Article: Twins Minor League Report (4/11): No Hit Efforts

[Steve Lein]

While none of the affiliates actually completed a no-hitter on Tuesday, two pitchers did put up impressive no-hit outings. A starter’s no-hit effort lasted for all of his six innings, while a reliever closed out another game with four of his own. On the offensive side, a top hitting prospect in Cedar Rapids continued his hot start and a DH candidate for the Twins slugged his first home run of the year.To find out how all of the Twins affiliates fared on Tuesday, keep reading!

 

 

RED WINGS REPORT

Rochester 5, Buffalo 0

Box Score

 

6-10 right-hander and former Big Ten Pitcher of the Year Aaron Slegers took to the hill for the Red Wings Tuesday afternoon, and he pitched like he did for the Indiana Hoosiers back in 2013 when he won that award. In six innings, he walked three and struck out seven in a no-hit effort to keep the Bisons off the board. He struck out three of the last four hitters he faced and ended his day after eighty-one pitches to pick up his first win of 2017.

 

When his day was finished the Red Wings were leading just 1-0, but their lineup got to Buffalo’s bullpen for a run in each of the last four innings. Kennys Vargas gave them the lead with his first home run of the year in the sixth and consecutive doubles from Niko Goodrum and J.B. Shuck in the seventh made it 2-0. A Goodrum double with the bases loaded in the eighth scored two more and the shutout win was punctuated with Tommy Field’s first home run of the year in the ninth.

 

Travor Hildenberger was the first reliever summoned from the bullpen for the seventh inning, and he pitched two scoreless frames allowing two singles and striking out one. Alan Busenitz came on for the ninth and got a double-play ball after a walk to end the game.

 

Goodrum led the offense as he went 3-4 with two doubles, a run scored, and two RBI. He also switched from shortstop to center field in the eighth inning, displaying his ability to be trusted at multiple up-the-middle positions. Ben Paulsen added two hits, including a double.

 

 

CHATTANOOGA CHATTER

Chattanooga – Scheduled day off.

 

The Lookout’s had Tuesday off as they travel to Florida for a five-game series with the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp starting at 6:05PM (CST) Wednesday night. Kohl Stewart will make his second start of the season in the series opener.

 

(If the nickname “Jumbo Shrimp” is a new one to you too, they switched to this name for the 2017 season. They were formerly the “Suns” and are the AA-affiliate of the Miami Marlins)

 

 

MIRACLE MATTERS

Fort Myers 1, Tampa 2

Box score

 

Left-hander Lachlan Wells made his first start of the year for Fort Myers after pitching two scoreless innings of relief on April 6^th against the Jupiter Hammerheads. He went the first five innings and despite allowing seven hits and a walk, gave up just two runs (one earned) and struck out six.

 

Fort Myers jumped to a 1-0 lead in the first inning when Casey Scoggins reached base on an error to start the game, and singles from Chris Paul and Alex Perez got him around the bases. The Miracle bats went pretty quiet after that, as it was Paul and Perez who accounted for all seven of their hits on the game.

 

Wells surrendered his two runs in the third inning as a leadoff double was followed by a sacrifice bunt, two singles, and a throwing error from Paul at third base before he took it upon himself to strike out the next two batters and end the threat.

 

Sam Clay pitched the sixth and seventh innings, allowing two hits and a walk while striking out three. Williams Ramirez pitched a scoreless eighth, giving up a double but striking out the next two hitters to keep the Miracle within one.

 

Paul went 4-4 with two doubles while Perez was 3-4 with the Miracle’s lone RBI. It is kind of a strange lineup to look at in the box score, as three hitters (Daniel Kihle, Paul, and Perez) have a small-sample-size season average of .400 or above, but no one else above .154. This likely contributes to their 1-5 record on the season.

 

The Miracle look to avoid the sweep against the Yankees on Wednesday, as Dereck Rodriguez takes the mound in the series finale.

 

 

KERNELS NUGGETS

Cedar Rapids 6, Kane County 1

Box Score

 

Cedar Rapids scored three runs in the first inning and never looked back as they cruised to the 6-1 victory on Tuesday afternoon. It was the first loss of the season for the Kane County Cougars.

 

Jermaine Palacios started the game with a single, stole second base and advanced to third on a throwing error, and then scored on an error off the bat of Lewin Diaz to start the scoring in the first. A Shane Carrier double and Brandon Lopez single scored two more runs and the Kernels spotted starter Tyler Beardsley a 3-0 lead before he took the mound.

 

He retired the Cougar lineup in order the first turn through as the Kernels built their lead to 5-0 with single runs in the second and third innings. It was a Travis Blankenhorn double in the second and a Lopez ground out in the third that scored those runs.

 

Beardsley finally gave up a hit to the leadoff man in the fourth and got into some more trouble from there. After a walk and a single brought in the Cougars first run, a passed ball and hit-batter around a strikeout loaded the bases with two outs. Beardsley buckled down and got a ground out to end the inning. Kane County hardly threatened from there.

 

Blankenhorn continued his early display of power in the Midwest League (pssst) when he added a solo home run in the seventh inning, his third of the season already to stretch the lead to 6-1.

 

Reliever Brady Anderson came on for Beardsley in the sixth inning, and faced the minimum over the final four innings. Only an error in the eighth kept him from a perfect pitching line while picking up the save. He struck out three.

 

On offense, Blankenhorn and Carrier led the way with two hits apiece, and Lopez added two RBI.

