Steve Lein

Minnesota Twins affiliates won just one of their six (yay rookie leagues!) games on Tuesday, but the team that was victorious, did so in grand fashion, paying homage to the return of their home city’s celebration from a few days earlier. Image courtesy of Rob Thompson, St. Paul Saints (photo of Chris Williams) TRANSACTIONS After appearing in a game Monday for the FCL Twins, IF Austin Martin continued his rehab assignment with the Fort Myers Mighty Mussels. The St. Paul Saints were assigned 3B Seth Gray from Wichita. The Cedar Rapids Kernels sent RHP Owen Griffith on a rehab assignment with the FCL Twins. SAINTS SENTINEL Iowa 4, St. Paul 10 Box Score Jordan Balazovic was the scheduled starter early Tuesday morning, but by game time the Saints went with an opener in Cody Laweryson, before handing it over to Balazovic. Laweryson pitched into the second inning, but his pitch count soared and after recording two outs, gave up a three-run homer to end his outing. Balazovic then came on and gave up a pair of doubles to put another run on the board for the Cubs, before getting his first strikeout to end the second inning. Laweryson went 1 2/3 IP, and was charged with three runs on three hits and two walks, while striking out three on 48 pitches (27 for strikes). Of note from the Saints Broadcast, the talk was of Balazovic coming out of the bullpen, and how the Twins wanted to get him used to that instead of the routine of starting. They may be onto something, even if his usage has been odd this year if that’s the case. Anyway, they might be onto something as Balazovic cruised for the next three innings, allowing just one hit and two walks, while punching out six more Iowa hitters. He finished with one earned run allowed on three hits and two walks, striking out seven total. He still threw 71 pitches, which you’d rather see in about five innings, but made it work. He was 94-96 MPH with his fastball, and dropped in some great breaking balls hitters watched for called third strikes. The Saints offense scored first in the game thanks to International League Player of the Week, Matt Wallner. His double in the first inning left his bat at 106.3 MPH to score Andrew Stevenson, who had led off with a single. In the bottom of the fourth, they cut the Cubs lead to two, when Jose Miranda delivered an RBI double. Almost unfathomably, this was Miranda’s first double since joining the Saints. He added his second in the eighth inning. In the fifth, the Saints loaded the bases with nobody out, and Jair Camargo cashed them all in with his sixth home run of the season, a 447-foot grand slam that put them out front 6-4. After Balazovic’s day was done, Austin Schulfer pitched a scoreless sixth inning, working around three singles thanks to Wallner’s arm in right field, as his bullet cut down a runner at home to keep the inning scoreless. Austin Brice chipped in two scoreless frames, striking out three. In the eighth inning, a single, double, and walk loaded the bases again for the Saints, and this time it was Chris Williams with the moonshot. His 440-foot grand slam made it 10-4 Saints. Oliver Ortega finished it out with a scoreless ninth to send the CHS Field faithful home happy, and ensure Balazovic earned his first career triple-A win. The Saints knocked out 13 hits as a team, with Stevenson (3-for-4, 2 R, 2B), Miranda (2-for-5, R, 2 2B, RBI, K), Williams (2-for-4, 2 R, HR, 4 RBI, BB, K), and Mark Contreras (2-for-5, R, K) collecting multiple hits. WIND SURGE WISDOM Wichita 5, San Antonio 6 Box Score The Wind Surge jumped out to an early 5-0 lead after two innings, stringing together a bunch of doubles in both frames. Brooks Lee led off the game with his 17th double of the year, extending his Texas League leading tally. Then it was Yunior Severino and Jake Rucker who followed suit to give them a 2-0 lead before an out was recorded. Pat Winkel later added an RBI single to make it three runs in the first. In the second, Lee got a two-out rally started with his 18th double, Severino drew a walk, then Rucker brought them both in with his second double in the first two frames for the 5-0 lead. Unfortunately for Wichita, they got just two more hits the rest of the way, and San Antonio battled back. Starter Carlos Luna went the first four innings, allowing one run on three hits and three walks, while striking out three. His run allowed came in the fourth on a solo home run. Hunter McMahon delivered a scoreless fifth, but didn’t make it out of the sixth. He was charged with two earned runs on three hits in 1 2/3 innings, striking out one. Jordan Brink went the next 1 1/3 scoreless, allowing one hit and one walk. Regi Grace then made his double-A debut, delivering a scoreless eighth inning to pick up a hold and keep the Wind Surge’s two-run lead intact. He walked one and threw 14 pitches (7 strikes). In the bottom of the ninth Wichita turned to Curtis Taylor, and it didn’t work. Two walks and a hit-batter loaded the bases before Francis Peguero was brought in. His first pitch was sent into center field for a bases-clearing double, and walk-off win for the Missions. Lee (2-for-5, 2 R, 2 2B) and Rucker (2-for-2, R, 2 2B, 4 RBI, BB) led the way for the offense, but what started out white hot, finished ice cold for the team as whole and San Antonio was able to steal game one of their six-game series late. KERNELS NUGGETS Cedar Rapids 1, Dayton 6 (5 innings) Box Score The Kernels series opener against the Dragons was cut a bit short by rain in Dayton, Ohio but it may have been for the best. They fell behind 5-0 after just two innings, as starter Kyle Jones got ambushed from his first pitch. Literally, as it went for a solo home