-run shot to left field, but they would be shut out the rest of the way.
     
    Granite and Leonardo Reginatto each had two hits on the day. In addition to his RBI, Palka also stole his fifth base of the year.
     
    The bullpen duo of Corey Williams and Raul Fernandez finished the game without allowing a run. Williams walk two and gave up one hit in 1.2 innings, striking out one. Fernandez allowed a hit and a walk in his two innings.
     
    The Lookouts finish the first half of their season with a 36-34 record and second place in the North Division, ten games out of first place behind the Jackson Generals. They will have to win the division in the second half (or finish second to Jackson again) to find their way into the postseason.
     
    MIRACLE MATTERS
     
    The Miracle, along with the rest of the Florida State League, enjoyed Sunday afternoon off after their All-Star Game in Fort Myers yesterday. They are back in action on Monday night at home against the Charlotte Stone Crabs to kick off the second half of the FSL season.
     
    KERNELS NUGGETS
    Cedar Rapids 3, Quad Cities 4
    Box Score
     
    The Kernels to the first lead in the game as well, as a walk from Daniel Kihle was followed by consecutive singles from Luis Arraez and Sean Miller in the top of the third inning.
     
    They also lost that lead in the bottom half of the frame, as starter Sam Clay was unable to finish the inning. He allowed a leadoff single, walk, and an RBI single while recording only one out before manager Jake Mauer went to the bullpen. Sam Gibbons came on and gave up a run on a wild pitch to his first batter, but escaped the inning with no further damage. Gibbons would go on to pitch a scoreless fourth inning, but ran into trouble himself in the fifth. A single and three doubles would add to the River Bandits lead, making it 4-1.
     
    An error, balk, and fly out put Sean Miller on third in the sixth, and a double off the bat of Zander Wield brought him in to close it to 4-2.
     
    Anthony McIver would pitch the final two innings for Cedar Rapids, retiring every batter he faced, including two strikeouts, to give the Kernels offense a chance.
     
    In the ninth, Chris Ibarra drew a walk and was moved to third on a J.J. Fernandez single to put the tying runs on base. Kihle brought in Ibarra with a ground ball out, but Fernandez was stranded on second to end the game.
     
    Arreaz was the only hitter with multiple hits, including a double. As a team the Kernels were just 1-11 with runners in scoring position and left seven men on base.
     
    They finish the first half of the Midwest League season with a 36-22 record, finishing third in the Western Division, 2.5 games out of a clinching a playoff spot.
     
    Cedar Rapids will play host to the Midwest League All-Star Game on Tuesday night at 7:05PM CST. The Kernels will be represented in the game by position players Luis Arreaz and LaMonte Wade (both voted starters), and pitcher Sam Clay.
     
    TWINS DAILY PLAYERS OF THE DAY
     
    Pitcher of the Day – Nick Greenwood, Rochester Red Wings (W, 5.0IP, 1 ER, 4 H’s, 1 BB, 2 K’s)
    Hitter of the Day – Tommy Field, Rochester Red Wings (3-4, R, 2B, 2 RBI)
     
    MONDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS
     
    Rochester @ Columbus (6:05PM CST) – LHP Andrew Albers (5-1, 3.46 ERA)
    Chattanooga – Scheduled day off (Southern League All-Star Break)
    Charlotte @ Fort Myers (6:05PM CST) – TBD
    Cedar Rapids – Scheduled day off (Midwest League All-Star Break).
     
    Please feel free to ask any questions and discuss Sunday’s games.
  20. Steve Lein
    While in the Majors on Sunday the Twins were completing a three-game sweep of the Seattle Mariners behind the bats of Joe Mauer and Miguel Sano, who combined for six home runs in the series, in the minors there was another powerful swing of the bat that contributed to a huge come from behind victory.
     
     


    Image courtesy of Seth Stohs (photo of Zander Wiel) 
    All four affiliates were in action, and to find out how all of them fared on Sunday, keep reading!
     
     
    RED WINGS REPORT
    Charlotte 3, Rochester 5
    Box Score
     
    Rochester got on the board for an early lead in the bottom of the first inning, as Byron Buxton led off the game with a walk, James Beresford followed with a single that moved him to third, and he scored the first run of the game on a Jorge Polanco sacrifice fly. With two outs and Beresford on second base, Eddie Rosario delivered a single to center to make it 2-0 in favor of the home team.
     
    The score would remain that way until the top of the fourth, as Red Wings starter Andrew Albers was able to scatter four hits and two walks for the first three innings and was assisted by a bases loaded double play to end the second. Three consecutive hits started the fourth to make the score 2-1, but could have been worse if Albers hadn’t picked off the first of those hitters at first base. It was a double followed by a single that then scored the run, but Albers escaped by striking out the next two.
     
    Charlotte tied the game at two in the fifth on a solo home run, but Albers finished the inning and his day with just the two runs allowed on eight hits and two walks. He struck out five.
     
    While Albers may have been able to go one more inning, there was no need to risk it as the Red Wings lineup took back the lead in the bottom of the inning with a two-out rally. John Ryan Murphy and Buxton were retired quickly, but Beresford, Polanco, and Vargas all singled to follow, with a wild pitch and Polanco’s first stolen base mixed in to make the score 4-2.
     
    Rochester extended their lead to 5-2 in the bottom of the sixth when Tommy Field led off with a double, was moved to third on a Wilfredo Tovar fly ball, and scored on a Buxton groundout.
     
    Charlotte would cut the lead to 5-3 in the seventh, but get no closer. Marcus Walden was the first reliever up and finished two innings, allowing one run on three hits and a walk. J.T. Chargois pitched a scoreless eighth, walking one and striking out one. Alex Wimmers picked up his second save with the Red Wings with a scoreless ninth, giving up a leadoff single but never letting a runner advance further. He also punctuated Rochester’s twenty-eighth win of the season with a strikeout.
     
    The middle of the Red Wings lineup was stellar on this day, as Beresford (3-4, 2 R’s), Polanco (2-3, R, RBI), Vargas (2-4, RBI), and Rosario (3-4, RBI) all collected multiple hits. Field also picked up two hits, including a double. Rosario is now on a five-game hitting streak, and in that time has gone 12-21 with four doubles and five RBI, raising his average from .095 to .333.
     
     
    CHATTANOOGA CHATTER
    Tennessee 5, Chattanooga 1
    Box Score
     
    Chattanooga’s offense was unable to get anything going for most of the night, as they managed just four hits on the game. They did also drew six walks, but left ten men on base while going just 1-5 with runners in scoring position in the process.
     
    Zach Granite drew three walks out of the leadoff spot. Ryan Walker collected the only RBI with a single in the bottom of the fifth. Joe Maloney scored the run after a single of his own.
     
    Omar Bencomo made the start for the Lookouts and delivered a quality start. He allowed single runs in the first, fifth, and sixth innings while scattering eight hits and a walk before his day was done.
     
