Twins Minor League Report (8/17): We Will, We Will, Walk-Off You

[Steve Lein]

It was an interesting day on the farm for Minnesota Twins affiliates, as multiple games went into extra innings and three of them ended in walk-off fashion. Was it the good guys who ended up celebrating at the end of those games?

To find out if so, and how the rest of your favorite Minnesota Twins prospects fared during Tuesday’s games, keep reading!

TRANSACTIONS
In a rarity this season as the affiliates start another six-game series on Tuesdays, there were no transactions in the organization on the day.

SAINTS SENTINEL
Game 1: Iowa 5, St. Paul 6 (completion of suspended game from 6/20)
Box Score

The Saints and Cubs were suspended by rain all the way back on June 20th, and game one of the pseudo-doubleheader was resumed with the score tied at three in the fifth inning.

When play commenced it was Andrew Vasquez on the mound to replace Bryan Sammons and immediately ran into some trouble. A hit-by-pitch, error, and walk loaded the bases with one out. Vasquez did his best to prevent any runs by inducing a double-play ball toward second base, but shortstop Drew Maggi threw the ball away on the turn, allowing two runs to score.

The pitchers of both teams traded zeroes on the scoreboard until the bottom of the ninth inning, with the Saints getting there via 4 1/3 scoreless innings from the reliever duo of Ian Gibaut (2 1/3 IP, K) and Yennier Cano (2 IP, H, 2 BB, K).

Up against former major league pitcher Tony Cingrani, the Saints lineup mounted a comeback threat thanks to a Jimmy Kerrigan single and a walk from Maggi to put the tying runs on base. Cingrani struck out Mark Contreras and Keon Broxton to leave the Saints with just one more chance. Luckily for them, a new weapon had been added to the team since this game was originally suspended, and Jose Miranda was called upon as a pinch hitter. He lined a double into left field that scored both runners to tie the game at five, and Cingrani also got himself ejected on the play.

With a new pitcher on the mound, Sherman Johnson drew a walk before Tomas Telis singled up the middle to score Miranda and walk it off in St. Paul.

Three hitters in the Saints lineup had multiple hits in the box score (Johnson, Brent Rooker, and Kerrigan) with Rooker finishing 2-for-2 with a home run before this game was suspended back in June.

Game 2: Iowa 3, St. Paul 4 (8 innings)
Box Score

Right-hander Drew Strotman took the mound for his fourth start in his new organization and outside of one hiccup of an inning, was fantastic in the regularly scheduled game. In all he went 5 2/3 innings and was charged with three earned runs on eight hits and a walk, while striking out three hitters. It was five singles in the fourth inning that accounted for all three of his runs allowed in the game, but otherwise held the Cubs lineup at bay. Ian Hamilton was summoned from the bullpen with two outs in the sixth inning and would finish the scheduled seven inning contest that ended up in extra innings. In 2 1/3 innings, he allowed no hits and struck out three.

The Saints answered the Cubs three runs in the fourth with three of their own in the fifth. It was started by Drew Stankiewicz, who hit his first home run in a Saints uniform on the first pitch of the inning. This home run on that first pitch was especially noteworthy, as in his last at bat Stankiewicz ended up striking out despite the fact the count had already reached four balls. No, that’s not a mistake in my writing, but instead was an actual mistake in keeping the count by the home plate umpire. After some jawing from the Saints dugout after the fourth ball that came in low in that at-bat, the umpiring crew got together to discuss the issue, but they still came back saying the count was 3-2 instead of being a walk. I guess Stankiewicz didn’t want to give them the chance to screw up again this time.
 

After that home run, the Saints kept a two-out rally going, with Trevor Larnach delivering an RBI double and Tomas Telis an RBI single to tie the game at three.

It stayed tied until going into extra innings, where Hamilton held the Cubs to no runs, giving the Saints a chance to walk-off two games in one day. A single from Telis moved the runner to third base, before Gilberto Celestino stepped into the box with one out. It wasn’t the flashiest of winning hits, but Celestino’s high chopper over the pitcher's mound on the first pitch he saw was enough to score Keon Broxton and start another celebration for the home team.

Telis (2-for-4, RBI) was the only Saints batter with multiple knocks in the game as they were outhit 8-6. But they made them count by going 4-for-10 with runners in scoring position and had two extra-base-hits to the Cubs zero. They also drew six walks as a team compared to one for their visitors.

WIND SURGE WISDOM
Wichita 6, Springfield 8
Box Score

The Wind Surge struck early in this one as an Austin Martin double to lead off the game was followed by B.J. Boyd’s fifteenth home run of the season for a 2-0 lead. They extended that lead to 3-0 before an out was recorded as Jermaine Palacios followed with a double and came around to score on a Trey Cabbage single.

