Minor League Report (6/27): The Surge Goes On For Wichita

TRANSACTIONS

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SAINTS SENTINEL

Saints 6, Clippers 8

Box Score

Chandler Shepherd: 4 ⅓ IP, 9 H, 5 R/ER, BB, K

Home runs: Damek Tomscha (6)

Multi-hit games: Tomscha (2-for-4, HR, 2 RBI)

The Twins defeated Cleveland today at Target Field, but the Saints were beaten by two of their major league regulars on rehab assignments. Franmil Reyes homered for the Clippers to tie the game at one and Roberto Pérez added an RBI single in the fifth. 

Willians Astudillo and Mark Contreras notched back-to-back RBI singles in the third before Cleveland top prospect Nolan Jones blasted a three-run homer to break the game open in the fifth. Or was it a home run? 

Astudillo was later ejected for arguing balls and strikes. 

WIND SURGE WISDOM 

Game one: Surge 3, RockHounds 0

Box Score

Game two: Surge 10, RockHounds 4

Box Score

Chris Vallimont: 5 ⅔ IP, 0 R/ER, 2 BB, 9 K

Home runs: Wilbis Santiago (1), Aaron Whitefield (3), Andrew Bechtold (6), José Miranda (13), Jermaine Palacios (9)

Multi-hit games: Whitefield (G1: 2-for-4, HR, G2: 2-for-4, 2 RBI), Santiago (2-for-3, HR), Peter Mooney (2-for-3), Miranda (2-for-4, HR), BJ Boyd (3-for-4, 2 RBI)

Chris Vallimont absolutely dealt for the Surge in game one of the doubleheader Sunday. Vallimont was part of the deal that brought Sergio Romo to Minnesota in 2019, and looks to be much more than just a PTBNL.

With a rotation of Vallimont, Jordan Balazovic, Josh Winder, Austin Schulfer and Cole Sands (injured list), the Surge should be tough to hit. 

In game two, Schulfer threw five scoreless innings. José Miranda homered and singled before being lifted for a pinch runner in the seventh. Aaron Whitefield had himself a day, notching four hits in the two games with a homer. Wichita has a really good ball club. 

KERNELS NUGGETS

Kernels 6, Lugnuts 0

Box Score

Kody Funderburk: 4 IP, 0 H, 0 R/ER, 6 BB, 4 K

Home runs: DaShawn Keirsey (1), Jair Camargo (9)

Multi-hit games: Trey Cabbage (2-for-4, 2 RBI), Keirsey (2-for-3, HR, 2B)

Kody Funderburk started for the first time since June 15th and didn’t allow a hit over four innings. Funderburk worked around six walks and struck out four. The Kernels’ bullpen was fantastic in relief, pitching five scoreless innings to shutout the Lugnuts. 

Trey Cabbage got the scoring going in the first with a two-run single before DaShawn Keirsey hit an inside-the-park homer to take a 5-0 lead. 

It was a great day for the Kernels as the offense continues to impress, even without standout slugger Matt Wallner. 

MUSSEL MATTERS

Cardinals 9, Mussels 8

Box Score

Louie Varland: 4 ⅔ IP, 7 H, 2 R, ER, BB, 5 K

Home runs: None

Multi-hit games: Will Holland (2-for-3, 2 2B, BB), Justin Washington (2-for-3, 2B, 4 RBI, BB)

Louie Varland, a St.Paul native and 15th round pick in 2019, lowered his ERA to 1.98 on the season with another great performance. Varland was throwing 100 MPH in videos of his bullpen sessions during the offseason. He’s striking out Low-A hitters at a 37% clip.

The Mussels’ bullpen didn’t fare as well as Varland, allowing seven runs in 3 ⅔ innings. The Mussels held an 8-4 lead into the ninth before Palm Beach rallied for five runs to steal the game.

Fort Myers is 28-20 on the season, and like Wichita, continue to score runs without a middle-of-the-order bat in 2019 first-round pick Keoni Cavaco. 

TWINS DAILY MINOR LEAGUE PLAYERS OF THE DAY

Pitcher of the Day – Chris Vallimont (Wichita) -  5 ⅔ IP, 0 R/ER, 2 BB, 9 K

Hitter of the Day – Aaron Whitefield (4-for-8, HR, 3 RBI)

PROSPECT SUMMARY

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

#1 - Alex Kirilloff (Minnesota) – Did not play

#2 - Royce Lewis (Rehab) - Out for Season (torn ACL)

#3 - Trevor Larnach (Minnesota) – 1-for-3, RBI, BB

#4 - Ryan Jeffers (Minnesota) – 0-for-2, 2 BB

#5 - Jhoan Duran (St. Paul) – 7-day IL (elbow strain)

#6 - Jordan Balazovic (Wichita) – Did not pitch

#7 - Keoni Cavaco (Ft. Myers) – IL (Concussion)

#8 - Aaron Sabato (Ft. Myers) – 0-for-5

#9 - Matt Canterino (Cedar Rapids) – IL (elbow)

#10 - Blayne Enlow (Cedar Rapids) – IL (Tommy John surgery)

#11 - Gilberto Celestino (Minnesota) – 0-for-4

#12 - Brent Rooker (St. Paul) – 0-for-3, BB

#13 - Matt Wallner (Cedar Rapids) – IL (hamate bone)

#14 - Misael Urbina (Ft. Myers) – 0-for-4, BB

#15 - Cole Sands (Wichita) – 7-day IL (undisclosed)

#16 - Edwar Colina (Rehab) - 60-Day IL (elbow)

#17 - Ben Rortvedt (Minnesota) – Did not play 

#18 - Alerick Soularie (Complex) – N/A

#19 - Jose Miranda (Wichita) – 2-for-8, HR, 3 RBI

#20 - Bailey Ober (Minnesota) – Did not play

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