run to begin the bottom of the first inning. From there, a walk, single, and an error made it a 2-0 for Dayton after one. In the second inning, another error led to an RBI single and two-run homer, and the Dragons were in control. Jones went on to finish four innings, allowing those five runs (three earned) on four hits and two walks. On a positive note, he did strike out seven. Malik Barrington came on to start the fifth and allowed one run on two hits, while striking out two. The Cedar Rapids offense managed just two hits in the shortened contest, which came from Emmanuel Rodriguez and Kala’i Rosario. Rosario’s single in the third drove in their only run of the game, scoring Tanner Schobel who walked twice in three at-bats. As a team the Kernels did draw seven walks, but were just 1-for-5 with runners in scoring position. Right-hander Mike Paredes is scheduled to pitch on Wednesday, taking on former Twins first round draft pick Chase Petty, who has a 0.56 ERA, 0.81 WHIP, and 21 strikeouts for the Dragons in four starts and 16 innings pitched on the season so far. MUSSEL MATTERS Clearwater 10, Fort Myers 5 Box Score Fort Myers starter Develson Aria recorded only one out in this contest, and the Mighty Mussels never recovered. Aria couldn’t find the strike zone, walking five of the first seven hitters of the game and before the inning was over had four earned runs on his ledger. Emergency reliever A.J. Labas managed to keep the damage to just that and added a scoreless second inning, allowing one hit and one walk while striking out three in 1 2/3 innings. Danny Moreno (1 2/3 IP, 4 H, 4 R (3 earned), BB), Samuel Perez (3 1/3 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, K), Johnathan Lavallee (1 1/3 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, BB), and infielder Mikey Perez (2/3 IP) accounted for the rest of the pitching staff’s innings. The Mighty Mussels' scoring came in just two innings, with three runs in the fourth inning on a Rubel Cespedes RBI double and Alec Sayre two-RBI single, then two in the eighth thanks to a double steal of home and second base, and an RBI single from Cespedes. Jorel Ortega (2-for-3, 2 R, BB, K, SB) and Cespedes (2-for-4, R, 2B, 2 RBI, 2 K) had multiple hits, and Dylan Neuse chipped in a double. Gilberto Celestino continued his rehab assignment but finished 0-for-4 with three strikeouts. Austin Martin began his rehab assignment playing second base and batting second. He was 0-for-3 with a walk. COMPLEX CHRONICLES FCL Twins 5, FCL Rays 6 Box Score Jack Noble put together a strong start for the Twins, finishing the first five innings, allowing just one run on three hits and three walks, while striking out five. The rehabbing Owen Griffith pitched a scoreless sixth inning, striking out one Down 1-0 at that point, but the Twins offense finally got going in the seventh. A sac fly from Bryan Acuna tied it, then two batters later Anderson Nova put them in front 4-1 with a three-run home run. Unfortunately, the Rays countered with five of their own in the bottom half. Carlos Gutierrez finished the final two innings for the Twins, but gave up those five runs on three hits and a walk while striking out four. Yasser Mercedes was 1-for-2 with a pair of walks out of the leadoff spot. Jose Rodriguez was 1-for-3 with a run scored and a walk. Byron Chourio scored a run and drew two walks in four plate appearances. DOMINICAN DAILY DSL Twins 3, DSL Phillies Red 4 Box Score The Twins got solid pitching for the first five innings, allowing just one run as a team in that timeframe. They were led by starter Adrian Bohorquez who went the first three innings, and recorded all nine of his outs via strikeout. He allowed two runs (one earned) on three hits and a walk. But they weren't able to hold on from there. Oscar Paredes (1 IP), Jeicol Surumuy (2/3 IP, 3 H, K), Jose Ojo (1/3 IP), Leonardo Lugo (2 2/3 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 3 BB, 2 K), and Reynel Garcia (1/3 IP) finished off the rest of the game, with Lugo getting saddled with a blown save and the loss. The lineup managed just six hits, with shortstop Yilber Herrera and first baseman Javier Roman collecting doubles and an RBI. The Twins biggest bonus baby of the year, Ariel Castro, went 1-for-3 with a walk and a strikeout hitting in the three-hole. Catcher Carlos Silva was also 1-for-3 with a walk and two K’s. TWINS DAILY MINOR LEAGUE PLAYERS OF THE DAY Pitcher of the Day - Jordan Balazovic, St. Paul Saints (W, 3 1/3 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 7 K) Hitter of the Day - Chris Williams, St. Paul Saints (2-for-4, 2 R, HR, 4 RBI, BB, K) PROSPECT SUMMARY #1 - Brooks Lee (Wichita) - 2-for-5, 2 R, 2 2B #3 - Emmanuel Rodriguez (Cedar Rapids) - 1-for-2, BB #4 - Edouard Julien (St. Paul) - 1-for-5, R, 2 K #9 - Matt Wallner (St. Paul) - 1-for-3, R, 2B, RBI, BB, HBP, 2 K #10 - Yasser Mercedes (FCL) - 1-for-2, 2 BB #11 - Austin Martin (Rehab-Fort Myers) - 0-for-3, BB #12 - Jose Salas (Cedar Rapids) - 0-for-2, K #13 - Noah Miller (Cedar Rapids) - 0-for-1, BB, K #14 - Jordan Balazovic (St. Paul) - W, 3 1/3 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 7 K #18 - Jose Rodriguez (FCL) - 1-for-3, R, BB, K #19 - Yunior Severino (Wichita) - 1-for-4, 2 R, 2B, BB, 2 K WEDNESDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS Iowa @ St. Paul (7:07 PM CDT) - RHP Aaron Sanchez (3-4, 3.72 ERA) Wichita @ San Antonio (7:05 PM CDT) - LHP Aaron Rozek (0-2, 6.11 ERA) Cedar Rapids @ Dayton (6:05 PM CDT) - RHP Mike Paredes (2-0, 2.11 ERA) Clearwater @ Fort Myers (6:00 PM CDT) - RHP C.J. Culpepper (2-2, 2.59 ERA) Please feel free to ask questions and discuss Tuesday’s games! View full article

