Article: Twins Minor League Report (6/28): Anything You Can Do I Can Do Better

[Steve Lein]

There was plenty of action on Sunday, as both the Rochester Red Wings and Elizabethton Twins played doubleheaders. There was a walk-off blast in one game, a few stellar pitching performances, and an ongoing winning streak was on the line.There was also an incredible display of power from the middle of the lineup for one affiliate (I’ll let you guess which one…), as the players involved continue to one-up each other.

 

There was so much action I couldn't limit the player of the day to just one name, either. Read on to find out all about it!

 

RED WINGS REPORT

Game 1: Charlotte 0, Rochester 1

Box Score

 

In the first game of their doubleheader, both teams managed to combine for just nine hits on the day and a single run. Luckily for the Red Wings, it was they who scored it.

 

An error by Charlotte’s shortstop in the third inning allowed Doug Bernier to reach base. He moved to third on a James Beresford single, and was driven in on a single to left from Eric Fryer.

 

That’s all starter Tyler Duffey would need. He pitched a seven inning complete game shutout, scattering four hits and one walk along the way. He struck out four.

 

Beresford was 2-4 on the day and is batting .328 on the year, and Jose Martinez added the only extra-base hit for the Red Wings, a double.

 

Game 2: Charlotte 4, Rochester 5 (11 innings)

Box Score

 

Greg Peavey made the start for Rochester in the second game, and gave up single runs in the second and third innings to put them down 2-0 early, but a three-run fourth put Rochester out front 3-2 after four.

 

Reynaldo Rodriguez and Oswaldo Arcia singled to start the inning, and Wilkin Ramirez put the crooked number on the board with his second home run of the year.

 

The score remained that way until the seventh and final inning, when Michael Tonkin was summoned for the save opportunity. A one-out walk put the tying run on base, and it moved into scoring position on a wild pitch. Tonkin was hit with the blown save after an RBI single to center field, before escaping the inning via a strikeout with runners on first and second.

 

A.J. Achter pitched the first two extra innings, allowing just one walk while striking out three to keep the game tied. Lester Oliveros pitched a scoreless tenth inning by striking out two around two singles, but ran into more trouble in the eleventh after recording two quick outs.

 

A single, walk, and wild pitch put a runner on third, and he was driven in on a single from the Knights’ Micah Johnson to make it 4-3.

 

The middle of the Rochester lineup was due up in the bottom of the eleventh, and Arcia singled to put the game's tying run on base with one out. All he had to do was trot around the bases, as Ramirez followed with his second home run of the game, a walk-off blast to left field for the 5-4 extra-inning win.

 

CHATTANOOGA CHATTER

Chattanooga 9, Montgomery 8

Box Score

 

The Chattanooga lineup pounded out thirteen hits as a team providing a ton of offense, though it was just enough to escape with the victory after an eventful ninth inning.

 

The Lookouts jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first after Max Kepler drove in Miguel Sano, who had doubled. Montgomery tied the game at one in the second inning with a sac fly, but the score remained that way until the sixth as starter Jose Berrios was brilliant.

 

In seven innings, Berrios allowed just the one run on two hits and a walk. He struck out six and seventy of his ninety-seven pitches went for strikes. He retired thirteen in a row at one point, and struck out the last two hitters he faced in the game. He left with the score 5-1 in favor of the Lookouts.

 

They pushed two runs across in each of the sixth and seventh innings, thanks to a two-run home run from Adam Brett Walker in the sixth, and a two-run double from Kepler in the seventh.

 

The Biscuits lineup woke up after Berrios left however, and made the score 5-4 in the eighth as D.J. Baxendale was greeted with a solo home run, and two batters later a two-run shot reached the seats. He finished the inning with a strikeout to escape any more damage.

 

The middle of the lineup got all of the runs back for Baxendale in the ninth, as singles from Jorge Polanco and Heiker Meneses were the prelude to a three-run Sano blast into right, and a Walker double brought home Kepler and a 9-4 cushion for the bullpen.

 

Zach Jones walked the first batter he faced, and then picked up the first two quick outs, before his control became an issue again. Three more walks and two wild pitches brought the first run of the inning across, and a triple cleared the bases for three more. Jones was then relieved by Tim Shibuya with the tying run on third, but he got a fly out to right field to end the game.

