Article: Twins Minor League Report (6/27): Enlow Caught in Pitcher’s Duel

[Cody Christie]

Red Wings outfielder Brent Rooker has been destroying the baseball and he was recognized for it on Thursday. The International League announced the league’s All-Star rosters and Rooker will be joined by catcher Tomas Telis as Rochester’s representatives. Stu Cliburn, the team’s pitching coach, will also make the trip to El Paso, TX for the game.

 

Would Rooker or Telis impact the Red Wings line-up on Thursday? Read on to find out.TRANSACTIONS

OF LaMonte Wade promoted to Minnesota from Rochester.

IF Ronald Torreyes promoted to Rochester from Fort Myers.

LHP Andrew Vasquez reinstated from the IL with Rochester.

RHP DJ Baxendale placed on IL with Rochester (left ankle sprain).

RHP Adam Bray transferred to Pensacola to Rochester.

LHP Bryan Sammons placed on the IL with Pensacola.

RHP Tom Hackimer placed on the suspended list for Pensacola.

LHP J.T. Perez promoted to Cedar Rapids from Elizabethton.

SS Tanner Brubaker assigned to Elizabethton.

LF Carlos Agular placed on the IL with the GCL Twins.

RHP Regi Grace placed on the IL with the GCL Twins.

 

RED WINGS REPORT

Rochester 8, Lehigh Valley 7

Box Score

Rochester snuck out to an early 4-0 lead in this one and they needed every run in the end. Zander Wiel and Nick Gordon both had three-hit nights. Gordon had his 15th double while Wiel had his 13th home run and his 19th double. Jordany Valdespin, Wilin Rosario and Brian Schales all joined the multi-hit parade with two hits apiece. The Red Wings pounded out 15 total hits, but the club only went 4-for-21 with runners in scoring position.

 

Devin Smeltzer pitched into the fifth inning, allowing one run, a home run, with five strikeouts and a walk. Rochester’s bullpen did little to support Smeltzer’s effort as every relief pitcher allowed at least one run. Jake Reed surrendered three runs in two innings. Carlos Torres pitched 1 1/3 innings and gave up two runs on two hits. Ian Krol earned his third save but he also allowed a run in the ninth as the result of three walks.

 

BLUE WAHOO BITES

Pensacola 1, Biloxi 5

Box Score

The Blue Wahoos offensive struggled to string together hits and found themselves on the wrong end of this one. Only one batter stepped in with a runner in scoring position and the team went 0-for-1 in those situations. Lewin Diaz continued his hot hitting ways since being called up. He homered for the second time in three games. Alex Kirilloff and Mark Contreras both added doubles.

 

Andro Cutura was used as an opener and held Biloxi off the scoreboard even though he allowed two hits. Charlie Barnes was used as the primary pitcher. He allowed two earned runs but errors from Alex Kirilloff and Travis Blankenhorn allowed two unearned runs to score. Barnes struck out six and walked one in six innings. Jeff Ames allowed one run on one hit in two innings. He struck out one and walked two.

 

MIRACLE MATTERS

Ft. Myers 1, Charlotte 2

Box Score

Blayne Enlow ended up on the wrong end of a pitcher’s duel. Both starting pitchers allowed a home run but Enlow’s was a two-run shot to baseball’s best prospect, Wander Franco. In 6 1/3 innings, Enlow allowed two runs on five hits with six strikeouts and two walks. He’s pitched six innings in every appearance with Fort Myers and he has yet to allow more than two runs.

 

Ryan Jeffers accounted for the lone Miracle run. He knocked his 10th home run in the fourth inning and it gave Fort Myers a 1-0 lead. He finished 2-for-4. Royce Lewis and Gabriel Maciel both went 1-for-4. Andrew Bechtold picked up a hit in three trips. He’s now gone 3-for-20 since being promoted from Cedar Rapids.

 

Joe Record finished off the seventh inning for Enlow. He allowed a walk and a hit. Derek Molina continued his tremendous streak. Over his last 11 appearances, Molina hasn’t allowed an earned run. In this one, he pitched two perfect innings and struck out four.

 

In other news...

 

KERNELS NUGGETS

Cedar Rapids 2, Wisconsin 5 (11 Innings)

Box Score

Cedar Rapids scored two runs in the first three innings. However, they would be shut out from there and Wisconsin plated three runs in extra-innings for the win.

 

Jacob Pearson did his best to keep Cedar Rapids in this one. In the first inning, Pearson set up a run all by himself. He led off the inning with a single and then he stole second. Gabe Snyder followed with a single and Pearson came around to score. In the bottom of the third, he cracked his fourth home run of the year. Chris Williams and Daniel Ozoria both went 2-for-4 in the losing effort.

 

Tyler Palm was terrific on the mound as he was nearly unhittable. He retired the first 14 batters he faced and carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning. In 5 1/3 innings, he limited the Timber Rattlers to one run on three hits. He struck out three and walked one.

 

Carlos Suniaga pitched 1 2/3 innings and only allowed one baserunner while striking out two. Moises Gomez struck out six batters in three innings, but he allowed the tying run in the eighth. Tanner Howell took the loss after Wisconsin put up a three spot in the final frame. Three walks would come back to haunt him.

