Article: Twins Minor League Report (8/16): Wiel With A Walkoff

[Seth Stohs]

While the Twins game on Wednesday night was postponed, things were quite busy in the minor league system with seven games. The Red Wings needed a couple of extra innings. The Miracle played a doubleheader, and one of them went an extra inning. Tyler Watson and Zack Littell each made a start. And there was a surprise starter in the GCL on Wednesday, making a rehab appearance.Find out everything and more that happened happened in the Twins system on Wednesday.

 

Let’s start with the transactions of the day:

• RHP Chris Heston was removed from the Red Wings disabled list. He had made one appearance in the GCL this week.
• RHP Michael Kohn has been moved from the GCL to Ft. Myers as he tries to return from shoulder surgery.
• With the Twins postponement on Wednesday, the Twins will play twice on Thursday. The team announced that RHP Aaron Slegers will be the team's 26th man and start the night game. In his last 10 starts, he is 9-0 with a 2.10 ERA. (Glen Perkins was activated and Dietrich Enns placed on the DL.)
• We have also learned that Kohl Stewart will be promoted to Rochester to start on Friday. Yohan Pino was promoted to Rochester on Thursday.

RED WINGS REPORT

Rochester 4, Columbus 3 (11 innings)

Box Score

 

They had to play a couple of extra innings, but the Red Wings were able to pick up another win on Wednesday night.

 

David Hurlbut started and gave up one run on seven hits over 6.1 innings. He struck out four with no walks. Luke Bard came on and got out of the seventh. The eighth inning was not a good inning for inherited runners. Bard started the inning and gave up a double. He got a ground out for the first out. Mason Melotakis came on to face Tyler Naquin who doubled in a run. Jake Reed came on and got a strikeout before giving up an RBI single.

 

Reed ended up going two innings and struck out two. Alex Wimmers got the final five outs, four of them on strikeouts.

 

Niko Goodrum led the offense. He went 3-5 with his 24th double. Mitch Garver got things going in the first inning with an RBI single. Daniel Palka had RBI singles in the third and eighth innings. In the 11th inning, Mitch Garver hit his 29th double. It was followed shortly by an RBI single from Kennys Vargas which proved to be the game-winner.

 

 

CHATTANOOGA CHATTER

Chattanooga 6, Tennessee 3

Box Score

 

The Lookouts put together a lot of hits. They scored six runs and even left nine others on base. Jonathan Rodriguez led the way with another big game. The first baseman went 2-4 with a walk, his 27th double and his 17th home run. Andy Wilkins was 3-5 with his 14th double. Ryan Walker was 2-4 with his 13th double. LaMonte Wade went 2-4 with a walk. Max Murphy was 1-1 but he walked three times in the game as well.

 

Zack Littell improved to 3-0 since joining the Twins and Lookouts. In this game, he gave up just one run on five hits in six innings. He walked two and struck out four. Ryan Eades gave up two runs on two hits and a walk in 1.1 innings. Nick Anderson got two outs right away to drop his Lookouts ERA to 0.98. Gabriel Moya came on for the ninth and recorded his 20th save of the season. He gave up a hit and struck out two, dropping his season ERA to 0.88.

 

 

MIRACLE MATTERS

Game 1 - Ft. Myers 5, Lakeland 4

Box Score

 

In the first of two, the Miracle came out and scored three in the first inning, followed by single runs the next two innings, and then they held on.

 

Brent Rooker went 2-2 with a walk and his fourth double. Chris Paul was 2-3 with his 17th double. Brandon Lopez was 1-2 with a walk and his sixth double. Tanner English walked twice and stole his 26th bag. Zander Wiel went 1-2 with a sacrifice fly. Playing left field, he also threw out a runner at the plate.

 

Anthony McIver started. The southpaw went the first three innings and gave up two runs on six hits. He walked one and struck out three. Michael Kohn, in his first Miracle appearance, gave up a hit but struck out three in his inning. Tom Hackimer struck one out in his inning. Michael Theofanopoulos gave up two runs on two hits but held on for the save.

 

Game 2 - Ft. Myers 3, Lakeland 2 (8 innings)

Box Score

 

Randy LeBlanc started the second game for the Miracle. He gave up one run on five hits and a walk over five innings. He struck out seven. Williams Ramirez walked two, but struck out three, over his inning of work. Alex Muren gave up a run in the seventh to send it to an extra inning, but he also got the win by pitching a scoreless eighth inning.

 

In the bottom of the 8th, Sean Miller led off with a triple (his second of the year). After intentional walks to Mitchell Kranson and Brent Rooker, Zander Wiel walked it off with a single.

 

Miller went 2-3 with a walk and added his 16th double to the triple. Jaylin Davis was 2-3 with his eighth double.

 

 

KERNELS NUGGETS

Cedar Rapids 2, Burlington 7

Box Score

 

Tyler Watson made his third start since joining the Kernels. It wasn’t great, but it was his best so far. The left-hander gave up four runs (two earned) on six hits and two walks. He struck out three. Max Cordy pitched the seventh inning and gave up three runs on two hits and two walks. Eddie del Rosario, back from Ft. Myers, worked a perfect inning in relief. After throwing 83.1 innings last year with the Kernels, Del Rosario has thrown 121.1 innings between Cedar Rapids and Ft. Myers.