Text thread with my friends last night:

I think this means you should have cut the cord long ago 😉 and makes you one of those who will love paying $20/month for Twins games as opposed to whatever your cable bill is currently. What you're missing here, is as soon as Bally gives up their broadcast rights by not paying and MLB takes over, they're immediately giving out the rights to the services Bally has been dropped from/wasn't negotiating in good faith with (IMO). So, if you have Hulu/Youtube TV/whatever else this article mentioned for the Padres as an example, you're gaining the ability to watch the team you haven't been able to, immediately. It's a huge amount of people, as the article mentions in the Padres case, it's 2 million of them. I bet it's a similar amount here in Minnesota/MSP, as we are a bigger metro area than San Diego. I myself, since I don't have cable or a streaming "Live" TV service, have opted to pay the $29.99 for the entire year of MiLB.tv instead of the Twins because of DSG/Bally and the $150+ cable package it requires. I miss watching the Twins games for sure, but I'd still pay far less than that adding a $20/month MLB.tv to my streaming catalogue (though I also think that number is too high to pay for a single team, especially when it's only $5 more to get EVERY team). edit for clarification: You also gain the option to pay the $20/month to MLB.tv for the Twins you mention that you currently don't have.

I was singling out players who have done so for the Twins specifically, but Andrew Stevenson and Hernan Perez also are former major leaguers. So yes, Bechtold and Camargo are the only players to appear in the Saints game yesterday lacking any major league experience!

Royce was a legitimate choice at #1. What people got upset about that year, was Hunter Greene was the top, "generational" pitcher available. If the top college bats are gone at #5, and Skenes isn't, they have to take him, in my opinion. Unless they do know something. But I will not be overly excited about a Gonzalez pick in this situation. I want upside here and it sounds like he's more of a high-floor guy.

The triple and home run were off lefties last night. The double and home run were 108+MPH exit velocity.

Wallner can be a big bat, and will always be a home run first guy, but what he showed over the course of last year is improvement in his approach/discipline. He has struck out very little so far up in the majors with the Twins so far. Just 4 times in 25 plate appearances (16%). I doubt that's completely sustainable for him (and it's been a lot worse than that at triple-A overall), but under 30% will be excellent for his profile. Gotta remember though, he is a pretty big dude (as is Trevor Larnach). He can get moving when under way, but he's not hitting top speed quickly. The arm is his defensive tool, and the best thing he can do on defense is learn and improve his positioning to make throws back into second base and not worry about ranging after more balls that will cause him trouble. He has an absolute cannon.

