Article: Twins Minor League Report (5/2): Michael Walks Off

[Jeremy Nygaard]

If you missed Cody's minor league report from yesterday, you can read it here. Seth also made his choice for Twins minor league Hitter of the Month. Andrew wrote up about Alex Meyer's last start.

 

There is a lot of draft info that cmb0252 put together into one thread.

 

And after yesterday's minor shuffle in Rochester, the R&P page has been updated as well.

 

On a separate note, after listening to the new Macklemore song "Can't Hold Us" a few times today, I'm convinced it's about the Twins top prospects - Byron Buxton and Miguel Sano.[PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]

 

So we put our hands up like the ceiling can’t hold us

We had put some pretty high ceilings on those guys, but at this point... our ceilings might not be able to hold them.

 

Download attachment: buxton.jpg

(photo by Paul Gierhart)

ROCHESTER RED WINGS 7, COLUMBUS CLIPPERS 6

Box Score

 

The Red Wings jumped out to a quick start and then withstood a late rally to win tonight's ball game.

 

The hitters handed the pitchers just enough run support with a well-balanced attack. All nine batters registered hits. The charge was led by Nate Hanson (who homered) and Clete Thomas (who doubled). Ray Olmedo also added two hits. Eric Farris led off the game with a home run.

 

Evan Bigley, now batting in the 3-hole, went 1-for-5. He is batting .357 since his promotion to Triple-A. You may recall a game last season during which Tom Kelly sang Bigley's praises. Unfortunately, Bigley is another corner outfielder that can't play center.

 

Thomas, Olmedo and Bigley all stole bases.

 

Chris Herrmann committed a throwing error, his second of the year.

 

P.J. Walters had a decent start tonight. He made it into the seventh inning, going 6.1, allowing three runs on eight hits. He struck out 6.

 

Daniel Turpen allowed a home run. Tyler Robertson failed in his LOOGY role tonight, allowing a hit to the only batter, a lefty, he faced.

 

Tim Wood, who has been lights out for the Red Wings, allowed Columbus back into the game. After walking the first batter he saw, he gave up a home run. The tying run reached on an error and then the go-ahead runner singled.

 

Luis Perdomo relieved Wood and got the final batter of the game to fly out to Joe Benson.

 

Kyle Gibson (1-3, 3.33) gets the starting nod tomorrow at 7:15 pm ET against Columbus.

 

 

NEW BRITAIN ROCK CATS 1, HARRISBURG SENATORS 6

Box Score

 

B.J. Hermsen made his third attempt to get his first win of the season. He made it into the sixth inning and recorded an out in that inning before giving way to Bobby Lanigan. Hermsen's final line was two earned runs (five runs) on seven hits and two walks. He struck out four. His 7:1 groundout to flyout rate was promising.

 

Bobby Lanigan recorded five outs without giving up a run. A.J. Achter gave up a solo home run in his inning. Michael Tonkin struck out the side in the ninth.

 

James Beresford, who had a very good April, went 1-for-3 with a double, but also committed a costly error in Harrisburg's four-run fourth inning.

 

Antoan Richardson had two hits and a stolen base. Danny Santana and Jonathan Goncalves both added singles.

 

The 14-13 Rock Cats play at Portland tomorrow night at 6 pm ET. While the starter is listed as TBD, it appears to be Pat Dean's turn in the rotation. Dean is 0-3 with a 4.56 ERA on the young season.

 

FORT MYERS MIRACLE 3, ST. LUCIE METS 2

Box Score

 

Another walk-off win for the Miracle improves their record to a very impressive 22-4.

 

Of course, you're wondering how Miguel Sano did. He went 1-for-4, but the "1" was a game-tying single with two out in the 8th inning. He is batting .364 on the year.

 

Kennys Vargas, aka Baby Papi, aka Little Papi, aka Big Spoon, went 2-for-3 with a home run and a walk.

 

Stephen Wickens had three hits.

 

Levi Michael (.185) went 0-for-2, but was the offensive hero when he drove in the game-winning run with his third base on balls of the night. Michael was the DH tonight.

 

Jason Wheeler went five innings, giving up six hits and three walks. He struck out two and gave up two runs in a no-decision.

 

Cole Johnson and Dakota Watts both pitched two scoreless innings. Watts, the pitcher of record when Michael walked, earned the win.

 

CEDAR RAPIDS KERNELS 3, WEST MICHIGAN WHITECAPS 4 (10 innings)

Box Score

 

As we've come to expect, Byron Buxton made a positive contribution in today's game. In the third inning he hit a two-run home run, his 5th of the season, off the right-field foul pole. He's reached base in every Kernel game so far this season and has his average at .388.

 

Unfortunately, there isn't a lot else to talk about. The Kernels went 1-for-2 with runners in scoring position.

 

Hudson Boyd pitched five innings. He allowed six hits, and walked three. He struck out four and gave up two runs.

 

Steven Gruver is credited with a blown save, but pitched well out of the bullpen. In four innings of work, he allowed four hits, a walk and a run. He struck out five and left the game with an ERA of 1.31. Gruver has made only one spot-start on the year, but this is his third appearance of four innings or more.

 

Tyler Jones came into the game in the 10th inning and struggled with his control. He sandwiched two walks around a strikeout before allowing a walk-off single.

 

The Kernels are now 18-7 and will send LP Mason Melotakis (1-1, 4.08) to the hill tomorrow to face West Michigan in an early morning, 10 am central time, game.

 

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