Article: Twins Minor League Report (8/26): Elizabethton Clinches Playoff Spot Again

[Seth Stohs]

The rains won the day in Ft. Myers, forcing the postponement of three games. But the four other Twins affiliates all played and attempted to push closer to the playoffs. Find out everything that happened throughout the system, including a pitcher who improved to 18-1 on the season. One other minor leaguer reached milestone numbers in a couple of stats. Which 2017 draftee keyed an Elizabethton win that put them into the playoffs again this year?

 

Continue reading to find out all the scores and highlights in the Twins minor leagues from Saturday.Incredibly, there were no transactions in the organization on Saturday. That has certainly been an unusual thing throughout this season.

 

RED WINGS REPORT

Rochester 6, Buffalo 3

Box Score

 

Left-hander David Hurlbut improved to 9-8 with another solid performance. He gave up two runs on seven hits and two walks in 5.2 innings. He struck out three. He now has a 3.55 ERA on the season. Alex Wimmers gave up one run over the next two innings. He gave up one hit, walked one and struck out two. Jake Reed got the final four outs to record his fifth save for the Red Wings. He gave up a hit and a walk but gave up no runs to reduce his ERA to 1.98.

 

J.B. Shuck went 3-4. Leonardo Reginnato went 2-3 with a walk and his 13th double. Levi Michael and Niko Goodrum went 2-4 in the game.

 

 

CHATTANOOGA CHATTER

Chattanooga 10, Jackson 2

Box Score

 

Zack Littell was back on the mound for the Lookouts. He went six innings and gave up just two runs. He allowed six hits, walked two and struck out five to improve to 4-0 since joining the Lookouts. It pushes his overall season record to a remarkable 18-1. Anthony McIver struck out two over two scoreless innings. He gave up a hit and a walk. Keaton Steele worked the ninth. He gave up a hit and a walk, but no runs to end the game.

 

The offense provided plenty of support for Littell. Jonathan Rodriguez reached a couple of milestone season numbers. He hit his 30th double and his 20th home run. Andy Wilkins hit his 10th home run, a three-run shot. LaMonte Wade went 3-5 with his 19th double and third triple. Max Murphy was 2-4 with his 11th double.

 

 

MIRACLE MATTERS

Ft. Myers, Charlotte

Box Score

 

Rain was the winner of the day in Ft. Myers on Saturday. They will attempt to play two on Sunday afternoon.

 

 

KERNELS NUGGETS

Cedar Rapids 0, Quad Cities 1

Box Score

 

There was very little offense down in Davenport on Saturday night. Let’s start with the positive. Tyler Wells was on the mound and very good again. He went six innings and gave up just one run on four hits. He walked three and struck out four. Max Cordy worked the final two innings without allowing a base runner. He struck out three.

 

However, the Kernels were unable to muster much offense. They had just three hits. Ben Rortvedt’s 15th double was their lone extra-base hit. They walked once and the team struck out a combined 16 times.

 

E-TWINS E-NOTES

Elizabethton 5, Greeneville 2

Box Score

 

The E-Twins are heading back to the playoffs, clinching a spot on Saturday night with just over a week left in the season. Twins 2017 tenth-round pick Mark Contreras led the way. He hit his ninth double and his fourth home run. Roberto Molina’s second home run drove in two runs. Later, Akil Baddoo added a solo shot, his third E-Twins homer.

 

Brusdar Graterol started and recorded his second win. He gave up one run on two hits and a walk in five innings. He struck out six. Melvi Acosta came out of the bullpen to work the final four innings. He gave up a run on four hits. He struck out four.

 

 

GCL TWINS TAKES

GCL Twins, GCL Red Sox

Box Score

 

For the second straight day, the GCL Twins and Red Sox were rained out. They carry a large lead into what will be a busy final regular-season week of the year. These two games will be made up as part of doubleheaders next Friday and Saturday to close out the regular season.

 

TWINS DAILY PLAYERS OF THE DAY

 

Twins Daily Minor League Pitcher of the Day - (You Vote) Zack Littell, Chattanooga Lookouts, or Tyler Wells, Cedar Rapids

Twins Daily Minor League Hitter of the Day – Mark Contreras, Elizabethton Twins

 

SUNDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS

Buffalo @ Rochester (12:35 CST) - RHP Aaron Slegers

Chattanooga @ Jackson (2:05 CST) - RHP Dereck Rodriguez

Charlotte @ Ft. Myers (DH at 1:00 CST) - LHP Lewis Thorpe, RHP Randy LeBlanc

Cedar Rapids @ Quad Cities (1:15 CST) - RHP Tyler Beardsley

Elizabethton @ Greeneville (6:00 CST) - RHP Nick Brown

GCL Twins - No Game Scheduled

 

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

 

Click here to view the article

[ashbury]

 

 

Twins Daily Minor League Pitcher of the Day - (You Vote) Zack Littell, Chattanooga Lookouts, or Tyler Wells, Cedar Rapids

 

I vote Wells. If degree of difficulty is included then Littell since he's at AA, but in that case the AAA or AA guy would win almost every day.

[Halsey Hall]

I'll go with Wells also. 

[rdehring]

Its hard to believe, Seth, but another season is almost over. Are you making plans for all that extra time you are gonna have?

 

As for pitcher of the day, I think Graterol had the best day.

[Pitz]

I would probably also go with Brusdar. Good to see him bounce back with two strong starts after a rough outing. Just 3 hits 2 walks and 1 earned run to go with 11 strikeouts in 9 innings over his last 2 starts. 

Edited August 27, 2017 by Pitz

[Seth Stohs]

 

Its hard to believe, Seth, but another season is almost over. Are you making plans for all that extra time you are gonna have?

As for pitcher of the day, I think Graterol had the best day.

 

That "extra time" is spent writing the Twins Prospect Handbook... can't believe this will be the 10th version!! That'll basically take up my every non-job-that-pays-me-money time until mid-December probably. 

 

 

[gbg]

It was Tyler Wells birthday, so you almost have to give it to him in that circumstance!

 

[gbg]

Of course, it was Graterol's birthday, too. (You get a birthday! You get a birthday!)

 

Mine, also. But I had a lousy day on the mound, so...

[luckylager]

Goncalves, every day.

[Mr. Brooks]

I vote Graterol.

[108Stitches]

Gotta go with Wells. It's his Birthday! Why does it seem he gets very little run support on most of his outings? Pretty weird.

[Rosterman]

Be interesting to see any roster shuffles come the end of the week. Who goes up or down for the minor league playoffs, and who do the Twins want for their own playoff possible run roster.