Article: Twins Minor League Report (7/18): Turley Fans Ten, Rooker Promoted to FSL

[Seth Stohs]

With Bartolo Colon taking the mound for the Twins, for good or bad, there probably wasn’t much attention being paid to the minor leagues by the average fan on Tuesday night. In addition to that, with two teams taking days off and another game being suspended due to lightning in the GCL (second game of doubleheader), there were only four games in minors on the day but still plenty of action.

 

In those games Rochester’s starter racked up double-digit K’s for the fourth time on the season, the Gulf Coast squad scored a bunch of runs, and a high draft pick from 2017 made his anticipated move to the Florida State League.To find out everything that went on in the minors on Tuesday, keep reading!

 

TRANSACTIONS

 

Some moves were made official today after being reported last night. To make room for Bartolo Colon on the rosters to make the start for the Twins, they placed Phil Hughes on the 60-day DL as his issues with thoracic outlet syndrome remain. They also optioned Kennys Vargas to AAA so they could activate Craig Breslow from his rehab assignment.

 

In more notable news given this is the MiLB report, Brent Rooker was promoted to the Fort Myers Miracle from Elizabethton as promised and he started in tonight’s game. Infielder Dane Hutcheon was sent to Elizabethton to clear the roster spot. Also in Elizabethton, right-handed pitcher and 2017 10^th round draft pick, Calvin Faucher was placed on the disabled list.

 

 

RED WINGS REPORT

Charlotte 1, Rochester 3

Box Score

 

Nik Turley took to the hill for the Red Wings in game two of a three-game series that was made into a four-game one with yesterday’s double-header and he was again brilliant.

 

In 6.2 innings, Turley allowed one run on four hits and two walks. He struck out ten including at least one in each inning. His only run allowed came on a solo home run in the fourth. He got two outs in the seventh thanks in part to picking a runner off before a single brought D.J. Baxendale in after 86 pitches.

 

Turley left in line for the win as the Red Wings finally got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the sixth inning. Mitch Garver led off the inning with a walk, and advanced to third on a double from Tommy Field. Garver scored on a ground out from Matt Hague before a Niko Goodrum triple plated the go-ahead run.

 

The offense added an insurance run in the eighth after Garver led off that inning with a double, and scored on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Byungho Park.

 

Baxendale remained in the game to start the eighth inning and hit a batter, but got a ground out before being lifted for Alex Wimmers who finished the inning.

 

With the score 3-1, John Curtiss came on for the ninth and struck out the first three hitters he faced, but the final K came on a wild pitch that put the runner on first. He got a fly out to end the game and pick up his second save with the Red Wings.

 

In case you hadn’t noticed, the Red Wings have been on fire over the last month plus:

 

 

They are in third in the International League North Division with a 54-41 record, 5.5 games back of the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders and four games back in the wild card standings.

 

 

CHATTANOOGA CHATTER

Scheduled Day Off

 

The Lookouts got a day off on Tuesday after going twenty days without one. In the twenty games they played over that stretch they went 15-5 including eight straight wins to start it. In the second half of the Southern League season they lead the North Division by four games over the Tennessee Smokies with a 19-6 record after winning the first half title.

 

They are back in action on Wednesday night on the road against the Mobile BayBears.

 

 

MIRACLE MATTERS

Fort Myers 1, Bradenton 3

Box Score

 

The Miracle offense was unable to solve Marauders starter Brad Helton, as they scored just one run on four hits in his seven innings.

 

They tied the game at one in the top of the fourth with three singles, but a double-play ball ended that threat and the rest of their offense for the night. Sean Miller had two hits out of the leadoff spot and Zander Wiel drew a walk and clubbed his 22nd double for the only notable performances. After his promotion was made official earlier in the day, Brent Rooker was 0-4 in his Florida State League debut batting in the sixth spot and playing left field.

 

Right-hander Brady Anderson made the start for Fort Myers and went the first five innings. He allowed three runs (one earned) on six hits while striking out three. The two unearned runs came in the fifth inning after two errors from his infield defense.

 

Alex Muren came on for the sixth and pitched two scoreless innings, allowing one hit and striking out one. Sam Clay finished the game for the Miracle with a one-two-three ninth inning. He also struck out one.

 

The offense for the Miracle was just 1-5 with runners in scoring position and left five men on base for the game.

