Article: Twins Minor League Report (8/3): Comeback Trails

[Steve Lein]

Generally if your team has a catcher or an outfielder pitching, it means that something went terribly wrong. After a long day of baseball in Louisville, Dan Rohlfing had to pitch for the Rochester Red Wings. You'll just have to read below how it went.

 

Check out everything that happened throughout the Minnesota Twins farm system on Sunday, August 3.The Minnesota Twins offense exploded for twenty-three hits to pound the rival White Sox on Sunday afternoon in Chicago, 16-3. Danny Santana was 5-6 and a home run shy of the cycle, while Chris Parmelee (2-2), Oswaldo Arcia (3-6), and Eric Fryer (3-6) hit back-to-back-to-back home runs in the ninth inning with the game well in hand. Arcia’s mammoth blast cleared the seating in right field, and was estimated at 452 feet, which would be the longest HR of the year at U.S. Cellular field per ESPN’s Home Run Tracker. Josh Willingham and Chris Colabello were the only Twins to not collect multiple hits, and in an odd box score entry, Willingham left ten men on base. It obviously didn’t matter. The Twins went 10-22 with runners in scoring position on the game, and in the eighth inning sent fourteen hitters to the plate to send the White Sox faithful heading for the exits. The first eight batters of that inning reached base safely and nine came around to score.

 

Kyle Gibson made the start and except for one pitch to Dayan Viciedo, was in control for most of the game. He went seven innings in the quality start, allowing six hits and zero walks while striking out six.

 

After the game, the Twins optioned Logan Darnell back to Rochester to clear room for outfielder Jordan Schafer, who was claimed on waivers from the Atlanta Braves earlier in the day.

 

In the minors, Alex Meyer took the hill for the Red Wings, and several affiliates were forced to make comeback efforts late in their games. Read on to see what happened!

 

RED WINGS REPORT

Rochester 6, Louisville 5 (15 innings)

Box score

 

Rochester got on the board in the first inning courtesy of two Louisville errors, one to allow leadoff man Eric Farris to reach first and another to allow him to score. They added two in the fourth inning after consecutive doubles from Danny Ortiz and Reynaldo Rodriguez and sac fly from Chris Rahl. Another Ortiz double in the sixth led to their fourth run and a 4-0 lead.

 

Through five innings, Meyer had held the Bats scoreless on just two walks and one hit, with six strikeouts. In the sixth, Meyer surpassed his pitch limit after a single, walk and two more strikeouts to finish with 5.2 innings pitched, and was replaced by A.J. Achter. With Meyer responsible for the two runners, Achter then walked the bases loaded, allowed one of the runners to score on a wild pitch and the second on a double that also scored a run that was charged to him. Edgar Ibarra pitched a scoreless seventh inning but was lifted for Michael Tonkin after consecutive singles in the eighth. Tonkin then allowed both those runners to score and Louisville took the lead 5-4 before ending the inning.

 

In the top of the ninth, Rochester was able to send the game into extra innings after three consecutive singles from James Beresford, Josmil Pinto and Wilkin Ramirez pushed Beresford across the plate. With Pinto on second representing the go-ahead run with just one out, Louisville played matchup against Ortiz and Rodriguez, who were both struck out to end the inning.

 

It was a marathon after that, with threats in extra innings from both sides.

Stephen Pryor, Deolis Guerra, Aaron Thompson and Lester Oliveros combined to pitch the next six innings, keeping it scoreless despite issuing eight walks and allowing three hits. Oliveros struck out four.

 

In the top of the fifteenth, Doug Bernier led off with a single, Rahl bunted him to second and Pedro Florimon tripled to bring in the go-ahead run.

 

In the bottom half of the inning, it was Red Wings backup catcher Dan Rohlfing who walked out to the mound as their ninth pitcher of the game. He of course recorded the save, and the Red Wings took home the victory.

 

Ortiz led the offense by going 4-7 on the night with the two doubles and two runs scored, while Chris Rahl (2-5) collected two RBI. Beresford and Bernier each finished with three hits.