If you were the Buffalo Bisons on Tuesday, you had to feel a bit unlucky on Tuesday, as multiple rehabbing pitchers, as well as several other players with significant major league experience, bit them all night. A starter in Wichita also tied a career high in strikeouts, and the Kernels came from behind to steal a win on the road. Image courtesy of Rob Thompson, St. Paul Saints (photo of Matt Wallner) TRANSACTIONS The St. Paul Saints received two major league pitchers on rehab assignments before Tuesday’s game. RHP Kenta Maeda made the start and LHP Caleb Thielbar followed him out of the bullpen. Ricardo Olivar was placed on the 7-Day IL with a hamstring strain. He was also named the Florida State League Player of the Week. In five games last week, he went 9-for-18 with two doubles, a homer and three RBI. They also received OF Gilberto Celestino on a rehab assignment. SAINTS SENTINEL St. Paul 9, Buffalo 1 Box Score The St. Paul Saints got on the scoreboard in the first inning when Andrew Stevenson reached base on an error, stole his 17th base of the season (also his 18th later in the game), and was promptly driven in by a Jose Miranda single. Already ahead in the game, Kenta Maeda went to work in his first start of a rehab assignment. He struck out the side in the first, getting all three swinging, and worked around a two-out walk in the second by picking up his fourth K of the game to end his outing. Of his 29 pitches, 16 went for strikes (55%), and he topped out at 91 MPH with his fastball. The second major league-rehabbing pitcher, Caleb Thielbar, then got the third inning. He allowed a leadoff single, but retired the next three hitters, including one with a strikeout. When Brent Headrick came on for the fourth inning, that made it three Saints pitchers who have appeared in the majors this season that the Bison’s were forced to face. They didn’t get anything going against Headrick until the seventh, when they strung together three straight singles to cut the Saints lead in half. The Saints got their second run in the top of the sixth when Mark Contreras followed Matt Wallner’s double with an RBI single. St. Paul tacked on two more insurance runs in the eighth thanks to an RBI triple from Wallner, and an RBI single from Hernan Perez to make it 4-1. Headrick finished five innings and allowed just one run on five hits while striking out seven in a strong piggy-back effort to the rehabbers. He threw 87 pitches, with 54 going for strikes (62%), including a solid 16 swinging. In the top of the ninth, the pieces of the lineup with major league experience continued their assault and broke the game open. With the bases loaded, Miranda delivered a two-RBI single, and was followed by a three-run blast from Wallner. So I don’t leave anyone out who has experience with the Twins, Kyle Garlick DH’d in the game, but was 0-for-5, and Ryan LaMarre left the game with an injury in the second inning after reaching base on an error. Oliver Ortega closed out the win with a scoreless bottom of the ninth. He walked the leadoff man and allowed a two-out single, but struck out one and kept Buffalo scoreless to seal the victory. WIND SURGE WISDOM Tulsa 9, Wichita 8 Box Score Wichita starter Blayne Enlow entered this game looking to continue his solid start to the season, where he has amassed a 2-1 record with a 3.02 ERA in eight starts. In his last two outings, he had allowed just one run while striking out ten, followed by one run allowed when striking out just one. He cruised for the first four innings, retiring ten in a row at one point with multiple strikeouts in each inning, including the side in the fourth. Then the fifth inning happened. A leadoff walk was followed by a two-run home run for the Drillers first runs of the game, then another walk was followed by a botched catch at second base on a double-play ball that would have helped Enlow out of danger. Instead, two batters later, he picked up another strikeout for the innings first out, and allowed a single to end his night. Hunter McMahon came on and promptly gave up a three-run homer to tie the game at six, and Enlow’s pitching line turned into a weird one. In all, Enlow went 4 1/3 innings, allowing five runs (just two earned) on three hits and two walks, while tying his career-high with 10 strikeouts. Wichita had built their 6-0 lead with a big first inning. The first five hitters of the game reached base, with Pat Winkel delivering a two-run triple, and Alex Isola crushing a two-run homer, his seventh of the season. Out of the bullpen for the Wind Surge McMahon went 1 2/3 innings, allowing one earned run on three hits, one walk, and struck out two. Michael Boyle pitched a scoreless inning, giving up one hit and striking out two. Francis Peguero gave up two earned runs on three hits and a walk in his lone inning. Denny Bentley finished off the final inning, allowing one earned run on a hit and walk. Wichita made an effort at a comeback in the bottom of the ninth. Brooks Lee led off the inning with his second double of the game, and his 16th of the season which leads the Texas League. Two batters later Yunior Severino hit his 11th home run of the season, cutting the Tulsa lead to one. DaShawn Keirsey Jr. extended the inning, and his seven-game hitting streak with a single, but a popup from Jake Rucker ended their attempt. The Wind Surge got multiple hits from Yoyner Fajardo (2-for-5, R, K), Lee (2-for-3, 2 R, 2 2B, RBI, BB, K), Winkel (2-for-5, R, 3B, 3 RBI, 2 K), and Severino (3-for-4, R, 2B, HR, 2 RBI, BB, K). Alerick Soularie drew three walks and scored two runs. KERNELS NUGGETS Cedar Rapids 5, Lansing 4 Box Score The Kernels sent promising left-hander Jaylen Nowlin to the bump to start their series with the Lugnuts, and he delivered a quality outing. Two of the six hits he allowed were solo home runs, but when you scatter the other four singles and one walk, you will still end up with a pretty good pitching line. He allowed three runs on six total hits, and struck out four in his six innings. Of his 83 pitches, 53 went for strikes (64%). Both of those home runs came on the first pitch of an inning, so the Lansing coaches may have caught onto something as the game progressed. The Kernels tied the game at one in the top of the third when Misael Urbina drew a walk to lead off the inning, and was later driven in from second on a two-out single from Tanner Schobel. Down 3-1 in the top of the sixth, Jefferson Morales led off the frame with a double, and scored on a single from Emmanuel Rodriguez two batters later. Heading into the eighth, it was 4-2 Lugnuts, but a two-out rally pulled them within one on a Ben Ross single, then in the ninth an error on a single from Schobel plated the tying and go-ahead runs. Charlie Neuweiler was the first reliever for the Kernels, and he gave up another solo home run to the first hitter he faced, but also delivered a scoreless eighth. He allowed three hits and struck out two. Regi Grace then came on for the save opportunity and set Lansing down in order, getting a strikeout to punctuate the comeback. It is Grace’s fifth save of the season and could be due for a promotion soon. In 16 appearances so far this year, he’s struck out 26 in 21 1/3 innings, along with a 1.27 ERA, 0.70 WHIP, and sub .430 OPS allowed. Schobel led the way on offense by going 3-for-5 and driving in two. Rodriguez was 1-for-4 with a run scored, RBI, and a walk. Morales’ double was the only extra-base hit for Cedar Rapids, but they were 4-for-9 with runners in scoring position as a team compared to the 1-for-8 effort from their hosts. MUSSEL MATTERS St. Lucie 5, Fort Myers 6 Box Score Lefty Develson Aria got the start for the Mighty Mussels in Game 1 versus the Mets this week, and he made himself work a bit harder than he would have liked. Although he gave up just three runs, they came in only four innings. He allowed three hits, walked four, and struck out three. His pitch count got ran up to 75, with just 39 going for strikes (52%). Fort Myers got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the fourth, when Danny De Andrade drilled his second home run of the season, a two-run shot that cut the Mets lead to one. After Aria’s exit, the Mighty Mussels got 1 2/3 innings from Samuel Perez, who allowed one run on one hit and two walks while striking out one. The home team got a rally started in the bottom of the sixth thanks to Mikey Perez, who took over for the rehabbing Gilberto Celestino, and led off the inning with a single, stole second and third base, and raced home after a throwing error from the catcher. Later in the frame, Maddux Houghton singled in front of Dylan Neuse’s first home run of the season that gave them a 5-4 lead. Perez was responsible for their final run of the game in the seventh as well, when his RBI-double gave them a needed cushion. Johnathan Lavallee picked up the win with two solid innings, allowing two hits, one unearned run, and punching out five Mets hitters. A.J. Labas picked up his first save of the year by pitching the final 1 1/3 innings, walking two and striking out two. Perez (2-for-2, R, 2B, RBI, 2 SB) and Neuse (2-for-3, R, 2B, HR, 2 RBI, BB) led the way for the Mighty Mussels offense with multiple hits. Celestino finished 1-for-2 with a run scored in the first game of his rehab, playing five innings total. TWINS DAILY MINOR LEAGUE PLAYERS OF THE DAY Pitcher of the Day - Brent Headrick, St. Paul Saints (W, 5 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 7 K) Hitter of the Day - Matt Wallner, St. Paul Saints (3-for-5, 3 R, 2B, 3B, HR, 4 RBI) PROSPECT SUMMARY #1 - Brooks Lee (Wichita) - 2-for-3, 2 R, 2 2B, RBI, BB, K #2 - Royce Lewis (Minnesota) - 1-for-4, R, 2B, 3 K #3 - Emmanuel Rodriguez (Cedar Rapids) - 1-for-4, R, RBI, BB, K #4 - Edouard Julien (Minnesota) - 1-for-4 #9 - Matt Wallner (St. Paul) - 3-for-5, 3 R, 2B, 3B, HR, 4 RBI #12 - Jose Salas (Cedar Rapids) - 1-for-4, R #13 - Noah Miller (Cedar Rapids) - 0-for-3, BB #15 - Brent Headrick (St. Paul) - W, 5 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 7 K #17 - Blayne Enlow (Wichita) - 4 1/3 IP, 3 H, 5 R (2 earned), 2 BB, 10 K #19 - Yunior Severino (Wichita) - 3-for-4, R, 2B, HR, 2 RBI, BB, K WEDNESDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS St. Paul @ Buffalo (12:05 PM CDT) - RHP Aaron Sanchez (2-4, 4.17 ERA) Tulsa @ Wichita (7:05 PM CDT) - RHP Carlos Luna (0-3, 5.68 ERA) Cedar Rapids @ Lansing (10:05 AM CDT) - RHP Kyle Jones (2-3, 5.13 ERA) St. Lucie @ Fort Myers (6:00 PM CDT) - RHP C.J. Culpepper (1-2, 3.08 ERA) Please feel free to ask questions and discuss Tuesday’s games! View full article

