Article: Twins Minor League Report (8/11): Hot Wings No-Hit Bulls

[Jeremy Nygaard]

Lots of things going on today.

 

While the Twins are opening their series in Houston, the affiliates have a full slate of games. Though two teams are enjoying the day off, two others are playing doubleheaders.

 

The Twins had to make a move before Monday night's game. It may have caught some of us by surprise.

Many highlights occurred Monday in the minors of Twins Territory and they will be detailed after the bump.Late last night it was reported that RP Nick Burdi and 3B Bryan Haar would be going from Cedar Rapids to Fort Myers. Filling their spots in Cedar Rapids would be the activation of P Kohl Stewart and the return of INF Jonatan Hinojasa. (No word on how Fort Myers is making room.)

 

EDIT: Darren Wolfson tweeted around 10:20 pm that Byron Buxton has been promoted to New Britain.

 

Today, P Virgil Vasquez was moved from New Britain to Rochester to start the second game of their doubleheader. That left a spot in the Rock Cats rotation.

 

We all knew the Twins had to make a roster move to activate Joe Mauer. Well, early this evening the Twins filled that New Britain rotation spot by trading Josh Willingham to Kansas City and, in return, getting P Jason Adam.

 

Adam was Kansas City’s pre-season #9 prospect according to Baseball America. And while he hasn’t had a particularly good season, he still is only 23 and has potential. That is certainly more than anyone thought the Twins would get back for the aging Josh Willingham and his expiring coontract.

 

 

RED WINGS REPORT

Rochester 3, Durham 0 (Game 1)

Box Score

 

So maybe Trevor May had an unforgettable Saturday night in his major league debut, but only two days later he contributed to a AAA no-hitter. Well, sorta.

 

On July 24, the Red Wings had a game suspended because of rain. The starting pitcher was the recently-promoted Trevor May. May, who was rehabbing a calf injury at the time, threw three innings of no-hit ball. But then the skies opened up and the game was tabled… until today.

 

Logan Darnell took over today in the 4th and went on to pitch the next six innings. While Darnell allowed a walk, he didn’t allow a single hit, which completed the strangest no-hitter you’re likely to ever hear about. He struck out five and finished his six innings on only 68 pitches.

 

James Beresford led the team with three hits (two in the innings today). He doubled and drove in one. Doug Bernier doubled twice and scored twice, one of each happening two and a half weeks ago, the others occurring today.

 

Rochester 5, Durham 4 (Game 2, 7 innings)

Box Score

 

The Red Wings withstood a late rally to hold on in the nightcap, completing a two-game sweep.

 

Rochester opened the scoring with three runs in the second inning. Chris Colabello led off the inning with a home run. Wilkin Ramirez singled and stole second base before scoring from third on a Doug Bernier single. Deibinson Romero, who walked, was also driven in by Bernier’s hit.

 

In the fourth inning, the Red Wings plated both Romero and Aaron Hicks, who each reached on singles, on a Josmil Pinto triple (not kidding).

 

Virgil Vasquez made his first AAA start of the year and picked up the win. He cruised through four innings before giving up four runs in the fifth inning. He struck out one, walked one and allowed five hits.

 

Lester Oliveros picked up the two-inning save, his third. He struck out four.

 

The Red Wings are now 67-56 and own the 3rd-best record in the International League. The issue, however, is that Rochester is also in third place in their division, which means they are in second place for the one wild card spot. (The fourth place team in the division, Buffalo, is tied for the fourth-best record in the whole league.)

 

In the wild card race, the Red Wings trail the PawSox by 1.5 games with 21 games remaining.

 

 

ROCK CATS REVIEW

New Britain - DAY OFF

 

MIRACLE MATTERS

Fort Myers 3, Palm Beach 4 (rain-shortened, 7 innings)

Box Score

 

The Miracle fell to Palm Beach in a game that was cut short by rain. Despite the loss, some good came from this one.

 

After Levi Michael led off the game with a home run, Byron Buxton pulled one over the left-field fence for a two-run home run, Buxton’s fourth of the year. Buxton also drove in the third Miracle run in the second inning. Unlike the home run, this came with the bases loaded when a pitch drilled him in the hip.

 

Stuart Turner had his 12th double of the season.

 

Matt Tomshaw took the loss. He pitched six innings and gave up four runs on six hits. He struck out two and walked three. He allowed two home runs. Todd Van Steensel opened the seventh inning by allowing a hit. Then the rains came and the game was called.

 

KERNELS NUGGETS

Cedar Rapids - DAY OFF

 

E-TOWN E-NOTES

Elizabethton 2, Bristol 0 (7 innings, Game 1)

Box Score

 

Three outs from the second no-hitter for the organization tonight, Felix Jorge opened the seventh inning by allowing consecutive singles. He was able to strike out the next two batters before ending the game with a groundout. Overall, he allowed only two hits and a walk, while striking out seven in the seven-inning, complete game shutout.

 

Offensively, E-town scattered eight hits led by Nick Gordon’s two singles. No other player had multiple hits and no batter was able to get an extra base hit.

 

Tanner English and Pat Kelly each stole their fourth base of the season.

