Article: Twins Minor League Report (6/5): Grand Slams Power Kernels

[Steve Lein]

With a double-header in the Midwest League and a full slate for all the other full season affiliates, there was a lot of action in the minors on Tuesday. While the offenses in the first four games of the day couldn’t pull out any victories for your favorite affiliates, game two of that double-header made up for it behind grand slams from not one, but two of the Twins top prospects.To find out about those big blasts and everything else that happened in the minors on Tuesday night, keep reading and add to the discussion in the comments!

 

TRANSACTIONS AND NEWS

 

After being named the Midwest Player of the Week on Monday, Alex Kirilloff took home some more paperware on Tuesday, when he was named the MWL Player of the Month. In 31 games in May, Kirilloff led the league in hits, RBI, total bases, and hit .360/.423/.640 (1.063 OPS).

 

With their record at 33-25 and leading the Southern League North Division, the Lookouts had seven players selected as All-Stars. They include position players LaMonte Wade and Zander Wiel, along with pitchers Omar Bencomo, Ryne Harper, Randy LeBlanc, Williams Ramiriz, and Todd Van Steensel.

 

As far as transactions go:

 

-The Twins officially recalled starter Zack Littell, and he made his major league debut in game two of the Twins double-header versus the White Sox. Littell is the fourth player from my preseason list to make his Major League debut so far this season.

-Rochester was the landing spot for catcher Cameron Rupp after he signed with the Twins yesterday.

 

RED WINGS REPORT

Indianapolis 5, Rochester 0

Box Score

 

For the first five innings, Stephen Gonsalves was again on his game in this one. To that point, he had allowed just one earned run on two hits and two walks along with racking up four K’s. After recording outs with the first two hitters of the sixth however, a walk was followed by an RBI double and another walk to end his day. Trevor May came on in relief and allowed an RBI double to score an inherited runner. Gonsalves finished with 5 2/3 innings, with three earned runs allowed on three hits and for walks, with five strikeouts.

 

May finished the sixth and the seventh and allowed one run of his own on four hits while striking out two. Luke Bard finished the game for the Red Wings, allowing one run on a walk and a hit in two innings. He struck out four.

 

There wasn’t much offense from the Rochester lineup as they picked up just six hits on the game while going 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position and leaving eight men on base. Nick Gordon was 3-for-4 and is now hitting .357 in AAA. Kennys Vargas picked up their only extra-base hit, his fourth double. Chris Carter drew two walks.

 

CHATTANOOGA CHATTER

Mobile 11, Chattanooga 5

Box Score

 

Both teams racked up thirteen hits on the game, but the difference in this one was extra base runners, courtesy of seven walks for the BayBears compared to just one for the Lookouts. Mobile also collected five extra-base hits to just one for Chattanooga to account for the final score discrepancy.

 

On the mound for the home team was Sean Poppen and he made it just 3 1/3 innings before the wheels fell completely off for him. He allowed eight earned runs on seven hits and three walks and struck out five. Ryan Eades got through the next six outs but allowed three runs on four hits and a walk himself. He struck out four. Paco Rodriguez and Zack Jones were finally able to stop the run parade, combining for 3 2/3 scoreless innings to finish the game. Rodriguez allowed two hits and walked two in two innings, while Jones walked one and struck out two in 1 2/3 innings.

 

Chris Paul slugged his fourth home run of the season for Chattanooga in the sixth inning, but his two-run shot wasn’t nearly enough. Brent Rooker, Edgar Corcino, James Ramsey, Alex Perez, and Sean Miller all collected two singles. Ramsey scored two runs and LaMonte Wade singled and drew the Lookouts only walk on the game.

 

MIRACLE MATTERS

Palm Beach 6, Fort Myers 4

Box Score

 

Fort Myers took a 1-0 lead after one when Travis Blankenhorn scored on a wild pitch after collecting his tenth double of the season, but in a bullpen game the reliever core was unable keep them in this one.

 

Fresh off his promotion, Kevin Marnon made the start for the Miracle and went the first three innings. After a one-two-three first he allowed two runs on three hits in three total innings. He walked none and struck out two. Logan Lombana then came on and in two innings allowed three runs on five hits while striking out one. Next up was Hector Lujan and he struck out four in three innings, allowing one run on three hits. Alex Robinson finished the game with a scoreless inning but did load the bases on a double and two walks before recording the third out. They surrendered four home runs as a unit.

