Article: Twins Minor League Report (7/3): Shutouts and Scorebook Breaking Sequences

[Steve Lein]

There was more than a full slate of action on Tuesday, as all six affiliates were in action, with one of them playing a doubleheader after their rain out yesterday. There were some solid pitching performances among them, as three games ended in shutouts for the good guys. There was also perhaps what I would call the most bizarre sequence of plays I’ve ever seen in a baseball game, but that’s only if I hadn’t played in, watched, and taken the scorebook for a ton of baseball in Minnesota’s amateur town ball league’s back in my day (bad, bad, defense and pitching). The good thing was, it was an epic collapse of the bad guys that led to a come-from-behind victory.To understand just how bad I’m talking about, you’re going to have to keep reading! You wouldn't even be able to read the notes on my scorebook (I'm going to let you try, though). Also be sure to discuss all the other performances in the system on Tuesday in the comments!

 

TRANSACTIONS

 

There were a some transactions before a few of the games, with the MLB team shuffling a few pitchers at Triple A:

 

-The Red Wings activated catcher Jordan Pacheco from the seven-day disabled list, then had Zack Littell returned from the Twins while sending Gabriel Moya back up to the Minnesota Twins.

-In the Appalachian League, left-handed pitcher and 2018 31^st round draft choice out of Mississippe State, Zach Neff was assigned to Elizabethton.

 

RED WINGS REPORT

Rochester 2, Pawtucket 1

Box Score

 

After leading off yesterday’s game with a home run, Byron Buxton got this one started with a double. He scored on a Gregorio Petit single for a 1-0 lead. In the second inning Chris Carter led off with a double and later scored on an RBI single from Leonardo Reginatto.

 

Fernando Romero took it from there and was effectively wild to keep the Red Sox off the scoreboard. In 5 2/3 innings he allowed just three hits but walked five. He also struck out eight, but after a single to load the bases in the sixth and him at 98 pitches, Tyler Duffey was summoned from the ‘pen. He escaped the jam and would finish two scoreless innings. He allowed two hits and a walk while striking out one. Alan Busenitz came on for Duffey with two outs and two runners on in the eighth and also got the final out without a runner scoring. He remained in the game for the ninth and made it somewhat interesting by giving up a solo home run but got all three other hitters out, including a K, to pick up his fourth save of the year.

 

Petit finished with three hits including a double in five trips to the plate, and Edgar Corcino (2-for-4, K) and Reginatto (2-for-4, RBI) also had multiple hits to pace the lineup.

 

CHATTANOOGA CHATTER

Chattanooga 3, Tennessee 5

Box Score

 

This game was tied at three through six innings, but the Smokies were able to get to reliever Ryan Eades in the seventh, pushing two across for the game’s final score.

 

The Lookouts got multiple hit efforts from Alex Perez (2-for-5, R), Brent Rooker (2-for-4, 2 2B, 2 RBI, K), and Mitchell Kranson (2-for-4, 2B, RBI). Rooker’s double in the third inning was of the two-RBIs variety and he has nine RBIs in his last ten games along with four homers as he continues coming on in AA. As a team Chattanooga was 2-for-8 with runners in scoring position and left seven men on base.

 

Omar Bencomo gets credit for a quality start, as he finished the first six innings and allowed three runs. Those came on nine hits and two walks and he struck out three along the way. Eades finished the game with a scoreless eighth, getting the next three hitters out including a pair of K’s after a leadoff double. He allowed four hits total and struck out three.

 

MIRACLE MATTERS

Fort Myers 0, Charlotte 1

Box Score

 

The Miracle faced off against the Tampa Bay Rays ace on Tuesday night, with Chris Archer taking the hill in his first rehab start since going on the major league disabled list in early June. He held Fort Myers hitless through his four innings, walking only Luis Arreaz in the first while striking out seven.

 

Fortunately for the good guys, Clark Beeker matched him in the run allowed column for those same innings. He allowed only an unearned run in 5 1/3 innings after an error in the fifth, and allowed four hits, walked one, and struck out one. Alex Robinson threw two scoreless innings out of the bullpen, allowing a hit and walk with three strikeouts. Tom Hackimer got their final two outs, striking out both hitters he faced.

 

Alex Kirilloff finally got a hit for Fort Myers in the seventh inning on a bloop single to center, but also got caught attempting to steal second. Caleb Hamilton added a single in the eighth and that was all the offense could muster. With the score still 1-0 in the top of the ninth, they went down one-two-three to fall to 35-45 on the season.

