Article: Twins Minor League Report (5/27): Live From Cedar Rapids

[Seth Stohs]

CEDAR RAPIDS - There was rain falling for most of the trek between the Twin Cities and Cedar Rapids on Friday morning and early afternoon, but it was a good night for baseball. The Kernels fell behind early but it was still a good game. Be sure to follow Twins Daily and SethTweets on twitter for many pictures to come. For much more on what happened on Friday in the Twins farm system, including quotes from Kernels manager Jake Mauer, please continue.TRANSACTIONS

On Friday there were a few transactions in the Twins system:

• Catcher Brian Olson was promoted from Cedar Rapids to Ft. Myers. Kevin Garcia was sent down to the Kernels.

RED WINGS REPORT

Rochester 5, Charlotte 0

Box Score

 

Logan Darnell was terrific on this night. The left-hander needed 109 pitches (72 strikes) to throw the complete game shutout. He gave up five hits, walked none and struck out four. It was his second shutout of the season already.

 

Byron Buxton came into the game having homered in three straight games. He didn’t homer, but had a walk and his eighth double. Wilfredo Tovar went 2-4 and stole his 13th base. Buck Britton added his ninth double. Eddie Rosario and Adam Brett Walker each hit their fifth Red Wings double.

 

 

CHATTANOOGA CHATTER

Chattanooga 5, Tennessee 5 (11th inning)

Box Score

 

In the bottom of the 11th, Travis Harrison came to the plate with a runner on and two outs. He singled to score Leonardo Reginnato and give the Lookouts a 6-5 win.

 

Zach Granite led the offense. He went 4-6 and stole three bases. He now has 21 steals on the year. Daniel Palka provided the power. His seventh homer of the year was a grand slam. Mitch Garver went 3-5 with his ninth double. Reginnato hit his ninth double as well, and he walked in the 11th before the Harrison single.

 

David Hurlbut started. The lefty gave up four runs on ninth hits. He walked two and struck out one. Jake Reed struck out four over two scoreless innings. He gave up a hit and walked two. Mason Melotakis gave up a run on two hits in his inning. Trevor Hildenberger worked a quick inning. Luke Westphal struck out five over two scoreless, one-hit innings and is credited with the win.

 

 

MIRACLE MATTERS

Ft. Myers 2, Charlotte 3

Box Score

 

Kyle Gibson made his second rehab start for the Miracle, this one with Terry Ryan in attendance. The right-hander gave up one run on six hits in five innings. He struck out six without a walk. Nick Anderson came on and gave up one run on four hits over two innings. He struck out two. John Curtiss worked a scoreless inning. However, he gave up an unearned run in the bottom of the ninth to take a loss. Of the four outs he got, he struck out three.

 

Alex Real went 2-4 in the game. Max Murphy doubled for the second time with the Miracle. Logan Wade hit his fifth double.

 

 

KERNELS NUGGETS

Cedar Rapids 3, Wisconsin 3

Box Score

 

Dereck Rodriguez’s rocky season continued. Watching him, you can see that he has some good stuff. Low 90s, good breaking ball. But, at some point, he just loses movement and starts getting hit. And he got hit hard, lots of solid contact. The right-hander was charged with seven runs on six hits. He walked three and struck out five in 3.2 innings.

 

Mauer didn’t mince words. “The ball’s up. It’s just plain and simple. He’s got a good breaking ball. He just can’t get to it, but everything’s up. Up. Up. Up. He threw it pretty good, down the first inning, but he was up the second inning. They barreled him up.”

 

It’s not a lack of effort. “It just seems the harder he tries, the more the ball gets elevated. He’s got to figure things out. He’s got good stuff. No doubt about it.”

 

Michael Cederoth came on and threw a wild pitch and gave up a line drive single so both inherited runners scored. However, he settled down and really saved the bullpen. He went 3.1 innings and gave up just two hits. He didn’t walk a batter and struck out five.

 

Mauer said, “It was real encouraging. It was really good to see. That’s the longest he’s thrown here. I thought everything looked good. Fastball looked lively. Breaking stuff was good. They really didn’t touch him up.”

 

It was important, because it was the second straight night the starter didn’t complete four innings.

 

“Him and Theo. We’ve had five innings-plus the last two nights. The bullpen picked us up. Gave us a chance. Keep putting zeroes up.”