Springfield was quick to respond against starting pitcher Chris Vallimont however, plating two runs in each of the first and second innings to take a 4-2 lead. If Vallimont’s good starts are his version Dr. Jekyll, this was one of his performances as Mr. Hyde. He was able to complete four innings, but allowed five earned runs on five hits and four walks, while punching out only one hitter. Two of his hits allowed were home runs and just 39 of his 76 pitches went for strikes (51.3%).

Wichita was able to take back the lead in the top of the fourth when Spencer Steer launched a two-run missile of a home run, his 22nd of the season.

They added another run in the fifth thanks to a single from Boyd to score Aaron Whitefield, but that would be all for the rest of the game.

Out of the bullpen first for the Wind Surge was Evan Sisk to start the fifth inning and he would pitch into the sixth. He was charged with two earned runs and the loss by giving up four hits in 1 1/3 innings, striking out one Cardinals hitter. Mitchell Osnowitz got the next four outs, allowing two hits and striking out two. Erik Manoah Jr. finished the final 1 1/3 frames, giving up one run (on a home run) while walking two and striking out two.

Boyd (2-for-6, R, HR, 3 RBI, 2 K), Steer (2-for-4, R, HR, 2 RBI, BB, K), and D.J. Burt (2-for-4, RBI, BB, 2 K) had multiple hits on the night, and Austin Martin finished the game 1-for-3 with a double, run scored, and two walks. Boyd extended his hitting streak to 12 games, Whitefield stole three bases and as a team the Wind Surge stole a season high six bases in total.

It was a tough loss as Wichita had plenty of chances as they finished just 4-for-19 with runners in scoring position, and left a season-high 15 men-on-base for the game.

KERNELS NUGGETS
Wisconsin 2, Cedar Rapids 4 (10 innings)
Box Score

Cedar Rapids pitching was fantastic in this one, but despite that the game wasn’t decided until extra innings.

Ben Gross took the mound for the Kernels and allowed just two hits on the game. In five total innings he surrendered two runs (one earned) on those hits and three walks, while striking out six batters. Two of those walks followed an error in the fourth inning and is what allowed the Timber Rattlers to scratch any runs across, as Gross and the bullpen held them hitless from there.

Alex Isola got Cedar Rapids on the scoreboard with an RBI single in the third inning, and they tied the game at two in the fourth thanks to an RBI groundout from Matt Wallner.

As mentioned, the Kernels bullpen made sure they’d have a chance to win late, as Melvi Acosta (2 2/3 IP, BB, 4 K), Zach Featherstone (1 1/3 IP, BB, 2 K), and Breckin Williams (W, 1 IP, 2 K) allowed no hits over the final five innings.

It took little time for Cedar Rapids to reward that bullpen once it reached extra innings, as Alex Isola was the first batter in the bottom half, and deposited a 1-2 pitch over the left field wall for a walk-off win.

Isola was the difference maker not just in the tenth either, as he finished the game 3-for-5 with three RBI and his winning home run was the only extra-base-hit on the game for either team. 

MUSSEL MATTERS
Fort Myers 4, Dunedin 3
Box Score

The Mighty Mussels manufactured enough runs and a strong performance from their bullpen held off the Blue Jays to take the first game of their series.

Landon Leach made the start for Fort Myers and battled through some command problems to allow just two runs in three innings pitched. He allowed three hits and walked six in those innings, and struck out three batters. The bullpen trio of Steven Cruz (W, 2 IP, H, 5 K), Carlos Suniaga (H, 2 IP, H, ER, 2 K), and Matthew Swain (S, 2 IP, H, 2 K) kept the Dunedin lineup at bay for the rest of the contest.

The lineup for the Mussels pushed across single runs in each of the first, second, fourth, and seventh innings to give them enough for the win. RBI singles from Charles Mack and Patrick Wengel accounted for their first two runs, while a solo homer from Jesus Feliz and RBI double from Aaron Sabato accounted for those runs.

Alerick Soularie (2-for-5, 2 R, 3B, SB) led the lineup with two hits out of the leadoff spot. Will Holland stole two bases and scored a run.

COMPLEX CHRONICLES
FCL Rays 2, FCL Twins 5
Box Score

The Twins utilized a four-run second inning and solid pitching throughout to take this one from the Rays early on Tuesday.

Left-hander Wilker Reyes made the start and scattered five hits over the first five innings, picking up his first win of the season in the process. He allowed no runs, walked one, and struck out four hitters. Ramon Pineda went the next two innings, giving up one run on two hits through the seventh inning. Logan Campbell then finished the game by allowing one run on one hit and a walk, while striking out one in two innings pitched.

In the four-run second inning Emmanuel Rodriguez started the rally with a triple and was followed by an infield single from Wander Valdez before Noah Miller brought in their first run of the game with a single. Carlos Aguiar then blew it open with his second home run of the season, a three-run shot for a 4-0 lead at the time. Aguiar added a second home run in the sixth inning to give the Twins their final tally of five runs in the game. Valdez (2-for-3, R, BB, K) and Aguiar (2-for-4, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 2 K) collected multiple hits in the win.

