Article: Twins Minor League Report (9/4): Post-Season Fun

[Seth Stohs]

The Twins played host to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in the first of a four-game series at Target Field. The Twins lost (what's new?), but Cedar Rapids and Fort Myers are playing in the post-season and you're here for the Minor League Report, so let's make it happen.Miracle Matters

Daytona 1, Fort Myers 5

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The Miracle took a 1-0 lead in the best-of-five Florida State League Championship Series on Thursday night with a victory over the Daytona Cubs. The Miracle jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the second inning and never looked back. Dalton Hicks and Stuart Turner scored those two runs on an RBI single from Tyler Grimes with two outs in the second. Miracle Starter Matt Tomshaw was cruising into the sixth inning before running into a little bit of trouble. The Cubs' leadoff hitter in the sixth reached on a ground ball that deflected off Tomshaw, and then advanced to second when Tyler Grimes committed a throwing error trying to make a play on the deflected ball. The next hitter dropped a bunt single to put runners on the corners with no outs. Tomshaw then struck out a hitter before a ground-rule double plated a run. The Miracle were saved a run as the base runners were only allowed to advance two bases. Tomshaw then walked the next batter and induced an inning-ending double play a batter later.

 

With the score now 2-1, Adam Brett Walker, who finished first in the FSL in homers in the regular season, led off the bottom of the sixth and deposited the third pitch of the inning over the Green Monster in left field. The Miracle added another run in the sixth when Travis Harrison doubled home Jason Kanzler. The Miracle closed out the scoring in the bottom of the seventh via an RBI double from Adam Brett Walker, scoring Stuart Turner. With runners on second and third with no out and a chance to really break the game open, the Miracle failed to put another ball in play as Tyler Grimes and Jason Kanzler struck out swinging before Aderlin Megia was hit by a pitch. Then with bases loaded and two outs, Niko Goodrum went down on strikes as well.

 

With the score then 5-1, D.J. Johnson and Brandon Peterson finished things up for the Miracle, holding the Cubs scoreless for the final two frames.

 

On the night, Adam Brett Walker was 3-4 with a run scored, that double and home run, and two RBIs. The 22-year-old is hitting .444 this post season, and as I mentioned above, led the FSL in homers this year, with 25 long balls. A year ago in Cedar Rapids Walker lit up the Midwest League with 27 round-trippers. Walker should start 2015 in Double-A and really test his mettle against some of the better pitchers in the minor leagues.

 

Travis Harrison was 2-4 on the day with two doubles, an RBI and a walk. The Miracle hitters totaled eleven hits, four walks and nine strike outs against the Cubs.

 

Matt Tomshaw's final line was six innings pitched, six hits, one earned run, two walks and he struck out four. D.J. Johnson pitched two scoreless innings to earn his second hold of the post season, and Brandon Peterson finished things off in the eighth.

 

The Miracle are back at "home" at Jet Blue Park for game-two on Friday evening at 6:05pm.

 

Kernels Nuggets

Cedar Rapids 2, Burlington 1

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After dropping the first game of the series in Cedar Rapids, the Kernels snuck past the Burlington Bees 2-1 to force a third game in this three-game series. The Kernels and the Bees played three quiet innings until Cedar Rapids broke the scoreless tie in the top of the fourth. With runners on the corner and no outs, Alex Swim singled home a run to give the Kernels a 1-0 lead with two runners on and no outs and a chance to extend their lead. The next batter, J.D. Williams, popped one up to the first baseman, and then Engelb Vielma and Michael Quesada both struck out swinging to end the Kernel's threat.

 

The Bees tied the game with two outs in the bottom of the sixth on an RBI single, ending the evening for Kernel's starter Mat Batts. Brian Gilbert replaced Batts and struck out the next batter swinging to end the sixth.

 

In the top of the eighth Logan Wade pushed the Kernels ahead by a run with a solo home run, which turned out to be the winning run for the Kernels. In the bottom of the eighth, things heated up after Jake Mauer was ejected arguing a safe call at first base on a bunt attempt that gave Burlington runners on first and second with no outs. Mauer's ejection perked up his team as Gilbert proceeded to pick off the runner at second base, and then quickly induced an inning ending double play to move play to the ninth.

 

Down by one, the Bees put runners on the corners with no outs against Jake Reed, who replaced Gilbert to start the inning. Reed struck out the next batter and then induced an inning ending double play of his own on a grounder to Engelb Vielma at shortstop to preserve the Kernels' victory.