 

Berrios improved to 8-3 on the season, and lowered his ERA to 3.08. Shibuya picked up his first save of the year.

 

The big names in the lineup: Polanco (3-4, 2 R’s, 2B, BB), Sano (3-5, 3 R’s, 2B, HR, 3 RBI), Kepler (3-3, 2 R’s, 2B, 3 RBI, 2 BB), and Walker (2-4, R, 2B, HR, 3 RBI, BB); collected multiple hits and filled up the stat sheet for Chattanooga.

 

Over their last ten games Sano, Kepler, and Walker have been otherworldly in the three, four, and five spots in the lineup:

 

Sano: 14-40 (.350), 13 R’s, 6 2B’s, 4 HR’s, 11 RBI, 5 BB’s, 9 K’s.

Kepler: 21-38 (.553), 8 R’s, 2 2B’s, 4 3B’s, 9 RBI, 7 BB’s, 6 K’s.

Walker: 14-39 (.359), 7 R’s, 2 2B’s, 5 HR’s, 12 RBI, 5 BB, 17 K’s.

 

Insanity!

MIRACLE MATTERS

Fort Myers 2, Dunedin 7

Box Score

 

While they racked up eight hits as a team, they were just 2-11 with runners in scoring position and left ten men on base.

 

Mat Batts was on the hill for Fort Myers, but was only able to make it through 3.2 innings, thanks in part to his defense. In the third two runs had scored after a walk, double, and single; but Batts had countered with a strikeout for the second out. A ground ball to first base was then misplayed by Bryan Haar to prolong the inning, and a single drove in the third run for the early Blue Jays lead. Batts would finish his outing with four runs allowed (three earned) on eight hits and one walk, striking out five.

 

Dunedin would add single runs in the fourth, sixth, seventh, and eighth innings to put their final total on the board.

 

Jason Kanzler made the score 4-1 with his fifth home run of the season in the fifth innning, and they’d get as close as 4-2 after an RBI single from Engelb Vielma in the sixth.

 

Chad Christensen (2-5), Kanzler (2-4), and Vielma (2-4) had multi-hit games to lead the offense.

 

Brian Gilbert was the first man up in relief, and finished the sixth inning. He allowed one run on two hits over his 2.1 innings, walking one and striking out one. Tyler Jay then made his second appearance for the Miracle and recorded two quick outs before consecutive extra base hits led to his first run allowed as a pro. He picked up a strikeout to end the threat. Todd Van Steensel came out for the eighth inning, and he was tagged with a solo home run along with picking up a strikeout.

 

The Fort Myers Miracle were riding a ten-game winning streak coming into this one, but that’s as far as they could take it.

KERNELS NUGGETS

Quad Cities 6, Cedar Rapids 1

Box Score

 

Cedar Rapids was unable to string any offense together, totaling just five hits and one walk on the day. They left just four men on base and were 0-4 with runners in scoring position.

 

Alex Real provided their only notch on the scoreboard with a solo home run leading off the fourth inning that made the score 3-1.

 

Zach Tillery made the start for the Kernels, and allowed single runs in the second, third, and fourth innings before being lifted. His line was three earned runs on seven hits and two walks and five strikeouts in four innings.

 

Michael Theofanopoulos pitched three innings in relief, allowing one run on three hits and a walk. Brandon Bixler finished the game by allowing two runs on three hits and two walks in two innings. He struck out one.

 

The first four hitters in the Kernels lineup - Tanner English, Nick Gordon, Edgar Corcino and Real – were all 1-4 on the day. Jorge Fernandez provided the only other base hit of the day.

 

Top 2015 draft pick of the Houston Astros, Alex Bregman, slugged his first professional home run off Tillery in the third inning.

 

E-TOWN E-NOTES

Game 1: Pulaski 6, Elizabethton 2

Box Score

 

The Elizabethton Twins also played a double-header on Sunday, and in the first game they fell behind early and were unable to claw back.

 

Pulaski pushed across two runs in each of the first and second innings, and the home team couldn’t quite match them, leaving the score at 4-2 after two.

 

Manuel Guzman went station to station in the first, and scored on a wild pitch, while Amaurys Minier led off the second with his first home run of 2015.

