Article: Twins Minor League Report (6/29): Rodriguez Flirts With No-Hitter

[Cody Christie]

It was a busy day for the Rochester Red Wings. Not only did they have parts of two games to play but they also announced that right-handed pitcher Tyler Duffey was named the International League Player of the Week.

 

Duffey won both of his starts over the last seven days and he's in the midst of a 22.1 inning stretch without allowing an earned run. In 14.1 innings this week, he did not allow an earned run while walking two and tying for a league-best 10 strikeouts.

 

Miguel Sano was also honored on Monday with the Southern League Player of the Week. Sano led the league with seven runs, 10 hits, seven extra-base hits, 21 total bases, five doubles, and tied for the league-lead with seven RBI. He hit .588 last week with a pair of home runs, a .632 OBP and a .1235 slugging percentage.RED WINGS REPORT

Rochester 6, Pawtucket 0 (Completion of 6/5/15)

Box Score

Rain forced a game to be suspended between these two clubs earlier this month. Rochester held a 1-0 lead in the second inning before the rain came tumbling down. There were a lot of zeros put on the board before the Red Wings pushed across five runs between the sixth and seventh frames.

 

Reynaldo Rodriguez, Oswaldo Arcia, and Doug Bernier all finished the game with three-hit efforts. Rodriguez scored three runs and fell a home run shy of the cycle. Arcia drove in a pair of runs and added his second double. Aaron Hicks went 1-for-2 with an RBI as part of his rehab stint.

 

Pat Dean had originally started the game back at the beginning of the month. He pitched two shutout innings before the rain interrupted things. Taylor Rogers picked up where Dean left off. Rogers earned his sixth victory by tossing seven scoreless frames with four strikeouts and two walks.

 

Rochester 3, Pawtucket 0 (Game 2- 7 Innings)

Box Score

A trio of Red Wings pitchers kept the shutout innings piling up. Logan Darnell started the game and took a no-decision after lasting four innings and limiting the Red Sox to two hits. Caleb Thielbar earned his fifth win after pitching two innings with a pair of walks. AJ Achter collected his 13th save even after allowing a hit in the final frame.

 

Argenis Diaz, Jose Martinez and Carlos Paulino each picked up two hits with Diaz scoring two of the team's three runs. Martinez hit his 9th double and drove in a run. Reynaldo Rodriguez continued his hot hitting from earlier in the day as he drove in a run and added his 17th double.

 

CHATTANOOGA CHATTER

Chattanooga 3, Montgomery 5

Box Score

Adam Brett Walker homered for the third straight game and the fifth time in the last six games but it still wasn't enough for Chattanooga to scrape out a win. Niko Goodrum added a solo blast, his first of the season, and Max Kepler went 1-for-4 with a double. Miguel Sano didn't see a lot of good pitches as he was walked in two of his five tripe to the plate. The team was a dreadful 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position and left 10 runners on base.

 

Jason Wheeler was forced out of the game with two outs in the sixth after giving up five runs (four earned) on seven hits with seven strikeouts. Brandon Peterson and J.T. Chargois finished out the game without allowing another run to score and this left the Lookouts with a chance for a comeback.

 

It was the fourth loss in the last five games for the Lookouts after winning eight of nine games.

 

MIRACLE MATTERS

Fort Myers 1, Dunedin 3

Box Score

After seeing their 10-game winning streak snapped on Sunday, Fort Myers finds themselves in the midst of a two-game losing streak. Kohl Stewart took the loss even though he put together quite the pitching performance. Over six innings, he allowed two earned runs on seven hits with two strikeouts. Alex Muren and D.J. Johnson finished the game with two scoreless innings but it wasn't enough.

 

The Miracle lacked offensive punch on Monday night. Alex Swim had the lone extra-base hit, a double that drove in the lone run for his team. Mitch Garver went 2-for-4 while Engelb Vielma reached base twice and scored a run. The team went 1-for-5 with runners in scoring position and left six men on base.

 

KERNELS NUGGETS

Cedar Rapids 4, Wisconsin 0

Box Score

Sam Gibbons took the hill for the Kernels and lasted six frames. He had mixed results on the mound as he didn't allow an earned run and he struck out five but he did allow four walks and two hits. Luke Bard was good in relief as he didn't allow a run in two innings of work. Trevor Hildenberger finished off the shutout with a perfect ninth inning.

 

Jorge Fernandez was right in the middle of a lot of the offensive action for Cedar Rapids. He went 2-for-4 including a triple in the top of the ninth that led to a big insurance run. Tanner English picked up a pair of hits but was very close to having a three-hit night as he was thrown out on a close play. Nick Gordon drove in a run and he made multiple tough defensive plays at shortstop.