Fun note from the radio broadcast on my way home today: Ryan Pressly had not given up a hit, or a walk, to a Twins batter since being traded to Houston until Kyle Farmer's single in the ninth.

Minnesota Twins affiliates managed to win just one of their series-opening games on Tuesday, but the one that did, accomplished that behind a home run outburst in a single inning, and the muscles of a single player. Image courtesy of William Parmeter (photo of Carlos Aguiar) TRANSACTIONS With OF Trevor Larnach heading to the IL with the Minnesota Twins, #OneOfUs OF Matt Wallner was recalled to the majors from the St. Paul Saints in his place. In an odd scheduling quirk, Wallner started (and finished) Tuesday’s game for the Saints, and was available for the Twins vs. San Francisco at Target Field (where he was hit by a pitch in a pinch-hit appearance). In double-A, the Wind Surge activated OF Alerick Soularie and 1B Aaron Sabato, while also transferring OF Armani Smith to the Development List. The Cedar Rapids Kernels released C Charles Mack, and in his place assigned early-season standout C Andrew Cossetti from Fort Myers. In a corresponding move with Cossetti’s promotion, C Frank Nigro was assigned to the Mighty Mussels from the FCL Twins roster. SAINTS SENTINEL Omaha 6, St. Paul 1 Box Score In a matinee affair at CHS Field in St. Paul, the Storm Chasers rode a pair of major league rehabbers to a 6-1 victory on Tuesday. Omaha starting pitcher Daniel Lynch has made 42 starts for the Kansas City Royals over the last two years (including a 1-3 record against the Twins in seven starts) but has not appeared in the majors yet this season as he returns from injury. He took his Twins organization frustrations out on the Saints this afternoon, spinning six innings of shutout baseball, allowing just three hits and striking out five. In opposition, St. Paul sent right-hander Simeon Woods Richardson to the hill, looking to get on track in his 2023 campaign. Unfortunately, he didn’t come close to matching his fellow major leaguer. He pitched into the fifth inning, but finished his day with four-plus innings pitched, allowing five earned runs on eight hits and two walks, while striking out three. After the outing, his triple-A ERA sits at 7.12 and you have to hope his stuff takes over sooner rather than later. On the offensive side, the rehabbing Drew Waters was also a menace to the Saints. He finished 4-for-5 with two doubles and three runs scored out of the leadoff spot, proving to be a catalyst for the Storm Chasers all game. The home team didn’t cross the plate until the ninth inning, when Matt Wallner led off with a single, moved to third on a Chris Williams double, and scored on a groundout off the bad of Andrew Bechtold. The Saints managed just six hits on the game, with Williams’ double being the only extra-base-hit. Ryan LaMarre finished 2-for-4, but as a team, St. Paul went just 1-for-5 with runners in scoring position and left only seven men on base for the game. After Woods Richardson’s four-plus innings, Patrick Murphy (2 IP, BB, 4 K), Kody Funderburk (1 1/3 IP, BB, 3 K), and Austin Schulfer (1 2/3 IP, 2 H, ER, K) finished out the game for the Saints pitching staff. In #OldFriend news, lefty Evan Sisk pitched two innings of relief for the Storm Chasers, allowing one hit, walking two, and striking out two of his former teammates. WIND SURGE WISDOM Wichita 3, Springfield 8 Box Score The Wichita Wind Surge visit Springfield, Missouri, this week, a town I have spent quite a bit of time in, to face the Cardinals at the underrated Hammons Field downtown. Unfortunately, they and starter Carlos Luna were greeted by the Texas League’s home run leader, Chandler Redmond, and the rest of the Cardinal faithful. Redmond clubbed two home runs in the contest, driving in four, to take down Wichita. Starter Carlos Luna went the first four innings, surrendering one of those homers and allowing four total earned runs on six hits, while striking out two. Hunter McMahon gave up one run on three hits in two innings. Lefty Michael Boyle was the next victim for Redmond, resulting in three earned runs on three hits and one walk in his lone inning. He struck out one. Osiris German finished off the game for the Wind Surge with a scoreless bottom of the eighth, striking out one. All three of Wichita’s runs came in the fourth inning as they closed the early Springfield lead to 4-3. Jake Rucker, Yunior Severino, and Alex Isola loaded the bases with singles to start the inning, and Anthony Prato drove in two with a single of his own before a sac fly from Alerick Soularie capped their scoring. Rucker finished 3-for-4 with a run scored, and Isola 2-for-4 with a double and run scored to lead the lineup. KERNELS NUGGETS Wisconsin 8, Cedar Rapids 4 Box Score In positive notes from this game, starter Pierson Ohl was able to finish 5 2/3 innings for the Kernels, though most of those came after he had already allowed five runs in the first two. From the third through the fifth, Ohl had seemed to settle in, taking advantage of the Timber Rattler's aggressive nature, but a pair of two-out walks in the sixth finally ended his night. Charlie Neuweiler came on from the bullpen and gave up a single, and both those runners then scored after a throwing error from outfielder Willie Joe Garry Jr. In all, Ohl was charged with seven runs (six earned) on nine hits and two walks, but did notch seven punch-outs. Neuweiler went on to finish 2 1/3 innings, retiring seven in a row, and allowed just the one hit, while striking out three. Matthew Swain came on for the ninth and gave up an unearned run after a pair of singles and an error, striking out two. Emmanuel Rodriguez tied the game at one in the bottom of the first with a solo home run, his fifth of the season. In the bottom of the sixth Noah Cardenas led off with a double and was driven in by Garry Jr. with a single. The Kernels added single runs in the seventh and ninth innings thanks to Kala’i Rosario, with an RBI single and solo home run, respectively. Despite being outhit 12-8, the Kernels had 14 at-bats with runners in scoring position compared to the Timber Rattler's five, but the visiting team picked up four hits compared to their two in those situations. Rosario (2-for-4, R, HR, 2 RBI, BB, 2 K) and Cardenas (2-for-4, R, 2B, BB) each had two hits in the game, while Tanner Schobel, Garry Jr. (2), Ben Ross, and Rosario picked up stolen bases. MUSSEL MATTERS Fort Myers 13, Dunedin 3 Box Score The Fort Myers Mighty Mussels blew out the Dunedin Blue Jays on Tuesday night behind a big fifth inning in which 14 batters stepped to the plate, and five of them hit home runs. Before we get to that, however, Dunedin had taken the lead against Fort Myers starter Develson Aria, who allowed three earned runs on two hits and a pair of walks, while striking out just one. The Mighty Mussels had two runs of their own to that point thanks to a solo home run from Carlos Aguiar to lead off the fourth, and a Dylan Neuse RBI single later in the frame. Aguiar’s first blast was a harbinger, both for his team, and himself. Because in the fifth inning, he and the squad flexed every mighty muscle they had. Jorel Ortega led off with a solo home run, his third of the season. After a Danny De Andrade single, Ricardo Olivar and Aguiar went yard back-to-back. Two batters later, Rafael Cruz hit his first home run of the year, a two-run shot. Three singles, a walk, and wild pitch later, Aguiar clubbed his third home run of the game, and second of the inning, a three-run shot to make it 13-3 in the visiting team's favor. After that outburst, the Fort Myers bullpen trio of Ricky Mineo (W, 2 IP, 2 BB, 2 K), Danny Moreno (2 IP, H, 2 K), and Jackson Hicks (1 IP, H, BB, K) shut out the Blue Jays the rest of the way. Joining Aguiar (3-for-5, 3 R, 3 HR, 5 RBI) with multiple hits in the contest were Ortega (2-for-4, 2 R, HR, RBI, BB), Olivar (2-for-5, R, 2B, 2 RBI, 2 K), Cruz (2-for-4, R, HR, 2 RBI, BB, K) and Neuse (3-for-4, R, RBI, K). All hitters in the starting lineup except Rubel Cespedes reached base at least once and scored a run. Be sure to check out this one’s box score to catch it all. TWINS DAILY MINOR LEAGUE PLAYERS OF THE DAY Pitcher of the Day - Patrick Murphy, St. Paul Saints (2 IP, BB, 4 K) Hitter of the Day - Carlos Aguiar, Fort Myers Mighty Mussels (3-for-5, 3 R, 3 HR, 5 RBI, BB) PROSPECT SUMMARY #1 - Brooks Lee (Wichita) - 0-for-4, K #2 - Royce Lewis (Rehab-St. Paul) - 0-for-4, K #3 - Emmanuel Rodriguez (Cedar Rapids) - 1-for-4, R, HR, RBI, BB, K #4 - Edouard Julien (Minnesota) - 0-for-4, 2 K #7 - Simeon Woods Richardson (St. Paul) - 4+ IP, 8 H, 5 ER, 2 BB, 3 K #9 - Matt Wallner (St. Paul / Minnesota) - 1-for-4, R, K / HBP (pinch-hit appearance) #12 - Jose Salas (Cedar Rapids) - 0-for-4, 2 K #13 - Noah Miller (Cedar Rapids) - 1-for-5, 2 K #19 - Yunior Severino (Wichita) - 1-for-3, R, BB, K WEDNESDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS Omaha @ St. Paul (7:07 PM CDT) - LHP Brent Headrick (1-1, 4.94 ERA) Wichita @ Springfield (6:35 PM CDT) - RHP Blayne Enlow (1-1, 3.28 ERA) Wisconsin @ Cedar Rapids (12:05 PM CDT) - LHP Jaylen Nowlin (2-3, 4.06 ERA) Fort Myers @ Dunedin (6:00 PM CDT) - TBD Please feel free to ask questions and discuss Tuesday’s games! 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Just highlighting this comment to ask, has everyone seen what Brent Rooker is doing this year? 👀 If you haven't, he's a legitimate early MVP candidate.

One other fun statcast note is Jair Camargo hit 2 balls at 110 MPH+. Unfortunately one ended up as a double-play (lineout).

Have a great time in Springfield!!! I'm a big fan of that town, spent a lot of time there for past work, and have gone to a few games at Hammons Field myself! Make sure to visit Ebbet's Field (few blocks south of the stadium) and Springfield Brewing Company downtown (try the beer cheese soup!). Mother's Brewing also worth a stop if you're into that type of thing. And the Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World there is worth the experience as well. Enjoy!

