Last year the Twins selected Tyler Jay, a college closer from the University of Illinois, with their first selection in the draft. Jay spent the rest of 2015 in the bullpen, but has been stretched out and is starting games for the Fort Myers Miracle. You will find more about his start below, but I wanted to lead with this gem from Seth Stohs,

"Per @ZimGlish, Tyler Jay just threw 94 on his 92nd pitch of the evening. Just completed five innings at 93 pitches."

Sounds like Jay is having no problems maintaining his velocity late into his start.

Transaction Report: The Chattanooga Lookouts activated shortstop Engelb Vielma from the disabled list and to make room for him on the roster catcher Carlos Paulino was promoted to the Rochester Red Wings.

Continue reading to find out more detail about Thursday in the Twins farm system:

RED WINGS REPORT

Pawtucket Paw Sox @ Rochester

Box Score

Jose Berrios had his best start of the season and helped the Red Wings snap a five-game losing streak. Berrios pitched 7.0 innings, gave up just two hits, walked only one and struck out seven. Berrios' ERA on the year is now just 1.06. Pitching like this, it cannot be much longer before Twins fans see Berrios in the Big Leagues. Berrios was finished after the seventh and Brandon Kintzler pitched 1.1 innings of shutout ball before handing things over to Taylor Rogers to finish off the game and preserve the shutout. Neither Kintzler or Rogers struck out a batter, or walked one.

The Red Wings only needed one run with the way the pitching staff shut down the Paw Sox, but the Wings put up five runs (three earned), for good measure. The Red Wings used a fairly balanced attack as every hitter had either or a hit or a walk, and seven of the nine hitters had either a run scored or an RBI. Kennys Vargas , who was 1-4 on the night with an RBI and a strike out, hit a double. Vargas has a 16/4 stirkeout-to-walk ratio right now, and is hitting just .184 with four extra base hits all year, all doubles. John Hicks was 2-3 and scored a run on a solo home run. And Heiker Meneses was 1-4 with four strike outs but also recorded a triple.

Final: Paw Sox 0, Red Wings 5

LOOKOUTS LOOK-IN

Chattanooga @ Mississippi Braves

Box Score

Not to be totally out done by Jose Berrios and Tyler Jay, Ryan Eades had a nice evening on Thursday night as well. Eades pitched five innings of one run ball, struck out five, and gave up just four hits and one run. Despite giving up just one run, Eades was tagged with the loss as the Lookouts bats were unable to make sense of Braves starter Brandon Barker. After Eades left the game down 1-0, Reliever Brett Lee gave up three runs in the sixth to put Chattanooga in a 4-0 hole with just nine outs left to play with. Brandon Peterson pitched the final two innings for the Lookouts, striking out one and facing the minimum in both the seventh and eighth innings.

Two Lookouts hitters had multi-hit nights, Daniel Palka who was 2-3 with a walk, and Levi Michael, 2-3 with run scored. The freshly activated Engelb Vielma was 0-4 hitting in the ninth spot. None of the Lookouts seven hits were for extra bases and they managed just three walks against eleven strikeouts.

Final: Lookouts 2, Braves 4

MIRACLE MATTERS

Jupiter Hammerheads @ Fort Myers

Box Score

Despite throwing gas deep into his start against the Hammerheads, the Miracle's Tyler Jay's first inning sunk Fort Myers on Thursday night, losing the series in the process. Jay was tagged for three runs in the top of the first after a walk to the leadoff hitter and three straight singles to begin the game. Tyler Jay finished the game with 5.0 innings pitched, giving up five hits, three runs, three walks and he struck out six. Raul Fernandez pitched 2.0 innings of scoreless relief before turning things over to Luke Bard for the eighth striking out two of the three hitters he faced. Todd Van Steensel pitched the ninth and gave up a leadoff walk and eventually balked in a run.

The Miracle actually outhit the Hammerheads 9-7, but were just 1-9 with runners in scoring position, leaving nine men on base. Chris Paul was 3-5 with two doubles and an RBI to lead the Miracle attack. Trey Vavra, 2-4 with a run scored was the only other Miracle hitter with multiple hits.

Final: Hammerheads 4, Miracle 2

KERNELS KORNER

Cedar Rapids @ Clinton LumberKings

Postponed due to rain, the game will be made up as part of a doubleheader on Saturday.

TWINS DAILY MINOR LEAGUE PLAYERS OF THE DAY

Hitter of the Day - Chris Paul - Fort Myers Miracle

Pitcher of the Day - Jose Berrios - Rochester Red Wings

FRIDAY'S PROBABLES

Buffalo @ Rochester (5:35pm, MiLB.tv) - Chris Leroux vs. Logan Darnell (0-2, 6.17)

Birmingham @ Chattanooga (6:15pm) - Tyler Danish vs. Jason Wheeler (0-1, 2.65)

Charlotte @ Fort Myers (6:05pm) - Brent Honeywell vs. Keaton Steele (0-1, 2.53)

Cedar Rapids @ Clinton (6:30pm) - Sam Gibbons (1-1, 4.66) vs. Nick Wells

Please ask questions and discuss the Thursday games.

-ERolf