 

Mike Theofanopoulos came on and got two outs. With a runner on second base, he got a pop-up straight up. AJ Murray got under it but he dropped the ball and the runner scored. It ended his scoreless innings streak at 19.1. However, he got the third out and worked another scoreless inning. So, the consecutive innings without an earned run streak is now at 20.2.

 

“He started out real slow, walking a lot of guys. He’s been real good the last seven or eight outings. We’re probably going to use him, with (Nick) Anderson gone, trying to find someone to close some games. He’s a guy we’ll start using later in games.”

 

Offensively, the Kernels were unable to put many hits together. Sean Miller went 2-4 with his seventh double. It was questioned as half of the people in the stadium thought it went out. The other half didn’t. After an umpire conference, they decided it was a double. Daniel Kihle went 2-5. Luis Arraez went 2-5 and had a triple. The three-bagger came in the ninth inning and scored a run. Arraez was actually thrown out at third base, but they called “Obstruction” on the first baseman as they made contact.

 

Nelson Molina drove in a run with a double. The throw went home and got past the catcher. Molina was at second base, celebrating with his arms pointed to the sky. He should have been watching the play and run to third base. Mauer was clearly upset and following the half-inning, Molina was replaced by Alex Perez.

 

It was a good learning opportunity. Mauer said, “He’s a good kid. He just got caught up. The ball’s rolling around back (there), and he’s standing there pointing at the sky. That’s not good.” He continued, “He can thank Jesus after the play is over.”

 

LaMonte Wade went 0-4 through the seventh inning. His 26-game on-base streak was in jeopardy. However, in the ninth, two batters reached ahead of him, meaning he would get one more shot. Rains were pouring down. He was facing a hard-throwing lefty who threw side-arm and had a good slider. Wade launched a home… No wait, he just put together a really good plate appearance and drew a walk, but it did extend his on-base streak to 27 games.

 

Zander Wiel, owner of a 14-game hitting streak, got the night off.

 

 

TWINS DAILY PLAYERS OF THE DAY

 

Twins Daily Minor League Pitcher of the Day – Logan Darnell, Rochester Red Wings

Twins Daily Minor League Hitter of the Day – Zach Granite, Chattanooga Lookouts

 

 

SATURDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS

 

Charlotte @ Rochester (6:05 p.m. CST) - LHP Tommy Milone

Tennessee @ Chattanooga (6:15 CST) - RHP Aaron Slegers

Ft. Myers @ Charlotte (5:05 CST) – LHP Randy Rosario

Wisconsin @ Cedar Rapids (6:36 CST) – RHP Miles Nordgren

 

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

 

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[roger]

Did I see that right, Seth?  Rosario hit his 5th double?  It seems like just a couple days ago that he was sent down.  So even though his BA isn't that great, some things must be going well for a young kid I really want to see figure it out!

 

Enjoy the Rapids.  Was down there a few weeks ago for a funeral, unfortunately, the Kernels were on the road.

[tobi0040]

Eddie's average is .212 and his OPS is .576. 6 k's (18%), but not a single BB in 33 AB.

[Pitz]

I'm a bit surprised that Olson was promoted rather than Murray. Anyone have any more insight to this move?

[Guest]

 

I'm a bit surprised that Olson was promoted rather than Murray. Anyone have any more insight to this move?

 

I have no direct information on this, but it doesn't surprise me a lot. It seems it's basically a swap of backup catchers. You want Murray catching every day. He caught very little in college and needs innings behind the plate.

 

Olson has hit very well since arriving in CR but maybe he'll get more of an even split behind the plate with Navarreto.

[Pitz]

 

I have no direct information on this, but it doesn't surprise me a lot. It seems it's basically a swap of backup catchers. You want Murray catching every day. He caught very little in college and needs innings behind the plate.

 

Olson has hit very well since arriving in CR but maybe he'll get more of an even split behind the plate with Navarreto.

Thanks! That makes some sense.

[goulik]

I have no direct information on this, but it doesn't surprise me a lot. It seems it's basically a swap of backup catchers. You want Murray catching every day. He caught very little in college and needs innings behind the plate.

 

Olson has hit very well since arriving in CR but maybe he'll get more of an even split behind the plate with Navarreto.

I had the same question. Thanks for asking and thanks for the answer. That makes more sense.