Article: Twins Minor League Report (5/9): Saturday In The Minor League Parks

[Seth Stohs]

In the comments, you’ll need to help pick the Minor League Hitter of the Day Award. We’d love your feedback. It was a good day for several hitters, including a big man from the Dominican Republic who is showing signs of turning things around a little bit. There were some really strong pitching performances as well on Saturday, and one that didn’t go so well.Here are the scores and highlights from the Twins minor league system on Saturday. By the way, the Twins have now won 17 of their last 24 games since starting the season 1-6. Just seven teams in Major League Baseball have a better record than that Twins’ 18-13 record.

 

 

RED WINGS REPORT

Rochester 5, Louisville 10

Box Score

 

It was another rough outing for starter Alex Meyer. The right-hander gave up one run in the first inning. He pitched a perfect second inning. Then came the third inning. The first batter hit a double down the right field line. He tried to stretch it into a triple but was thrown out. The next six batters got hits. After a strikeout, Meyer gave up a three-run homer to Yorman Rodriguez, and his day was over. He went 2.2 innings and gave up eight runs on nine hits and a walk. He struck out two. He threw a total of 63 pitches and 42 of them were strikes (67%).

 

Meyer was replaced by fellow Kentucky Wildcat Logan Darnell. He gave up two runs on two hits and two walks in 1.1 innings. He struck out three. Stephen Pryor threw two scoreless innings before Caleb Thielbar and Ryan O’Rourke each threw a scoreless frame.

 

Danny Ortiz went 2-5 and hit a ninth inning grand slam. It was his fifth home run of the year. Aaron Hicks had another strong game. He went 2-3 with two walks and his ninth double. Reynaldo Rodriguez went 2-4 with a walk.

 

With the loss, the Red Wings are now 16-12 this season.

 

CHATTANOOGA CHATTER

Chattanooga 7, Jackson 4

Box Score

 

The Lookouts continued to put up some big offensive numbers and won for the fourth straight game to improve to 16-12 on the year.

 

Greg Peavey gave his best performance of the season. He gave up one run on five hits and a walk in five innings. Dallas Gallant gave up three runs (on a homer) on three hits and a walk over two innings. Madison Boer pitched a scoreless eighth inning. DJ Johnson got the call for the ninth inning. He gave up a single and a double, but didn’t allow either to score. It was Johnson’s first save of the year.

 

Miguel Sano might be turning things around. In this game, he went 2-3 with a walk. He hit his fourth double and his sixth home run.

 

MIRACLE MATTERS

Ft. Myers 3, Jupiter 2 (10 innings)

Box Score

 

I’m sure you’re shocked to learn that the Miracle played another extra-inning game. This time, they were able to finish it with a walk-off win. In the tenth, singles by Alex Swim, Niko Goodrum and Chad Christensen loaded the bases. Marcus Knecht hit a fly ball deep enough to score Swim and give the Miracle the victory.

 

Knecht led the Miracle offense. Aside from the sacrifice fly, he went 3-4 in the game with his first triple. Alex Swim is now hitting .347 after a 2-5 game.

 

Brett Lee made the start for the Miracle. Through seven innings, he did not allow a run. He went out for the eighth inning but after one out, he had gave up a run. Brian Gilbert came on and allowed the runner to score and tie the game. Of the two runs Lee gave up, just one was earned. Luke Westphal pitched scoreless frames in the ninth and tenth innings to record his first win in affiliated baseball.

The Miracle won for the fifth straight game to improve to 14-16. Of their first 30 games, 11 of them have gone to extra frames.

 

 

KERNELS NUGGETS

 

Because of rain on Friday night, the Kernels got to play two games on Saturday.

 

Cedar Rapids 5, Beloit 2

Game 1 - Box Score

 

Michael Cederoth started the first game and went six innings. He recorded his first win of the season. He was charged with two runs on three hits. He walked three and struck out five. Cameron Booser came on and continued his dominance. He recorded his third save with two strikeouts in a perfect inning.

 

The Kernels scored five runs on just six hits. Zack Larson went 3-3 with an RBI. Max Murphy went 2-3 with his third double. He also stole his third base. Brett Doe had the big hit in the game, a two-run homer in the second inning. Pat Kelly drove in two runs for the Kernels as well.

 

Cedar Rapids 3, Beloit 2 (9 innings)

Game 2 - Box Score

 

The Kernels needed nine innings to win the second game of the day. Of course, in the minor leagues, doubleheader games are seven innings, so this was an extra-innings game. Felix Jorge made the start and was very good through the first six innings. He gave up one run on three hits. He didn’t walk any batters and struck out five.