TWINS DAILY MINOR LEAGUE PLAYERS OF THE DAY

Pitcher of the Day - Wilker Reyes, FCL Twins (W, 5 IP, 0 R, 5 H, BB, 4 K)
Hitter of the Day - Alex Isola, Cedar Rapids Kernels (3-for-5, R, walk-off HR, 3 RBI)

PROSPECT SUMMARY

#1 - Royce Lewis (rehab) - Out for season (torn ACL)
#2 - Austin Martin (Wichita) - 1-for-3, R, 2B, 2 BB, 2 K, SB
#3 - Jordan Balazovic (Wichita) - Did not pitch
#4 - Simeon Woods Richardson (Wichita) - Did not pitch
#5 - Jhoan Duran (St. Paul) - Injured List (elbow strain)
#6 - Jose Miranda (St. Paul) - (2 games) 1-for-4, R, 2B, 2 RBI, BB, K
#7 - Joe Ryan (St. Paul) - Did not pitch
#8 - Matt Canterino (Cedar Rapids) - Did not pitch
#9 - Chase Petty (Complex) - Did not pitch
#10 - Keoni Cavaco (Fort Myers) - 1-for-4, 2 K
#11 - Josh Winder (St. Paul) - Did not pitch
#12 - Matt Wallner (Cedar Rapids) - 1-for-5, R, RBI, K
#13 - Gilberto Celestino (St. Paul) - 1-for-2, RBI, 2 BB, K
#14 - Drew Strotman (St. Paul) - 5.2 IP, 3 ER, 8 H, BB, 3 K
#15 - Noah Miller (Complex) - 1-for-4, R, RBI, 2 K
#16 - Brent Rooker (Minnesota) - 0-for-3, BB, 3 K
#17 - Blayne Enlow (Cedar Rapids) - Out for season (Tommy John surgery)
#18 - Misael Urbina (Fort Myers) - 0-for-5
#19 - Cole Sands (Wichita) - Did not pitch
#20 - Spencer Steer (Wichita) - 2-for-4, R, HR, 2 RBI, BB, K

WEDNESDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS

Iowa @ St. Paul (7:05PM CST) - LHP Lewis Thorpe (1-2, 4.76 ERA)
Wichita @ Springfield (6:35PM CST) - RHP Tyler Beck (0-1, 7.36 ERA)
Wisconsin @ Cedar Rapids (6:35PM CST) - RHP Louie Varland (3-0, 1.69 ERA)
Fort Myers @ Dunedin (5:30PM CST) - LHP Aaron Rozek (0-1, 2.05 ERA)

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

 

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[launchingthrees]

Could be very fun to watch Martin, Arraez, AK, and Miranda in a batting order. The OBP would be something to behold. And it could happen as soon as next year.

[roger]

Exciting night in the win column for the young Twins at 5-1.  More than exciting were several late/extra inning wins.  Interesting that the solo loss was by their best team, Wichita.

Isola certainly seems to be gaining notice.  Good seeing him get some work at first base.  Also great seeing several recent draft picks showing up in box scores.  Has Miller gotten a hit in every game he has played?

Great article in today's Strib by Reusse about Miranda.  Didn't know that he is from the same home town in Puerto Rico as Yadier Molina.  

 

[Chris Spencer]

Is Cantorino back on the injured list? 

[Otto von Ballpark]

1 minute ago, Chris Spencer said:

Is Cantorino back on the injured list? 

No, I think that must be artifact of a previous list. As far as I know, Canterino is still active and in line to start again in a few days.

[Steve Lein]

1 hour ago, Chris Spencer said:

Is Cantorino back on the injured list? 

Good catch! He is definitely back. Edited now to reflect that. Had to make a new list with our update to the prospect rankings and just didn't think about it, hah!

[bean5302]

I know it doesn't mean a ton, but all the minor league affiliates have winning records and AAA/AA are in contention for their division title. That doesn't happen unless there is real talent in the minor league system.

That Quad Cities team for KC (60-29) .674 is scary, though. The AL Central is not going to be an easy place to win for the next 5 years, I don't think.

Also, worth noting just because he's kind of my favorite underdog now, Palacios got back on base 2x again. 1 2B, 1 BB to increase his OPS to .834 and hold his wRC+ at 122. Looks like Martin has been moved back to SS, though. Palacios hasn't played SS in 4 games with all the starts going to Austin. They actually put Palacios at 1B. Guy hasn't had an error at SS in 21 games and his FP is like .981 at the position since early June. It's the equivalent of his age 23 season (discounting last year's lost season) and they start him at first base. I have to wonder how this impacts a player like Palacios. He's one of the best shortstops (performance-wise) in all minor league baseball and he's moved to 1B and I think it could be argued he's 3rd on the SS depth chart at AA now. I think I'd either be utterly pissed off and use this as motivation to hope the Twins leave me off the 40 man so I can get away from this franchise or I'd let this sink my confidence.