He’s created a phenom, ‘cause nobody wants torn ACL's no more, they want Royce bein’ a top biller. Well if you want Royce, this is what he’ll give ya, a bunch of speed mixed with some bat vigor. Image courtesy of Rob Thompson, St. Paul Saints (photo of Royce Lewis) TRANSACTIONS My poor Eminem lyric-rework aside, there were several transactions in advance of Tuesday’s games, including SS Royce Lewis's rehab assignment officially being transferred to the St. Paul Saints. His rehab window is 20 days, and the end of that is also when he is eligible for activation from the 60-day injured list, FYI. The Saints also were assigned RHP Jose Bravo from the Wichita Wind Surge, as the Minnesota Twins selected the contract of RHP Jose De Leon to replace RHP Jorge Alcala, who was put on the 15-day injured list. De Leon was scheduled to start tonight's game for St. Paul. In Wichita, the Wind Surge activated LHP Denny Bentley from the IL, sending down C Kyle Schmidt to Cedar Rapids to make room. The Kernels released RHP Matt Mullenbach, and transferred RHP Owen Griffith from the 7-day IL to the 60-day. Finally, the Fort Myers Mighty Mussels were assigned RHP Danny Moreno from the FCL Twins. SAINTS SENTINEL St. Paul 6, Columbus 5 (10 innings) Box Score It didn’t take long for Royce Lewis to make an impact in his first game back with the St. Paul Saints since tearing his ACL for the second time. He was slotted number three in the batting order by manager Toby Gardenhire, and he shot the fifth pitch he saw through the left side of the infield for a single in his first at-bat. The Saints loaded the bases in the first but weren’t able to push a run across. They got two in the second, and you’d be right if you thought Lewis played a part in that. After a Tony Wolters double put runners on second and third, Jose Miranda brought in the first run with a sac fly, and Lewis followed an Edouard Julien walk with and RBI single the opposite way to make it 2-0 St. Paul. With scheduled starter Jose De Leon being called up by the Minnesota Twins on Tuesday, it was right-hander Randy Dobnak who took the mound in his stead for the Saints. He allowed three runs (zero earned) on four hits and a walk in his three innings, striking out three Clippers. All three runs scored in the bottom of the second, after the first batter reached on an error by center fielder Andrew Stevenson. It could have been worse, but Matt Wallner cut down a runner at home to end the inning with a perfect and strong throw from right field for the assist. Cody Laweryson came on in the fourth and delivered three strong innings. He allowed no hits, walked two, and struck out four. With the score 3-2 Clippers in the top of the seventh, the top of the Saints lineup again got things cooking. Miranda led off with a single and Julien drew his third walk of the game to tee it up for Lewis, who drove it over the wall in center for a three-run homer and a 5-3 lead for the Saints. That lead didn’t last long, however, as Kody Funderburk had trouble in the bottom half of the inning. He surrendered two singles and two doubles that led to a pair of runs and tied the game at five before getting out of the inning. He did strike out two in his lone inning but the Saints still had work to do. Patrick Murphy then delivered two scoreless innings to get them into extra innings. In the top of the tenth with Mark Contreras starting on second base, Kyle Garlick led off the inning with a single to move him to third base, and Andrew Stevenson atoned for his error earlier in the game (I might have ruled it a hit, anyway…) with an RBI single and a 6-5 lead. Oliver Ortega then slammed the door on another comeback, getting a pair of flyouts to Stevenson in center field that weren’t deep enough to move the runner over, and first baseman Tyler White nabbed a liner to end the game. WIND SURGE WISDOM Arkansas 4, Wichita 6 Box Score Wichita got a big night from their top prospect, opening their series by surging past the Arkansas Travelers at home in Riverfront Stadium. Starting pitcher Travis Adams allowed a two-run homer in the top of the first, but after that stifled the Travelers for 3 2/3 total innings. He allowed three hits, walked three, and struck out one. In the fourth inning, he was replaced by Osiris German after his second walk of the inning, and German got the final out with a grounder to third base. The Wind Surge had taken the lead at that point thanks to an RBI single from Alerick Soularie in the second that followed a David Banuelos triple, and a two-run homer from Alex Isola in the third, his fourth of the season. Although Wichita fell behind 4-3 after the top of the fifth, Brooks Lee wasn’t about to let them stay there. Will Holland led off the frame with a single, and Lee cashed them both in with his third home run of the season, putting the home team back in front for good 5-4. Chad Donato came out of the bullpen to start the fifth inning and allowed two runs on four hits and a pair of walks over 3 1/3 innings pitched. He struck out three. Jordan Brink closed out the game with 1 2/3 perfect innings, striking out one. The offense tacked on an insurance run in the eighth when Lee led off with a single and was driven in by a Jake Rucker double a few batters later. Lee finished the night 3-for-4 with a pair of runs scored in addition to the homer. DaShawn Keirsey Jr. joined him with multiple hits in the game (2-for-4) and stole two bases, giving him 16 stolen bases on the year, which ranks second in the Texas League. Will Holland was 1-for-1 with a pair