 

Max Murphy got the team a lead when he hit a two-run homer, his first long ball of the season. He was 2-4 in this game as well. Trey Vavra went 1-2 with two walks. Larson added a hit in this game (4-7 on the day). Pat Kelly provided the game-winning RBI in the ninth inning.

 

Jorge left the game with a 2-1 lead. Zach Tillery came on to try to get the save. He gave up a run in the seventh to send the game to extra innings. He pitched a scoreless eighth inning. With another one-run lead, Jake Mauer went to Trevor Hildenberger who slammed the door. He struck out two batters in a scoreless inning, dropping his ERA to 0.56 and giving him his third save.

 

With the doubleheader sweep, the Kernels are now 19-11 on the season.

 

 

TWINS DAILY PLAYERS OF THE DAY

 

Twins Daily Minor League Pitcher of the Day – Brett Lee, Ft. Myers Miracle

Twins Daily Minor League Hitter of the Day – Max Murphy, Cedar Rapids Kernels

 

 

SUNDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS

 

Rochester @ Louisville (1:05 CST) – LHP Jason Wheeler

Jackson @ Chattanooga (1:15 CST) – RHP DJ Baxendale

Ft. Myers – No Game Scheduled

Cedar Rapids – No Game Scheduled

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

 

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[ExpectMorePayLess]

Promote Brett Lee to the Lookouts and watch those guys take off.  He is the missing piece to their championship run,  He's been with these guys for 2 championships in 3 years and had the best record on the staff the one year they didn't win the championship. Bret Lee - Brett Lee - Brett Lee.  

[Seth Stohs]

He's certainly put up very good ERA numbers the last couple of years. He did start this year with 3-4 weeks on the DL, so he'll get a few starts and I'd expect for him to be promoted.

[DAM DC Twins Fans]

I dagree wit EMPL...

 

Brett Lee should have started the season in Chattanooga with the rest of the guys who won the FSL title at Ft. Myers in 2014 and did almost as well in Cedar Rapids in 2013 (and yes that second half year Brett was the ace of the Kernels.

 

any doubts were erased tonight. Brett went 7.1 IP--left the game with the lead (it went 10 innings-got 13 GO to 3 flies. He only had 3 Ks... but didn't need more.

[jokin]

 

SATURDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS

 

 

"SUNDAY'S PROBABLE STARTERS"

Edited May 10, 2015 by jokin

[Seth Stohs]

 

"SUNDAY'S PROBABLE STARTERS"

 

Corrected. Thanks!

[CCsuby]

It has Rochester with the winning score. Not a big deal but if you are just perusing through you'd think they won today!

[twinsfan34]

Definitely agree with previous posted on Lee. 

 

I'd think that Gonsalves (not bad last year at A-ball either) would be ready for A+ as well. Might even bypass Kohl Stewart's progress. Gonsalves is terrorizing A-ball hitters right now. 

[nater79a]

Not sure what to do with Alex Meyer right now  Things seem to be getting a little stale in his two years with Marty Mason in Rochester, I'm sure they're doing everything possible to fix things, but it doesn't seem to be working.

 

Would it be unheard of to send Meyer to extended spring training for a period of time to work with Eric Rasmussen?  Concentrate on nothing but mechanics without the pressure of games.  Perhaps a new voice would be helpful.

[troyhobbs]

That's a pretty unflattering picture of Sano. Dudes gotta back up off the krispy kremes...unless that's the secret to mashing bombs

[Larsbars08]

How long is Aaron Hicks going to be stuck at AAA? He's killing it at Rochester right now and seems like he deserves another shot at CF really soon.

[ShouldaCouldaWoulda]

Anyone know if Meyer's velocity is down? If so, he might be masking an injury or trying to hard to ramp it up, with it not being there. Would be nice to know.

[Ncgo4]

Looking at the picture of Sano reminds me of some of his outbursts on the field. Clearly he does not possess an over-abundance of self control. Guess that applies to his eating habits as well. But he can MASH!

[clutterheart]

What am I missing in regards to Brett Lee?

I do like his GB tendencies but he seems most likley to be a LOOGY type.

[diehardtwinsfan]

That's a pretty unflattering picture of Sano. Dudes gotta back up off the krispy kremes...unless that's the secret to mashing bombs

There's something to it. Cecil Fielder hit 50. Babe Ruth, the home run king, wasn't exactly the picture of a modern athlete

[diehardtwinsfan]

So here's the real question. People get promoted, someone gets demoted or released... So who gets the axe to make room for Gonsalves, Lee, etc.?

[Halsey Hall]

Somehow the Red Wings are 16-12 despite having Alex Meyer.  He needs to get out of Rochester, and go back down to Ft Myers and figure out what pitching is.  He could well be a short timer in this organization. 