    Mike Strong pitched the eighth inning and walked one in a scoreless frame. Luke Bard came on for the eighth and allowed two singles, but a double-play ball in between got him out unscathed. He wasn’t as lucky in the ninth.
     
    After a walk to load the bases with two outs, Bard gave up another single to drive in two insurance runs for the Smokies. Bard finished the frame but allowed two runs on five hits and a walk while striking out none, and marks his third straight appearance with 2.0 IP and 2 earned runs allowed.
     
    Chattanooga put two runners on base in each of the eighth and ninth innings, but were unable to capitalize and fall to 22-28 on the season.
     
    MIRACLE MATTERS
    Fort Myers 1, Charlotte 5
    Box Score
     
    Although they collected just as many hits as their (Port) Charlotte opponent on the day, Fort Myers was unable to get much going against Stone Crabs starter Yonny Chirinos for the first seven innings. His only run allowed came in his final inning that Charlotte conceded on a ground ball with a 5-0 lead. Through the first six innings, Fort Myers had managed just two hits, both doubles in each of the first two innings, but went down fifteen straight hitters in a row after that.
     
    Kohl Stewart made the start for the Miracle, and made it through six innings that could have been better if not for his defense. He allowed five runs (three earned) on eight hits while striking out three. Two of the Miracle’s three errors on the day led to the two unearned runs in his line, but the other error also contributed to another run on the scoreboard. A solo home run in the sixth made it 5-0 but Stewart completed the inning.
     
    Brandon Peterson and Raul Fernandez each pitched a perfect inning in relief, each collecting a strikeout along the way.
     
    The offense was led by Tanner Witt who was 2-4 with a double, Logan Wade picked up the RBI and had a double, and Alex Real scored the only run. The Miracle went just 1-8 with runners in scoring position (the hit did not score a run) and left eight men on base.
     
    The Miracle were swept in the three game series and fall a half game behind the Stone Crabs in the Florida State League South division standings by a half game as a result. They also drop below .500 on the season at 25-26, but are still just one game out of second place and one away from last in the competitive division thus far.
    KERNELS NUGGETS
    Wisconsin 8, Cedar Rapids 9
    Box Score
     
    Twins Daily’s Seth Stohs was again in attendance in Cedar Rapids and got to see quite a comeback at Perfect Game Field at Veterans Memorial Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
     
    Right-hander Cody Stashak took the mound for the Kernels and was solid through the first four innings, allowing just one run on three hits and two walks, but ran into trouble in the fifth.
     
    The first two hitters of the inning singled, and then executed a double steal to put both of them in scoring position. It ended up being unnecessary, as a three-run home run from David Denson put the Timber Rattlers up 4-0. Stashak got a strikeout to end the inning, but his day was done. In his five innings, he allowed the four runs on six hits and two walks, while picking up six strikeouts.
     
    Anthony McIver came on for the sixth inning, and allowed two runs (zero earned) on three hits. Throwing errors from Jermaine Palacios and catcher Kevin Garcia led to both runs.
     
    Now down 6-0, Cedar Rapids finally broke through against Wisconsin starter Drake Owenby in the bottom of the inning. They sent ten hitters to the plate and cut the lead to 6-4 behind singles from LaMonte Wade, Daniel Kihle, Brad Hartong, and Garcia, walks from J.J. Fernandez and Palacios, and a fielding error off the bat of Luis Arreaz. Wade had led off the inning, but also grounded out with the bases loaded to end it.
     
    They added another run in the seventh inning after a double from Fernandez, a single from Kihle that moved him to third, and a sacrifice fly from Hartong.
     
    Koa Hua Lo came in to pitch after McIver, and pitched a one-two-three seventh inning. In the eighth, he hit two batters around a walk to load the bases for Wisconsin, but escaped a big inning with a run-scoring double play ball and a strikeout to keep the Kernels within two.
     
    The Kernels lineup responded by taking their first lead of the game in the bottom of the eighth behind the powerful bat of Zander Wiel. Sean Miller and Arreaz led off the frame with singles, and moved to second and third on a sacrifice bunt from Palacios. With two outs, Wiel stepped to the plate and delivered a three-run blast with some impressive Statcast data, to put them up 8-7. It was his first hit of the day after missing the last two and starting this one 0-4, but also extended his hitting streak in the Midwest League to fifteen games. Over that streak, Wiel has gone 23-65 (.353) with three doubles, a triple, three home runs and seventeen RBI.
     
    The lead was short lived however, as the Timber Rattlers tied it at eight the next inning with Michael Theofanopoulos on the mound. He came in after Lo got the first out of the frame, but a walk followed by a double knotted the score.
     
    In the ninth, it was the bottom half of the lineup due up for the Kernels, and their rally got started by a one-out single from Hartong. Nelson Molina was brought in to pinch hit for Garcia, and two wild-pitches later the winning run was on third and Molina had drawn a walk to bring up Sean Miller. He sent a ground ball toward short that may have been destined for a double play, but was booted for Wisconsin’s third error of the day and allowed Hartong to scamper home with the winning run, completing a crazy comeback for the home team.
     
    The offense got multiple hits from Arreaz (3-4, R, 2B, BB), Kihle (2-5, R), Hartong (2-4, 2 R’s, 2 RBI), and Garcia (2-4, 2B, 2 RBI). Wiel added the big go-ahead-three-run home run, and Fernandez reached base three times with a double and two walks, and two runs scored.
     
    Wade’s single to lead off the sixth inning also extended his on-base streak to twenty-nine games with the Kernels. On the year, he’s drawn thirty-three walks compared to just twenty-one strikeouts in forty-two games, and his .909 OPS ranks second in the Midwest League.
     
     
    TWINS DAILY PLAYERS OF THE DAY
     
    Pitcher of the Day – Andrew Albers, Rochester Red Wings (W, 5.0 IP, 8 H’s, 2 ER’s, 2 BB, 5 K’s)
    Hitter of the Day – Zander Wiel, Cedar Rapids Kernels (1-5, R, Go-ahead-3-run-HR, 3-RBI)
     
     
    MONDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS
     
    Rochester @ Indianapolis (5:05 CST) – TBD
    Chattanooga – Scheduled day off.
    Fort Myers –scheduled day off.
    Wisconsin @ Cedar Rapids (2:05PM CST) – RHP Randy LeBlanc (6-2, 0.85 ERA)
     
    Please feel free to ask any questions and discuss Sunday’s games.
  21. Steve Lein
    Tyler Duffey was pretty good for the Twins again on Sunday afternoon as the parent club won their second straight game against the Cleveland Indians. In the minors on Sunday, one game was postponed, a lefty top-prospect took to the mound in Florida, was outdone by a lefty newcomer to the system in another game, and one team struggled to collect any hits for most of the day, even though they took the no-hitter off the table early.
     
    To find out who did what and where on Sunday, read on!
     
    RED WINGS REPORT
    Syracuse @ Rochester - Postponed
     
    The Red Wings game on Sunday afternoon was postponed due to inclement weather. The game will be made up as part of a doubleheader on June 30th. Rochester finished their recent homestand with a 5-1 record, and begins a seven-game road trip tomorrow night in Charlotte.
     