 

Trey Cabbage led the offense by going 2-4. Jordan Gore added his second triple. Caleb Hamilton hit his 14th double. Royce Lewis went 0-4.

 

There are were two really good Royce Lewis interviews posted on Wednesday. First, Lewis joined the MLB Pipeline podcast with Tim McMaster, Jonathan Mayo and Jim Callis.

 

He also joined Todd Brommelkamp on KGYM in Cedar Rapids for an extended interview.

 

 

 

E-TWINS E-NOTES

Elizabethton

Box Score

 

The Elizabethton Twins had the second of their three days off during their short season.

 

 

GCL TWINS TAKES

GCL Rays 2, GCL Twins 4

Box Score

 

To the surprise of most, Tyler Jay made his return to the mound in a rehab start for the GCL Twins. It was his first appearance since May 30th. It went well. The lefty struck out two in a perfect inning.

 

Pedro Garcia came on and gave up one run on two hits over the next five innings. He walked one and struck out five. Jordan Balazovic then gave up one run on two hits over the next 2.2 innings. He walked two and struck out two and walked two. Derek Molina came in for the final out, a strikeout, to record his third save.

 

Benjamin Rodriguez led the offense. He went 3-4 with his 10th double and two RBI. Roni Tapia’s sixth double also drove in a run.

 

TWINS DAILY PLAYERS OF THE DAY

 

Twins Daily Minor League Pitcher of the Day - Zack Littell, Ft. Myers Miracle

Twins Daily Minor League Hitter of the Day – Jonathan Rodriguez, Chattanooga Lookouts

 

THURSDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS

Rochester @ Columbus (11:05 CST) - RHP Drew Rucinski (since Aaron Slegers is starting for the Twins)

Chattanooga @ Tennessee (6:00 CST) - Dereck Rodriguez (in place of Kohl Stewart)

Lakeland @ Ft. Myers (6:30 CST) - RHP Sean Poppen

Cedar Rapids @ Burlington (6:30 CST) - RHP Patrick McGuff

Elizabethton @ Bristol (4:30 CST) - RHP Randy Dobnak

GCL Twins @ GCL Rays (11:00 CST) - RHP Austin Bizzle

 

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

 

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[gman]

Looks like Rooker has come on strong after his initial adjustment period in Ft Myers. He has 20 rbi's in 29 AB's with runners in scoring position.

 

Also very good to see Tyler Jay back on the mound.

[puckstopper1]

I agree.  GREAT to hear that Jay was able to throw yesterday.

 

How long before Moya's name starts to get added to those who might be able to help in the Twins' bullpen?  Is his ETA 2018, 2019?

[MN_ExPat]

I concur, very surprised to see him back as I was not truly expecting him to be able to pitch again this year.   Just hoping he can stay healthy now.

[Seth Stohs]

 

I agree.  GREAT to hear that Jay was able to throw yesterday.

 

How long before Moya's name starts to get added to those who might be able to help in the Twins' bullpen?  Is his ETA 2018, 2019?

 

Moya could be as early as September, though mid-2018 maybe more realistic.

[nicksaviking]

Why was Stewart promoted? Poor stats aside, if Heston and Pino are now rejoining the rotation along with Gonsalves, Hurlbert and Melville who's the odd man out? Or are they going with six the rest of the way?

 

Even if they do go with six, Slegers is the 26th man on the MLB roster so I'd assume he'd be rejoining the Rochester rotation immediately (until September).

[Seth Stohs]

Updated to show that Dereck Rodriguez is starting in place of Stewart tonight for the Lookouts. 

[Seth Stohs]

 

Why was Stewart promoted? Poor stats aside, if Heston and Pino are now rejoining the rotation along with Gonsalves, Hurlbert and Melville who's the odd man out? Or are they going with six the rest of the way?

 

Even if they do go with six, Slegers is the 26th man on the MLB roster so I'd assume he'd be rejoining the Rochester rotation immediately (until September).

 

I don't know that Heston or Pino would be considered starters. Also, Slegers will be back down after tonight's Twins game, so he'll jump back there. Possible that Stewart starts and goes back down. Also possible that Gonsalves starts in the DH for the Twins on Monday and Stewart takes his spot. 

[Mr. Brooks]

Moya could be as early as September, though mid-2018 maybe more realistic.

Seth, do you know, specifically, what they want Moya to work on yet in the minors?

[jun]

Tyler Watson has not looked good at all. The Twins should have kept Kintzler. It's not a good idea to trade with Nationals. Ramos for Capps and now Kintzler for Watson.

[Mr. Brooks]

Tyler Watson has not looked good at all. The Twins should have kept Kintzler. It's not a good idea to trade with Nationals. Ramos for Capps and now Kintzler for Watson.

A bit soon to be passing judgement on Watson, don't you think?

[jun]

A bit soon to be passing judgement on Watson, don't you think?

You might be right. However struggling in low A ball like this is definitely not good. The question is: Is it worth to lose couple games this season for a prospect like this? Edited August 18, 2017 by jun

[drjim]

You might be right. However struggling in low A ball like this is definitely not good. The question is: Is it worth to lose couple games this season for a prospect like this?

It was a bad trade, but it's over.