 

 

E-TWINS E-NOTES

Elizabethton 2, Bristol 6

Box Score

Bristol jumped all over E-Twins starter Tyler Benninghoff in his first start of the year. The first batter doubled and moved to third on a wild pitch. Six straight batters reached before Benninghoff was able to record an out. He was only able to collect two outs and he allowed six runs on four hits.

 

The E-Twins bullpen did fantastic in relief. Frandy Torres took over for Benninghoff and did well in a tough spot. Over 3 1/3 shutout innings, he limited the Pirates to two hits and added four strikeouts. Louie Varland continued the shutout innings. He tossed three innings and allowed two hits. Nate Hadley finished off the final two frames. He only allowed one baserunner and struck out three.

 

Elizabethton was limited to four hits in the game. Matt Wallner collected his first professional home run as part of a two-hit effort. He also scored both of the team’s runs. Trevor Jensen reached base two times.

 

TWINS DAILY PLAYERS OF THE DAY

TD Pitcher of the Day- Tyler Palm, Cedar Rapids (5.1 IP, 1 ER, 1 H, 3 K, BB)

TD Hitter of the Day- Zander Wiel, Rochester (3-for-5, HR, 2B, 2 RBI, R, 2 K)

 

PROSPECT SUMMARY

Here’s a look at how the Twins Daily Top 20 Twins Prospects performed:

 

#1 - Royce Lewis (Ft. Myers) – 1-4

#2 - Alex Kirilloff (Pensacola) – 1-3, 2B, BB

#3 - Brusdar Graterol (Pensacola) – Injured list

#4 - Trevor Larnach (Ft. Myers) – 0-4

#5 - Wander Javier (Cedar Rapids) – 0-4, BB, K

#6 - Brent Rooker (Rochester) – 0-5, BB, 3 K

#7 - Jhoan Duran (Ft. Myers) – Did not pitch

#8 - Lewis Thorpe (Rochester) – Did not pitch

#9 - Blayne Enlow (Ft. Myers) – 6.1 IP, 2 ER, 5 H, 6 K, 2 BB

#10 - Akil Baddoo (Ft. Myers) – Tommy John surgery, out for the year

#11 - Nick Gordon (Rochester) – 3-6, 2B, 2 R, BB, 3 K

#12 - Stephen Gonsalves (Rochester) – Injured list

#13 - Ryan Jeffers (Ft. Myers) – 2-4, HR, R, RBI

#14 - Ben Rortvedt (Pensacola) – 1-4, 2 K

#15 - Yunior Severino (Cedar Rapids) – Injured List

#16 - Gilberto Celestino (Cedar Rapids) – 1-4, RBI, BB, K

#17 - Zack Littell (Minnesota) – 1.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 BB

#18 - LaMonte Wade (Minnesota) – Did not play

#19 - Jorge Alcala (Pensacola) – Did not pitch

#20 - Jose Miranda (Ft. Myers) – 0-4, K

 

FRIDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS

Rochester vs. Pawtucket (6:05 CST) – LHP Lewis Thorpe (3-4, 5.71 ERA)

Pensacola vs. Biloxi (6:35 CST) – RHP Jorge Alcala (5-5, 5.65 ERA)

Fort Myers vs. Bradenton (6:00 CST) – TBD

Cedar Rapids vs. Wisconsin (6:35 CST) – RHP Luis Rijo (1-4, 2.72 ERA)

Elizabethton @ Greeneville (5:30 CST) – TBD

GCL Twins @ GCL Red Sox (11:00 AM CST) – TBD

 

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

 

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[dbminn]

Zander Wiel has been on a nice little run. He's hit a lot more fly balls since arriving at Rochester. Strikeouts have come with the lift too (38%FB and 19.5%K in A+/AA to 51%/31% in AAA). With all those FB, he's hitting plenty of HR. If he can cut down Ks a little bit, he might have a chance to get to the majors. 

 

I cheer for guys like Wiel. I hope he takes the next step and gets a chance somewhere, even if it's not with the Twins.

 

 

[clutterheart]

Was looking at the GCL roster and saw Michael Montero is on the 60 day DL.

Any idea on what happened to him?

[rdehring]

Not a lot of wins, but several very nice starts from the starters.  Speaking of starters, Benninghoff had a rough one.  Any information on how he is doing coming back from TJ surgery following being drafted.  Does he look like the potential is still there and yesterday was just first game jitters?

 

Also, any news of the reason Hackimer is on the suspended list?  Is it a Twins decision, or minor league baseballs?

[Aerodeliria]

I usually say, 'Free Hackimer,' at this point, but I'm a bit worried about the implications.

[jamisea]

 

Not a lot of wins, but several very nice starts from the starters.  Speaking of starters, Benninghoff had a rough one.  Any information on how he is doing coming back from TJ surgery following being drafted.  Does he look like the potential is still there and yesterday was just first game jitters?

 

Also, any news of the reason Hackimer is on the suspended list?  Is it a Twins decision, or minor league baseballs?

Pretty sure the reason Hackimer was suspended has something to do with his public display of anger at the manager (Borrego) on the field. My husband was at the game. I can't describe it further than this as I was not there.

[rdehring]

 

Pretty sure the reason Hackimer was suspended has something to do with his public display of anger at the manager (Borrego) on the field. My husband was at the game. I can't describe it further than this as I was not there.

Thanks, jamiseea