Article: Twins Minor League Report (8/30): Vargas Powers Rochester, Chattanooga Sweeps

[Steve Lein]

The Minnesota Twins got a brilliant start from Ervin Santana on Sunday afternoon, and held off a late rally to win two of three games from the American League West division-leading Houston Astros, and remain in the thick of the wild card standings. That Miguel Sano guy hit another home run, too. (He might be good…)

 

In the minors on Sunday, there were a few other brilliant starts from pitchers, a pair of double-headers, including one that went late into the night, and a tropical storm set its sights on Florida.Keep reading to find out what happened!

 

RED WINGS REPORT

Pawtucket 0, Rochester 7

Box Score

 

Lefthander Pat Dean made the start for the Red Wings, and cruised to his eleventh victory of the season. He was brilliant throughout, scattering five hits and one walk in eight innings while striking out three, keeping the Red Sox off the scoreboard with some help from his defense.

 

The only threat against him came in the sixth inning, when a pair of singles put runners on first and second. Another single was sent into left field, but Reynaldo Rodriguez’s throw cut down the runner at home for the final out of the inning. The win brought Dean’s ERA back below 3.00, where it has hovered all season.

 

The Red Wings got on the board early, as Kennys Vargas launched his sixth home run of the season in AAA, a three-run shot to put them in front from the start. They added single runs in the fourth and fifth innings, along with two more in the seventh.

 

A.J. Achter finished the game with a scoreless ninth inning, walking one and striking out one.

 

Vargas led the offense with his home run and finished his day 1-2 with two walks, two runs scored and the three RBIs. James Beresford (3-5, R), Danny Santana (2-5, 2 R’s), and Oswaldo Arcia (2-3, RBI) collected multiple hits.

 

In his first appearance of his rehab assignment, Aaron Hicks led off and was the DH. He went 1-5 with an RBI.

 

CHATTANOOGA CHATTER

 

The Lookouts had a double-header on Sunday afternoon, making up their game against Birmingham that was rained out on July 2^nd.

Game 1: Chattanooga 10, Birmingham 4

Box Score

 

Starter Greg Peavey was in control through the game’s first four innings, facing just one batter over the minimum. But a long inning inside the dugout may have switched his fortunes around in this one when it got to the fifth inning.

 

Chattanooga’s lineup struck for four runs in the fourth inning by sending every hitter in the lineup to the plate. It was four walks (one intentional to Max Kepler), a sacrifice bunt, a single from Heiker Meneses, and an error off the bat of Travis Harrison that combined to put the runs on the board.

 

Menses added another single in the fifth to score Wickens and make the game 5-0 at that point.

 

This is where Peavey unraveled. A pair of two-run home runs pulled the Barons within one, before Peavey was able to finish the inning and his day. He finished with the four runs allowed on four hits and one walk, while striking out four.

 

Corey Williams came on for the sixth inning and recorded the first two outs before a walk then brought J.T. Chargois into the game. He hit the first batter he faced, but struck out the next to end the inning.

The Lookouts added five more runs in the seventh inning to give Chargois a good cushion. They again sent nine hitters up to bat, and again it was started by Walker, though this time with a double. Singles from Wickens, Meneses, Wilkerson and Kepler, and a sac fly from Harrison added the runs to the board.

 

Chargois pitched a double-perfect ninth inning, striking out the side to secure the win in game 1.

 

Game 2: Chattanooga 3, Birmingham 0

Box Score

 

In the makeup game, Brett Lee got the start for Chattanooga, and was untouchable. In the seven-inning complete game shutout, Lee allowed just two hits and two walks, while striking out eight Barons hitters. Lee recorded a strikeout in all but one inning, and struck out the side in the sixth. The win pushed his record to 6-4 on the season with Chattanooga, and the eight strikeouts were a season high.

 

Chattanooga's three runs in this one came in the sixth inning, when Birmingham went to their bullpen. Travis Harrison got it started with a one-out double, and came around to score on a Niko Goodrum single. After Goodrum stole his sixteenth base, D.J. Hicks launched his fifth home run of the year to make it to the 3-0 final.

 

MIRACLE MATTERS

 

The Fort Myers Miracle game against the Jupiter HammerHeads was postponed and rescheduled due to Tropical Storm Erika. They will have a second day off tomorrow.

 

KERNELS NUGGETS

Cedar Rapids 7, Peoria 3

Box Score

 

Cedar Rapids took an early lead they would not relinquish in the second inning, plating six runs. Alex Real brought in the first two runs with a single, Austin Diemer brought him in with a double, an error off the bat of Rafael Valera scored Diemer, and a triple from Nick Gordon added the fifth run. Gordon scored the sixth on a wild pitch.

 

T.J. White capped the Kernels scoring in the third inning, leading off the frame with his second home run of the year with Cedar Rapids.

 

Starter Keaton Steele gave a quality effort, finishing eight innings to improve his record to 6-4. He allowed three runs on eight hits and struck out six. A two-run home run in the second inning was the only major damage as Peoria was just 1-5 with runners in scoring position, and left only four men on base for the game.

 

John Curtiss finished the game with a scoreless inning, allowing one hit and striking out two.

 

The Kernels offense got multiple hits from Valera (2-5, R), Gordon (2-5, R, 3B, RBI), White (3-5, 2 R’s, HR, RBI) and Diemer (2-4, R, 2B, RBI).