 

ROCK CATS REVIEW

Erie 7, New Britain 1

Box Score

 

It was all Seawolves in this one as the Rock Cats managed just four hits and three walks in the game. Brandon Waring had the only extra base hit with a double and he also drew one of the walks, while Tony Thomas scored the only run while drawing two walks. Thomas drew one of his walks to start the bottom of the ninth, which was followed by singles from Jorge Polanco and Eddie Rosario to score their run.

 

Four pitchers made appearances for New Britain and none of them escaped without allowing at least one run. Daniel Turpen made the start and exited after three innings. He gave up just one hit, but also four walks on the way to allowing one run. He struck out three. Jim Fuller then came in and pitched three innings, allowing three hits, three walks and two earned runs while striking out four. Cole Johnson allowed five hits and one run in two innings. Alex Wimmers finished the game, allowing three runs on a walk and two home runs in the ninth inning.

 

MIRACLE MATTERS

Fort Myers 4, Lakeland 7

Box Score

 

Like their AA brethren, the Miracle weren’t able to put any runs on the board until the ninth inning, when it was far too late. They did make a valiant effort at a comeback however, as they scored four before Byron Buxton stepped to the plate representing the tying run with two outs. Unfortunately, he flew out to right field to end the game. Buxton batted third and was 0-5.

 

The Miracle did outhit the Flying Tigers 12-9, but left eight men on base and had only one extra base hit, a double from Tyler Grimes that scored two of the runs in the ninth. Grimes went 3-4 on the day with a run scored and the two RBI. Levi Michael (2-5), Adam Brett Walker II (2-3, R, BB) and Max Kepler (2-4, R) each had multiple hits.

 

Lefty Steven Gruver was making his second start for Fort Myers. He allowed just two hits, one walk and one earned run in five innings with one K for a very solid, but not quality-qualifying effort. B.J. Hermsen allowed a two-run home run in his one inning, but struck out two. Madison Boer then came on for the seventh inning, and walked the leadoff man before retiring the next two hitters. A single and a triple then scored two before Tyler Jones replaced him. He allowed the inherited runner to score on a single, and then a run charged to him on a double before recording the final out. D.J. Johnson pitched a scoreless eighth to finish the game for the Miracle.

KERNELS NUGGETS

Cedar Rapids 4, Beloit 6

Box score

 

There was yet another comeback mounted by a hometown affiliate at Pohlman Field in Beloit, WI, but again it just wasn’t enough.

 

The Kernels scored three in the eighth inning to pull within one, after a Chad Christensen walk and Alex Swim double put runners on second and third. Max Murphy brought them both home with a single to left field, and he scored on a Michael Quesada double. Engelb Vielma then drew a walk, but a pitching change and consecutive strikeouts from Jon Murphy and Ryan Walker ended the threat.

 

Walker and Christensen also added doubles to the offensive effort, while Logan Wade slugged his fifth home run of the year, a solo shot in the third inning to put Cedar Rapids on the board.

 

Stephen Gonsalves made his second start in the Midwest League, but it was an error by Swim in the fourth inning with two outs that allowed three unearned runs to score. In five innings, Gonsalves gave up five hits, two walks and one earned run, while striking out five. Hudson Boyd was charged with an unearned run in the sixth after a Vielma fielding error. Brandon Bixler finished the final two innings, allowing three hits, two walks and one earned run while striking out four.

 

In major league roster-related news for the Kernels, Joe Mauer and Ricky Nolasco are set to begin Rehab assignments in Cedar Rapids tomorrow.

 

E-TWINS E-NOTES

Johnson City 2, Elizabethton 0 (7 innings)

Box Score

 

Elizabethton’s game was a pitching duel throughout, as the teams combined for just 8 hits on the night.

 

Obviously with a zero in the box score, there wasn’t much offense to talk about. The lineup managed just four singles and one walk collectively and they were 0-6 with runners in scoring position.

 

Felix Jorge was the starter for the Twins, and did all he could to keep them within striking distance. He scattered four hits to the tune of just two runs and struck out five. Unfortunately for him, he was saddled with a 7-inning complete game loss.