    CHATTANOOGA CHATTER
    Biloxi 1, Chattanooga 2
    Box Score
     
    There was little offense to be had for either team in this one, as both starting pitchers put in solid efforts. For the Shuckers, it was Jorge Ortega who held Chattanooga scoreless into the seventh inning, and for the Lookouts it was Nick Greenwood who limited Biloxi’s scoring chances for nearly the entire game.
     
    Biloxi got on the board first in the third inning after a one-out double put a runner in scoring position that was later driven in from third on a ground out. But that would be it for the Shuckers as Greenwood would allow only three more hits over the next five innings. On the game he went eight innings, allowing just the one run on six hits and no walks, while striking out three.
     
    The Lookouts were able to tie the game at one in the sixth when Daniel Palka and Travis Harrison clubbed back to back doubles with two outs.
     
    In the seventh inning Chattanooga took the lead after Ryan Walker’s one-out triple that chased Ortega from the game. Walker would score on a Joe Maloney single that followed against the Shucker’s bullpen.
     
    In the ninth, it was Omar Bencomo who was summoned for his first save opportunity of the year. Although he allowed two singles, he finished the game and picked up the save by picking off one of the runners at first and inducing two easy ground balls around them.
     
    Chattanooga was outhit 8-5 on the day, but cashed in on two of their four opportunities with runners in scoring position to pull out the victory.
     
    MIRACLE MATTERS
    Fort Myers 7, St. Lucie 1
    Box Score
     
    Early season stud left-hander Stephen Gonsalves took the mound for the Miracle on Sunday, and although he didn’t necessarily dominate as he had in other starts, he still picked up the win to improve to 5-1 on the season. He finished 5.1 innings, allowing just one earned run on four hits and a walk. He struck out three and if not for a Nick Gordon error in the sixth, may have been able to finish that inning. With one out and two men on base he was lifted for Brian Gilbert, who induced an inning ending double play.
     
    Fort Myers took a 4-0 lead in the top of the third inning on home runs from Austin Diemer (solo) and Trey Vavra (3-run), and extended that lead to 6-1 in the fourth after a Chad Christensen double, an Alex Real single, and Diemer sac fly plated two more. Max Murphy added their seventh run in the eighth inning with a solo home run of his own.
     
    Gilbert finished a scoreless seventh inning as well and allowed only one hit in his 1.2 innings total. Todd Van Steensel pitched the final two frames, and allowed just one hit himself.
     
    The Miracle offense got multi-hit efforts from Gordon (2-4, R), Vavra (2-4, R, HR, 3 RBI, SB), Christensen (2-4, R, 2B), and Diemer (3-3, R, 2B, HR, 2 RBI). Murphy scored two runs and walked once in addition to his fourth home run of the season.
     
    KERNELS NUGGETS
    Cedar Rapids 1, Wisconsin 7
    Box Score
     
    Cedar Rapids scored first in this one, taking the 1-0 lead in the second inning after a walk to Daniel Kihle and an error put him on third base, where he easily scampered home on a ground out from Sean Miller, but that would be it for the Kernels on the day as they managed just one hit the entire game against Wisconsin pitchers.
     
    The Timber Rattlers took the lead for good in the bottom of the second after three singles and a double-steal of home put them up 2-1.
     
    Miles Nordgren made the start for the Kernels, and went just five innings. He allowed five runs (four earned) on seven hits and three walks, but did strike out eight Wisconsin hitters. Anthony McIver pitched the sixth inning, and allowed two runs on three hits and two walks, including a home run to the first batter. Nick Anderson calmed the storm for the final two innings, going one-two-three in both along with four strikeouts.
     
    Over his last six appearances, Anderson has pitched ten innings and allowed just one hit and one walk to opposing batters, while striking out eighteen of them. Quite a nice little stretch for the 2015 free agent out of the independent leagues.
     
    As can be imagined when you only tally one hit as a team, Cedar Rapids had few opportunities for more runs in this game and as a team were 0-4 with runners in scoring position and left seven men on base. The hit came off the bat of Zander Wiel in the first inning to give an idea of how inept the Kernels lineup was the entire game.
     
    TWINS DAILY PLAYERS OF THE DAY
     
    Pitcher of the Day – Nick Greenwood, Chattanooga Lookouts (W, 8.0IP, 1 ER, 6 H’s, 0 BB’s, 3 K’s)
    Hitter of the Day – Austin Diemer, Fort Myers Miracle (3-3, R, 2B, HR, 2 RBI, OF-assist)
     
    MONDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS
     
    Rochester @ Charlotte (6:05PM CST) – LHP Tommy Milone (1-0, 1.59 ERA)
    Biloxi @ Chattanooga (6:15PM CST) – LHP David Hurlbut (2-2, 6.48 ERA)
    Fort Myers @ Dunedin (5:30PM CST) – RHP Kohl Stewart (2-1, 2.08 ERA)
    Cedar Rapids – Scheduled off-day
     
    Please feel free to ask any questions and discuss Sunday’s games.
  22. Steve Lein
    As their parent club was playing nearly two games in one day, all four affiliates of the Minnesota Twins were in action on Sunday afternoon. Three of those teams got strong starting pitching performances in wins, including a couple of shutouts, while another put up nearly as much offense as the other three combined, but came out on the losing end of back and forth slugfest.
     
    To find out where and how it all went down in Sunday’s games, keep reading!
     
    RED WINGS REPORT
    Buffalo 3, Rochester 6
    Box Score
     
    Left-hander Pat Dean squared off against fellow lefty and old friend Scott Diamond at Frontier Field in Rochester, New York Sunday afternoon, and both were fantastic for most of the game. Diamond shut out the Red Wings for six innings, while Dean held the Bisons to just one run on four hits in seven innings. He struck out two.
     
    Rochester tied the game in the seventh after Diamond’s night was done, as Adam Brett Walker led off the inning with a single, and promptly stole second base for his first steal of the 2016 season. He was moved to third on a Darin Mastroianni ground out, and then scored on a Wilfredo Tovar single to knot the game.
     
    Brandon Kintzler was brought in to relieve Dean for the top of the eighth, and retired the side in order to bring Rochester up to bat. They would break the game open by sending nine men to the plate.
     
    Jorge Polanco and Reynaldo Rodriguez started the inning with consecutive singles, but a bunt attempt by Juan Centeno would erase Polanco at third. David Murphy picked up the slack by delivering an RBI single to put Rochester up. Later in the inning with two outs and the bases loaded, Tovar would deliver a ground ball single to third base, and Centeno and Murphy would scamper home after the throw was air-mailed to first for an error. A James Beresford triple to left field would finish the scoring at five for the inning, and a comfortable 6-1 lead for Rochester.
     
    J.R Graham was summoned for the ninth inning and made it somewhat interesting by allowing two runs on two hits and two walks, but did finish out the game to improve the Red Wings to 7-10 on the season.
     