 

KERNELS NUGGETS

Cedar Rapids 4, Wisconsin 0

Box Score

 

Cedar Rapids got a fantastic start from right-hander Randy Dobnak and used a three-run second inning to take control of the game in a shutout of Wisconsin.

 

Dobnak went 7 2/3 innings to improve his record to 6-2 on the season. He allowed six hits (five singles), walked none, and struck out seven. Thanks to some help from his defense and Timber Rattlers base running, he had only faced the minimum through 17 hitters. At 90 pitches (66 for strikes) and after allowing a two-out single in the eighth, Jovani Moran came up for the final out of the inning and would also finish the game. Twins Daily’s MiLB Relief Pitcher of the Month for June started off his July by striking out all four hitters he faced.

 

In their three-run second inning, the Kernels got singles from Robby Rinn and Trey Cabbage, as well as doubles from Andrew Bechtold and Jordan Gore. Bechtold’s drove in one runner while Gore’s drove in two. They added an insurance run in the seventh on a sac fly from Jose Miranda.

 

Royce Lewis (2-for-5, 2B), Rinn (3-for-4, R, 2 2B, K), and Gore (2-for-3, 2B, 2 RBI, BB) collected multiple hits for Cedar Rapids.

 

E-TWINS E-NOTES

Game 1: Elizabethton 4, Princeton 5 (7 innings)

Box Score

 

In game one of their doubleheader, the E-Twins squandered an early 3-1 lead and fell to Princeton 5-4 in seven innings.

 

DaShawn Keirsey drew a walk to lead off the game and would score the game’s first run on a Ryan Jeffers single later for a 1-0 lead. They extended that to 3-1 after two thanks to a two-run from Colton Burns.

 

Starter Kyle Funderbunk went the first 2 1/3 innings for Elizabethton, where he allowed one earned run on two hits and three walks while striking out two. Seth Pinkerton went the next 1 1/3 and was on the mound to start the fifth, but two home runs and a walk put the Twins behind 4-3 before he could record another out. Johan Quezada finished the final two innings, allowing the go-ahead run in the sixth after a double and two pitches that got by the catcher.

 

In the top of the sixth Elizabethton tied the game at four on an RBI groundout from Alex Robles, but they would strand a runner on third via a double-play ball and couldn’t push a run across in the seventh.

 

Trevor Casanova reached base every time he came up, finishing 2-for-2 with a double, run scored, and a walk.

 

Game 2: Elizabethton 10, Princeton 6 (7 innings)

Box Score

 

In game two Elizabethton found themselves down 6-2 heading into the shortened game's final inning but would capitalize on pitching and defensive miscues galore to storm back and take this one in the seven innings.

 

Pedro Garcia got the start for the Twins and went just two innings. He allowed five runs (four earned) on three hits and three walks while striking out three. Moises Gomez got them through the fifth, allowing one run on two hits along with picking up two K’s. Assigned after inking his pro contract, Zach Neff picked up the win with two scoreless frames to finish the game. He waked one and struck out two.

 

In the top of the seventh, fourteen hitters stepped into the batter’s box for Elizabethton, and only one player produced any hits (two singles), but they still put up eight runs thanks to an epic collapse from the Rays defense and bullpen. Two walks led off the frame before DaShawn Keirsey singled to load the bases. The arm that came out of the Rays bullpen next had this sequence in your scorebook (bear with me, it’s ridiculous):

 

HBP (RBI)

SF-9, RBI, (1 out)

WP-BB/PB (unearned run)

K (2 out)

K/WP/E-3 (unearned run)

E-5 (unearned run)

E-3/BB

BB

 

Since that’s hard to decipher but still doesn’t tell the whole story, here’s how bad that sequence was in words:

 

Hit-by-pitch, RBI sac fly, wild pitch to advance a runner before the at-bat ended in a passed ball for ball four that allowed a run to score, strikeout, strikeout on a wild pitch combined with a missed catch error on the throw to the first baseman (would have been third out), error on ground ball to third, dropped ball error in foul territory on first baseman that ended as another walk, walk.

 

Needless to say it was over after that, but after a new pitcher was sacrificed, Keirsey delivered his second hit of the inning that brought in two more. Unfortunately, they weren’t RBI’s, as this single was of the infield variety and included another error on the shortstop. Neff ended the Rays suffering with a double-play ball and strikeout in the bottom half of the seventh.