 

 

TWINS DAILY PLAYERS OF THE DAY

 

Pitcher of the Day – Aaron Slegers, Rochester Red Wings (W, 6.0 IP, 0 H’s, 3 BB’s, 7 K’s)

Hitter of the Day – Travis Blankenhorn, Cedar Rapids Kernels (2-4, R, 2B, HR, 2 RBI)

 

 

WEDNESDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS

 

Rochester @ Buffalo (6:05PM CST) – LHP David Hurlbut (0-0, -.-- ERA)

Chattanooga @ Jacksonville (6:05PM CST) – RHP Kohl Stewart (0-1, 0.00 ERA)

Fort Myers @ Tampa (6:00PM CST) – RHP Dereck Rodriguez (0-1, 8.31 ERA)

Cedar Rapids @ Kane County (11:00AM CST) – RHP Eduardo Del Rosario (1-0, 0.00 ERA)

 

 

Please feel free to ask any questions and discuss Tuesday’s games!

 

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[Seth Stohs]

For those that weren't able to watch or listen to the Red Wings game on Tuesday afternoon...

 

Trevor Hildenberger got the first five batters that he faced out. He lost the no-hitter on a groundball between short and third. Solid, clean single. The next batter had a bunt single. 

 

Blankenhorn's homer was a blast... but his double was to left center and maybe hit just as well. 

 

[bluechipper]

Twins catchers know how to take a walk. Mitch Garver has taken 6 walks in 3 games, for a .714 OBP.

[AlwaysinModeration]

Jumbo Shrimp. I like a good oxymoronic nickname.

[clutterheart]

Did Fort Myers play under the new extra innings rules yesterday?

[Vanimal46]

Never thought I would see a mean looking jumbo shrimp as a logo in my life... May have to buy this hat just for the name. 

http://cdn.barstoolsports.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/02/CwQ5kG9WEAYEYap.jpg?47a9e4

[terrydactyls]

Did Fort Myers play under the new extra innings rules yesterday?

 

What are the new rules?

[Steve Lein]

 

Did Fort Myers play under the new extra innings rules yesterday?

 

What are the new rules?

 

Game did not go extra innings, but the new rules are only being applied in the rookie leagues.

 

They're going to put a runner on 2B to start every inning when it goes extras. Everyone around the game seems to call this rule "radical" but it's been around forever in amateur league's, specifically during tournament play.

 

Has no place beyond the rookie league's if you ask me (certainly not the majors), but I have no problem with it there.

[Seth Stohs]

 

Did Fort Myers play under the new extra innings rules yesterday?

 

I believe that's just going to be in the GCL (as far as Twins affiliates go)...

[nicksaviking]

The Twins could really use another bat to emerge, fingers crossed Blankenhorn is becoming what we hoped he could when he was drafted.

 

Also, I must have missed a report but is Chargois injured? I don't know why else he hasn't pitched yet this year.

[Trov]

 

Game did not go extra innings, but the new rules are only being applied in the rookie leagues.

 

They're going to put a runner on 2B to start every inning when it goes extras. Everyone around the game seems to call this rule "radical" but it's been around forever in amateur league's, specifically during tournament play.

 

Has no place beyond the rookie league's if you ask me (certainly not the majors), but I have no problem with it there.

Do they start with an out too?  Who gets to pick who is there, next batter any runner from bench?  If that run scores is it an earned run, does the pitcher who starts the inning get the earned run?  

 

There is no need for this rule in normal play.  The point is to get the game over with faster.  That is the reason for tournament play where time is important.

[diehardtwinsfan]

yeah, another good season by Blankenhorn and he's going to be getting national attention. He's what, 20?

[nicksaviking]

 

The Twins could really use another bat to emerge, fingers crossed Blankenhorn is becoming what we hoped he could when he was drafted.

 

Also, I must have missed a report but is Chargois injured? I don't know why else he hasn't pitched yet this year.

 

Sorry, also one more request for an update. Luis Arraez has only played in half of the Miracle's games this year. Is he also injured? I hope he's not platooning, he is by far the offensive player I am most interested in on that squad.

[diehardtwinsfan]

 

Sorry, also one more request for an update. Luis Arraez has only played in half of the Miracle's games this year. Is he also injured? I hope he's not platooning, he is by far the offensive player I am most interested on that squad.

 

I believe he rolled his ankle.

[Steve Lein]

 

Do they start with an out too?  Who gets to pick who is there, next batter any runner from bench?  If that run scores is it an earned run, does the pitcher who starts the inning get the earned run?  

 

There is no need for this rule in normal play.  The point is to get the game over with faster.  That is the reason for tournament play where time is important.

 

Agree on all counts - as I said I don't think it's a great rule beyond rookie leagues, but it's not a big deal to me there.

 

If it's like the rules I know (which I would think is likely), the runner put on 2B would be the last hitter to be put out (e.g.: You struck out to end the 9th, you'd go to 2B in the 10th). Not sure on the ER-part, but I'd assume that one would be unearned. Have seen the inning start with 1 out, but not all the time.

[Seth Stohs]

 

Sorry, also one more request for an update. Luis Arraez has only played in half of the Miracle's games this year. Is he also injured? I hope he's not platooning, he is by far the offensive player I am most interested in on that squad.

 

Saturday night's report explained he was injured tripping awkwardly over 1st base and was taken off the field on a cart. 

 

Monday's report mentioned that he was placed on the 7-Day DL with Casey Scoggins being added.

 

I heard he was having an MRI on Monday, but haven't heard anything more specific.