    As a team Rochester pounded out thirteen hits on the day and were 4-12 with runners in scoring position. Beresford (3-5, 3B, 2 RBI), Polanco (2-3, BB), Rodriguez (2-4, R), Murphy (2-4, R, 2B, RBI), and Tovar (2-4, R, 2 RBI) led the offense with multiple hits on the day.
     
    CHATTANOOGA CHATTER
    Birmingham 14, Chattanooga 13
    Box Score
     
    In Chattanooga Sunday afternoon, it was an absolute slugfest as the teams combined for twenty-seven runs on thirty-two hits in a nine-inning game. Both starters failed to pitch more than four innings, and for the Twins that starter was lefty David Hurlburt.
     
    The first three innings were not bad, as he allowed two hits including a run-scoring triple in the first, but struck out the side; faced the minimum in the second aided by a caught stealing attempt with Stuart Turner behind the plate; and just a single in the third.
     
    In the bottom half of those innings, the Lookouts offense put up three, one, and one respectively to put them out front early 5-1. The fourth is where Hurlburt ran into his trouble.
     
    A leadoff home run led into a walk, three singles and a triple to put the Barons out front 6-5 before Hurlburt was able to finish the inning. On the game Hurlburt threw four innings, allowing the six runs on eight hits and a walk, with six strikeouts.
     
    Chattanooga was quick to take back another big lead in the bottom half however, as they sent ten men up to bat before Engelb Vielma was erased at second-base on a steal attempt for the third out. Daniel Palk started the scoring with a single to plate D.J. Hicks, who had doubled earlier. A bases loaded 2-run double from Stuart Turner was followed by a 2-run double from Joe Maloney, and Vielma’s single before the caught stealing attempt brought in Maloney for six runs on the board in the frame and an 11-6 lead.
     
    Brett Lee came on in relief of Hurlburt for the fifth, and gave three of those runs back on a single, RBI double, a walk, and wild pitch, and was also aided by a throwing error from third-baseman T.J. White. Only one of those runs was earned.
     
    A bases-loaded ground out from White would make the score 12-9 heading into the sixth, which was the only clean inning (no runs) of the game.
     
    Birmingham would tie it the seventh against Corey Williams out for his second inning of work. A single, hit-by-pitch, and walk around a strikeout would load the bases and bring in Brandon Peterson. He got two strikeouts to finish the three outs, but they were around a bases clearing double for the tying three runs and were charged to Williams.
     
    A solo-home run against Peterson would put the Barons out front for good in the eighth, and they added a needed insurance run in the ninth against J.T. Chargois, who had come into the day having pitched five perfect innings to start his season. He was greeted by a leadoff double to surrender his first baserunner, and a sacrifice bunt and groundout would lead to his first run allowed. A single and groundout later would mark his first appearance without a strikeout, and Chattanooga down 14-12 heading into the bottom of the ninth.
     
    As could be expected, the Red Wings did all they could to keep the game going, or end it with one swing. A two-out double from Palka would score Hicks who had singled earlier, and brought in Mitch Garver as a pinch-hitter with the tying run in scoring position. On a 2-2 pitch he struck out swinging to end the game with a loss for the home team, but it was an exciting game all the way through for the three-thousand-plus fans in attendance at AT&T Field.
     
    Palka and Harrison each hit their second home runs of the season for the Lookouts and were 4-4 and 3-5 respectively on the day driving in six runs between them. Palka added two doubles and two walks, reaching base in all six of his plate appearances. Vielma (2-6, R, 3B, RBI), Levi Michael (2-5, 2 R’s, 2BB), and Hicks (2-6, 2 R’s, 2B) each had multiple hits at the top of the order, and Turner and Maloney each had 2 RBI in the offensive explosion for the Lookouts.
     
    MIRACLE MATTERS
    Charlotte 0, Fort Myers 2
    Box Score
     
    While there was a ton of offense in Chattanooga, Fort Myers saw another dominating pitching performance from one of their starters.
     
    On this day, it was left-hander Randy Rosario dominating an opposing lineup for the Miracle.
     
    Rosario allowed baserunners in each of his six-plus innings except the fifth, but would strand all of them as Charlotte was 0-6 with runners in scoring position against him, leaving seven men on base for the game in the process.
     
    Luke Bard came on to finish the seventh and added a scoreless eighth for the bullpen. And Todd Van Steensel was summoned for the ninth and his second save opportunity on the year. He retired the Stone Crabs in order for his second save, and helped improve Rosario to 2-1 on the season along with a 1.02 ERA that is good for second on the team behind Felix Jorge at 0.92.
     
    The Miracle’s two runs came on a home run from the rehabbing Danny Santana, and he also scored the other on a single from Alex Real. Santana was 2-4 on the game for his first two hits of his assignment. The only other hit was a single from Chad Christensen, who also drew the only walk on the day for the Miracle. It was more than enough to support the Miracle pitchers and however, who have gotten outstanding starting pitching to begin the year and improved to 10-8.
     
    In total, each of the Miracle’s six starters have now stared three games. This includes Stephen Gonsalves (1-1, 1.89 ERA), Kohl Stewart (1-0, 2.60 ERA), Tyler Jay (1-1, 3.60 ERA), Jorge (1-1, 0.92 ERA), Keaton Steele (0-2, 3.24 ERA), and Rosario (2-1, 1.02 ERA). Collectively they’ve thrown 105.1 innings, and allowed just 25 earned runs on 72 hits and 26 walks, with 98 K’s that’s good for a spectacular 2.14 ERA so far.
     
    KERNELS NUGGETS
    Cedar Rapids 9, Clinton 0
    Box Score
     
    The Cedar Rapids Kernels imitated the good parts of each of the Chattanooga and Fort Myers games, as they also exploded for sixteen hits on offense and shutout their opponent on pitching and defense.
     
    The Kernels put crooked numbers on the scoreboard in each of the second, third, and eighth innings that included seven singles, a double, and triple for eight of their nine runs. They added a single run in the fifth on an RBI knock from Rafael Valera. Three wild pitches in the eighth inning aided in putting the Kernels finals on the board.
     
    Cedar Rapids got production throughout the lineup as seven of the nine hitters collected multiple hits, with A.J. Murray and Max Murphy in the three and four spots as the only ones without them, but Murray did have an RBI and Murphy scored two runs. Valera led the team with two RBI’s and the extra base hits came from Zander Wiel who was 4-5 with double, triple, RBI, and two runs scored.
     
    Taking the mound for away team was Cody Stashak, and he scattered four hits and two walks in his six innings, striking out four along the way. Michael Theofanopoulos pitched a scoreless seventh, walking one and striking out one. Miles Nordgren finished the final two innings, allowing just one hit with one strikeout. The LumberKings lineup was a combined 5-30 on the game, were 0-5 with runners in scoring position and stranded just six. In comparison, Cedar Rapids was 7-19 with runners in scoring position and stranded nine.
    Stashak improved to 2-0, winning both of his starts so far, and sports a 1.13 ERA and 0.75 WHIP in his sixteen total innings for the Kernels.
     