 

E-Twins E-Notes

E-Twins 6, Bristol 0

Box Score

Like their counterparts at Triple-A, the E-Twins kept their opponents off the board with an impressive pitching performance. Dereck Rodriguez was superb as took a no-hit bid into the seventh inning. He allowed one hit over seven scoreless innings with seven strikeouts and one walk. C.K. Irby and Tyler Stirewalt finished off the shutout by allowing a combined three base runners.

 

It was only the fourth start of Rodriguez's career and he admitted he didn't realize he had a no-hitter going until it was too late. "To be honest... I didn't even think about it until the seventh inning, when I got that first out and everyone started cheering," he said. "And I made the mistake of looking at the scoreboard, and sure enough the next guy got a hit."

 

The E-Twins scored at least one run in each of the first four innings and that was more than enough for Mr. Rodriguez. Austin Diemer scored two runs and smacked his first double. Tyler Kuresa drove in a pair of runs. Kamran Young and Rainis Silva both went 2-for-3 and Young scored twice.

 

GCL Twins Takes

GCL Twins 3, GCL Rays 1

Box Score

The GCL Twins bounced back over the .500 mark with today's win against the GCL Rays who have one victory to their name. The rehabbing Randy Rosario picked up his first win after tossing five shutout innings. He scattered three hits and struck out four. Johan Quezada earned his second save by striking out two in 1.2 innings of work.

 

Luis Martinez lead the offensive charge. He finished the day 2-for-4 with a pair of RBI. Lewin Diaz had his first multi-hit game of the season, The team didn't have any extra-base hits and they left six men on base. Luis Arraez stole his second base of the season and Martinez and Diaz each collected his first stolen bag.

 

TWINS DAILY PLAYERS OF THE DAY

Twins Daily Minor League Pitcher of the Day – Dereck Rodriguez, Elizabethton Twins

Twins Daily Minor League Hitter of the Day – Reynaldo Rodriguez, Rochester Red Wings

 

TUESDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS

Rochester vs. Pawtucket (6:05 CST) – RHP Ervin Santana

Chattanooga- Scheduled Off Day

Ft. Myers @ Dunedin (5:30 CST) – LHP Stephen Gonsalves

Cedar Rapids @ Wisconsin (12:05 CST) – LHP Luke Westphal

Elizabethton vs. Bristol (6:00 CST) – TBA

GLC Twins vs. GCL Rays (11:00 am CST) – TBA

 

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[70charger]

I'm not sure if Sano is ready, with an OPS of less than 2.000 last week. I'm looking for a bit more consistency.

 

 

 

 

 

/s

[twinssouth]

Interesting to see Kepler out in RF last few games Wonder what Dougie M's thought process is putting Meneses at 1st base? He's listed at 5'9", probably with 6" cleats on. Talk about a small target, maybe he's forcing Polanco to get accurate throws off to 1st, I don't know. Every Sano throw I've seen are on target. Since Harrison didnt play, could have put him at 1st, give those infielders a bigger target.

 

Any idea on how much longer Luke Bard stays at Cedar Rapids, did notice he had a wp. Another strong outing from Taylor Rogers.

 

[Vance_Christianson]

I really think it's time to start making some moves again within the affiliates.

Danny Ortiz to Twins, quit playing Escobar and Robinson please!!! Escobar at SS only! Robinson is a 4th OF or a pinch runner!

Sano to Twins, DH and play 3rd 1-2 times a week, Vargas back to AAA or trade

Kepler to Rochester, september callup

Walker to Rochester, september callup

Polanco to Twins, everyday SS, Santana back to AAA or trade asap

Twins need to release Aaron Thompson bring up Achter, Oliveros, or Darnell

Twins should consider trading:

Oswaldo Arcia, hope he can slowly rebound down in AAA in the next week or 2

Danny Santana, package him in with somebody

Mike Pelfrey, reality is coming back, contract up after the year

Kennys Vargas, we don't need 4-5 guys to play DH, odd man out with some value

Brian Duensing, package him as well, everyone likes a lefty bullpen arm

If the right player comes along throw in 1-2 top 15 prospects as well.

 

[John Kelsey]

Meneses at 1B is pretty odd. Has anyone heard what DJ Hicks' situation is/when he'll be back?

[Seth Stohs]

Hicks has been out with a pectoral muscle. He's in Ft. Myers rehabbing, but he hasn't played in any games yet. No timetable that I've heard.