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Twins Video
To find out just how good Jordan Balazovic was, and how the rest of the Minnesota Twins affiliates managed their comebacks on Tuesday, keep reading!
TRANSACTIONS
- The Minnesota Twins returned Griffin Jax back to St. Paul and assigned outfielders Rob Refsnyder and Kyle Garlick to the Saints on a rehab assignments.
- With the Kernels OF Matt Wallner was activated from the injured list and served as the DH, batting third in the lineup.
- RHP Landon Leach was assigned to Fort Myers from the FCL Twins.
- The Twins have signed RHP Eiker Huizi to a minor league contract. He had signed with the Mets in 2017 and spent two seasons pitching in the DSL. The Mets released him in October of 2020. The Venezuela native is 20 years old.
SAINTS SENTINEL
St. Paul 6, Omaha 4
Box Score
The Saints and Storm Chasers had an early tilt, and it was a good one that was sent to extra innings to kick off this week’s six-game series.
Chandler Shepherd got the start for St. Paul and went five solid innings, allowing only one run on six hits and two walks while punching out six. Omaha got to reliever Yennier Cano in his two innings. He allowed three earned runs on six hits and struck out three. Kyle Barraclough delivered a scoreless eighth inning. He walked the first two batters of the ninth inning, but Andrew Vasquez came on and gave the Saints lineup the chance they were looking for. He got a fielder's choice, a strikeout and a ground out to send the game to extra innings.
Down 4-3 with two outs in the ninth, Drew Maggi stepped to the plate and was not going to let his team lose. He clubbed his 10th home run of the season to tie the game at four and send it to extra innings.
After Vasquez held the home team in check with a scoreless ninth, Jose Miranda was quick to give St. Paul the lead with a one-out double in the tenth to score the extra runner. The rehabbing Kyle Garlick added an RBI single later in the inning to give the Saints the 6-4 lead.
Ian Hamilton shut down the Storm Chasers in the bottom half, walking one and striking out two in the process of recording his second save.
In the top of the first inning, Rob Refsnyder, also rehabbing with the Saints, hit a home run to right center. Jose Miranda (2-for-5, 2 R, 2B, RBI, K) and Jake Cave (3-for-4, 2B, 2 RBI, BB, K) had multiple hits.
WIND SURGE WISDOM
Wichita 4, Arkansas 1
Box Score
On the mound for Wichita on Tuesday was top pitching prospect Jordan Balazovic who was carrying a three-start and 18 2/3 inning scoreless streak into the game. He was also named the AA-Central Pitcher of the Week after a seven inning, one hit and 11 K outing in his last start.
You could say he is locked in at this point.
Balazovic extended his scoreless streak to 25 2/3 innings with another fantastic outing, picking up his third win of the season. He was efficient and dominant again, throwing 89 pitches, 63 for strikes (70.8%) to complete another seven inning, no-run start. He allowed just four hits and one walk while striking out six Arkansas hitters. During his streak, he has allowed just 10 hits and four walks and has racked up 30 strikeouts. It should not be long until he is pitching with the St. Paul Saints.
His offense, and specifically Trey Cabbage, gave him more than enough run support in building a 4-0 lead heading to the ninth. Cabbage did most of that damage with an RBI double in the third inning, and then insurance in the eighth with an absolutely mammoth two-run home run.
The Arkansas broadcast remarked that it left his bat at 114 MPH and travelled 461 feet. “Goodness…” was an apt description, play-by-play guy.
Reliever Zach Neff came on for the eighth inning and worked around a single and walk for a scoreless frame, but was not able to keep the Travelers off the board in the ninth. In his 1 1/3 innings Neff was charged with one run on two hits and two walks. He struck out one. Jordan Gore was summoned for the final two outs, and though he gave up a single that scored a run, got a strikeout and a long fly ball for the third out to pick up his first save with the Wind Surge.
Roy Morales (3-for-5, 2B, 3B, RBI) and D.J. Burt (2-for-4, 2B, K) also collected multiple hits in the win.
KERNELS NUGGETS
Beloit 3, Cedar Rapids 4
Box Score
The Snappers and Kernels traded leads a few times throughout this one, but neither team was able to break through for a big inning.
Tyler Beck made the start for Cedar Rapids and scattered eight hits over his five innings, allowing just two runs along with striking out seven. Derek Molina (2 IP, H, 4 K), Melvi Acosta (1 1/3 IP, H, R, 3 K), and Zach Featherstone combined for four innings of one run ball, striking out nine and walking none.
That was enough to keep the Kernels in the driver’s seat after the Snappers tied it at three in the top of the ninth. They took little time to end it in the bottom half, as Jair Camargo led off the inning with a bunt single, then Michael Helman drove in pinch runner Daniel Ozoria all the way from first with a walk-off double.
Helman said humbly after the game that he just wanted to move the runner along. "I got the opportunity to at least try to move the runner and put a guy in scoring position. It somehow kept the ball fair down the line. Luckily Ozoria is fast."