    TWINS DAILY PLAYERS OF THE DAY
     
    Pitcher of the Day – 3-way tie:
    Cody Stashak, Cedar Rapids Kernels (6.0 IP, 0 R’s, 4 H’s, 2 BB, 4 K’s)
    Randy Rosario, Fort Myers Miracle (6.1 IP, 0 R’s, 6 H’s, 2 K’s)
    Pat Dean, Rochester Red Wings (7.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 H’s, 2 K’s)

    Hitter of the Day – Danial Palka, Chattanooga Lookouts (4-4, 2 R’s, 2 2B’s, HR, 4 RBI, 2 BB’s)
     
    MONDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS
     
    Rochester – Scheduled day off.
    Chattanooga @ Mississippi (7:00PM CST) – RHP D.J. Baxendale (1-1, 3.27 ERA)
    Fort Myers – Scheduled day off.
    Cedar Rapids – Scheduled day off.
     
    Please feel free to ask any questions and discuss Sunday’s games.
  23. Steve Lein
    Don’t look now, but the Minnesota Twins are streaking! While the big league club was finishing a sweep on Sunday afternoon, all four affiliates were in action in the Minors. While two of the lineups were only able to manage two and four hits respectively in losses, another exploded for twelve hits in a blowout victory that supported a dominating effort from their starting pitcher. In total, Twins affiliates went 2-2 on the day.
     
    To find out who did what in Sunday’s games in the minors, keep reading!
     
    RED WINGS REPORT
    Rochester 0, Lehigh Valley 3
    Box Score
     
    Rochester’s game on Sunday was a pitcher’s duel throughout the first six innings. On the hill for the Red Wings was lefty Logan Darnell, and in those first six innings he was fantastic, allowing just three singles in the game until a two-out triple gave the Iron Pigs their first scoring chance of the game in the sixth. Darnell escaped the inning with the game still tied 0-0 but would run into further trouble in the seventh.
     
    With two-outs and a man on, Darnell served up a home-run ball to put the Red Wings down 2-0 on the scoreboard, and an end to his night. David Martinez came on for the final out of the frame and remained in for the eighth inning, where he gave up a run of his own after a leadoff double, error, and wild pitch put the insurance across the plate.
     
    There was little to no offense in this game as Rochester sent more than three hitters up to the plate in a single inning in only their first and last opportunities. Lehigh Valley starter Zach Eflin allowed just two hits in eight innings, while striking out five Red Wings. As a team, Rochester was just 0-3 with runners in scoring position, and left only two men on base for the game. James Beresford and Jorge Polanco each collected only a single.
     
    CHATTANOOGA CHATTER
    Chattanooga 4, Mississippi 3
    Box Score
     
    The Lookouts took a 1-0 lead in the first inning after leadoff man Zach Granite ended up on third after a fielding error from the right fielder. Mitch Garver brought him home with a sacrifice fly.
     
    The game would remain 1-0 until the bottom of the sixth inning, as Chattanooga starter Jason Wheeler was in control of the game until that point. He went one-two-three in each of the first, fourth, and fifth innings before a leadoff walk got him in trouble in the sixth. The next batter would triple to tie the game at 1, and the Braves would take the lead 2-1 on a wild pitch before Wheeler recovered to finish the inning.
     
    Chattanooga would again tie the game in the top of the seventh, as a Granite single brought in Leonardo Reginatto from second base after singling himself and moving into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt from Levi Michael.
     
    Mason Melotakis was summoned from the bullpen for the bottom half, and faced just three hitters, getting the first out on a single that was attempted to be stretched into a double on left fielder Travis Harrison, and two punchouts.
     
    Chattanooga took the lead 4-2 in the top of the eight behind the bats Reginatto who drove in Carlos Paulino with a double, and Michael who singled with a line drive that deflected off the pitcher toward third base, who also committed a throwing error on the play to bring in Reginatto with the fourth run.
     
    Alex Wimmers came on for the eighth inning, and a triple led to a run for the Braves to make it 4-3, but they would get no closer as J.T. Chargois shut the door in the ninth for his second save of the season. He struck out one and that makes four appearances and four perfect innings for the right-hander in 2016.
     
    MIRACLE MATTERS
    Fort Myers 9, Daytona 0
    Box Score
     
    Fort Myers broke the game open in the third inning, as they batted through the lineup and sent five across home plate to take the lead.
     
    The floodgates were opened by a Brian Navarreto single and Edgar Corcino triple for the game’s first run, and singles from Austin Diemer, Alex Swim, Nick Gordon, a Chris Paul walk, and another single from Logan Wade would follow to make it 5-0 on the scoreboard. Gordon also stole second base for his third swiped bag of the young season.
     
    The Miracle would add three more runs in the fourth inning as Corcino would triple again to lead it off, scored on another single from Diemer, and he and Gordon (who also singled again) would come home on a triple from Paul to make it 8-0. The final run came in the eighth inning as a throwing error on a double-play turn would allow Navarreto to scamper home from second after reaching base with a single.
     
    Felix Jorge was on the mound for the Miracle, and stifled the Tortuga’s bats for 6.2 innings. He had allowed just three singles and one walk to the Daytona lineup, while striking out eight to pick up his first win of 2016. Jorge threw 96 pitches, with 74 going for strikes in the dominating effort. Raul Fernandez relieved him after recording the first two outs in the seventh, and finished the final 2.1 innings and the shutout. He allowed just one hit.
     
    En-route to scoring their nine runs, the Miracle got multiple hit efforts from Diemer (2-5, 2 R’s, 2 RBI), Gordon (3-5, 2 R’s, RBI) batting in the three-hole, Navarreto (2-4, 2 R’s), and Corcino (2-3, 2 R’s, 2 3B’s, RBI, BB). Paul and Wade joined Diemer with 2 RBI’s on the day.
     
    If you're keeping track, the Miracle rotation collectively sports a 5-3 record with a 1.98 ERA, 66 K's in 63.1 IP, and a 0.86 WHIP so far on the year.
     
    KERNELS NUGGETS
    Clinton 7, Cedar Rapids 2
    Box Score
     
    The Clinton LumberKings split the four game series in Cedar Rapids by outhitting the home team 12-4 in this game.
     
    They took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning on a solo home run from the second batter of the game against Kernels starter Dereck Rodriguez. Rodriguez would recover pretty well, putting up zeroes for the next five innings, including retiring eleven in a row at one point.
     
    Cedar Rapids tied the game at one in the bottom of the fourth, as a single off the bat of Bryant Hayman scored Zander Wiel who had led off the inning with a single and reached third on two wild-pitches.
     
    Rodriguez finally ran into some trouble with one out in the seventh, as a walk followed by consecutive singles put the go-ahead run on the board for Clinton and put an end to his day. C.K. Irby came on and allowed the inherited runner to score on a wild pitch. Rodriguez’s final line of the day was 6.1 innings pitched, with four runs (three earned) allowed on seven hits and two walks, with three strikeouts.
     
