Article: Twins Minor League Report (9/4): Curtains And New Seasons

[Jeremy Nygaard]

The Twins open a series in Tampa on Monday evening. They are very much in the thick of the playoff race on Labor Day, which is a pleasant surprise.

 

All of the affiliates also entered the latter part of their season - where most team's regular season ends on Labor Day - in the playoff race as well.

 

See how all the affiliates fared in the last regular season edition of the minor league report.

(There's a twist... IT LOOKS DIFFERENT.)9:30 pm update:

 

The E-Twins evened the series with Greeneville with a convincing 14-7 win.

 

Despite giving up a run and an early lead, Elizabethton bounced back to up six first-inning runs and never look back. Their offense was led by Kolton Kendrick who had three hits including a double and two-run home run and J.J. Robinson who had two hits including a three-run home run. Akil Baddoo also homered. Carson Crites had two hits and a stolen base.

 

Brusdar Graterol got the start and wasn't great. In three innings, he allowed two runs (one earned) on five hits and a walk. He struck out five. Melvi Acosta was credited with the win. He struck out eight over four innings. Acosta allowed three runs (two earned) on four hits and a walk. Rickey Ramirez got knocked around for two runs on five hits in his two innings.

 

Tomorrow night at 7pm EST, these two teams will square off for the Appy League Western Division crown. Elizabethton will host. Winner-take-a-trip-to-the-Finals and loser goes home!

 

FOR THE E-TWINS: ONE GAME FOR THE WHOLE SEASON

 

MIRACLE UPDATE: Their postseason kicks off Tuesday night at 6:35 pm EST as they will host Palm Beach.

 

4:30 pm update:

 

The Kernels dropped their regular season finale to Beloit 3-0. Cedar Rapids managed only six hits, all singles. Lewin Diaz had two of them and finished the season batting .292. He was caught attempting to steal second base today.

 

Tyler Beardsley, activated earlier today in place of Evan Sanders, started the game and pitched six innings. He struck out three and allowed only one run on four hits and two walks. He was credited with the loss, his ninth of the season.

 

Logan Lombana pitched one inning of perfect relief. Colton Davis, on the other hand, gave up three hits and two runs in his inning of work.

 

The Kernels will head back to Iowa for one game on Wednesday night. They will host Kane County in the first game of the the MWL Quarterfinals. Games 2 and 3 will shift back to Kane County.

 

Tyler Wells will be on the mound. Wells is 5-3 on the season with 3.11 ERA. First pitch Wednesday will be at 6:35.

 

FOR THE KERNELS: A NEW SEASON

 

4:00 pm update:

 

Chattanooga beat Montgomery 2-1 to cap an impressive 91-49 season in which they were both the first- and second-half champions.

 

Next up is the Southern League Semifinals which will be against Montgomery (again). Because they won both halves, the Lookouts will host games 1, 2 and, if necessary, 4 and 5. Montgomery will only host game 3.

 

The series opens on Wednesday at 7:15 EST with Zack Littell on the mound. Dereck Rodriguez will get the start on Thursday.

 

Not a lot noteworthy from Monday's victory. Max Murphy drove in Nick Gordon in the first inning. Andy Wilkins hit his 12th home run, a solo shot, in the fourth inning.

 

Edgar Corcino finished his AA season batting .302. (But only .292 when combined with his AAA line.) LaMonte Wade ended with a .295/.400/.412 slash line which is comparable to his career line (.296/.405/.439), just with less power.

 

Ryan Eades picked up his fourth win of the season, pitching five innings of shutout, three-hit ball. He struck out one and walked one. Randy Rosario gave up a home run among three hits. He struck out two in two innings. Keaton Steele picked up his first professional save, hurling two shutout, no-hit innings. He walked a batter and struck one out too.

 

FOR THE LOOKOUTS: A NEW SEASON

 

3:30 pm update:

 

The Red Wings entered today all square with the Lehigh Valley IronPigs, who held the tiebreaker.

 

Rochester took care of business, with a 10-1 victory over Pawtucket. Their regular season record is at an impressive 80-62.

 

The game with just as much importance, though, was being held in Lehigh Valley. Lehigh Valley jumped out to a 4-0 lead through two innings and things weren't looking good. Scranton got on the board in the 7th, then made noise in the 8th as well.

 

After cutting the lead to 4-2, Scranton had two men on with only one out. Unfortunately, two strikeouts later and it was still 4-2.

 

Coming into the final frame - and three outs from a playoff berth - Lehigh Valley allowed a leadoff home run and Scranton backed it up with a single, line out and another single. The Red Wings playoff chances were off life support.

 

A walk loaded the bases with one out. Any ball to the outfield should tie the game.

 

Another strikeout.

 

And in the final at-bat, which would decide the Red Wings playoff hopes, Scranton grounded out weakly to second base. The Red Wings season is over.