[nytwinsfan]

Folks, I hate to be the bearer of good news, but in his last 10 games, Sano is hitting .265/.381/.588 (.969) with 3 HRs, 7 BB and 9 Ks. Needless to say, that is the kind of production we would LOVE to have from him at AA. Perhaps not coincidentally, this string of production started only slightly after Dougie kept him out of the lineup for a few games to work on some mechanics. Between Buxton and Sano, it sure does seem like Mientkiewicz and his team know what they are doing.

[Shane Wahl]

 

So here's the real question. People get promoted, someone gets demoted or released... So who gets the axe to make room for Gonsalves, Lee, etc.?

 

There's always the 7-day DL. And there probably are a few guys at AA and AAA who could be released. This was the first time Greg Peavey wasn't terrible in a start, for instance.

[drivlikejehu]

 

There's always the 7-day DL. And there probably are a few guys at AA and AAA who could be released. This was the first time Greg Peavey wasn't terrible in a start, for instance.

 

There are always non-prospects that can be bumped. Wheeler in AAA (LOOGY at best), Peavey at AA, etc.

 

 

What am I missing in regards to Brett Lee?
I do like his GB tendencies but he seems most likley to be a LOOGY type.

 

You're not missing anything, he's not really a prospect.

[Seth Stohs]

 

Anyone know if Meyer's velocity is down? If so, he might be masking an injury or trying to hard to ramp it up, with it not being there. Would be nice to know.

 

Fastball yesterday was hitting 97 consistently and one of the strikeouts came on 99. The slider looked good too. Just a lot of fastballs right down the middle in the bad inning.

[Seth Stohs]

 

So here's the real question. People get promoted, someone gets demoted or released... So who gets the axe to make room for Gonsalves, Lee, etc.?

 

There are things that can be done. Lee could move up to AA, or Westphal could move to the bullpen. I won't predict who will be released. That's possible, but there are always injuries and the "fake DL" and stuff like that to make things happen.

[HitInAPinch]

 

Fastball yesterday was hitting 97 consistently and one of the strikeouts came on 99. The slider looked good too. Just a lot of fastballs right down the middle in the bad inning.

Is Meyer just over throwing?  Things started going bad for him immediately after he got cut from the MLB camp in spring training. 

[HitInAPinch]

 

 

Folks, I hate to be the bearer of good news, but in his last 10 games, Sano is hitting .265/.381/.588 (.969) with 3 HRs, 7 BB and 9 Ks. Needless to say, that is the kind of production we would LOVE to have from him at AA. Perhaps not coincidentally, this string of production started only slightly after Dougie kept him out of the lineup for a few games to work on some mechanics. Between Buxton and Sano, it sure does seem like Mientkiewicz and his team know what they are doing.

In the previous game Sano was 3 for 5, all singles.  Somebody got to him and one of the big reasons I was against Mientkiewicz becoming the Twins manager.  They need a guy like him in the MiLB developing players.

[Seth Stohs]

 

Is Meyer just over throwing?  Things started going bad for him immediately after he got cut from the MLB camp in spring training. 

 

I don't know how to answer that with any certainty, but he didn't have a very strong spring training either. 

[diehardtwinsfan]

Folks, I hate to be the bearer of good news, but in his last 10 games, Sano is hitting .265/.381/.588 (.969) with 3 HRs, 7 BB and 9 Ks. Needless to say, that is the kind of production we would LOVE to have from him at AA. Perhaps not coincidentally, this string of production started only slightly after Dougie kept him out of the lineup for a few games to work on some mechanics. Between Buxton and Sano, it sure does seem like Mientkiewicz and his team know what they are doing.

I noticed he was improving, but didn't realize he was putting up Sanoesque numbers doing it. That's encouraging. If so, that average will start picking up in short order..

[ashbury]

How long is Aaron Hicks going to be stuck at AAA? He's killing it at Rochester right now and seems like he deserves another shot at CF really soon.

How's his defense? He did not look like a major league center fielder during spring training.

[Seth Stohs]

Aaron Hicks is a really good defensive centerfielder. Good range, great arm.

[Seth Stohs]

For those that follow @TwinsDaily or @SethTweets on Twitter, we posted a whole bunch of streaks by hitters in the Twins system, major league and minor league.

 

Check those out here: www.Twitter.com/TwinsDaily and www.Twitter.com/SethTweets.

[ashbury]

Aaron Hicks is a really good defensive centerfielder. Good range, great arm.

I know these things, but they pertain to the tools he's had since day 1. How have his routes been, in Rochester this year? Is he making the right throws to the right place? Etc. He looked lost in Ft Myers, for instance when weather conditions weren't optimal. I want a CF ready to rock and roll.