Article: Twins Minor League Report (5/3): Corcino Drives In Four (Again)

[Steve Lein]

While Alex Meyer was making his first start in the Majors with the Twins on Tuesday night, three of their four full season affiliates were in action in the Minors including another former top prospect taking the hill. That pitching prospect wasn’t the one who stole the headlines on this night however, and a hitter in the Midwest League did all the heavy lifting in a Kernels win.

 

To find out who did what and where in the minors on Tuesday, read on!TRANSACTIONS

 

Trevor Plouffe’s recall to the Twins and Jorge Polanco’s option back to AAA were made official on Tuesday. Plouffe was in action at 3B for the Twins, while Polanco did not play for the Red Wings.

 

RED WINGS REPORT

Rochester 3, Syracuse 8

Box Score

 

Syracuse starter A.J. Cole’s bid for a no-hit shutout lasted exactly two pitches on Tuesday evening, as Byron Buxton sent his 0-1 pitch into the left-field stands to lead off the game. It was Buxton’s first homerun of the year and his second in a Red Wings uniform.

 

The 1-0 lead didn’t last long however, as a wild pitch from Rochester’s Logan Darnell allowed a run to score in the bottom of the first and tie the game at one.

 

It would only get worse for Darnell, as the Chiefs took the lead 2-1 in the second after a leadoff double, single, and sac fly, then exploded for five more runs in the third with four of them charged to the starter, and a 7-1 lead they would not relinquish.

 

Darnell lasted just 2.1 innings, allowing the six runs on seven hits and two walks, while striking out none.

 

Rochester put two more runs on the board in the fifth courtesy of a Juan Centeno home run, his first of the year, and an RBI single from James Beresford that scored Buxton, who drew a walk earlier.

 

Taylor Rogers came on in relief Darnell and worked the next 3.1 innings, allowing one run (unearned) on four hits and two walks while striking out for. Alex Wimmers made his second AAA appearance after him, and pitched 1.1 scoreless innings, striking out two. Dan Runzler worked the eighth and gave up one run on two hits and a walk. He struck out one.

 

Buxton and Centeno led the offense with two hits each, including their home runs. Buxton also scored two runs and stole his first base of the year in AAA.

 

CHATTANOOGA CHATTER

 

The Lookouts had a scheduled off day on Tuesday, and open a five game road series with the Mobile BayBears on Wednesday night. D.J. Baxendale is scheduled to open the series on the mound for Chattanooga.

 

MIRACLE MATTERS

Fort Myers 5, Palm Beach 3

Box Score

 

Kohl Stewart was on the mound for the Miracle looking to continue his newfound level of success in the Florida State League early on in the 2016 season. He wasn’t nearly as electric on this night as he had been to this point, but still managed to pick up his second win of the season. In five innings, he allowed two runs (one earned) on three hits and four walks, while striking out three. Of his 83 pitches, just 43 of them went for strikes.

 

Fort Myers tied the game at two in the top of the third inning thanks to a two-run home run from Edgar Corcino, his second of the year. They’d take the lead for good in the fourth thanks to a two-out rally.

 

Chad Christensen got the rally started with a walk and stole his fourth base of the season. He was followed by Kevin Garcia who was hit by a pitch, then singles from Ryan Walker and Corcino would result in three runs and a 5-2 lead.

 

Brian Gilbert came on for the sixth inning in relief of Stewart and surrendered an RBI double to make the final score of 5-3. John Curtiss pitched two scoreless innings to earn a hold, and Yorman Landa was summoned for the ninth inning and picked up his first save with the Miracle, allowing one hit and striking out one.

 

Logan Wade (3-4) and Corcino (2-4, R, HR, 4 RBI, BB) led the offense with multiple hits. If you’re keeping track, that makes consecutive days where Corcino has homered and driven in four. Alex Swim added a double and Ryan Walker scored two runs, walked twice, and collected the fifth RBI.

 

Another story coming out of this game, was the result of Stewart’s final out of the fifth inning, as he wasn’t the only player who’s night ended on that play. Nick Gordon made the play on a shallow pop fly to right field, but he collided with Chad Christensen in the process. Both players had to the leave the game.

 

KERNELS NUGGETS

Cedar Rapids 3, Lansing 0

Box Score

 

Randy LeBlanc took the mound for Cedar Rapids Tuesday afternoon looking to continue his early 2016 success as he started the day with a 2-2 record and sparkling 1.50 ERA.

 

The Lugnuts loaded the bases with three singles in the bottom of the first, but LeBlanc got the final two batters of the inning to line and ground out to Jermaine Palacios at short to end their only real threat of the night. LeBlanc would go on to retire the next eight hitters after that point, and scattered just four more singles over the next six innings to record his third win of the year. In his seven total innings, he allowed seven hits and zero walks while striking out five and lowering his ERA on the year to 1.16.

