Twins Minor League Report (8/30): Big Names Go Yard, Relievers Lock It Up

TRANSACTIONS

Chattanooga Lookouts

INF Jordan Gore placed on DL with a left wrist sprain

RED WINGS REPORT

Rochester 6. Buffalo 1

Box Score

Wrapping up their second-to-last series of the 2018 season, the Rochester Red Wings threw a bullpen game in this one. Ryan Eades got the start and lasted into the fourth inning. Luke Bard went just an out shy of three complete innings and tallied his second win of the season. Andrew Vasquez escaped some trouble to blank Buffalo over one and two-thirds innings, and Tyler Duffey recorded his third save of the year.

The Bison scored their first and only run in the first inning of this one. From there, the Red Wings answered with two runs of their own. Byron Buxton scored on a Gregorio Petit single, and Petit was driven in by LaMonte Wade.

Rochester tallied another run in the third as Nick Gordon raced home on a passed ball. Up 3-1 entering their half of the fourth, it was time for the Red Wings to pull away. Jon Kemmer doubled in Zander Wiel, and then another wild pitch allowed Alex Perez to cross the plate. Gordon earned the game’s final RBI on a single that scored Buxton.

As the season comes to a close for the Red Wings, it will be interesting who can use some nice performances down the stretch to cement their position with the Twins in the final month.

CHATTANOOGA CHATTER

Jackson 2, Chattanooga 1

Box Score

Recently signed Austin Adams was on the bump to start this one. Working as the opener for Jorge Alcala, he went two scoreless innings offering up three hits and two walks but avoiding any damage.

The Generals struck first, tallying a run in the third inning. After a single dropped in, a misplay in the infield allowed the Jackson runner to score. Alcala was given a fresh slate in the sixth however, as Mitchell Kranson launched his third home run of the year for Chattanooga to draw things even.

Unfortunately the tie was short-lived, and Jackson answered with a run of their own in the seventh. On the night, Jackson doubled up Chattanooga in the run column and nearly did so in hits as well. These two teams will play game two of the series tomorrow night.

MIRACLE MATTERS

Fort Myers 3, Bradenton 0

Box Score

Charlie Barnes was given the start in this one, and he lasted one out shy of five innings. Allowing just one hit, he struck out five and issued only one free pass. The strong effort lowered his ERA to 2.81 on the year.

The sixth inning is where all the damage came in this one. Alex Kirilloff homered, his sixth of the season for the Miracle, and the two-run shot put the good guys on the board. Ryan Costello followed with a solo blast of his own, and that 3-0 score is how this one ended.

Jovani Moran got the win working three and one-third innings of hitless relief. The Miracle outhit the competition seven to one in this one. Thanks to dropping both games of their doubleheader tonight, Charlotte now is a game and a half back of Fort Myers in the FSL South standings.

KERNELS NUGGETS

Cedar Rapids 11, Burlington 3

Box Score

If tonight’s results are any indication, it appears the Kernels are ready to storm into the postseason. Jhoan Duran made an abbreviated start with his playoff efforts looming. Still, he turned in four solid innings allowing three unearned runs on three hits while walking and striking out three.

Cedar Rapids offense made sure that there was no doubt in this one. Scoring 11 runs on 11 hits, an eight-run sixth inning gave the home team all the cushion it needed.

Trailing after the top half of the second, Trevor Larnach ripped his third homer of the year to put the home team on the board. A wild pitch then allowed Trey Cabbage to score knotting the game at two.

In the third Burlington again jumped out ahead, and that 3-2 lead stood until the sixth. Michael Davis tripled in both Larnach and Jacob Pearson to put Cedar Rapids up for good. Victor Tademo added on with an RBI single, and Michael Helman got involved with a two-RBI single of his own. Capping off the inning, Cabbage notched his 22nd double of the season to clear loaded bases and put this one out of reach at 10-3. Yet another passed ball allowed the final run in the eighth, this time scoring Helman.

Derek Molina earned the win in relief, twirling three shutout innings and fanning five batters. Tomorrow night Cedar Rapids will put a bow on their 2018 regular season schedule at home.

E-TWINS E-TALK

Scheduled Off Day

STARS OF THE DAY

Twins Daily Pitcher of the Day – Derek Molina (Cedar Rapids) – 3.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB 5 K

Twins Daily Hitter(s) of the Day – Trevor Larnach (Cedar Rapids) – 1-2, 3 R, RBI, 3 BB, HR(3)

TOP PROSPECT SUMMARY

#1 - Royce Lewis (Fort Myers) – 1-4

#2 - Alex Kirilloff (Fort Myers) – 1-4, R, 2 RBI, HR(6)

#4 - Nick Gordon (Rochester) – 2-5, R, RBI

#6 - Trevor Larnach (Cedar Rapids) – 1-2, 3 R, RBI, 3 BB, HR(3)

#7 - Brent Rooker (Chattanooga) – 1-4, K

#12 - LaMonte Wade (Rochester) – 2-3, BB

#13 - Travis Blankenhorn (Fort Myers) – 1-3

#15 - Ben Rortvedt (Fort Myers) – 0-3

#18 - Ryan Jeffers (Cedar Rapids) – 0-3, 2 BB, 3 K

#19 - Jacob Pearson (Cedar Rapids) – 0-4, R, BB, K

#20 - Luis Arraez (Chattanooga) – 0-4

FRIDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS

Lehigh Valley @ Rochester (6:05PM CST) – LHP Lewis Thorpe (0-2, 4.91 ERA)

Chattanooga @ Jackson (6:05PM CST) – RHP Tyler Wells (1-2, 1.67 ERA)

Clearwater @ Fort Myers (6:00PM CST) – RHP Griffin Jax (3-3, 3.28 ERA)

Burlington @ Cedar Rapids (6:35PM CST) – RHP Melvi Acosta (2-4, 2.88 ERA)

Elizabethton @ Kingsport (5:30PM CST) – RHP Josh Winder (0-0, -.—ERA)

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