 

The Twins had just five hits as a team, with Keirsey picking up three of them total (3-for-5, R, RBI). Ariel Montesino and Albee Weiss added doubles. Andrew Cosgrove drew three walks.

 

GCL TWINS TAKES

GCL Orioles 0, GCL Twins 4

Box Score

 

The Twins got some fantastic pitching throughout their staff on Tuesday, as four pitchers combined on a shutout, allowing just two hits and striking out eight.

 

Andriu Marin picked up his second win in three starts by going the first five innings. He allowed only one hit and struck out five. Tanner Howell got the next two innings, allowing the other hit and striking out one. Petru Balan and Frandy Torres each pitched scoreless innings to close out the game. They each struck out one, with Balan giving up a walk and Torres having a runner reach on an error.

 

On offense, the Twins racked up ten hits as a team led by Yeltsin Encarnacion who finished 3-for-4 with two runs scored and a solo home run to lead off the game. Gabe Snyder had two hits in four trips and Augustin Marte drove in two with a single in the fifth.

 

The Twins improve to 8-5 in Gulf Coast League play, tied for first in the South Division.

 

STARS OF THE DAY

 

Twins Daily Pitcher of the Day – Randy Dobnak, Cedar Rapids Kernels (W, 7.2 IP, 6 H, 7 K) GS: 81

Twins Daily Hitter of the Day – Yeltsin Encarnacion, GCL Twins (3-for-4, 2 R, HR, RBI)

 

TOP PROSPECT SUMMARY

 

1. Royce Lewis (Cedar Rapids) – 2-for-5, 2B (21)

2. Fernando Romero (Rochester) – (W, 5.2 IP, 3 H, 5 BB, 8 K)

3. Nick Gordon (Rochester) – 0-for-5, K

4. Stephen Gonsalves (Rochester) – Did not pitch.

5. Alex Kirilloff (Fort Myers) – 1-for-3

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

7. Brent Rooker (Chattanooga) – 2-for-4, 2 2B (20), 2 RBI, K

8. Blayne Enlow (Cedar Rapids) – Did not pitch.

9. Brusdar Graterol (Cedar Rapids) – Did not pitch.

10. Akil Baddoo (Cedar Rapids) – 1-for-4, 2B (14), BB, 2 K

11. Zack Littell (Rochester) – Did not pitch.

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

13. Lewin Diaz (Fort Myers) – 0-for-3

14. LaMonte Wade (Rochester) – 1-for-4, 2 K

15. Mitch Garver (Minnesota) – Did not play.

16. Ben Rortvedt (Fort Myers) – Did not play.

17. Travis Blankenhorn (Fort Myers) – 0-for-4, 2 K

18. Yunior Severino (Elizabethton Twins) – 0-for-3, RBI, K

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

20. Felix Jorge (Rochester) – Did not pitch.

 

WEDNESDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS

 

Pawtucket @ Rochester (6:05PM CST) – LHP Stephen Gonsalves (5-3, 4.30 ERA)

Chattanooga @ Birmingham (5:15PM CST) – TBD

Dunedin @ Fort Myers (6:00PM CST) – LHP Charlie Barnes (3-4, 3.15 ERA)

Wisconsin @ Cedar Rapids (5:05PM CST) – RHP Edwar Colina (3-2, 3.24 ERA)

Kingsport @ Elizabethton (6:00PM CST) – RHP Tyler Palm (1-1, 11.57 ERA)

GCL Twins @ GCL Orioles (9:00AM CST) - TBD

 

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

 

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[drock2190]

Nick Gordon has a 64 wRC+ before his hitless game tonight. Safe to say, the fans demanding his callup should go away for awhile.

[Danchat]

With Buxton, Petit, Romero, Duffey, and Busenitz playing for AAA today, they look more like the Twins than the Red Wings. A few of those guys should be on the major league roster sooner than later...

[Han Joelo]

Noticed Jermaine Palacios in the Fort Myers/"Rays" boxscore.  I was always a fan, but it doesn't look like his year has gone well.

[BJames]

Part of the F.T. Myere's one hit game was Sano's 0-3, 3K's.  Between him and Buxton, it doesn't look like either will earn their way back on to the Club any time soon.  I think if Kepler was sent down Wade could fill his spot with out to much of a problem too. Vargas is slowly getting better as well, so how long can we go with a DH (a extra hitter that can be anyone on the team)  hitting below .200???