of walks and scored two runs. KERNELS NUGGETS Peoria 5, Cedar Rapids 6 Box Score The Kernels rode a four-run seventh inning to victory on Tuesday at home in Cedar Rapids, holding off the Chief's late rallies. Orlando Rodriguez made the start for the home team and scattered five hits and two walks over five innings. Although he did not strike out a single batter, he did allow only one run, and the Kernels held a 2-1 lead when he left the game. The lineup pounced in the bottom of the first inning with two outs, as a hit-batter preceded a two-run home run from Kala’i Rosario, his second of the season. Reliever Mike Paredes held it down for the next two innings after Rodriguez’s exit, delivering two scoreless. He allowed two hits, walked none, and also struck out none. Noah Miller led off the bottom of the seventh with his second home run of the year, kickstarting the four-run inning. Misael Urbina followed with a triple and was driven in by a sac fly from Jose Salas. Willie Joe Garry Jr. then had an interesting trip around the bases, reaching on an error, and advancing all the way home on two wild pitches that followed. A couple of walks then led to an RBI single from Rosario to cap the Kernels scoring. Peoria did their best to make a comeback, getting a pair of runs off both Regi Grace in the eighth and John Wilson in the ninth. Grace allowed those runs on three hits and got the only strikeout of the game for the pitching staff. Wilson’s runs also came on three hits. Rosario finished the game 2-for-3 with three RBI. Urbina was the only other hitter with multiple knocks, going 2-for-4. Emmanuel Rodriguez drew two walks and scored a run. MUSSEL MATTERS Fort Myers 6, Lakeland 5 Box Score Mighty Mussels starter Christian MacLeod was making just his second start after returning from Tommy John surgery and was fantastic in this one over four innings. He allowed just one run on one hit and two walks, while punching out seven Flying Tigers. He threw 62 pitches, with 38 going for strikes (61%), including ten swinging. He didn’t allow a hit until his final inning, but it came after a walk and a wild pitch, leading to his earned run allowed. Fort Myers took a 3-0 lead in the top of the third when a bases-loaded wild pitch was followed by a two-RBI triple from Jorel Ortega. The lineup added single runs in the fourth, fifth, and seventh innings, accounting for their six runs. In the fourth, it was an RBI triple from Dylan Neuse, a sac fly off the bat of Ricardo Olivar in the fifth, and an Andrew Cossetti RBI double in the seventh. Right-hander Jose Olivares came on for MacLeod to start the fifth and contributed four solid innings of his own. He allowed two earned runs on four hits and one walk, while striking out four. His two runs allowed came on solo home runs, but the score was 6-3 when his game was done. Fort Myers called upon Johnathan Lavallee to close out the game, and I’m sure he was thankful his team had added some insurance runs for him. A single, consecutive doubles, and a wild pitch left the tying runner on third with just one out before he buckled down. He picked up a strikeout and got a lineout to end the game, picking up his second save of the season in the process. The lineup got multiple hits in the game from Ortega (2-for-5, R, 3B, 2 RBI, K), Alec Sayre (2-for-4, 2 R, 3B), and Neuse (3-for-4, R, 3B, RBI). TWINS DAILY MINOR LEAGUE PLAYERS OF THE DAY Pitcher of the Day - Christian MacLeod, Fort Myers Mighty Mussels (4 IP, H, ER, 2 BB, 7 K) Hitter of the Day - Royce Lewis, St. Paul Saints (3-for-5, R, HR, 4 RBI, SB) PROSPECT SUMMARY With about a month and a half of the season in the books, Twins Daily has your first Top 20 Prospect List update of the year. #1 - Brooks Lee (Wichita) - 3-for-4, 2 R, HR, 2 RBI #2 - Royce Lewis (Rehab-St. Paul) - 3-for-5, R, HR, 4 RBI, SB #3 - Emmanuel Rodriguez (Cedar Rapids) - 0-for-2, R, 2 BB #4 - Edouard Julien (St. Paul) - 1-for-2, R, 3 BB, K #5 - Connor Prielipp (Cedar Rapids) - Injured List #6 - Marco Raya (Cedar Rapids) - Did not pitch #7 - Simeon Woods Richardson (St. Paul) - Did not pitch #8 - David Festa (Wichita) - Did not pitch #9 - Matt Wallner (St. Paul) - 1-for-4, BB, 3 K #10 - Yasser Mercedes (FCL) #11 - Austin Martin (St. Paul) - Injured List #12 - Jose Salas (Cedar Rapids) - 0-for-3, RBI, K #13 - Noah Miller (Cedar Rapids) - 1-for-3, R, HR, RBI, BB #14 - Jordan Balazovic (St. Paul) - Did not pitch #15 - Brent Headrick (St. Paul) - Did not pitch #16 - Matt Canterino (Wichita) - Injured List #17 - Blayne Enlow (Wichita) - Did not pitch #18 - Jose Rodriguez (FCL) #19 - Yunior Severino (Wichita) - 0-for-4, 3 K #20 - Michael Helman (St. Paul) - Injured List WEDNESDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS St. Paul @ Columbus (11:05 AM CDT) - RHP Simeon Woods Richardson (0-3, 7.17 ERA) Arkansas @ Wichita (7:05 PM CDT) - RHP Carlos Luna (0-1, 5.64 ERA) Peoria @ Cedar Rapids (12:05 PM CDT) - RHP Pierson Ohl (2-2, 2.77 ERA) Tampa @ Fort Myers (6:00 PM CDT) - LHP Develson Aria (1-0, 3.38 ERA) Please feel free to ask questions and discuss Tuesday’s games! 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My issue(s) with the trade were not about who they gave up for what they received, but for what they targeted. I wanted them to aim bigger, and Luis Castillo was from the same team, with the same amount of control. The mere fact their preference for Mahle seemed to be the cost, rubs me the wrong way. But, it's still a trade that even if they lose or lost, doesn't really have big ramifications for the Twins as a whole.