 

Elizabethton 0, Bristol 4 (7 innings, Game 2)

Box Score

 

E-Town dropped the nightcap to a Bristol team looking for - and getting - their 15th win of the season.

 

There was not much offense to speak of tonight. Only Jeremias Pineda (4th inning single followed by two stolen bases), Austin Diemer (5th inning bunt single and stole second base) and Trey Vavra (7th inning double) recorded hits. E-town left two runners on base at the end of the game.

 

Derrick Penilla allowed three runs in 5.1 innings. He struck out three and allowed four hits. Dereck Rodriguez got the final two outs but gave up another run.

 

GCL TWINS TAKES

GCL Twins 14, GCL Orioles 9

Box Score

 

This is one of those games where you’d be better off just checking out the box score and trying to take it all in.

 

The Twins led 5-2 going into the bottom of the eighth and then proceeded to give up six runs to trail by three. In the top of the ninth, though, the Twins turned it on to score nine runs. The Orioles were able to score one in the bottom of the ninth, but stranded two runners to end the game.

 

Amaurys Minier was the offensive star. He hit his 7th home run of the season - the most by a Twin in the GCL since Chris Parmelee hit eight in 2006. Minier finished 3-for-5 with four RBI and two runs scored.

 

David Hurlbut struck out three in his four-inning rehab start. He allowed two runs on seven hits. D.J. Baxendale struck out three and walked one in three innings of hitless ball. Eduardo Del Rosario allowed six runs before a collection of other relievers finished it off.

 

DSL DIALED IN

DSL Twins 4, DSL Orioles1 1

Box Score

 

Today’s victory propelled the DSL Twins into first place in the DSL Boca Chica Baseball City Division. They currently have a four-game winning streak.

 

Jadison Jimenez pitched a gem that no one will talk about outside of this article. He allowed only one hit over seven innings of ball. He struck out five and got 12 ground ball outs. He currently sports a 2.19 ERA.

 

Robert Molina had a multi-hit game which included a double. Both Luis Martinez and Jermaine Palacios doubled as their averages hover around .300. Junior Amarante stole his 20th base.

 

Twins Daily Minor League Players of the Day

Pitcher of the Day: Logan Darnell, Rochester

Hitter of the Day: Amaurys Minier, GCL Twins

 

Tuesday's Probables

Rochester vs Durham (6:05 CST) – Sean Gilmartin (Listen)

New Britain vs Bowie (6:05 CST) – Jason Wheeler (Listen)

Ft. Myers vs St. Lucie (6:05 CST) – TBD (Listen)

Ft. Myers vs St. Lucie (completion of 6/26 suspended game; Miracle leads 3-2 in 5th inning)

Cedar Rapids @ Beloit (7:00 CST) - Ryan Eades (Listen)

Elizabethton at Bristol (6:00 CST) - John Curtiss

GCL Twins vs GCL Rays (11:00am CST) – TBD

DSL Twins @ DSL Orioles1 (9:30am CST) – TBD

 

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[twinsfan34]

Looks like Ft Myers is making room by promoting Byron Buxton to AA

 

A move we expected 4 months earlier...

 

#WhatMightHaveBeen

[Steve Lein]

Felix Jorge was also Baseball America's Pitcher of the Day!

[RedBull34]

Levi Michael didn't Homer, he singled to lead off.

[Jeremy Nygaard]

Levi Michael didn't Homer, he singled to lead off.

 

You're absolutely right. I must have just been so excited about Buxton's home run.

[Trov]

I wonder if the Red Wings make the playoffs if Buxton gets moved up there to get extra work in for all that he missed this year, or will he go back to Ft. Myers during playoffs to get his extra work in?

[Seth Stohs]

I think the idea of Buxton, and Levi Michael, moving up to AA is that they'll get to play in the Arizona Fall League... and they can still add two more from Ft. Myers to that group as well. 

[drjim]

I think the idea of Buxton, and Levi Michael, moving up to AA is that they'll get to play in the Arizona Fall League... and they can still add two more from Ft. Myers to that group as well. 

 

Relievers? Kepler? Turner?

[jokin]

I think the idea of Buxton, and Levi Michael, moving up to AA is that they'll get to play in the Arizona Fall League... and they can still add two more from Ft. Myers to that group as well. 

 

 

According to the AFL website, players under consideration are supposed to be AA or above, and rostered on at least a AA team by no later than August 1, meaning technically, that both Buxton and Michael would only qualify for the two special exemption spots for players below Class AA.  (But the AFL rules seem so loosely adhered to, it makes me think that Buxton's promotion to New Britain is primarily based on other reasons besides the AFL considerations).

 

 

Just out of curiosity, Seth, who do you see as the other two who might get the nod from Ft Myers? There's a case to be made for Kepler, Walker, Goodrum, Burdi, Tomshaw...maybe others?

 

And which other two players under the normal rules besides Buxton and Michael should get the nod?  Vargas, Rosario, Gilmartin, Achter...?

[Badsmerf]

I don't think Jorge is really being challenged in this league. Seems to have found his control again. I would like to see him go back up to Cedar Rapids, but I don't think that will happen.