 

LeBlanc was matched for the first half of the game by Lansing starter Conor Fisk, who held the Kernels lineup at bay with just two hits and one walk allowed in five innings.

 

Cedar Rapids was finally able to break the 0-0 tie on the scoreboard in the seventh inning, as A.J. Murray slugged his third home run of the season to put them out front.

 

They added two insurance runs in the ninth on a LaMonte Wade solo home run, his second of the season, and Murray added an RBI single to score Zander Wiel who had followed Wade’s home run with a single of his own.

 

Reliever Nick Anderson worked the final two innings for the Kernels, retiring every batter he faced including three strikeouts to pick up his first save of the season.

 

 

TWINS DAILY PLAYERS OF THE DAY

 

Pitcher of the Day – Randy LeBlanc, Cedar Rapids Kernels (W, 7IP, 0 R’s, 7H’s, 0 BB’s, 5 K’s)

Hitter of the Day – Edgar Corcino, Fort Myers Miracle (2-4, R, HR, 4 RBI, BB)

 

 

WEDNESDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS

 

Rochester @ Syracuse (9:35AM CST) – LHP Pat Dean (0-3, 3.00 ERA)

Chattanooga @ Mobile (6:35PM CST) – RHP D.J. Baxendale (1-3, 3.41 ERA)

Fort Myers @ Palm Beach (5:30PM CST) – TBD, but Tyler Jay (1-2, 5.12 ERA) has followed Stewart so far on the year.

Cedar Rapids @ Lansing (6:05PM CST) – RHP Andro Cutura (2-1, 6.30 ERA)

 

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

 

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[bluechipper]

It looks like Jaun Centeno is having a decent year so far. Maybe a swap with Murphy could be possible? There are some 40-man issues there though.

[jokin]

And Buxton also drew a welcome walk tonight. I'm going to mark May 1 as a potential day for when Buck might have begun to "flip the switch."*** In the last three games he's reached base 6 times in 11 PAs, with 5 hits.

 

****May has historically been a good month for Buxton as he's adjusted to a new level, he's OPS'd @ a combined .933 in the month of May the last two seasons... and then his Junes go up from there.

[clutterheart]

9 errors for Gordon....

 

Errors aren't predictive.

Errors aren't predictive.

Errors aren't predictive.

[diehardtwinsfan]

 

And Buxton also drew a welcome walk tonight. I'm going to mark May 1 as a potential day for when Buck might have begun to "flip the switch."*** In the last three games he's reached base 6 times in 11 PAs, with 5 hits.

 

****May has historically been a good month for Buxton as he's adjusted to a new level, he's OPS'd @ a combined .933 in the month of May the last two seasons... and then his Junes go up from there.

 

 

Hopefully.. He had a few decent games in late April too.  Personally, however, I think the Twins need to leave him in AAA for a good chunk (if not all of) this season.  I want him ready in 2017, and he clearly had a ways to go.

[diehardtwinsfan]

 

9 errors for Gordon....

Errors aren't predictive.
Errors aren't predictive.
Errors aren't predictive.

 

I'm more worried right now about what the Dr. said after the game

 

As for errors, they can be a function of extended range too.  That was a big knock on Jose Reyes when he came up.  He was getting to balls no one could get to and trying to make plays he had no business making.  Not sure if that's Gordon's issue or not... then again, given his age, he doesn't have the repetition that a lot of guys have either... could just be that he's young.  I won't worry about that too much.  If the scouts like his defense, I'm fine with it.  I'm rather excited about the .790 OPS he has to date in a pitchers league.

[Seth Stohs]

I'm not worried about Gordon's errors yet. They've been a mix. I'm not saying it's good, and it is noteworthy. But, he's making adjustments now. He's also going through some personal stuff, I would imagine, that can't be easy. He'll be fine. He's very talented defensively. Like hitting, defense can go in slumps too. 

 

 

[Seth Stohs]

Nick Gordon is going on the 7-Day Concussion List this morning.

 

Ryan Walker was promoted from Ft. Myers to Chattanooga.

 

Sean Miller moves from Cedar Rapids to Ft. Myers.

 

The Twins signed free agent Tanner Witt to a minor league contract and he's going to Ft. Myers. 

[nytwinsfan]

 

Nick Gordon is going on the 7-Day Concussion List this morning.

 

$#iiiiiiiiiiiiittttt!!!!!!!!!!!

[operation mindcrime]

It'd have been nice to hear LaMonte Wade was being promoted as well! \m/

[Seth Stohs]

Engelb Vielma to the DL today, strained oblique.