Grace has had a really nasty breaking ball when I've watched him. So nasty in fact, it easily gets away from him at times, but he hasn't let those misses snowball. His WHIP is an electric 0.545, and I'll be curious to see if the bullpen is where he stays from here on out. He won't be in High-A long at this rate, and then he's a perfectly valid candidate to add to the 40-man if there's a spot for him.

He is definitely a Swiss army knife. Use him where you need him!

Fixed. Thank you!

Thank you, that is much appreciated 😂

The Minnesota Twins farm went undefeated on Tuesday night, with the bats coming out in a big way in multiple games. But none of them were bigger than that of Michael Helman. Image courtesy of Rob Thompson, St. Paul Saints (photo of Michael Helman) TRANSACTIONS The Saint Paul Saints transferred SS Alex De Goti to the development list, activated 3B Andrew Bechtold from the temporary inactive list, and were sent RHP Ronny Henriquez from the Minnesota Twins on a rehab assignment. RHP Matthew Swain was placed on the temporary inactive list at Cedar Rapids, and the Kernels were assigned RHP Gianluca Dalatri from the FCL Twins in his place. The Fort Myers Mighty Mussels placed RHP Tomas Cleto on the injured list and transferred CF Luis Baez to the development list. In their place, they were assigned RHP Jarret Whorff and SS Rafael Cruz from the FCL Twins. SAINTS SENTINEL St. Paul 11, Indianapolis 3 Box Score The Saints jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning, when Edouard Julien led off the game by getting hit by a pitch, and was promptly driven in by a double off the bat of Michael Helman, whom you’ll be hearing from repeatedly in this summary. Starter Jordan Balazovic continued to trend in the right direction, though he probably would have liked to have gone deeper into this one. He allowed no runs on three hits in his four innings, exiting a bit early as his pitch count got run up to 77 (45 for strikes). He did strike out five but his first win at the Triple-A level still eludes him. The top of St. Paul’s lineup got to work again in the third inning, as Edouard Julien followed Tony Wolter’s walk with a single to put multiple runners on base, and Helman brought them all home with his fourth home run in 15 games with the Saints this season to make it 4-0. In the fourth Helman’s bases-loaded single scored the first run of the inning, before Trevor Larnach's double emptied them to make it 8-0. They tacked on a single run in the seventh thanks to a Mark Contreras RBI single, and Chris Williams punctuated their scoring outburst with a two-run bomb in the eighth. Helman finished 3-for-5, a triple shy of the cycle, and drove in five runs in the game. More than half his hits on the season have gone for extra bases, and speed is still showing up as he has also stolen five bases so far on the year. Joining Helman in the multi-hit club were Julien (2-for-2, 3 R, 2 BB), Larnach (2-for-5, R, 2B, 3 RBI, K), Williams (2-for-5, 2 R, 2B, HR, 2 RBI, K), and Contreras (2-for-5, 2B, RBI). After Balazovic’s exit, Patrick Murphy delivered two scoreless innings to pick up the win. He allowed one hit and two walks. Connor Sadzeck allowed three earned runs on two hits and three walks in 1 2/3 innings, striking out two. Oliver Ortega finished off the blowout with 1 1/3 frames, allowing one hit, walking one, and striking out one. WIND SURGE WISDOM Wichita 5, Frisco 4 (10 innings) Box Score The RoughRiders struck first against Wind Surge starter Aaron Rozek, as he gave up a solo home run and RBI single in the second inning. He went on to finish 4 1/3 innings, being charged with those two runs on five total hits and no walks, while striking out four. Wichita had taken the lead 4-2 at that point, as Pat Winkel tied the game at two in the top of the fourth with a two-run home run, before a Brooks Lee RBI double and DeShawn Keirsey Jr. RBI single in the fifth put them out front 4-2. In the bottom of the fifth, a leadoff double preceded a groundout before Rozek was replaced by Hunter McMahon from the bullpen. He allowed an inherited runner to score, before giving up one of his own, and the game was tied back up at four. Tyler Beck came on in relief to start the sixth and delivered three scoreless frames to keep the game tied. He allowed just one hit and struck out four in the outing. Still tied after nine, this one went to extra innings, which the Wind Surge wasted no time taking advantage of. In the top of the 10th with the speedy Will Holland starting on second base, Yoyner Fajardo hit a ball deep enough to center to move him to third, before Lee’s groundout to second base allowed him to come home for a 5-4 lead. Righthander Jordan Brink delivered a scoreless ninth and was back out for the 10th, looking to seal the win. After a strikeout and a flyout, the tying run was on third base when a pitch got away from catcher Pat Winkel. He was quick enough to track it down and feed it back to Brink in time to beat the runner home, and the out at the plate ended the game. Brink picked up his first win of the season with his two scoreless innings, allowing just a hit batter and striking out three. Keirsey Jr. (2-for-5, RBI, 3 K, 2 SB) and Yunior Severino (2-for-5, R, 2B, 2 K, SB) each had multiple hits in the victory. KERNELS NUGGETS Cedar Rapids 7, Quad Cities 3 Box Score The 19-year-old Alejandro Hidalgo took the mound for the Kernels on Tuesday, looking to build on his last outing where he gave up just three hits and struck out nine in 5 1/3 innings. He wasn’t nearly that dominant again, but he kept his team in the game with a four-inning effort. He allowed two runs (one earned) on two hits and three walks, while striking out just two. When he left the game, the Kernels had built a three-run lead. Three consecutive singles in the third inning put their first run on the scoreboard before they busted out the lumber in the fourth. Misael Urbina started the four-run outburst with a double, Jose Salas traded places with him after a double of his own, and then Jeferson Morales and Keoni Cavaco went back-to-back with home runs, making it 5-2 Kernels. They tacked on two more in the fifth inning after an RBI double from Tanner Schobel was followed by an RBI single from Urbina, and that was all the scoring Cedar Rapids would need. The bullpen quartet of Niklas Rimmel (2 IP, H, BB, 2 K), John Wilson (1 IP, 3 H, ER, K), John Stankiewicz (1 IP, H, K), and Regi Grace (1 IP, H) kept the River Bandits at bay for the final five innings. Rimmel picked up his third win of the season. Urbina led the offense with three hits in five at-bats, including a double. Noah Miller finished 1-for-4 with a run scored, a walk, and stole two bases. Emmanuel Rodriguez recorded his first hit since returning from the injured list. MUSSEL MATTERS Fort Myers 8, Tampa 7 Box Score The Mighty Mussels jumped all over the Tarpons early in this one, taking a 5-0 lead after two innings. They scored three in the first behind a sac fly from Carlos Aguiar, and RBI doubles from Ricardo Olivar and Rafael Cruz, freshly bumped up from the FCL Twins roster. In the second, it was an RBI groundout from the reigning Florida State League Player of the Month, Andrew Cosetti, and an RBI single from Aguiar that extended their lead. The Tampa lineup finally got to Fort Myers starter Jose Olivares in the top of the fourth, getting a two-run home run to cut the lead to three. Olivares finished the fourth, allowing those two runs on three hits and three walks in total, striking out two in the start. The Mighty Mussels got one back in the bottom of the fourth on an RBI single from Cosetti, making it 6-2. Gabriel Yanez chipped in two innings of relief, allowing an unearned run on two hits while striking out three, before giving way to A.J. Labas to begin the top of the seventh. Before it was over the Tarpons had taken a 7-6 lead as five straight hitters reached base, with a two-run homer and an error included. Labas came back on for the eighth and delivered a one-two-three inning to give his lineup a chance. They did so in the bottom half. Alec Sayre drew a one-out walk before coming around to score on Jorel Ortega’s second triple of the season. Ortega then scampered home on a wild pitch to give Fort Myers the lead 8-7. Lefty Zach Veen was summoned to close the game out for the home team and set the Tarpon lineup down in order, including a strikeout to punctuate the win and pick up his second save of the season. Ortega led the offense by reaching base in all five of his plate appearances, finishing 4-for-4 with a triple and a walk, scoring four runs, and driving in one. Joining him with multiple hits on the game were Danny De Andrade (2-for-4, R, 2B, BB, K) and Olivar (2-for-4, R, 2B, RBI, 2 K). Cosetti and Aguiar each drove in two runs. TWINS DAILY MINOR LEAGUE PLAYERS OF THE DAY Pitcher of the Day - Tyler Beck, Wichita Wind Surge (3 IP, H, 4 K) Hitter of the Day - Michael Helman, St. Paul Saints (3-for-5, 2 R, 2B, HR, 5 RBI, K) PROSPECT SUMMARY #1 - Brooks Lee (Wichita) - 1-for-5, R, 2B (12), 2 RBI #3 - Emmanuel Rodriguez (Cedar Rapids) - 1-for-5, 3 K #5 - Edouard Julien (St. Paul) - 2-for-2, 3 R, 2 BB #8 - Jose Salas (Cedar Rapids) - 1-for-4, R, 2B, RBI, 2 K #14 - Noah Miller (Cedar Rapids) - 1-for-4, R, BB, 2 SB #16 - Jordan Balazovic (St. Paul) - 4 IP, 3 H, 2 BB, 5 K #18 - Tanner Schobel (Cedar Rapids) - 1-for-4, R, 2B, RBI, BB #20 - Misael Urbina (Cedar Rapids) - 3-for-5, R, 2B, RBI, K WEDNESDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS Indianapolis @ St. Paul (6:37 PM CDT) - TBD Wichita @ Frisco (11:05 AM CDT) -RHP Chad Donato (0-3, 12.79 ERA) Cedar Rapids @ Quad Cities (6:30 PM CDT) - RHP Orlando Rodriguez (3-1, 1.10 ERA) Tampa @ Fort Myers (6:00 PM CDT) - TBD Please feel free to ask questions and discuss Tuesday’s games! 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