    Irby finished the seventh inning for the Kernels, and they would push one run across thanks to a couple of errors in the bottom half of the inning to make the score 4-2, but they would get no closer than that.
     
    Irby was relieved by Miles Nordgren for the final two innings, and he was greeted by back-to-back singles, an error on a bunt attempt to load the bases, and a two run single to make it 6-2 after the eighth, and a wild pitch allowed the seventh run on the board for Clinton in the ninth. In total, Nordgren allowed three runs on five hits and one walk in his two innings.
     
    As a team, the Kernels were just 4-33 on the day (.121), with all four hits being singles. They were 1-8 with runners in scoring position and left seven men on base.
     
    TWINS DAILY PLAYERS OF THE DAY
     
    Pitcher of the Day – Felix Jorge, Fort Myers Miracle (W, 6.2 IP, 0 R’s, 3 H’s, 1 BB, 8 K’s)
    Hitter of the Day – Edgar Corcino, Fort Myers Miracle (2-3, 2 R’s, 2 3B’s, RBI, BB)
     
    MONDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS
     
    Pawtucket @ Rochester (5:35PM CST) – RHP Tyler Duffey (0-0, 2.08 ERA)
    Chattanooga @ Mississippi(7:00PM CST) – RHP D.J. Baxendale (1-1, 3.27 ERA)
    Fort Myers @ Dayton (6:05PM CST) – LHP Randy Rosario (1-0, 0.00 ERA)
    Cedar Rapids @ Burlington (6:30 PM CST) – RHP Cody Stashak (0-0, 2.25 ERA)
     
    Please feel free to ask any questions and discuss Sunday’s games.
  24. Steve Lein
    Ricky Nolasco was on the mound for the Twins on Sunday afternoon and gave them arguably his best start in a Minnesota uniform, going seven innings and allowing just one run against the defending World Champions. Unfortunately for the visiting team, those pesky Royals wouldn’t go down without a fight. Glen Perkins blew his first save opportunity of the 2016 season and in extra innings an errant pickoff throw and wild pitch from Trevor May brought home the winning run. The Twins head north for their home opener tomorrow against the Chicago White Sox and will send Kyle Gibson to the mound still looking for their first win of 2016.
     
    In the minors on Sunday afternoon all four Twins affiliates were in action. Rochester got standout pitching performances from one current top pitching prospect and one (relatively) former one in a victory, Chattanooga and Fort Myers held late leads but fared much like the Twins in the final scores, and Cedar Rapids looked to remain undefeated on the young season.
     
    To find out how it all went down, keep reading!
     
    RED WINGS REPORT
    Scranton/Wilkes-Barre 1, Rochester 4
    Box Score
     
    Jose Berrios took the mound for the Red Wings in their home opener at Frontier Field for his first start of the 2016 season. He was opposed as a starter by old friend Anthony Swarzak for the RailRiders. Berrios was effectively wild as he finished five innings and picked up the win, allowing one run on three hits, four walks and two hit-batters while striking out nine. He threw ninety pitches with fifty-three going for strikes.
     
    The one run allowed came in the second inning after a leadoff single was followed by a double for an early 1-0 Scranton/Wilkes-Barre lead. Berrios would then issue his first walk of the game to another old friend, Chris Parmelee, before getting a strikeout and two flyouts around another walk to escape with limited damage. Berrios would strike out two in third, three more in the fourth, and two in the fifth around a few more walks before his day was done.
     
    Rochester took the lead for good in the third inning after loading the bases with nobody out. Buck Britton delivered a two run single and Jorge Polanco followed with a run-scoring single of his own to make it 3-1.
     
    They would add an insurance run in the sixth inning as Wilfredo Tovar singled in Adam Brett Walker, who led off the inning with a single of his own.
     
    The Red Wings wouldn’t end up needing that run though as Alex Meyer came on in relief of Berrios and finished the game’s final four innings picking up the rare three-plus inning save in the process. He allowed three hits, walked two, and struck out four including the final hitter of the game for the home opener exclamation point.
     
    Walker led the offense on the day going 3-4 with a run scored and a double out of the sixth spot in the lineup. Tovar was 2-3 with a run scored and the RBI.
     
    CHATTANOOGA CHATTER
    Chattanooga 5, Biloxi 8
    Box Score
     
    Down 2-1 going into the seventh inning, Chattanooga took the lead after a bases clearing double off the bat of Danial Palka to make the score 5-2. An errant throw from the shortstop on the play ended up in the Lookouts dugout, sending Palka across the plate for the fourth run on the play.
     
    Left-handed reliever Mike Strong, who was in the running for the final bullpen spot on the Twins in Spring Training, came on to protect a two-run lead in the bottom of the eighth, but was greeted by back-to-back-back doubles that tied the game at five. He was able to get two outs after that before a walk and a single to make the score 6-5 ended his day. Brandon Peterson came on for the final out, but a double brought in the two inherited runners before he got out of the inning.
     
    Aaron Slegers made the start for Chattanooga and put in a quality effort. In six innings, he allowed two-earned runs on six hits and three walks, with three strikeouts. The two runs allowed came in the second inning after two-doubles and two-singles in four straight batters. Slegers’ line was helped by inducing double plays in each of his innings except the first, for a total of five on the day.
     
    The Lookouts offense got multiple hit efforts form Zach Granite (3-5, R), Palka (2-5, R, 2B, 3 RBI), Travis Harrison (2-2, R, 2B, HR, RBI, 2 BB’s), and Engelb Vielma (2-4, R).
     
    MIRACLE MATTERS
    Fort Myers 3, Bradenton 4 (10 innings)
    Box Score
     
    The Miracle took the early lead in the first inning after Tanner English led off the game with a single and later scored on a single from Alex Real. English was moved into scoring position on a double by Nick Gordon.
     
    They would go up 2-0 in the fifth inning behind the bats of the same players. Gordon smacked his second double of the game to start the frame, and scored on a Real sac fly. Unfortunately they also ended the inning with the bases loaded, unable to do any more damage.
     
    Right-hander Keaton Steele was on the mound for Fort Myers in his first start of the 2016 season and was fantastic through the first five innings. He retired the first eight hitters of the game before issuing a walk, and went 1-2-3 in each of the first, second, and fifth innings. It was the sixth inning before the Marauders were able to muster any threats, and it came after Steele had retired the first two-hitters of that inning. A single and double made the score 2-1 and Steele was lifted for Raul Fernandez who struck out the final hitter of the inning to keep the lead intact.
     
    Fort Myers went up 3-1 in the top of the seventh after a one-out bases loaded walk to Chad Christensen, but a double-play ball ended their efforts. Fernandez remained in the game and allowed one run in the bottom half to make the score 3-2 heading into the eighth.
     
    The score would remain 3-2 despite opportunities for the Miracle in each of their eighth and ninth inning at-bats, and the failure to capitalize again would come back to haunt them.
     
    Trevor Hildenberger was brought on for the save opportunity in the ninth, but a relay throw from Gordon into third on a triple sailed past the third baseman allowing the tying run to score and sent the game to extra innings.
     