 

The Kernels recorded just seven hits on the night, to go along with a single walk while striking out ten times. Chad Christensen was 2-4. The hero of the night, Logan Wade, was 1-4 with that solo blast. On the mound, Mat Batts pitched very well, scattering three hits over 5.2 innings, giving up only one run. Brian Gilbert pitched 2.1 scoreless innings before turning things over to Jake Reed for an adventurous save.

 

The Kernels and the Bees will finish things off on Friday at 6:30pm at Community Field in Burlington, winner take all.

 

TwinsDaily Minor League Players of the Day

TwinsDaily Minor League Hitter of the Day - Adam Brett Walker, Fort Myers

TwinsDaily Minor League Pitcher of the Day - Matt Tomshaw, Fort Myers

 

Friday's Probables

Daytona @ Fort Myers, 6:05pm, Ethan Mildren

Cedar Rapids @ Burlington, 6:30pm, Stephen Gonsalves

 

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[Squirrel]

The Miracle haven't won a championship since 1985, before they were a Twins affiliate (they were the Fort Myers Royals) and Mientkiewics was 11. Watching them play on Wednesday you could feel the desire.

[Steven Buhr]

Admittedly biased, but I might have chosen Batts as the POD over Tomshaw. The CR starting pitchers remain on some pretty strict pitch counts and Batts knew he had to attack the zone rather than work for Ks. He was pretty impressive doing so.

[Steven Buhr]

The Miracle haven't won a championship since 1985, before they were a Twins affiliate (they were the Fort Myers Royals) and Mientkiewics was 11. Watching them play on Wednesday you could feel the desire.

 

That core group of players is pretty special. They won the Appy title together in '13 and won a ton of games in CR before a disappointing early playoff exit last year. Winning is important to them and I like to see that in minor leaguers.

[iTwins]

That core group of players is pretty special. They won the Appy title together in '13 and won a ton of games in CR before a disappointing early playoff exit last year. Winning is important to them and I like to see that in minor leaguers.

 

That's what I was going to add - this group has been a championship team or very close to a championship team each year that they've been together. New Britian should be tons of fun to watch next year. They're used to success and winning, it's great to see. (It's too bad they're not closer to the big leagues yet!)

[Squirrel]

You could see the confidence even though they are very young, relatively speaking.

[Steven Buhr]

That's what I was going to add - this group has been a championship team or very close to a championship team each year that they've been together. New Britian should be tons of fun to watch next year. They're used to success and winning, it's great to see. (It's too bad they're not closer to the big leagues yet!)

 

Assuming the core does go to AA (wherever the Twins affiliate may be) next year, they'll really just be a phone call away from Target Field. They should be reunited with Polanco and Buxton at AA to start the season anyway (maybe even Sano?). Frankly, that's your next batch of contending Twins position players.

[lightfoot789]

That crew of Hicks; Harrison; Walker; Goodrum; and Kepler, sure know how to make things exciting in the Playofffs. 3 Years running.



Harrison has 4 doubles in 3 games in the playoffs. .417 BA



Hicks has a double and home run in the playoffs.  .333BA



Goodrum hasn't had the playoff success of the others, but they wouldn't be in playoffs without his speed and defensive pressence.



Kepler has 1 double and a .386 OBP in the playoffs.



Walker has 1 home run and 1 double.  He also is leading the team with a  .444 BA and .615 OBP.  Not bad for a guy batting 7th in the line up.   If it ain't broke don't fix it I guess?  Somebody will have to explain that to me someday?  7th?



It was a Jacksonville University evening with both Tomshaw and Walker leading the fireworks.   The Team leaders in Wins and Home Runs respectively are both from the same college (JU / Jacksonville University).   For a small university, they seem to produce some decent talent.

[Seth Stohs]

Player development is the key in the minor leagues, but I always say learning how to win as a team is an ideal part of that process. That group gets that!

[diehardtwinsfan]

Walker has looked really good the last couple of months. I hope that's a sign of him getting through some of his contact issues. That kid can be an absolute star if he figures them out.

[Squirrel]

And the Miracle win again tonight ... 5-0!

[twinssouth]

Awesome news On the Miracles win. Shutout to boot. Anybody know why Mitch Garver is not playing for Cedar Rapids. I checked tonights box score and still not playing. Is he hurt? He's been there best hitter.

[jokin]

Awesome news On the Miracles win. Shutout to boot. Anybody know why Mitch Garver is not playing for Cedar Rapids. I checked tonights box score and still not playing. Is he hurt? He's been there best hitter.

 

Concussion symptoms.