[slash129]

G-Cinco should change to 0-Cinco, since that's a common box score for Gordon. 586 OPS at AAA. Twins should have traded him during that 906 abberation at AA.

[Squirrel]

The arm that came out of the Rays bullpen next had this sequence in your scorebook (bear with me, it’s ridiculous):HBP (RBI)SF-9, RBI, (1 out)WP-BB/PB (unearned run)K (2 out)K/WP/E-2 (unearned run)E-5 (unearned run)E-3/BBBBSince that’s hard to decipher but still doesn’t tell the whole story, here’s how bad that sequence was in words:Hit-by-pitch, RBI sac fly, wild pitch to advance a runner before the at-bat ended in a passed ball for ball four that allowed a run to score, strikeout, strikeout on a wild pitch combined with a missed catch error on the throw to the first baseman (would have been third out), error on ground ball to third, dropped ball error in foul territory on first baseman that ended as another walk, walk.Needless to say it was over after that, but after a new pitcher was sacrificed, Keirsey delivered his second hit of the inning that brought in two more. Unfortunately, they weren’t RBI’s, as this single was of the infield variety and included another error on the shortstop. Neff ended the Rays suffering with a double-play ball and strikeout in the bottom half of the seventh.The Twins had just five hits as a team, with Keirsey picking up three of them total (3-for-5, R, RBI). Ariel Montesino and Albee Weiss added doubles. Andrew Cosgrove drew three walks.

After reading that sequence and your explanation, I’m still thinking, ‘I think I needed to see that to understand that.’

[rdehring]

Was also going to comment on Sano's 0-3 (3 K's).  But what really caught my eye was Rooker's 2-4 with 2 doubles and RBI's.  The young man has an OPS of over 1.000+ since the 1st of June.

 

Seth and I exchanged comments yesterday about whether or not he was likely to be called up in September.  We both were of the opinion that he wouldn't as he doesn't need to be added to the 40-man roster this November and open spots are always needed.  I expect there is also the subject of service time that would come into play.

 

On the other hand, if he continues to mash what is the best way to have him ready to compete for a 25-man spot out of spring training?  Would a September call up be worthwhile?  Or does a promotion to AAA serve the same purpose?  None of us know what is the best decision other than it is a good problem to have should he keep hitting like he has.

 

Do you know, Steve, why Arraez was pulled from the game after his first at bat? 

[TheLeviathan]

Rooker-Lewis-Kiriloff sure looks like a trio to be excited about.

[Mike Sixel]

 

Nick Gordon has a 64 wRC+ before his hitless game tonight. Safe to say, the fans demanding his callup should go away for awhile.

 

I was one of them, but he's not ready, agreed. 

[Mike Sixel]

Maybe they should promote the number 12 prospect in baseball at this point......

[h2oface]

 

Was also going to comment on Sano's 0-3 (3 K's).  But what really caught my eye was Rooker's 2-4 with 2 doubles and RBI's.  The young man has an OPS of over 1.000+ since the 1st of June.

 

Seth and I exchanged comments yesterday about whether or not he was likely to be called up in September.  We both were of the opinion that he wouldn't as he doesn't need to be added to the 40-man roster this November and open spots are always needed.  I expect there is also the subject of service time that would come into play.

 

On the other hand, if he continues to mash what is the best way to have him ready to compete for a 25-man spot out of spring training?  Would a September call up be worthwhile?  Or does a promotion to AAA serve the same purpose?  None of us know what is the best decision other than it is a good problem to have should he keep hitting like he has.

 

Do you know, Steve, why Arraez was pulled from the game after his first at bat? 

 

 

I hope they promote Rooker to Rochester, soon. He has, through his pro career, always started slow at each level, so if that is going to happen, may as well get it out of the way sooner than later. Let him have a tough month and go out strong for the rest of the year. Or maybe he will just keep hitting, and stay hot. Maybe it is the start of his "seasons" and not the level. I bet he won't object.

[h2oface]

5 Ks from Buxton and Sano. Things aren't going well for these two.

[Mike Sixel]

 

I hope they promote Rooker to Rochester, soon. He has, through his pro career, always started slow at each level, so if that is going to happen, may as well get it out of the way sooner than later. Let him have a tough month and go out strong for the rest of the year. Or maybe he will just keep hitting, and stay hot. Maybe it is the start of his "seasons" and not the level. I bet he won't object.

 

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