    Hildenberger stayed in the game for the 10th, but another error from his defense put the game-winning run in scoring position and Bradenton wouldn’t fail with the opportunity they were handed. A single off the bat of Connor Joe brought home the come-from-behind-walk-off winner for the Marauders and evened each team’s record in the Florida State League at 2-2.
     
    Steele finished 5.2 innings in the game, allowing one earned-run on two hits and two walks, while striking out two. Yorman Landa pitched a scoreless inning of relief, allowing one hit and striking out two. The blown save and loss were Hildenberger’s first of each on the year.
     
    The Miracle offense got a standout game from top prospect Nick Gordon, who finished 4-6 with a run scored and three doubles. Real was 3-3 with 2 RBI and a walk. Ryan Walker also added two hits to the effort.
     
    KERNELS NUGGETS
    Cedar Rapids 3, Quad City 2
    Box Score
     
    Like their high-A brothers, Cedar Rapids went into the tenth inning on Sunday afternoon after blowing a late lead, and would need some heroics to remain undefeated on the season.
     
    The Kernels got a strong start from Sam Clay who finished six innings. He allowed one unearned run on five hits and two walks. He struck out seven including the side in the first inning.
     
    Cedar Rapids took the lead 1-0 in the top of the sixth when Rafael Valera led off the frame with a double. He would score on a single from Max Murphy.
     
    An error on a pickoff throw from Clay would allow the unearned run to score in the bottom half of the sixth and the game would remain tied until the ninth as C.K. Irby pitched two scoreless innings with three strikeouts of his own.
     
    Two errors by the River Bandits defense would bring in the go-ahead run for the Kernels in top-half and Nick Anderson was summoned from the bullpen for the save opportunity. He was greeted by a triple that all but guaranteed free baseball. A batter later that guarantee was cashed in with a game-tying single. Anderson would escape with the game tied after a ground ball and two flyouts.
     
    In the top of the tenth, a Lamonte Wade walk and Murphy hit-by-pitch put the go-ahead run in scoring position, and Chris Paul knocked it in with a two-out single to center field.
     
    Anderson stayed in the game looking to pick up the win, and after allowing two singles to start the inning got a double play ball for the first two outs and struck out the final batter with the tying run on third to preserve the zero in the loss column.
     
    Paul went 4-5 on the day with a run scored and an RBI, and Wade added two hits and two walks, including a triple to pace the Kernels offense.
     
    TWINS DAILY PLAYERS OF THE DAY
     
    Pitcher of the Day – Jose Berrios, Rochester Red Wings (W, 5.0IP, 3 H’s, 1 ER, 4 BB’s, 9 K’s)
    Hitter of the Day – Nick Gordon, Fort Myers Miracle (4-6, R, 3 2B’s)
     
    MONDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS
     
    Lehigh Valley @ Rochester (5:35PM CST) – LHP Logan Darnell (0-0, -.-- ERA)
    Chattanooga @ Biloxi (6:40PM CST) – RHP Ryan Eades (0-0, -.-- ERA)
    Brevard County @ Fort Myers (6:05PM CST) – LHP Randy Rosario (0-0, -.-- ERA)
    Cedar Rapids @ Kane County (6:30 PM CST) – RHP Dereck Rodriguez (0-0, -.-- ERA)
     
    Please feel free to ask any questions and discuss Sunday’s games.
  25. Steve Lein
    The Scottsdale Scorpions went 2-2 in the final week of the 2015 Arizona Fall League season, to finish with an 18-12 overall record, and earn a place in the AFL Championship Game for winning the East Division. They would face off against the West Division winners, the Surprise Saguaros on Saturday.
     
    But before we get to that game, in which the Twins prospects played a big part, Adam Brett Walker went cold; Catchers Mitch Garver and Stuart Turner were same old same old; the bullpen trio of Trevor Hildenberger, Jake Reed, and Nick Burdi continued to shut down opponents; and Taylor Rogers added to his case for MLB roster consideration out of Spring Training.
     
    Read on to check out how they all performed in the final week of the 2015 Arizona Fall League season! (and 2015 Championship Game!)
     
    (links provided to each player’s overall stats by clicking their name)
     
    Adam Brett Walker – 3 games, 0-12, 1 RBI, 9 K’s.
     
    Walker had a rough go of it in three games on the week. He did not collect a hit, and struck out multiple times in each game, including all four at-bats on Monday.
     
    He did collect an RBI on Tuesday, with a sac fly in the eighth inning to make the score 5-2 in a game the Scorpions would win 8-2. He grounded out in one other at-bat, and struck out three more times.
     
    On Thursday, his 0-4 night included a fly-out, groundout, and two more strikeouts.
     
    Despite dropping his average nearly .050 points and his OPS over 100 pts in just three games on the week, Walker finished second in the circuit in home runs with five (two behind Yankees prospect Gary Sanchez) and fourth in RBI’s with eighteen, batting seventh in the Scorpions lineup throughout the season.
     
    In 20 games, Walker finished the AFL season with a .240/.326/.493 triple-slash line.
     
    Stuart Turner – 2 games, 1-7, 1BB, 2 K’s.
     
    Turner got the start at catcher in two of the final four games, batting eighth behind walker in Monday’s 7-3 loss to Surprise, and sixth ahead of Walker in Thursday’s 4-2 loss to Salt River.
     
    In his first game of the week, Turner finished the day 1-4 with one strikeout. His single came in the third inning in his first at-bat of the game. While the Scorpions would score a run in this inning, it wasn’t Turner, as he was erased on a double-play to the next batter.
     
    On Thursday, Turner again reached base once in four plate appearances, going 0-3 with a walk. The walk came in his first at-bat in the second inning, but he would only get as far as second base before the end of the inning. Turner again flashed his defense in the seventh inning, when he cut down another runner attempting to steal second.
     
    Turner ended his AFL season with an offensive line of .171/.306/.220 in twelve games.
     
    Mitch Garver – 1 game, 1-2, 1 2B, 1 RBI, 2 K’s.
     
    With the short week, Garver only played in Wednesday’s 5-0 win over Peoria, batting ninth
     
    In that game, Garver doubled in his first at-bat, to bring in the second run of the inning and give Scottsdale the early 2-0 lead. In his other two at bats on the day, Garver went down swinging.
     
    In twelve games played on the AFL season, Garver finished with a .317/.404/.512 line, putting up a good offensive showing in limited action.
     
     
    Nick Burdi – 1 game, 1 IP, 0 R’s, 0 H’s, 1 BB, 2 K’s, 0.00 ERA.
     
    Burdi kept his perfect ERA intact in the season’s final week, appearing in just one game, Tuesday’s 8-2 win, finishing the ninth inning for the Scorpions.
     
    He walked the first batter of the inning (giving him a total of one walk in the AFL slate), but would strike out the next two hitters and pop out in foul territory to end the game.
     