[Mike Sixel]

1 minute ago, bean5302 said:

I know it doesn't mean a ton, but all the minor league affiliates have winning records and AAA/AA are in contention for their division title. That doesn't happen unless there is real talent in the minor league system.

That Quad Cities team for KC (60-29) .674 is scary, though. The AL Central is not going to be an easy place to win for the next 5 years, I don't think.

Also, worth noting just because he's kind of my favorite underdog now, Palacios got back on base 2x again. 1 2B, 1 BB to increase his OPS to .834 and hold his wRC+ at 122. Looks like Martin has been moved back to SS, though. Palacios hasn't played SS in 4 games with all the starts going to Austin. They actually put Palacios at 1B. Guy hasn't had an error at SS in 21 games and his FP is like .981 at the position since early June. It's the equivalent of his age 23 season (discounting last year's lost season) and they start him at first base. I have to wonder how this impacts a player like Palacios. He's one of the best shortstops (performance-wise) in all minor league baseball and he's moved to 1B and I think it could be argued he's 3rd on the SS depth chart at AA now. I think I'd either be utterly pissed off and use this as motivation to hope the Twins leave me off the 40 man so I can get away from this franchise or I'd let this sink my confidence.

Of all the moves I'd make right now....I'd promote him to AAA for a day, then MN. See what he's got. It isn't like they can hide him...and they'll need to do something with him at some point. (well, that and a certain RP getting time in MN.....).

I'd even DFA Simmons to do it at this point.

[bean5302]

I would have moved him to AAA when they moved Steer up. It was a major roster crunch in AA at that point. Release JT Riddle which has the added bonus of clearing a 40 man spot.

[Dman]

16 minutes ago, bean5302 said:

I know it doesn't mean a ton, but all the minor league affiliates have winning records and AAA/AA are in contention for their division title. That doesn't happen unless there is real talent in the minor league system.

That Quad Cities team for KC (60-29) .674 is scary, though. The AL Central is not going to be an easy place to win for the next 5 years, I don't think.

Also, worth noting just because he's kind of my favorite underdog now, Palacios got back on base 2x again. 1 2B, 1 BB to increase his OPS to .834 and hold his wRC+ at 122. Looks like Martin has been moved back to SS, though. Palacios hasn't played SS in 4 games with all the starts going to Austin. They actually put Palacios at 1B. Guy hasn't had an error at SS in 21 games and his FP is like .981 at the position since early June. It's the equivalent of his age 23 season (discounting last year's lost season) and they start him at first base. I have to wonder how this impacts a player like Palacios. He's one of the best shortstops (performance-wise) in all minor league baseball and he's moved to 1B and I think it could be argued he's 3rd on the SS depth chart at AA now. I think I'd either be utterly pissed off and use this as motivation to hope the Twins leave me off the 40 man so I can get away from this franchise or I'd let this sink my confidence.

Love your write up on Palacios and I too started to notice him as more legit when he had that 900 OPS earlier in the year.  He seems like the only legit player they have at the position so I guess I don't understand why they can't at least move him up to AAA if they want to play Martin at short. 

I know a close to mid 800 OPS at AA doesn't translate particularly well to MLB because he is likely going to lose 150 to 200 points on that when moving up to the MLB level but that still isn't any worse than Simmons right now and it would be nice to have a utility player that could at least reasonably back up short.  So if they plan to add him it would also be nice to get him some reps at the MLB level to get the jitters out and see how he does or maybe they are just hoping he regresses so that they don't have to add him hard to say.  At any rate I am with you on the Palacios bandwagon.

I too noticed that Quad Cities team when they came to town and demolished us.  There is a lot of talent on that team.  Not sure many of those guys look like super stars but they have the numbers to find several solid MLB players from that team.  KC is going to get younger and better real soon.

[bean5302]

I don't think it's necessary to move Palacios to the MLB roster, but find a spot where he can play shortstop. It's obvious Martin is a dramatically better prospect than Palacios so you cater to Martin's development, but you don't take a steaming dump on the head of your other players like Palacios to do it. There's nobody at AAA the Twins want playing SS at the MLB level.

I made an error in my comment above, though. JT Riddle was outrighted to AAA so he's not taking up a 40 man spot. That said, it's the end of the season. Do the Twins really need 32 year old utility MiLB roster filler Drew Maggi and 29 year old utility MiLB roster filler JT Riddle playing every day in St. Paul? Like WTF? Logjamming talent in the minors for Maggi and Riddle. That's the real hair puller for me.