 

 

KERNELS NUGGETS

Scheduled Day Off

 

Cedar Rapids also had the day off on Tuesday after a six-game road trip on which they went just 1-5. They return to Veterans Memorial Stadium on Wednesday for a six-game home stand versus the Great Lakes Loons and Lansing Lugnuts. With an 11-14 record in the second half the Kernels are six games back of the division- leading Quad Cities River Bandits.

 

In the series opener against the Loons tomorrow night left-hander Domenick Carlini will take the mound looking for his fourth win of the season.

 

 

E-TWINS E-NOTES

Bristol 9, Elizabethton 5

Box Score

 

It was a busy first inning in Elizabethton as the Pirates jumped on Twins starter Moises Gomez for two runs in the top half of the frame with three doubles. But the Twins took the lead right back in the bottom half thanks in part to a pair of Bristol errors. Shane Carrier brought in the first two runs with a single, and they went ahead 3-2 on an errant throw on a steal attempt.

 

Gomez was wild in the second inning but managed to keep the Pirates off the board and also pitched a clean third, but an error and fielder’s choice ground ball that did not produce an out preceded another double that made the score 4-3 Bristol after four innings. Gomez' overall line included 4.0 innings pitched with four runs (two earned) on five hits and two walks. He struck out four.

 

Ryley Widell came on for the fifth inning and pitched 2.1 scoreless frames. He allowed just one hit and struck out three before being removed after getting the leadoff man in the seventh inning. Blair Lakso got the final two outs to keep Elizabethton within one after seven, but ran into a heap of trouble in the eighth thanks in part to his own throwing error that led to a three-run home run. Juan Gamez got the final two outs of the inning on a double play ball but also gave up a run on three singles in the ninth.

 

Elizabethton got multiple hit efforts from Wander Javier (2-5, 2 R’s) and Jose Miranda (2-5, R), but their ten hits as a team were all singles.

 

 

GCL TWINS TAKES

Game 1: GCL Rays 5, GCL Twins 11

Box Score

 

The Twins were able to get in their game that was suspended due to lightning yesterday, with play resuming in top of the first inning.

 

It was Jordan Balazovic on the mound when it started with one out and a runner on first base. He loaded the bases before getting an out on a sacrifice fly to put the Rays out front 1-0, but settled in for the next three innings.

 

In the bottom of the first Royce Lewis drew a walk and advanced to third on an errant pickoff attempt before being driven in by a single from Benjamin Rodriguez. An error put two runners on and Brian Olson brought them both in with a double to make the score 3-1 in favor of the Twins. It remained that way until the fifth inning.

 

Balazovic got the first batter he faced, but a home run, walk, and RBI double from the next three hitters ended his day with the game tied 3-3. Overall he pitched four innings, allowing two runs on three hits and two walks, while striking out four.

 

Matt Jones came on from the bullpen and got out of the inning with no further damage.

 

The Twins got both those runs back and more in the bottom half of the frame thanks to a couple of walks, an RBI single from Olson, an RBI groundout from Jean Carlos Arias, and a two RBI double courtesy of Roni Tapia.

 

The offense added another run in the sixth thanks to a throwing error on a double steal, and three more in the seventh thanks to a two-run homer from Tapia that was followed with a back-to-back shot by Ricky De La Torre. Both home runs were their first of the GCL season, and career in De La Torre’s case.

 

Jones finished 3.2 scoreless innings to keep the Twins well out front. He walked two and struck out one. Matz Shutte came on for the ninth and walked a couple of batters before giving up a two-run double for the final score of 11-5. He struck out one and got a double-play ground ball to end the game.

 

The Twins scored those 11 runs on 12 hits and four walks, led by the bottom four hitters in the lineup (Olson, Arias, Tapia, De La Torre) who all had multiple hits and combined to go 9-19 with two doubles, two home runs and nine RBI. Lewis was 1-4 with a run scored and a walk, and in the small sample of his career thus far, has just as many walks as K’s.

 

Game 2: GCL Twins 1, GCL Rays 0 (suspended in 2^nd inning due to lighting)

Box Score

 

Unfortunately for the Twins, their regularly scheduled game of the day suffered the same fate as Monday night, as this one was also suspended due to lightning in the top of the second inning. Before that happened, the Twins had taken the lead 1-0 after a Kerby Camacho double to drive in Alex Robles.