 

In the third, three consecutive singles loaded the bases to start the inning, but the Twins were unable to scratch a run across after a pop-out double play behind third base that resulted in the runner being thrown out at home after tagging up. They would not threaten again.

 

Guzman was the only hitter to pick up multiple hits, going 2-4 with a run scored. Kamran Young, LaMonte Wade, Daniel Kihle, and Ariel Montesino pitcked up the rest of their seven hits. As a team they left five men on base and were 1-7 with runners in scoring position.

 

Left-hander Brandon Easton started the game, and allowed the first four runs. He lasted just 2.1 innings, as four walks and four hits got him into trouble. He struck out three.

 

Nate Gercken went the next 3.2 innings, and surrendered two runs on five hits, while striking out four. Josh Guyer pitched a scoreless final inning, striking out two along the way.

 

Game 2: Pulaski 0, Elizabethton 4

Box Score

 

In game two, Cody Stashak and Onesimo Hernandez combined to shut out the Yankees. Stashak went the first four innings, allowing just one hit and one walk, while striking out four. Hernandez allowed just one hit over the final three innings and struck out six.

 

Elizabethton scored all four of their runs in the fifth inning. A Nelson Molina single brought in A.J. Murray, who had doubled, for the game’s first run. Manuel Guzman singled with the bases loaded to score the second, and a LaMonte Wade walk and Amaurys Minier sac fly finished it off. Murray (2-3, 2B) was the only hitter to collect multiple hits or an extra-base hit.

 

GCL TWINS TAKES

 

The Gulf Coast League Twins, like the rest of the GCL, had the day off on Sunday. They travel to face the GCL Rays Monday morning.

 

TWINS DAILY MINOR LEAGUE PLAYERS OF THE DAY

 

Pitcher(s) of the Day – Tyler Duffey, Rochester Red Wings (7 IP, CG-SO, 4 H’s, 1 BB, 4 K’s)

Jose Berrios, Chattanooga Lookouts (7 IP, 1 R, 2 H’s, 1 BB, 6 K’s)

Hitter(s) of the Day – Miguel Sano, Max Kepler, and Adam Brett Walker; Chattanooga Lookouts (8-12, 6 R’s, 3 2B’s, 2 HR’s, 9 RBI).

Wilkin Ramirez, Rochester Red Wings (3-5, 2 R’s, 2B, 2 HR’s, 5 RBI)

 

MONDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS

 

Pawtucket @ Rochester (6:05 PM CST) – RHP Ervin Santana (2-0, 2.84 ERA)

Chattanooga @ Montgomery (7:05 PM CST) – LHP Jason Wheeler (0-0, -.-- ERA)

Fort Myers @ Dunedin (5:30 PM CST) – RHP Kohl Stewart (3-4, 3.62 ERA)

Cedar Rapids @ Wisconsin (7:05 PM CST) – RHP Sam Gibbons (1-2, 6.20 ERA)

Bristol @ Elizabethton (6:00 PM CST) – TBD

GCL Twins @ GCL Rays (11:00 AM CST) – TBD

 

Please feel free to ask any questions and discuss Friday’s games.

 

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[ExpectMorePayLess]

MiLB must be thinking like you.  

 

http://www.milb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20150629&content_id=133536112&fext=.jsp&vkey=news_l111&sid=l111

[Pitz]

Any chance Sano and/or Kepler get promoted to AAA soon? Before Friday would be terrific since I'm heading to the Red Wings' game in Lehigh Valley

 

[big dog]

 

MiLB must be thinking like you.  

 

http://www.milb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20150629&content_id=133536112&fext=.jsp&vkey=news_l111&sid=l111

Thanks for the link to the video.  Would be fun to go see the Lookouts play "hit the ball until it screams".

 

I thought the bat boy was running out to greet Kepler after the catch- no, that's our 5-9, 200 lb second baseman Meneses.  Looking at the video, the 5-9 is optimistic and the 200 might be pessimistic...

[Tibs]

Walker, Sano, and Kepler have all been hot for the month of June. Kepler is hitting .373 after hitting over .340 in May. Sano is putting his second month in a row together of hitting over .300. Walker has 10 homeruns in June and his 22 on the season is only 5 short of his career high in 70 games.

[Steve Lein]

 

MiLB must be thinking like you.  