 

TWINS DAILY MINOR LEAGUE PLAYERS OF THE DAY

Pitcher – Alex Meyer (5.2 IP, 2 H's, 2 ER's, 3 BB's, 8 K's), Rochester Red Wings

Hitter – Danny Ortiz (4-7, 2 R's, 2 2B's), Rochester Red Wings

 

MONDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS

Rochester @ Louisville – Trevor May (8-5, 2.72 ERA), 6:05PM CST

Fort Myers @ Lakeland – TBD, 5:30PM CST

Wisconsin @ Cedar Rapids – Lewis Thorpe (2-2, 4.74 ERA), 6:35PM CST

Johnson City @ Elizabethton – Derrick Penilla (3-2, 4.15 ERA), 6:00PM CST

GCL Orioles @ GCL Twins – TBD, 11:00AM CST

DSL Reds @ DSL Twins – TBD, 9:30AM CST

 

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[lightfoot789]

I thought Hudson Boyd was suspended?  What gives?

[h2oface]

As good as A.J. Achter was for the first half of the season, he is been totally not that recently.  How does a pitcher go 1.1 innings with 3 hits and 2 walks and no runs score? That was Deolis Guerra's line...... What a game in Louisville for the Redwings.

[Seth Stohs]

Boyd was suspended. Now that suspension is over.

[Mike Sixel]

Once again, Meyer's pitch count makes his day look worse than it probably would have been.....

[tobi0040]

Meyer is now at a 3.05 ERA, 106 IP, 10.2 K per 9.  WHIP is 1.28. 

 

If his next start is not with the Twins, I don't think we see him this year. He won't be pitching into September. 

 

I find it mind boggling that we have used 93 IP on Pino, Johnson, Darnell, and Pelfrey.  None of these guys will serve in any capacity other than a AAA filler for the Twins.  This was a perfect time to break him in, get the nerves out, and see how his stuff matches up and adjust.

[h2oface]

I would sure like it if a Twins' pitcher would go 91 pitches, 8 K's and only 2 hits, ....only one more out to get in the 6th... only 10 outs in the game... and leave the game with a runner on first and second and the score 4-0.  I would like that every single game. His "relief" gave up his inherited runner's runs plus one.  It could have been a line of 92-97 pitches with a 6 inning shutout and 9 Ks.  I will take Meyer's line every game for our Twins.  Every Game. 

[tobi0040]

I would sure like it if a Twins' pitcher would go 91 pitches, 8 K's and only 2 hits, ....only one more out to get in the 6th... only 10 outs in the game... and leave the game with a runner on first and second and the score 4-0.  I would like that every single game. His "relief" gave up his inherited runner's runs plus one.  It could have been a line of 92-97 pitches with a 6 inning shutout and 9 Ks.  I will take Meyer's line every game for our Twins.  Every Game. 

 

Are you 100% sure you want this on the Twins?  He needs more time. 

 

Last 7 starts:

 

5.2 IP, 2 ER

5 IP, 1 ER

6 IP, 0 ER

6 IP, 1 ER

6 IP, 2 ER

6 IP, 1 ER

6 IP, 1 ER

 

If I was him, I would be irate.

[Dantes929]

I can and have  argued that Pino's promotion was deserved but cannot make a case for Johnson and Darnell.  Meyer should have been up by now (though May probably deserves it as much or more).    In case you think the Twins are the only ones making questionable decisions, in his past 11 starts Milone has a 6-0 record with a 2.64 ERA in the major leagues and was demoted.    I would much rather see Meyer or May promoted next and soon but I suspect it will be Milone. 

[Tibs]

Are you 100% sure you want this on the Twins?  He needs more time. 

 

Last 7 starts:

 

5.2 IP, 2 ER

5 IP, 1 ER

6 IP, 0 ER

6 IP, 1 ER

6 IP, 2 ER

6 IP, 1 ER

6 IP, 1 ER

 

If I was him, I would be irate.

I didn't realize he had been that good recently. Maybe they want him to consistently go 6 innings and give up 1 run or fewer?

[tobi0040]

I didn't realize he had been that good recently. Maybe they want him to consistently go 6 innings and give up 1 run or fewer?

 

Yeah.  Too bad for May last night as well. He gave up 4 ER in 6 IP. Now he needs 7-8 consecutive shut outs before being promoted.