 

But the season ended on a win and some very good performances. Matt Hague with 2-4 with two home runs and three runs scored and, who knows, may be called on to supplement the Twins bench. Levi Michael had three hits and a stolen base. Jon Rodriguez, who crushed it at AA, hit his first AAA home run and drove in two runs. J.B. Shuck drove in four with a home run and a double. Leo Reginatto also had two hits and an RBI.

 

Adalberto Mejia pitched five innings, allowing one run on six hits and two walks. He struck out two. Dietrich Enns pitched four innings of shutout ball. He allowed four hits and a walk while striking out two.

 

Mejia and Enns will both likely be re-joining the Twins, though their roles - presumably in the bullpen - have yet to be defined.

 

FOR THE RED WINGS: CURTAINS

 

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[Squirrel]

I thought Mejia was already said to replace Gee in the rotation?

[Seth Stohs]

Slegers is taking Gee' s spot.

[amjgt]

[giggle]

 

G Spot

[twinstalker]

I thought no one lost out on the playoffs due to a tiebreaker.

[twins_89]

I'm not an expert on the intricacies of the minor league playoff system, but I did find the following (http://www.milb.com/milb/standings/playoff_procedures.jsp?lid=117&sid=l117):

 

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International League playoff procedures

 

Tie in the final standings

 

If two teams finish the regular season in a tie for first place within their division and both teams will advance to the Governors' Cup playoffs, the teams will be considered division co-champions and the following tiebreaker format will be used to determine which team enters the postseason as the division champion and which will enter as the wild card. If only one team will advance to the Governors' Cup playoffs, the two teams shall play one game the next day after the regular season concludes to determine their final standing. The additional game will be considered an extension of the championship season.

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Since Rochester and  Lehigh Valley are tied for the wild card I take the above to mean there will be a one game playoff. Is that correct, or am I misreading the situation?

[stringer bell]

I've read throughout that Rochester would lose the tiebreaker, so I think that means they lost the tiebreaker. It's good news for the callups. They get a few more days of major league service and meal money.

[twins_89]

 

I'm not an expert on the intricacies of the minor league playoff system, but I did find the following (http://www.milb.com/milb/standings/playoff_procedures.jsp?lid=117&sid=l117):

 

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

International League playoff procedures

 

Tie in the final standings

 

If two teams finish the regular season in a tie for first place within their division and both teams will advance to the Governors' Cup playoffs, the teams will be considered division co-champions and the following tiebreaker format will be used to determine which team enters the postseason as the division champion and which will enter as the wild card. If only one team will advance to the Governors' Cup playoffs, the two teams shall play one game the next day after the regular season concludes to determine their final standing. The additional game will be considered an extension of the championship season.

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Since Rochester and  Lehigh Valley are tied for the wild card I take the above to mean there will be a one game playoff. Is that correct, or am I misreading the situation?

 

Sorry, I was mistaken. After reading the procedure closer it looks like the one game playoff only applies for the division champion. A wild card tie depends on the tie breaker criterion.

[Bob Sacamento]

For those wondering, Lewis Thorpe is starting Game 1 of the Miracles vs Cardinals at Hammond Stadium on Tuesday night at 6:35pm ET.

[Squirrel]

For those wondering, Lewis Thorpe is starting Game 1 of the Miracles vs Cardinals at Hammond Stadium on Tuesday night at 6:35pm ET.

Thanks! I'll be there!

[ThejacKmp]

 

I thought Mejia was already said to replace Gee in the rotation?

 

Days don't line up right now. I'd imagine that Slegers has one game and if he craps the bed, Mejia would line up for that next start.

[Squirrel]

For those wondering, Lewis Thorpe is starting Game 1 of the Miracles vs Cardinals at Hammond Stadium on Tuesday night at 6:35pm ET.

Will you be evacuating in front of Irma?

[Bob Sacamento]

 

Will you be evacuating in front of Irma?

No, I'll be sticking it out here as I live more central than on the coast but I've already closed up the office in Naples and removed the valuables.  Gas stations running out of gas, bottled water is sold out throughout South Florida, sheets of plywood are going for $60 if you can find them, and we're still a week out from the storm actually hitting.  I'll be spending most of tomorrow helping the in-laws put up their hurricane shudders on their houses as they live only 10 minutes from the beach.

[Squirrel]

No, I'll be sticking it out here as I live more central than on the coast but I've already closed up the office in Naples and removed the valuables. Gas stations running out of gas, bottled water is sold out throughout South Florida, sheets of plywood are going for $60 if you can find them, and we're still a week out from the storm actually hitting. I'll be spending most of tomorrow helping the in-laws put up their hurricane shudders on their houses as they live only 10 minutes from the beach.

My return flight to Chicago is Thursday. My mom will fly out with me. Dad will be hunkered down at his care facility. They are all prepared.

 

Didn't get to the game tonight. Was pouring rain and see that it started a couple hours late.

 

Be safe!