    In eight appearances on the AFL season, pitching one inning each outing, Burdi allowed just two hits and one walk while striking out eleven, to finish the year with a 0.38 WHIP. Those numbers provide a strong case for consideration in the Twins bullpen early in 2016.
     
    Trevor Hildenberger – 1 game, 1.1 IP, 0 R’s, 0 H’s, 0 BB’s, 3 K’s, 0.00 ERA.
     
    Hildenberger also saw action in just one game of the season’s final week, and again he pitched more than just one inning.
     
    His appearance game in Tuesday’s 8-2 win, and was the first reliever into the game after starter Austin Kubitz went four innings.
     
    In the fifth inning, Hildenberger made swift, dominant work of the Javelina’s lineup, setting them down one-two-three on a called third strike, and two more swinging strike three’s.
     
    He was then asked to get just one out in the sixth, which he did with a groundball to the shortstop. He was then relieved by lefty Phil McCormick of the Giants organization to combat two lefties coming up next in the lineup.
     
    Hildenberger finished second on the Scorpions roster in innings pitched by a reliever with 12.2 ininings in eight appearances. He allowed three runs on thirteen hits, did not walk a single batter, and racked up twelve strikeouts on the AFL season. He only added to the shine on his prospect status out of the bullpen, and may have earned a starting place for 2016 in AA with an outside chance of surfacing in the majors if he keeps up his dominant paces from prior seasons at the higher levels.
     
    Jake Reed – 2 games, 2.1 IP, 0 R’s, 2 H’s, 1 BB, 2 K’s. 0.00 ERA.
     
    Reed made appearances in Monday’s loss, and Thursday’s win during the week.
     
    On Monday, Reed entered the game in the eighth inning in a tough spot despite there being two outs as the prior pitcher had just walked Jurickson Profa, Gary Sanchez, and Bubba Starling to load the bases. He shut down the threat by getting a fielder’s choice ground ball and would stay in the game for the ninth.
     
    He allowed a one-out single, but a strikeout and ground out followed to finish the game for Scottsdale.
     
    On Wednesday, Reed again finished the game for the Scorpions, closing out the ninth inning of their 5-0 shutout win. It didn’t start out the best, as the leadoff man singled and he walked the next batter, but a groundball double play put an end to any threat to the game, and a strikeout shut the door on the game.
     
    In 10.2 innings on the AFL season, Reed allowed two runs (both unearned) on six hits and four walks, while striking out ten in 10.2 innings. It was the second straight year of fantastic performance for Reed in the AFL, and he’ll likely look to keep that going in AA this time to start 2016.
     
    Taylor Rogers – Did not pitch.
     
    Rogers did not pitch during the season’s final week, but that was likely by design as the team finished the season as the West Division winners with a spot in the AFL title game. He of course, was the starting pitcher for Scottsdale in that game.
     
    Daniel Palka - 2 games, 0-7, RBI, 4 K's.
     
    Palka, the recent power hitting trade acquisition of the Twins for catcher Chris Herrmann, also was playing in the AFL for the Salt River Rafters. He saw action in two games on the week but outside of an sac fly RBI, didn't have much success.
     
    He was 0-3 with the sac fly RBI and a strikeout on Tuesday in 4-2 Salt River win.
     
    On Wednesday, he was 0-4 with three strikeouts to pick up a sombrero.
     
    Palka finished the AFL season with a .278/.330/.444 line in twenty-two games. He collected six doubles, three home runs, seventeen RBI, and four stolen bases in five chances.
     
    AFL Championship Game:
    Box Score
     
    As mentioned, with Taylor Rogers’ stellar performance on the season for Scottsdale, he got the start on the mound in the championship game. He did his part, pitching three scoreless innings, and the Scorpions lineup gave them a 3-0 lead in the top of the fourth after he was done.
     
    It was a one-two-three first inning for Rogers, and after a leadoff single an error put a runner in scoring position, got a soft line drive out to second base against Bubba Starling, and struck out Dustin Fowler to end the threat and keep the game scoreless. A two-out double in the third inning again put a runner in scoring position, but Rogers got a groundball to end his final inning with a clean line. He finished his day with no runs allowed on two hits, and struck out two.
     
    It was errors from Surprise’s defense that got the Scorpions on the board in the fourth inning, as the first two hitters reached base on misplays. After a fielder’s choice ground ball and double to score the game’s first run, Adam Brett Walker delivered an RBI single to make the score 2-0 Scottsdale. A sac fly would plate the innings third run, and Stuart Turner was struck out for the final out of the frame.
     
    Trevor Hildenberger was the first pitcher out of the bullpen in relief of Rogers, and he set the lineup down in order, including one strikeout.
     
    Scottsdale added a fourth run in the fifth inning to take the 4-0 lead, but Surprise would get a run back in the bottom of the fifth to make it 4-1.
     
    Walker would go down swinging in a scoreless sixth, and Turner also went down swinging in the top of the seventh while the game stayed at the same score.
     
    In the bottom of the seventh, Surprise got itself back into the game after a leadoff single, error, and another single made it 4-2. A sac fly followed to make it 4-3, then another single followed by a fly-out put runners on first and third with two outs. A call to the bullpen shut the door with Jurickson Profar at the plate, who grounded out to short to end the inning and preserve the lead.
     
    In the top of the eighth, Adam Brett Walker stepped up to the plate with runners on first and third and a chance to add some needed insurance runs. Some people say Walker is a clutch hitter, and he proved their point in this at-bat with a double to left field that scored both runners and put the Scorpions out front 6-3.
     
    It was then Twins prospects whom Scottsdale Manager Matt Quatraro called on to preserve their Championship Game lead.
     
    It was Jake Reed in the eighth, and though he walked that Gary Sanchez from the Yankees guy to start the frame, he struck out the next three hitters in swinging fashion to punctuate his season.
     
    Then for the ninth inning and the save opportunity, it was fireballer Nick Burdi. The first batter took him deep to right field for Burdi’s first run allowed in the AFL on the season and made the score 6-4, but an easy ground ball to first base, a looking strikeout, foul pop-out ended the game with a Championship for Scottsdale. The save was also Burdi’s first on the AFL season.
     
    Walker finished the game 2-4 with a double and three big RBI’s, along with two strikeouts. Turner was 0-4 with two strikeouts.
     
    It was quite the season for Walker, Turner, Reed, and Burdi, who will collect their second championship ring on the season, after the Chattanooga Lookouts won the Southern League Championship during the regular season.
     
    It was also Rogers’ and Burdi’s second AFL Championship, as the Salt River Rafters team they played with in 2014 also won the league’s title.
     
    As for Adam Brett Walker, it’s hard not to label him as simply a “winner.” Walker has taken home a League Championship in Elizabethton, Fort Myers, Chattanooga, and now the Arizona Fall League.
     
    Congratulations to all the Twins prospects, Scottsdale and Chattanooga Lookouts hitting coach Chad Allen, and the rest of the Scottsdale Scorpions roster, on their 2015 AFL Championship!
     
     
    Please feel free to ask questions and discuss the performances during the week!
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