Article: Twins Minor League Report (6/27): Miracle Walk-Off, Lewis Drives In Four

[Steve Lein]

There were five games played in the minors on Tuesday and although they went 2-3 on the day there was plenty of action. One affiliate delivered a walk-off win, The Rock kept collecting multiple hits at AAA (It’s only me calling him that, it’s okay to be confused), and their top draft pick delivered an encore performance perhaps even more impressive than homering in his first professional at-bat.

 

To find out who did what in the minors on Tuesday night, keep reading!TRANSACTIONS

 

Before we get to the games, there were some transactions leading into them on today.

 

In Rochester, Yohan Pino was placed on the disabled list with a right-shoulder strain, Nick Tepesch was assigned for a rehab stint in the Gulf Coast League, Dillon Gee was optioned from the Twins, and Alex Wimmers cleared waivers and was outrighted.

 

In the lower levels of the system, Fort Myers released Bradley Strong and the GCL Twins assigned first baseman Mariano Calcano to the Dominican Summer league.

 

 

RED WINGS REPORT

Rochester 3, Buffalo 2

Box Score

 

Nik Turley made his first start with the Red Wings since being sent down after a deserved cameo with the Minnesota Twins, and went the first five innings. He allowed a solo home run in the second and an unearned run in the third and left the game with the score tied 2-2. In his five innings, he allowed three hits and walked two while striking out six. His ERA at AAA sits at 3.24 on the season.

 

On the offensive side, if I were to ask you which Red Wings batter was responsible for their first run of the game in this one, who would you guess?

 

Given these reports that you’ve been following for the last few weeks, if you didn’t think of Zack Granite I might ask what is wrong with you. His single in the second inning scored one and if not for a strong throw home would have scored another. He drove in another runner with single in the fourth and finished this one 3-5, raising his batting average to .371.

 

D.J. Baxendale relieved Turley and went two scoreless innings. He allowed one hit and struck out two.

 

Rochester took the lead 3-2 in the top of seventh when Granite led off the inning with a single, but it wasn’t he who scored the run because he got himself thrown out at home on a wild-pitch, trying to score from second on the wild pitch. A two-out single from Byungho Park scored Mitch Garver to put the Red Wings out front.

 

Michael Tonkin finished the final two innings for the Red Wings to pick up his third save on the season. He made it a bit interesting in the ninth, hitting the first two batters of the frame and causing hitting coach Chad Allen to be ejected in the process, but proceeded to strike the next three hitters out. Of his six outs, five came on K’s.

 

Garver (3-5, R), Park (2-5, R, RBI), and Leonardo Reginatto (2-4, R) joined Granite with multiple hits on the game. Despite collecting 14 hits, all singles, and going 5-12 with runners in scoring position on the game, the three runs scored were enough in this one as Rochester pitchers allowed just four hits and two walks.

 

 

CHATTANOOGA CHATTER

Scheduled Day Off.

 

The Lookouts enjoyed a day off for travel on Tuesday and get back to action Wednesday night on the road against the Mississippi Braves. Stephen Gonsalves takes the hill in game one of the six-game series.

 

 

MIRACLE MATTERS

Clearwater 2, Fort Myers 3

Box Score

 

With Cody Stashak on the mound for the Miracle, this one was a pitcher’s duel throughout. He went 7.1 innings, allowing just two runs on six hits and a walk while striking out eight. With the score 2-1 in the eighth, he was removed after allowing consecutive singles that put a man on third. Sam Clay came on and that runner scored on a squeeze play to tie the game at two.

 

Fort Myers took the 2-1 lead in the bottom of the seventh after the Threshers starter was removed from the game. Tanner English singled and stole second base, his seventh of the season, before scoring on a double from Sean Miller. The next batter, Max Murphy, brought him in with an RBI single.

 

Clay stayed in the game and pitched a scoreless ninth inning to give his lineup a chance at some dramatics. They delivered.

 

Miller doubled with one out to put the winning run in scoring position, and after moving to third on a Murphy single, Shane Kennedy brought him in with a walk-off single.

 

Miller (2-4, 2 R’s, 2 2B’s, RBI), Murphy (2-5, RBI), and Kennedy (2-5, RBI) provided all the RBIs for the Miracle out of the nine-one-two spots in the order. Mitchell Kranson added a double.

 

 

KERNELS NUGGETS

Burlington 6, Cedar Rapids 2

Box Score

 

Cedar Rapids starter Colton Davis got tagged early and often in this one and the home team was unable to mount a comeback.

 

Davis went the first three innings, and allowed at least one run in each. He finished with four runs allowed on six hits, including two home runs. He struck out two. Ryan Mason went the next three innings and allowed one run on one hit and a walk while striking out two. Alex Robinson pitched two perfect innings, including one strikeout. Evan Sanders finished the game for the Kernels and allowed one insurance run on two hits and a walk, but struck out two.

 

The Kernels offense got one hit from every hitter in their lineup except Caleb Hamilton, but that wasn’t enough to crawl out of the hole they found themselves in early. Travis Blankenhorn clubbed his seventh triple of the season and drew a walk, and Aaron Whitefield blasted his eighth home run along with a walk to lead the offense.

 

As a team the Kernels were 2-7 with runners in scoring position, left eight men on base, and had five hitters with multiple K’s.

 

 

E-TWINS E-NOTES

Pulaski 6, Elizabethton 4

Box Score

 

2017 fourth-round draft pick Charlie Barnes made his first professional start for the Twins in this one. He went the first 2.1 innings as he ran up his pitch count with three walks. He left with two runners on base in the third, and both came around to score later in the inning. He allowed just one hit and struck out one in his debut.

 

Elizabethton scored the first run of the game in the bottom of the second inning, when Rainis Silva led off with a double and scored on a single from T.J. Dixon. They added single runs in the fourth and fifth innings thanks to RBI singles from Jordan Gore and J.J. Robinson but were outpaced by the Yankees along the way.

Twenty-second-round pick Christian Broussard came on in relief of Barnes for his debut and went the next 2.2 innings. He allowed two runs on four hits and a walk with one K. Nick Brown was the next pitcher to make his pro debut, and went two innings. He allowed two runs on two hits and three walks, striking out three. Taylor Clemensia finished the game with two scoreless innings, walking two and striking out two.

 

The Twins closed the Yankees lead to two runs in the eighth inning on a groundout from Andre Jernigan, but were unable to string together enough hits to close the gap. Robinson (2-4, R, RBI) and Gore (3-4, RBI) had multiple hits to lead the offense.

 

 

GCL TWINS TAKES

GCL Twins 8, GCL Orioles 13

Box Score

 

The Twins scored first in this one, but their lead was short-lived and if not for a ninth inning rally, would have been on the receiving end of a much worse blowout.

 

Akil Baddoo led off the game with a triple to center field and was promptly driven in by a single from Royce Lewis. Later in the inning with the bases loaded, a throwing error on a double play ball led to two more runs and a 3-0 lead.

The rehabbing Nick Tepesch started the game for the Twins, and didn’t do well. He recorded just two outs while allowing five runs on four hits, a walk and a hit-batter. Jordan Balazovic relieved him and stabilized the game for the next three innings, keeping the Orioles off the scoreboard through the fourth inning.

 

Jean Carlos Arias closed the gap to 5-4 in the third with an RBI single, but that’s as close as the Twins would get the rest of the way.

 

Balazovic had retired nine in a row after getting the first out of the fifth inning, but that’s when trouble finally struck. The next five batters reached base leading to three runs before he finally got out of the inning with the score 8-4. Overall, he pitched 4.1 innings, allowing three runs on four hits and two walks. He struck out three.

 

Matz Schutte finished the final three innings, but gave up at least one run in each of those frames. His final line included five earned runs on four hits and two walks, thought he did pick up three strikeouts.

 

In the top of the ninth inning, four consecutive walks scored one and kept the bases loaded for Lewis, who cleared them with a double for the final score of 13-8. He finished 2-5 with four RBI on the game.

 

Colton Burns was 3-5 and scored two runs while Alex Robles added a double and two walks to the offensive effort for the Twins. Arias stole second and third base in the first inning for his first two stolen bases of the season.

 

 

TWINS DAILY PLAYERS OF THE DAY

 

Pitcher of the Day – Cody Stashak, Fort Myers Miracle (7.1IP, 2 ER’s, 6 H’s, BB, 8 K’s)

Hitter of the Day – Royce Lewis, GCL Twins (2-5, 2B, 4 RBI)

 

 

WEDNESDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS

 

Rochester @ Buffalo (6:05PM CST) – RHP Dillon Gee (0-0, -.-- ERA)

Chattanooga @ Mississippi (7:00PM CST) – LHP Stephen Gonsalves (3-3, 2.85 ERA)

Clearwater @ Fort Myers (6:05PM CST) – LHP Lachlan Wells (3-9, 4.28 ERA)

Burlington @ Cedar Rapids (12:05PM CST) – RHP Eduardo Del Rosario (7-3, 4.74 ERA)

Elizabethton @ Kingsport (5:30PM CST) – RHP Edwar Colina (0-0, 8.31 ERA)

GCL Orioles @ GCL Twins (11:00AM CST) - TBD

 

 

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

 

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[twinsfanstreif]

It looks like Rooker didn't play today, day off (after what, 3 games?) or is a promotion in the works?

[Deduno Abides]

Granite and Stashak are two of the more interesting unsung players in the minors, although Granite appears to be finally getting some respect. Stashak was slowed by an injury. If he's now healthy, it would be good to see him get some AA starts this year.

[jokin]

The Twins broadcasting duo keep playing up Granite's success on a nightly basis... making his promotion to the Twins seem inevitable... if not in fact, imminent.

 

Last night, Bremer actually posed the question of which of the 3 young OF would be the most likely to be traded to make room for Granite. (I guess they haven't bothered to notice that his 2017 BABIP is ~100 points over his career MiLB average) .

 

I'd love to Granite take the AL by storm, but caution and tempered expectation seem to be called for in this case.

 

 

[jokin]

Is Chad Allen working with Tonkin on his brush-back pitch? Owning the inside corner is one way to get yourself back to the majors... perhaps Tonkin's only way back?

[Rhino and Compass]

IT blows me away that draftees are already in the system. Such a quick turnaround, sometimes from high school to pro baseball. 

[Steve Lein]

 

It looks like Rooker didn't play today, day off (after what, 3 games?) or is a promotion in the works?

 

Just a day off. A little early for that bump that we know is coming yet. There are a lot of players on the roster so they all need time (37 players are active as of today).

[mikelink45]

I am intrigued by Granite, the way we are always intrigued by the second string QB.  I do not know which of the outfielders I would replace with Granite - all are flawed.  Buxton is in for Defense, but his bat still stinks and it is getting to be a long stretch of Mendoza line offense, Rosario has some power when he gets stirred up, but no plate discipline and a reduced defensive value, while Kepler comes in waves of good with lots of time in between.  It might be our outfield of the future, but I do not thing those three would rank high if there was an outfield ranking for all the teams.  

[dbminn]

Zack Granite has been incredible but Mitch Garver has been very good too. He's walking a lot and has improved his power. His slash is now at .276/.389/.488. Like Granite, it looks like he's ready for a call to the Twins if someone gets hurt or the team starts to slide in the standings.

[Taildragger8791]

Looks like Park is starting to hit a little more consistently. Still a long ways to go, but hopefully that means the power and walks will start coming too.

[Seth Stohs]

 

It looks like Rooker didn't play today, day off (after what, 3 games?) or is a promotion in the works?

 

I think he'll only be there for like 2 weeks, so I "think" it's just an off day... but it's possible he could move quickly.

[Seth Stohs]

 

IT blows me away that draftees are already in the system. Such a quick turnaround, sometimes from high school to pro baseball. 

 

It's even more crazy when you consider that the draft was pushed back a week this year.. Makes it tough. But they have until July 15th to sign, so a lot more gets done sooner. 

[clutterheart]

 

It's even more crazy when you consider that the draft was pushed back a week this year.. Makes it tough. But they have until July 15th to sign, so a lot more gets done sooner. 

 

I love it.  I remember when players wouldn't sign until the season was almost over.  Now they are drafted, signed and in Florida right away.  This way is so much better.

[Steve Lein]

 

It looks like Rooker didn't play today, day off (after what, 3 games?) or is a promotion in the works?

 

Not just a "day off" I guess:

 

Update from user wavedog in the Brent Rooker thread.

[Deduno Abides]

The Twins broadcasting duo keep playing up Granite's success on a nightly basis... making his promotion to the Twins seem inevitable... if not in fact, imminent.

 

Last night, Bremer actually posed the question of which of the 3 young OF would be the most likely to be traded to make room for Granite. (I guess they haven't bothered to notice that his 2017 BABIP is ~100 points over his career MiLB average) .

 

I'd love to Granite take the AL by storm, but caution and tempered expectation seem to be called for in this case.

His BABIP is high, but if you look at the other hitters in the International League with high BABIPs, you'll see top prospects, like Willie Adames, and veteran minor leaguers who are supposed to be good hitters, like Richie Shaffer. There aren't many who look like flukes. Granite's high BABIP could be an indication that he has mastered AAA pitching.

[Mr. Brooks]

Not just a "day off" I guess:

 

Update from user wavedog in the Brent Rooker thread.

I can't say I'm a fan of missing actual games to attend a meaningless personal award ceremony.

[AZTwin]

I can't say I'm a fan of missing actual games to attend a meaningless personal award ceremony.

Nothing since drafting him has inspired confidence

[70charger]

 

Nothing since drafting him has inspired confidence

 

Except locking up the SEC triple crown and OPSing over 1000 in the tiny sample size of professional ball you're using to judge him with?

 

[Steve Lein]

 

I can't say I'm a fan of missing actual games to attend a meaningless personal award ceremony.

 

Nothing since drafting him has inspired confidence

 

I would venture no single player to win that award thinks it was "meaningless."

 

Also, not even close to a big deal. I'm actually happy he is able to do so.

[Mr. Brooks]

I would venture no single player to win that award thinks it was "meaningless."

 

Also, not even close to a big deal. I'm actually happy he is able to do so.

Ok, maybe not meaningless, but certainly MUCH less important than his actual job.

I'm just not a fan of a week into his new job, telling his teammates and employer that a personal award is more important than actual games.

[Mike Sixel]

 

Ok, maybe not meaningless, but certainly MUCH less important than his actual job.
I'm just not a fan of a week into his new job, telling his teammates and employer that a personal award is more important than actual games.

 

well, I think we have a very different view of the world, then. Since, you know, he'll have 1 opportunity in his entire life to go to this ceremony, vs YEARS of working on the job. I can't even imagine anyone in the org is disappointed he's going, frankly. 

[drjim]

 

well, I think we have a very different view of the world, then. Since, you know, he'll have 1 opportunity in his entire life to go to this ceremony, vs YEARS of working on the job. I can't even imagine anyone in the org is disappointed he's going, frankly. 

 

I just assume the organization encouraged him to go, and set up a plan to work around it.

[Steve Lein]

 

I just assume the organization encouraged him to go, and set up a plan to work around it.

 

well, I think we have a very different view of the world, then. Since, you know, he'll have 1 opportunity in his entire life to go to this ceremony, vs YEARS of working on the job. I can't even imagine anyone in the org is disappointed he's going, frankly. 

 

What they said. Sheesh...

[Mr. Brooks]

well, I think we have a very different view of the world, then. Since, you know, he'll have 1 opportunity in his entire life to go to this ceremony, vs YEARS of working on the job. I can't even imagine anyone in the org is disappointed he's going, frankly.

Except he might only get one opportunity to make it as a ballplayer too.

And yes, we do have a much different world view. And that's ok.

I was raised believing that you show up for work everyday unless it's a life or death emergency.

I was also raised to believe that team trumps individual.

The organization might be fine with it, I don't know, and I didn't infer either way. I'm just not a fan of it personally.

[Mr. Brooks]

I just assume the organization encouraged him to go, and set up a plan to work around it.

They may be ok with it - though I doubt encouraged, I'm guessing they would prefer the guy they drafted that high get as much development in as possible.

But, how exactly did they set up a plan to work around it? He's either at the games or he's not. I doubt they are petitioning for the games to be postponed until he returns.

[drjim]

They may be ok with it - though I doubt encouraged, I'm guessing they would prefer the guy they drafted that high get as much development in as possible.

But, how exactly did they set up a plan to work around it? He's either at the games or he's not. I doubt they are petitioning for the games to be postponed until he returns.

For one thing he could have delayed signing.

[drjim]

They may be ok with it - though I doubt encouraged, I'm guessing they would prefer the guy they drafted that high get as much development in as possible.

But, how exactly did they set up a plan to work around it? He's either at the games or he's not. I doubt they are petitioning for the games to be postponed until he returns.

For one thing he could have delayed signing.

[Huddy]

It's unfortunate timing, however its the "Heisman" of college baseball so I would hope that the organization would highly encourage him attending! It's a pretty big deal. Meanwhile Hunter Greene hasn't signed and just walks around acting like a celebrity while holding out so he can ensure the highest bonus ever. I would be more worried if that was the case.

[AZTwin]

Except locking up the SEC triple crown and OPSing over 1000 in the tiny sample size of professional ball you're using to judge him with?

 

He sat on fastballs all year. He even admitted to it. He is a one trick pony and will be exposed at higher levels. That's the real reason why he's starting in rookie league