Twins Minor League Report (6/30): Balazovic Blows Them Away

TRANSACTIONS

• INF Drew Stankiewicz signed by Twins and assigned to St. Paul
• RHP Jonathan Cheshire placed on 7-day IL by Cedar Rapids (forearm strain)

SAINTS SENTINEL
St. Paul 7, Omaha 4
Box Score
Lefty Andrew Albers went six innings for Saint Paul and picked up six strikeouts while walking none. He did allow three runs on seven hits before turning the ball over to the bullpen.

Although last night was all about Jose Miranda, there’s still plenty of firepower in this Saints lineup. Brent Rooker crushed his 13th homer to open the game in the bottom of the first, and the two-run shot scoring J.T. Riddle put the good guys on top. Mark Contreras hit his 6th home run, a two-run bomb in the 3rd, giving St. Paul a 5-0 lead.

Miranda followed up his big night at the plate with a stellar defensive play at the hot corner this evening. Former Tigers prospect Beau Burrows also made his Saints debut in this one. Drew Stankiewicz got the start at second base in his return to a familiar team, now as an affiliated pro player.

After allowing the Storm Chasers to draw within two, Stankiewicz made his mark with a bases loaded walk, drawing an RBI. Willians Astudillo, who stole a base earlier in this one, singled in the 8th to drive in J.T. Riddle. The breathing room was nice a Omaha tried to make things interesting in the final half inning before Nick Vincent closed the door.

WIND SURGE WISDOM
Wichita 8, Amarillo 1
Box Score

Twins star pitching prospect Jordan Balazovic was on the bump for Wichita in this one, and he posted an encouraging outing in every sense of the word. Working five and two-thirds, he allowed just two base runners, both on walks. Balazovic punched out six and threw 87 pitches on the evening.

Recently promoted to Double-A, Trey Cabbage made his mark picking up his first double in the top half of the first inning to plate Spencer Steer. B.J. Boyd lifted his third homer of the season, a solo shot in the 2nd, to put Wichita ahead 2-0.

The first crooked number of the night came on Steer’s first Double-A homer, a three run shot that was absolutely demolished. Widening the lead further, Boyd doubles in D.J. Burt before Chris Williams tripled to score Boyd adding two more in the 6th. Cabbage picked up his second double in the game, scoring Steer again, and continuing his strong evening.

As big of an offensive night that Wichita had, the real story was on the mound. Yes, Balazovic was great, but so too was the bullpen in relief. Alex Phillips recorded four outs without a hit, punching out three, before Jhonleider Salinas worked a hitless inning of relief on his own. Salinas then got the first out in the 9th, two away from a combined no-hitter, before Luis Alejandro Basabe lifted a solo shot to right field. The no-hitter came up two outs short, and the shutout was gone with it. Adam Lau recorded the final two outs on what was a great night for the arms.

Both of the recently promoted prospects, Steer and Cabbage, posted multi-hit nights, and were joined by B.J. Boyd to make it a trio.

KERNELS NUGGETS
Quad Cities 9, Cedar Rapids 4
Box Score
Ben Gross was on the bump for Cedar Rapids and turned in five strong innings of work tonight. He allowed just a single run, on two hits and two walks, while also picking up five strikeouts.

After making his High-A debut last night, Edouard Julien announced his presence today with a leadoff homer. Alex Isola then went yard, his fifth of the season, to put the Kernels ahead 2-1 in the 4th.

Unfortunately, things got ugly for Cedar Rapids from there. Quad Cities tied the game in the 6th, and then pushed across six in the 7th and another in the 8th. Outfielder Max Smith came on to work the final inning for the Kernels. He got through his inning while recording one strikeout.

Facing a massive deficit late, Seth Gray wasn’t ready to quit as his double drove in Daniel Ozoria to add a third run for Cedar Rapids. The Kernels had two runners on with just one out in the 9th, and Allante Hall drove in Gray on a groundout, but that’s where the rally ended.

MUSSEL MATTERS
Postponed (Rain)

COMPLEX CHRONICLES

No game

TWINS DAILY MINOR LEAGUE PLAYERS OF THE DAY
Pitcher of the Day – Jordan Balazovic (Wichita) – 5.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 6 K
Hitter of the Day – Spencer Steer (Wichita) – 2-4, 3 R, 3 RBI, HR, BB, K

PROSPECT SUMMARY

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

#1 - Alex Kirilloff (Minnesota) – 1-4, 2 K
#2 - Royce Lewis (Rehab) - Out for Season (torn ACL)
#3 - Trevor Larnach (Minnesota) –  0-4, 2 K
#4 - Ryan Jeffers (Minnesota) – Did not play
#5 - Jhoan Duran (St. Paul) – Injured List (elbow strain)
#6 - Jordan Balazovic (Wichita) – 5.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 6 K
#7 - Keoni Cavaco (Fort Myers) – Injured List (concussion)
#8 - Aaron Sabato (Fort Myers) – Postponed
#9 - Matt Canterino (Cedar Rapids) – Injured list (arm strain)
#10 - Blayne Enlow (Cedar Rapids) – Out for Season (Tommy John surgery)
#11 - Gilberto Celestino (Minnesota) – 1-1, R, RBI, HR(2)
#12 - Brent Rooker (St. Paul) – 2-3, 3 R, 2 RBI, HR(13), 2 BB
#13 - Matt Wallner (Cedar Rapids) – Injured List (wrist sprain)
#14 - Misael Urbina (Fort Myers) – Postponed
#15 - Cole Sands (Wichita) – Did not pitch
#16 - Edwar Colina (Rehab) - 60-Day IL (elbow)
#17 - Ben Rortvedt (Minnesota) – 0-3
#18 - Alerick Soularie (Complex) – N/A
#19 - Jose Miranda (St. Paul) – 1-5, K
#20 - Bailey Ober (Minnesota) – 3.1 IP, 4 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 2 BB, 3 K, 3 HR

THURSDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS

Omaha @ St. Paul (7:05PM CST) – LHP Charlie Barnes (3-2, 3.94 ERA)
Wichita @ Amarillo (7:05PM CST) – RHP Bryan Sammons (0-3, 6.45 ERA)
Cedar Rapids @ Quad Cities (6:30PM CST) – RHP Cody Lawyerson (0-0, 3.00 ERA)
Bradenton @ Fort Myers (6:00PM CST) – TBD

Please feel free to ask questions and discuss Wednesday’s games