 

Carlos Suniaga pitched a one-two-three inning for the Twins, and the game will be completed tomorrow as the Rays remain in town for a four-game series.

 

 

TWINS DAILY PLAYERS OF THE DAY

 

Pitcher of the Day – Nik Turley, Rochester Red Wings (W, 6.2IP, 1 ER, 4 H’s, 2 BB’s, 10 K’s)

Hitter of the Day – Roni Tapia, GCL Twins (2-5, R, 2B, HR, 4 RBI)

 

 

WEDNESDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS

 

Charlotte @ Rochester (6:05PM CST) – RHP Justin Haley (1-0, 2.08 ERA – 4^th rehab start)

Chattanooga @ Mobile (6:35PM CST) - TBD

Fort Myers @ Bradenton (9:30AM CST) – TBD

Great Lakes @ Cedar Rapids (6:35PM CST) – LHP Domenick Carlini (3-7, 5.33 ERA)

Bristol @ Elizabethton (6:00PM CST) – RHP Melvi Acosta (2-1, 6.20 ERA)

GCL Rays @ GCL Twins (11:00AM CST) – TBD

GCL Twins @ GCL Rays (completion of 7/18 suspended game)

 

 

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

 

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[AlwaysinModeration]

Kerby Camacho is an excellent baseball name.

 

Why couldn't Turley do more of that when he pitched for the big club?

[clutterheart]

For the first time in over a month Wander Javier played a game on consecutive nights!

 

I hope he can stay healthy

[Han Joelo]

With Scranton always near the top of my mind when reading about Rochester, I thought that picture of Marv Foley was actually Todd Packer.  Or that Foley was the actor who played Packer.

 

 

[Old Twins Cap]

Turley, if he could ever locate his curve in the Majors, he might have a chance.

 

No curve, no spot on the MLB roster as hitters just sit Red.

[rdehring]

When I saw that Widell pitched for ETon, had to double check to see if it was his first game...it was. I thought he was going to be a hard one to sign and was really happy to see the Twins get it done. From everything I read, seems like he could be a good one. Last night was a great start.

 

Also good to see Javier doing very well, especially for an 18 year old, in Eastern Tennessee.

[Seth Stohs]

 

Turley, if he could ever locate his curve in the Majors, he might have a chance.

No curve, no spot on the MLB roster as hitters just sit Red.

 

I would agree. I think it's all about the curveball for Turley. It's really good, but he couldn't command it in his three MLB starts. I wonder if the stitches on the ball being different had anything to do with it? I think Turley's got really good stuff, potential to be a solid middle or long reliever, so I'm glad they haven't DFAd him. 

[Mike Sixel]

 

I would agree. I think it's all about the curveball for Turley. It's really good, but he couldn't command it in his three MLB starts. I wonder if the stitches on the ball being different had anything to do with it? I think Turley's got really good stuff, potential to be a solid middle or long reliever, so I'm glad they haven't DFAd him. 

 

Well, Berrios pitched on teh side with the MLB ball. I hope they are having Turley do that also.

[Seth Stohs]

 

Well, Berrios pitched on teh side with the MLB ball. I hope they are having Turley do that also.

 

Agreed... I would hope at this point they're just having everyone do that. 

[071063]

 

Well, Berrios pitched on teh side with the MLB ball. I hope they are having Turley do that also.

Why are the balls different? That doesn't seem to make any sense!

[Mike Sixel]

 

Why are the balls different? That doesn't seem to make any sense!

 

Money. They use a cheaper company/process to build the minor league balls. 

 

and no, it makes no sense at all.

[70charger]

I have read that the balls are technically built to the exact same specs, but that they're built in different factories in different countries. That's enough to make a noticeable difference.

[Mike Sixel]

 

I have read that the balls are technically built to the exact same specs, but that they're built in different factories in different countries. That's enough to make a noticeable difference.

 

The specs aren't "exact" at all. They allow for huge variance.

[Bob Sacamento]

 

I have read that the balls are technically built to the exact same specs, but that they're built in different factories in different countries. That's enough to make a noticeable difference.

There is an "allowable variation" of the specs not only in MLB which has led to the several studies on MLB balls) but even more so between MiLB to MLB.

MiLB balls are made in China while the ROMLB are made in Costa Rica.