 

The win ended a season long five-game losing streak for the Kernels.

 

E-TOWN E-NOTES

 

Elizabethton had a double-header scheduled for Sunday against the Bristol Pirates to make up a prior rainout from August 15^th, but the weather did not cooperate on this day either, pushing the start time back and the makeup game to late in the evening. But they did manage to finish both games.

 

Game 1: Bristol 7, Elizabethton 6 (9 innings)

Box Score

 

Bristol jumped out to an early 3-0 lead after two innings when they finally did get started, as they tagged starter Andro Cutura for two in the first and an error in the second led to another run. Cutura finished five innings, allowing four runs (two earned) on eight hits and a walk. He struck out seven and ended his day with his team down 4-0.

 

Elizabethton’s offense finally found some life in the fifth inning, when Kamran Young led off with a double. He came around to score the Twins first run of the game on a single from Christian Cavaness.

 

In the sixth, they got Cutura off the hook for a loss by tying the game at four. Zander Wiel led off with a single, and scored after a walk and error put two more runners on base. Another single from Manuel Guzman loaded the bases, and a wild pitch scored one more before another RBI single from Cavaness tied the game.

 

It went into extra innings for a seven-inning game and wound up ending at the normal nine. After Cutura was lifted from the game, Josh Guyer added 2.1 innings, allowing two unearned runs on one hit and one walk. He struck out four.

 

After those two runs made it 6-4 in favor of the Pirates in the eighth, the Twins were quick to get them back in the bottom half. A double from Jermaine Palacios brought home Nelson Molina and Manuel Guzman, who had reached base with a pair of singles.

 

For the Twins, Jose Abreu had been brought into the game to end the threat in the eighth, but didn’t quite make it through the ninth. He got the first two outs on ground balls, but then a solo home run put Bristol back out front.

 

Lewin Diaz doubled to put a runner in scoring position in the home half of the ninth, but ground balls from Brian Olson and Nelson Molina weren’t enough to tie it back up.

 

Cavaness (2-4, 2 RBI), Palacios (2-4, 2B, 3B, 2 RBI), Diaz (2-5, 2B), and Guzman (2-4, R) all collected two hits. LaMonte Wade drew three walks and stole his ninth base.

 

Game 2: Bristol 4, Elizabethton 11

Box Score

 

The Twins scored two in the first inning after Jermaine Palacios and Daniel Kihle started the inning with singles. A sac fly from LaMonte Wade and an error scored the first run, then a sac fly from Amaurys Minier the second.

 

Elizabethton starter Nate Gercken gave both those runs and more back in the following inning, as a three-run home run gave Bristol the lead.

 

In the bottom of the third inning, Kihle tied the game at three with a solo home run of his own for the home team.

 

After that, the rest of the Elizabethton lineup exploded, putting crooked numbers on the board in each of the fourth, fifth, and sixth innings. When the dust settled, it was 11-4 Twins.

 

Kihle (2-3, 2 R’s, HR, RBI, BB), Brad Hartong (3-4, 2 R’s, 2 2B’s, RBI), and Nelson Molina (2-3, RBI) led the way with multiple hits. LaMonte Wade drew two more walks and stole another base.

 

Gercken finished his game with four earned runs on four hits and four walks in 4.1 innings. He struck out five. Anthony McIver came on for the final 2.1 innings, allowing no runs on two hits and a walk. Of the eight outs he recorded, six came via strikeout.

 

GCL TWINS TAKES

 

The Gulf Coast League regular season came to an end yesterday for GCL Twins. The GCL Blue Jays and GCL Red Sox will face off for the league championship. The Twins ended their season with a record of 27-32, and third place in their division.

 

TWINS DAILY MINOR LEAGUE PLAYERS OF THE DAY

 

Pitcher of the Day – Brett Lee, Chattanooga Lookouts (W, 7.0 IP, CGSO, 2 H’s, 2 BB’s, 8 K’s)

Hitter of the Day – Kennys Vargas, Rochester Red Wings (1-2, 2 R’s, HR, 3 RBI, 2 BB)

 

MONDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS

 

Pawtucket @ Rochester (6:05PM CST) – RHP Jose Berrios (4-2, 2.78 ERA)

Chattanooga @ Birmingham (4:15PM CST) – RHP Aaron Slegers (1-3, 5.32 ERA)

Fort Myers @ Jupiter – No Game Scheduled due to Tropical Depression Erika

Cedar Rapids @ Peoria (7:00 PM CST) – RHP Felix Jorge (6-6, 2.90 ERA)

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

 

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

 

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[TNTwinsFan]

My question is, why weren't all three games sold out at Target Field this weekend?! That was essentially playoff baseball-must win-late-season meaningful games! What's going on?

[James]

 

My question is, why weren't all three games sold out at Target Field this weekend?! That was essentially playoff baseball-must win-late-season meaningful games! What's going on?

Just a guess, but it was opening weekend of the Minnesota State Fair.  That probably reduced the Twins game crowd by quite a bit.  

 

It's good to hear that some of these guys are finishing out the season strongly.  Chargois is really starting to look a strong bullpen guy.  I'm glad that he's finally looking healthy.

[nytwinsfan]

Rochester is going against the International League's weakest offensive team, the Pawtucket Red Sox.  Not that Berrios needs any helpf, but he should be able to dominate them.