 

http://www.milb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20150629&content_id=133536112&fext=.jsp&vkey=news_l111&sid=l111

 

Good thing I decided not to use the term "murderer's row," haha!

[FanFromPhilly]

I'd love to see Berrios, Kepler, and Sano promoted to AAA.

[Steve Lein]

 

Walker, Sano, and Kepler have all been hot for the month of June. Kepler is hitting .373 after hitting over .340 in May. Sano is putting his second month in a row together of hitting over .300. Walker has 10 homeruns in June and his 22 on the season is only 5 short of his career high in 70 games.

 

Oh I know! Triple slashes in June:

 

Sano: .329/.422/.671

Kepler: .373/.485/.590

Walker: .319/.376/.747

 

The last 10 is even more impressive, that's why I put that in instead!

[jokin]

 

I'd love to see Berrios, Kepler, and Sano promoted to AAA.

 

And that wouldn't be just because the Red Wings are playing in Allentown, PA later this week, right?

Edited June 29, 2015 by jokin

[ExpectMorePayLess]

From listening to the Lookout games (radio) over the last month - most of Walkers home runs seem to have been on Off Speed pitches.  That's an improvement in the right direction.

 

http://www.milb.com/multimedia/vpp.jsp?content_id=205006983&sid=t498

Off Speed Pitch 

[Pitz]

Although overshadowed by the offensive exploits of Sano/Kepler/Walker, Tyler Duffey has been fantastic of late as well. He's now gone 22.1 innings (across 3 starts) since giving up his last earned run. He's amassed 19 strikeouts to 3 walks and 15 hits in those innings.

His ERA in AAA is now 2.82 (If not for a very rough start on June 11, it would be much much lower - half of his 14 AAA earned runs were given up in that 5.1 inning start.)

[gil4]

 

Oh I know! Triple slashes in June:

 

Sano: .329/.422/.671

Kepler: .373/.485/.590

Walker: .319/.376/.747

 

The last 10 is even more impressive, that's why I put that in instead!

 

Combined last 10 games (to the best of my ability):

 

.419/.493/.718;  OPS 1.211

 

[nytwinsfan]

 

MiLB must be thinking like you.  

 

http://www.milb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20150629&content_id=133536112&fext=.jsp&vkey=news_l111&sid=l111

Wohh, Kepler's game ending catch. Watch that video at the bottom. Yes, he can play great outfield defense.

 

But tell me again how we should be grooming him for First Base . . .

[jokin]

 

Wohh, Kepler's game ending catch. Watch that video at the bottom. Yes, he can play great outfield defense.

 

But tell me again how we should be grooming him for First Base . . .

 

Yep.  That was a do or die catch, Montgomery had a man on 3rd, and the hitter likely would have made it to 3rd had he missed the catch.  As I said previously, I don't see Torii making that catch.   The Twins might have their 2016, doubles-hitting RF in one Max Kepler.  He's definitely earned a promotion to AAA- will the FO wait until after the IL All Star break to move him up?

[Ncgo4]

These 3 should be in Target Field, not in Rochester. When a major league club can start 9 players with not one single player, that's nada, hitting over .267 and we have the International boppers threesome waiting in the wings and Joe Mauer's .250, is blocking someone?

 

You gotta be kidding,right?

[Steve Lein]

Personally, I'd get Sano up here soon and DH him. You put Kepler and Walker at AAA to audition for September call-ups. Probably after the futures game.

[nater79a]

Would someone please let me know when it's time to get nervous about Nick Burdi, Jake Reed and Zach Jones? Thanks in advance.

[TNLooky2015]

The Twins are not going to move anyone until they are sure they are done on the Trade market.  The worst thing to do is move someone and have to re shuffle the whole deck because you released someone too early to make room for a traded player.  No rush for the Twins.  By the trade deadline or right after trades will they make wholesale promotions. No need to make extra moves if you do not have to.  IMO

[Pitz]

 

The Twins are not going to move anyone until they are sure they are done on the Trade market.  The worst thing to do is move someone and have to re shuffle the whole deck because you released someone too early to make room for a traded player.  No rush for the Twins.  By the trade deadline or right after trades will they make wholesale promotions. No need to make extra moves if you do not have to.  IMO

 

You wouldn't happen to be personally benefitting from them spending extra time in Chattanooga would you?