Minor League Report (5/16): Late Inning Terrors

TRANSACTIONS
- RHP Chris Vallimont transferred to Low-A Fort Myers on minor league rehab

SAINTS SENTINEL
Iowa 8, St.Paul 3
Box Score

Randy Dobnak: 5 IP, 4 H, 0 R/ER, 1 BB, 5 K
HR: None
Multi-hit games: Nick Gordon (2-for-3, BB, R)

Randy Dobnak started Sunday afternoon’s game for the Saints after a walk-off win last night. Dobnak entered the game with a 5.40 ERA in two starts. Dobber pitched well Sunday, striking out five over five scoreless innings. Ryan Jeffers notched an RBI double in the first inning before a Damek Tomscha RBI single and a Keon Broxton sacrifice fly. 

Lewis Thorpe followed Dobnak with two scoreless innings of his own and Andrew Vasquez struck out the side in the eighth. 

The Saints held a 3-0 lead until the 9th inning when Ian Gibaut allowed three singles, a HBP, two walks, and two doubles. Iowa took a resounding 8-3 lead and stole the series finale. 

WIND SURGE WISDOM
Amarillo 7, Wind Surge 4
Box Score

Cole Sands: 4 IP, 3 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 5 BB, 5 K
HR: Miranda (4)
Multi-hit games: José Miranda (2-for-4, HR, 3 RBI), Gilberto Celestino (2-for-4, 2B)

José Miranda has absolutely mashed out of the gate. He homered again Sunday in the third inning, increasing his OPS to 1.052 on the young season. Miranda now has four homers in just 50 plate appearances. 

Gilberto Celestino, who has struggled offensively thus far, recorded two hits in the loss. Celestino ranks 11th on Twins Daily’s top prospects list, primarily because of his stellar defense but also a developing right-handed swing. 

Wind Surge starter Cole Sands battled his command and issued five walks in what was undoubtedly his shakiest start of the season. Sands was drafted in the fifth round out of Florida State in 2018 and entered Sunday with a 2.90 ERA in 20 minor league starts.

Ernie De La Trinidad pulled the Surge within one in the eighth before Miranda drove him in with an RBI single. 

Following the trend of the organization today, Wichita allowed two runs to score on a fielding error in the 9th inning. José Herrera followed that up with a single and Amarillo took a 7-4 lead & win. 

KERNELS NUGGETS
Quad Cities 3, Cedar Rapids 2
Box Score

Andrew Cabezas: 5 IP, 2 H, 1 R/ER, 0 BB, 6 K
HR: Gabe Snyder (4)
Multi-hit games: Wander Javier (2-for-4)

RHP Andrew Cabezas was outstanding Sunday and now owns a 1.00 ERA and eight strikeouts over his first nine innings. His efforts weren’t enough to overcome an equally great start from Quad Cities’ Angel Zerpa.

First baseman Gabe Snyder got the scoring going with a solo home run in the fourth inning. Snyder, a 26-year-old 21st round pick from 2018, is hitting .297/.409/.730 with four home runs on the season. 

Vinnie Pasquantino answered with a solo homer of his own to tie the game at one in the fifth. A half-inning later, Michael Helman drove in Snyder and gave the Kernels a 2-1 lead. