Article: Twins Minor League Report (7/6): Rooker Goes Yard, Again!

[Eric R Pleiss]

Felix Jorge is back in Minnesota and will pitch on Friday against the Orioles, and the Twins won the series opener on Thursday night, quickly righting the ship after faltering in the series finale against Anaheim on Wednesday evening.

 

Find out everything that happened in the Twins minor league system on Thursday.Transactions: Twins option Alan Busenitz to Rochester to make room for Felix Jorge, Chattanooga Lookouts placed LHP Matt Tracy on the seven-day DL and activate RHP Raul Fernandez from the 7-day DL; Cedar Rapids Kernels placed RF Lean Marrero on the seven-day DL, and Trey Cabbage will be promoted from Elizabethton to replace him.

 

RED WINGS REPORT

Pawtucket 1 @ Rochester 0

Box Score

 

Red Wings starter Tim Melville pitched 8.0 innings of one-run (unearned) four-hit baseball, striking out six against just one walk but the rest of the team could not make heads or tails of Red Sox starter Hector Velazquez. Rochester managed just four hits, two from Matt Hague and one each from Kennys Vargas and Niko Goodrum.

 

The Red Wings did not have a single at-bat all night with a runner in scoring position. The low man on the evening was Mitch Garver, 0-4 with 4 strikeouts. After the eight strong innings from Melville, Drew Rucinski struck out two in an inning of relief work.

 

CHATTANOOGA CHATTER

Tennessee 2 @ Chattanooga 1

Box Score

 

Levi Michael was named the Henpecked Chicken’s Hot Player of the Game on Wednesday night after his outstanding performance. He followed that up with a ho-hum 1-3 night, but remains one of the Lookouts hottest hitters. LaMonte Wade led the ball club with a pair of hits as part of his 2-3 night with a double and a run scored. As a team, the Lookouts struck out 12 times on Thursday night and walked just once. The team was 1-4 with men in scoring position and stranded five runners. Not a lot of chances to score runs, but plenty of opportunities to push an extra run across the board.

 

Lookouts starter Fernando Romero went just 5.0 innings, throwing 86 pitches, 58 for strikes. He gave up two runs on six hits, walked one and struck out seven before being replaced by Ryan Eades. Eades gave the Lookouts 3.0 innings in relief, giving up a pair of hits and a walk. He struck out four and kept the Smokies off the board to keep the Lookouts within one. Raul Fernandez kept the Smokies off the board in the top of the ninth, but the Lookouts bats did not have a comeback in them on Thursday night.

 

MIRACLE MATTERS

Fort Myers 8 @ Tampa 3

Box Score

 

Lewis Thorpe went 5.2 innings and scattered 3three runs on seven hits. He walked four, struck out six and gave up a home run. Thorpe was lifted with a 5-3 lead after throwing 99 pitches and was credited with the victory. Reliever Andrew Vasquez finished the inning without sustaining any further damage. He hit the leadoff man in the seventh, but sent the next three hitters down in order. Tom Hackimer sent the Tampa Yankees down in order in the ninth to seal the victory.

 

Eight runs means plenty of action from the Miracle bats, and the team was led by Zander Wiel who was 4-5 with a pair of doubles and two runs scored. Sean Miller had a big day as well, 3-5 with three RBI. Tanner English had a pair of hits and a walk, drove in a run, scored two, and stole THREE BASES.

 

KERNELS NUGGETS

Wisconsin 6 @ Cedar Rapids 7

Box Score

 

Cedar Rapids treated the home crowed to quite a game, falling behind three separate times before taking the lead in the bottom of the eighth. The Kernels hit four home runs on the evening, all solo shots from Lewin Diaz, Hank Morrison, Andre Jernigan and Christian Cavaness.

Kernels starter Domenick Carlini got beat up a bit, giving up eight hits over 5.0 innings. Surrendering five runs, three walks, a home run, and only stuck out two. He was replaced by Ryan Mason who gave up an unearned run in 2.0 innings, and Colton Davis picked up the win with the final 2.0 scoreless frames, striking out 4, walking none, and facing the minimum.

 

E-Twins E-Notes

Princeton 5 @ Elizabethton 8 (Game 1)

Box Score

 

Up just one run going into the bottom half of the fifth inning the Twins added an insurance run in the bottom half of the inning, and then three more in the bottom of the sixth, enough to keep them out in front of Princeton after their two-run rally in the ninth came up short. 2017 sandwich round (competitive balance) pick Brent Rooker was 2-3 with a solo home run in the fifth inning, his fourth in just 11 games. Carson Crites led the team with three hits, including a two-run home run, as part of a 3-4 night.

 

Moises Gomez went just 4.2 and gave up three runs on three hits and struck out three. He also walked four. Jose Martinez picked up the win with 2.1 innings of relief, giving up two runs on two hits, striking out four, giving up a walk and a home run.

 

E-Twins E-Notes

Princeton 8@ Elizabethton 9 (Game 2)

Box Score

 

The E-Twins earned the doubleheader sweep in dramatic walk-off fashion in the bottom of the seventh inning when Shane Carrier doubled to right field, advanced to third on a wild pitch, and then scampered home on a Andrew Bechtold sacrifice fly (video below). In addition to scoring the winning run, Carrier was 2-4 with a pair of runs scored, hit a home run, and drove in three runs. Quite a night for the 2016 eighth-rounder out of Cal State Fullerton. Wander Javier had three hits and a run scored on his 3-4 night.

 

The pitching staff gave up eight runs in seven innings, so not a ton of great performances as starter Melvi Acosta gave up five runs on seven hits over 5.0 innings, and Rickey Ramirez gave up a pair of runs in 1.0 innings, and even the winning pitcher Calvin Faucher gave up a run in his inning, but was bailed out by Carrier.

 

 

 

GCL Twins Takes

GCL Rays 2 @ GCL Twins 3

Box Score

 

The Twins scored three runs on six hits and held on to beat the Rays 3-2 after falling behind 2-0 in the top of the first inning. Twins starter Nick Tepesch (on a rehab start from Rochester) went 5.0 innings and gave up a pair of runs on three hits, walked two and struck out three. Pedro Garcia earned the win with 4.0 innings of shutout, no-hit baseball, facing just two over the minimum. He struck out three and walked no one.

 

No real standout performances with the bat, but Alex Robles was 2-3 with a run scored, and Kerby Camacho was 2-4 with an RBI, accounting for two-thirds of the Twins hits between them.

 

TWINS DAILY PLAYERS OF THE DAY

 

Twins Daily Minor League Pitcher of the Day – Tim Melvile, Rochester Red Wings

Twins Daily Minor League Hitter of the Day – Zander Wiel, Fort Myers Miracle

 

 

FRIDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS

 

Syracuse @ Rochester (6:05pm) – David Hurlbut (5-5, 3.48)

Tennessee @ Chattanooga (6:15pm) - TBD

Palm Beach @ Fort Myers (6:05pm) – Anthony McIver (3-2, 2.56)

Peoria @ Cedar Rapids (6:35pm) – Clark Beeker (7-2, 2.79)

Johnson City @ Elizabethton (6:00pm) – TBD

GCL Twins @GCL Red Sox (11:00am) - TBD

 

Please feel free to ask any questions and discuss Thursday's games.

 

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[Doug ogilvie]

That's 19.2 innings in 11 games scoreless in a row for Rucinski.

Currently 1.54 era, .77 whip, .192 ba, 31k's vs 3 bb.

[ScooterDance]

"Twins starter Nick tapesch"

 

God I hope not

[clutterheart]

Romero only had 86 pitches in his 5 innings.  They must be trying to limit his innings/pitches.  He is one more start from matching his career high in IP

 

[mikelink45]

I would like to see Rooker moved up.  I know it is early, but he is an older prospect and needs to be moved to a level that challenges him if he is going to maximize his talent.

[Seth Stohs]

 

Romero only had 86 pitches in his 5 innings.  They must be trying to limit his innings/pitches.  He is one more start from matching his career high in IP

 

Two things... 1.) Yes, but 2.) He was already at 86 pitches through 5. 

[Possumlad]

 

I would like to see Rooker moved up.  I know it is early, but he is an older prospect and needs to be moved to a level that challenges him if he is going to maximize his talent.

Agree, and I don't think it will be long.. 

[laloesch]

Nice to see Thorpe pitching again.

[rdehring]

At first glance, thought Thorpe's night was a bit disappointing. Then I looked further. In 5.2 innings, he threw 99 pitches...the most since coming back from two years off. It also looks like most of the damage was done in the 6th inning, when he allowed two of his four walks and a two run home run.

 

Looking at the first 5 innings, his outing was excellent. Overall, another step towards his coming back to the pitcher he was before the injury and illness.

[John Kelsey]

How 'bout Andrew Vasquez?

 

24 Ks in 13.2 IP and 0.00 ERA in Fort Myers. 

[Seth Stohs]

 

How 'bout Andrew Vasquez?

 

24 Ks in 13.2 IP and 0.00 ERA in Fort Myers. 

 

Dude is impressive. He's huge. Just wild enough to be scary, but throws really hard, a really heavy pitch. Good slider too. He's absolutely a legit prospect.

[biggentleben]

So, any idea on Yeltsin Encarnacion? 19 in DSL, but shown good walk rates previously. This year, he's hitting .388/.508/.653 with 4 triples and an 11/3 BB/K ratio. Scouting the stat line so far as I really don't have anyone I keep in touch with that works Twins DSL, so until they play the Braves I won't hear back on him. Any idea before then on him??

[caninatl04]

Melville' night is even more impressive when one looks at the Pawsox's lineup which started with four major leaguers.

[Mr. Brooks]

I would like to see Rooker moved up. I know it is early, but he is an older prospect and needs to be moved to a level that challenges him if he is going to maximize his talent.

Looks to me like he's already at a level that challenges him, unfortunately.

[mikelink45]

 

Looks to me like he's already at a level that challenges him, unfortunately.

Four home runs and 845 OPS is a very good start.  His walk rate is not good, but hopefully he like so many young hitters can work on that as he progresses.

[biggentleben]

 

So, any idea on Yeltsin Encarnacion? 19 in DSL, but shown good walk rates previously. This year, he's hitting .388/.508/.653 with 4 triples and an 11/3 BB/K ratio. Scouting the stat line so far as I really don't have anyone I keep in touch with that works Twins DSL, so until they play the Braves I won't hear back on him. Any idea before then on him??

 

Anyone? Buehler?

[Mr. Brooks]

Four home runs and 845 OPS is a very good start. His walk rate is not good, but hopefully he like so many young hitters can work on that as he progresses.

Too small of sample to look at OPS, especially when it's relying almost exclusively on HR. (And even if you did,.845 is not very good for SEC hitter of the year 22 YO against rookie ball.)

His bb and k aren't just not great, they are awful.

He'll be lucky to have ABW's career, IMO.

[mikelink45]

 

Too small of sample to look at OPS, especially when it's relying almost exclusively on HR. (And even if you did,.845 is not very good for SEC hitter of the year 22 YO against rookie ball.)
His bb and k aren't just not great, they are awful.
He'll be lucky to have ABW's career, IMO.

I sure hope your evaluation is wrong.