Matt Wallner made his return from the injured list as the designated hitter. In his second at-bat he clubbed his fifth home run of the season (has played only 18 games). Camargo finished 2-for-4 with his 13th home run and two RBI. DeShawn Keirsey collected his third triple of the year and stole two bases.
MUSSEL MATTERS
Daytona 7, Fort Myers 8
Box Score
The Mighty Mussels fell behind 7-2 heading into the bottom of the eighth, but with some help from the Tortugas bullpen and on brand for Twins affiliates on the day, were able to come all the way back and steal this one on Tuesday night.
Aaron Rozek made the start for Fort Myers and went seven innings. He allowed five runs (four earned) on eight hits but also struck out eight batters. Carlos Suniaga came on in relief and after two strikeouts, gave up a single and a home run that made any comeback seem that much more improbable for the home team.
Then the back end of the Daytona Bullpen happened.
The bottom of the eighth went groundout, walk, walk, hit batter, walk, pitching change, walk, single, passed ball, walk, walk and before you knew it, six runs had crossed the plate for Fort Myers, and they had taken the lead 8-7.
Warming up quickly, closer Denny Bentley slammed the door shut on the Tortugas with a one-two-three ninth inning on just eight pitches, including a three-pitch strikeout to end the game with authority. He picked up his seventh save of the season.
Misael Urbina went 2-for-5 with a double and an RBI out of the leadoff spot. The Mighty Mussels had just three other hits as a team, but were able to take advantage of a bulk of their 12 walks in that eighth inning. Jeferson Morales, Aaron Sabato, and Ruben Santana each drew three of those walks.
COMPLEX CHRONICLES
FCL Twins 5, FCL Rays 7
Box Score
The Twins fell behind early in this one but came back and took the lead 5-3 after the top of the sixth inning behind home runs from LaRon Smith and Malfrin Sosa.
Luis Baez (2-for-5, R, 2B, K, SB) and Alexander Pena (2-for-4, R, RBI, BB, 2 K) collected half of the Twins eight hits. Kala’I Rosario added an RBI double.
Sean Gilmartin started the game and pitched two innings. He allowed three runs (two earned) on five hits while striking out four. Wilker Reyes went the next four innings, and gave up one run on four hits and a walk. He struck out five. Cole Bellair was saddled with the blown save and loss after surrendering three runs on four hits in the final two innings, though he did strike out five.
TWINS DAILY MINOR LEAGUE PLAYERS OF THE DAY
Pitcher of the Day – Jordan Balazovic, Wichita Wind Surge (W, 7 IP, 4 H, BB, 6 K)
Hitter of the Day – Trey Cabbage, Wichita Wind Surge (2-for-4, R, 2B, HR, 3 RBI, K)
PROSPECT SUMMARY
Take note that we have finished our midseason update, so there is a new list! Here is a look at how the Twins Daily Midseason Top 20 Twins Prospects performed:
#1 – Royce Lewis (Rehab) – Out for season (torn ACL)
#2 – Jhoan Duran (St. Paul) – Injured List (elbow strain)
#3 – Jordan Balazovic (Wichita) – W, 7 IP, 4 H, BB, 6 K
#4 – Matt Canterino (Cedar Rapids) – Injured List (right elbow strain)
#5 – Jose Miranda (St. Paul) – 2-for-5, 2 R, 2B, RBI, K
#6 – Keoni Cavaco (Fort Myers) – Did not play
#7 – Gilberto Celestino (Minnesota) – 0-for-3, BB, K
#8 – Josh Winder (St. Paul) – Did not pitch
#9 – Aaron Sabato (Fort Myers) – 0-for-2, RBI, 3 BB, K
#10 – Matt Wallner (Cedar Rapids) – 1-for-2, R, HR, RBI, BB
#11 – Blayne Enlow (Cedar Rapids) – Out for Season (Tommy John surgery)
#12 – Bailey Ober (Minnesota) – 5 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, BB, 4 K
#13 – Cole Sands Cole Sands (Wichita) – Did not pitch
#14 – Brent Rooker (St. Paul) – 0-for-4, BB, 3 K
#15 – Misael Urbina (Fort Myers) – 2-for-5, R, 2B, RBI, K
#16 – Spencer Steer (Wichita) – 0-for-5, 2 K
#17 – Wander Javier (Cedar Rapids) – 1-for-4
#18 – Alerick Soularie (Complex) – N/A (foot injury)
#19 – Edwar Colina (Rehab) – Injured List (elbow)
#20 – Chris Vallimont (Wichita) – Did not pitch
WEDNESDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS
St. Paul @ Omaha (7:05PM CST) – RHP Josh Winder (1-0, 3.75 ERA)
Wichita @ Arkansas (7:10PM CST) – RHP Cole Sands (0-0, 2.67 ERA)
Beloit @ Cedar Rapids (6:35PM CST) – RHP Louie Varland (0-0, 0.00 ERA)
Daytona @ Fort Myers (6:00PM CST) – RHP Sawyer Gipson-Long (4-3, 5.36 ERA)
Please feel free to ask questions and discuss Tuesday’s games!
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