 

The Fort Myers offense did climb as close as 5-3 after the sixth but got no closer than that. Despite their twelve hits as a team, they were just 2-for-11 with runners in scoring position and left eight men on base. Luis Arreaz (2-for-5, 2B), Blankenhorn (3-for-5, R, 2 2B, RBI), Jimmy Kerrigan (2-for-4, R, 2B, 3B), Taylor Grzelakowski (2-for-4, 2 R), and Mark Contreras (2-for-4, 2B, 2 RBI) each had multiple hits.

 

KERNELS NUGGETS

Game 1: Beloit 5, Cedar Rapids 2 (7 innings)

Box Score

 

For the second time in his past three starts, right-hander Blayne Enlow made it through six innings. Unfortunately, only in two of those innings were goose eggs put up on the scoreboard. Single runs in the second, third, and fourth innings, along with two in the sixth meant Beloit took the lead and never relinquished it in game one of their double-header. All told, Enlow allowed the five earned runs on ten hits, including two home runs. He struck out two.

 

Carlos Suniaga finished the game for the Kernels with a one-two-three inning.

 

The Cedar Rapids batting order collected six hits and three walks. Robby Rinn and Ben Rodriguez each had doubles, while Jose Miranda clubbed his fourth home run of the season. Andrew Bechtold had the other RBI and stole his fourth base. Alex Kirilloff went 1-for-2 with a walk while Royce Lewis finished this one 0-for-4.

 

Game 2: Beloit 3, Cedar Rapids 14 (7 innings)

Box Score

 

The Kernels bats exploded in game two on Tuesday, hanging crooked numbers on the scoreboard in the third, fourth, fifth, and sixth innings. If this was a Town Ball game instead of a double-header, the seven innings played would have been because of the mercy rule. The barrage was led by their top prospects, Royce Lewis and Alex Kirilloff, as both prospects clubbed grand slams for the home town crowd.

 

If you didn’t already know, today was Lewis’ 19^th birthday, and his salami came in the fourth inning to make the score 7-2. Kirilloff’s followed in the fifth and came with two outs to make the score 12-2. Both grand slams were the first of their professional careers. With his 11th home run of the season, Kirilloff also now leads the Midwest League.

 

 

Five Cedar Rapids hitters collected multiple hits on the game and included Lewis (2-for-4), Jean Carlos Arias (3-for-5), Robby Rinn (3-for-4), Trey Cabbage (3-for-4), and Andrew Bechtold (2-for-3). Those five also scored at least two runs apiece. Rinn added a two-run home run in the third inning, and Cabbage had two doubles.

 

Pitching for the Kernels in this one was Melvi Acosta and he went the first four innings. He allowed two runs (one earned) on four hits and two walks. He struck out three. Jared Finkel finished the final three frames to pick up his third win, surrendering one run on four hits.

 

STARS OF THE DAY

 

Twins Daily Pitcher of the Day – Stephen Gonsalves, Rochester Red Wins (L, 5 2/3 IP, 3 ER, 3 H, 4 BB, 5 K)

Twins Daily Hitter of the Day – Alex Kirilloff and Royce Lewis, Cedar Rapids Kernels (Grand Slam from each)

 

TOP PROSPECT SUMMARY

 

1. Royce Lewis (Cedar Rapids) – (2 games) 2-for-8, 2 R, GS HR, 4 RBI, BB

2. Fernando Romero (Minnesota) – 6 IP, 2 ER, 7 H, 0 BB, 4 K

3. Nick Gordon (Rochester) – 3-for-4

4. Stephen Gonsalves (Rochester) – (L, 4-2) 5 2/3 IP, 3 ER, 3 H, 4 BB, 5 K

5. Alex Kirilloff (Cedar Rapids) – (2 games) 2-for-7, R, GS HR, 4 RBI, BB

6. Wander Javier (Cedar Rapids) – Out for season with injury.

7. Brent Rooker (Chattanooga) – 2-for-5

8. Blayne Enlow (Cedar Rapids) – (L, 0-2) 6 IP, 5 ER, 10 H, 0 BB, 2 K

9. Brusdar Graterol (Cedar Rapids) – Disabled List (hand contusion)

10. Akil Baddoo (Cedar Rapids) – 1-for-4, K

11. Zack Littell (Minnesota) – (L, 0-1 – MLB Debut) 3 IP, 6 ER, 6 H, 4 BB, K

12. Lewis Thorpe (Chattanooga) – Did not pitch.

13. Lewin Diaz (Fort Myers) – 0-for-4

14. LaMonte Wade (Chattanooga) – 1-for-4, RBI, BB, K

15. Mitch Garver (Minnesota) – 1-for-5, 2 K (pinch hit in game 1, start in game 2)

16. Ben Rortvedt (Cedar Rapids) – 1-for-3, R, RBI, K

17. Travis Blankenhorn (Fort Myers) – 3-for-5, R, 2 2B, RBI, 2 K

18. Yunior Severino (Extended Spring Training)

19. Tyler Jay (Chattanooga) – Did not pitch.

20. Felix Jorge (Rochester) – Disabled List, still no official timetable for return.

 

WEDNESDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS

 

Indianapolis @ Rochester (6:05PM CST) – RHP Aaron Slegers (5-2, 3.27 ERA)

Mobile @ Chattanooga (10:15AM CST) – LHP Anthony Marzi (0-3, 6.46 ERA)

Palm Beach @ Fort Myers (6:00PM CST) – TBD

Beloit @ Cedar Rapids (12:05PM CST) – TBD

Beloit @ Cedar Rapids (game 2) – RHP Tanner Kiest (0-0, 3.00 ERA)

 

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

 

Click here to view the article

[rdehring]

Got a question for you, Steve, about Trevor May.  His 30 day rehab has to be coming to an end.  What do the Twins do?  He certainly isn't pitching well enough to join the Twins.  Back on the DL?  Or do they option him to Rochester? 
 
Yes, he had a grand slam but it really was an off day for Kirilloff.  Heck, he only got one hit in each of the games! (if I knew how, would insert a smiley face or something here to indicate that was sarcastic).  
 
Great seeing Arraez getting two hits yesterday.  And I really don't know what to think of Grz, he just keeps hitting the ball?

[gunnarthor]

Looks like the Twins are viewing May as a multiple inning reliever and not a starter. Since he has options, he'll stay at AAA for a bit.

 

Kiriloff and Lewis have been great this year, hopefully they get promoted soon.

 

Miranda started pretty bad but over his last twenty games or so, he's been the guy I expected we'd see. Hopefully, that bad start was part of the adjustment to a higher level and he continues to smack the crap out of the ball.

 

Man, Bechtold and Cabbage are struggling.

[Tom Froemming]

Gonsalves needs to start pounding the zone. He's only giving up 6.1 hits per nine with the Red Wings and opponents are hitting .190 off him, but he's walking 5.5 batters per nine. That's the third worst BB/9 rate among IL pitchers with at least 30 innings.

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

Got a question for you, Steve, about Trevor May.  His 30 day rehab has to be coming to an end.  What do the Twins do?  He certainly isn't pitching well enough to join the Twins.  Back on the DL?  Or do they option him to Rochester? 

May's 30 day rehab would end on June 10. However, teams can request an extra 30 days of rehab from the commissioner's office for players recovering from Tommy John surgery, in 10 day increments. So if they go that route, they could postpone the decision to as late as July 10, waiting for May to find his groove and/or an opportunity to open up in Minnesota.

 

An optional assignment could accomplish much the same, of course, and it might come to that anyway.

[Steve Lein]

 

Got a question for you, Steve, about Trevor May.  His 30 day rehab has to be coming to an end.  What do the Twins do?  He certainly isn't pitching well enough to join the Twins.  Back on the DL?  Or do they option him to Rochester? 
 
Yes, he had a grand slam but it really was an off day for Kirilloff.  Heck, he only got one hit in each of the games! (if I knew how, would insert a smiley face or something here to indicate that was sarcastic).  
 
Great seeing Arraez getting two hits yesterday.  And I really don't know what to think of Grz, he just keeps hitting the ball?

 

Well, I do believe May has an option left. I think the question is do you have a reliever on the staff you don't care about sending out to bring him back up?

 

I'd rather only use that option sending him back down if he shows he's not ready, rather than keeping him in the minors until he is. It's the unfortunate part about having to come back from Tommy John as a major leaguer. Maybe you catch some lightning in a bottle, though.

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

Well, I do believe May has an option left. I think the question is do you have a reliever on the staff you don't care about sending out to bring him back up?

You are correct, May has an option.

 

I suppose they could swap him for Duffey in a few days, although Duffey looked fairly useful yesterday.

[puckstopper1]

Nice to see Gordon continuing to hit in AAA.  It looks like his fielding continues to be solid as well. 

[dbminn]

Blankenhorn is having a sneaky decent season at Ft Myers (.260/.313/.458). He's only 21 and has some power in his game. I'm curious to see what happens when he has Kirilloff and Lewis to protect him in the lineup. 

[Han Joelo]

Fun to see Lewis and his power surge.  Not that I put too much stock in it, its pretty cool to see guys rise to the occasion on special days, like their birthday, or when their family is in town.