Article: Twins Minor League Report (9/3): Miracle Advance

[Seth Stohs]

On Wednesday night, the Twins A-Ball teams both played playoff games. The Ft. Myers Miracle had a big inning and a well-pitched game to win Game 2 and advance to the Florida State League Championship Series. The Cedar Rapids Kernels opened up their 2014 playoff run with a home game against Burlington.So let’s get into the updates.

 

MIRACLE MATTERS

Game 2 - Ft. Myers 6, Bradenton 2

Box Score

 

They play nine innings, but sometimes just one of those innings can make the difference. That was the case in this game. The Miracle scored six runs on five hits in the bottom of the 3^rd inning to take a 6-1 lead. Aderlin Mejia had an RBI double. Travis Harrison had a two-run double high off the jetBlue Green Monster. The next batter, Dalton Hicks, fell behind 0-2. However, he got a pitch that he could handle and drilled a two-run homer to give the 6-1 lead.

 

Of course, one big inning may not be enough if the pitching isn’t strong. On this night, DJ Baxendale put in arguably his best performance of the year. The right-hander from Arkansas gave up only an unearned run on six hits and a walk over seven innings. He struck out five. Todd Van Steensel came on and walked one and struck out one in a scoreless eighth inning. For the second straight night, Zack Jones came on and pitched the ninth. It wasn’t pretty, but Jones got the job done. He gave up one run on one hit. He walked two batters consecutively, but he came back to get a fly out and a three-pitch strikeout to end the game.

 

The Miracle complete the two-game sweep and advance to the Florida State League Championship Series. In the northern division, Daytona completed a two-game sweep as well. Because both series completed on Wednesday, they will begin the championship series on Thursday in Ft. Myers. The Miracle have spent the last several weeks playing their home games at jetBlue Stadium because there are more renovations happening at Hammond Stadium.

 

KERNELS NUGGETS

Game 1 – Cedar Rapids 0, Burlington 2

Box Score

 

This game was certainly a pitcher’s duel through the early innings. Chih-Wei Hu got the nod to start the first game of this series. Despite being up against his season’s innings limit, Hu was able to provide the Kernels with five shutout innings. He gave up just four hits, walked one and struck out seven. Chris Mazza came on and gave up a home run to the first batter he faced, Eric Aguilera, in the sixth inning. In the seventh frame, he got the first two outs. However, a single, a wild pitch and a single gave Burlington a 2-0 lead. After another single, Mazza was replaced by Dallas Gallant who retired all seven batters he faced, four on strikeouts.

 

The Kernels just were not able to get much offense going. Heading to the bottom of the ninth inning, the team had just five hits. Alex Swim singled for the second time in the game. However, he was doubled off when JD Williams lined out. With two outs, Max Murphy recorded his second single of the game. However, Logan Wade struck out to end the game.

 

These two teams will play again on Thursday night. A loss would end the Kernels season. A win would set up a Game 3 to determine who would advance to the next round of the Midwest League playoffs.

 

TWINS DAILY PLAYERS OF THE DAY

 

Twins Daily Minor League Pitcher of the Day – DJ Baxendale, Ft. Myers Miracle

Twins Daily Minor League Hitter of the Day – Dalton Hicks, Ft. Myers Miracle

 

THURSDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS

 

Daytona @ Ft. Myers (6:05 CST) – Matt Tomshaw

Cedar Rapids @ Burlington (6:30 CST) – Mat Batts

 

Please feel free to ask any questions and discuss the Wednesday games.

 

Click here to view the article

[Halsey Hall]

Good for the Miracle.  Let's hope the Kernels come back with a win tonight.

[Seth Stohs]

The FSL Championship series is a best of five series. I'm told Tomshaw tonight, and likely Ethan Mildren in Game 2 with Brett Lee available for Game 3.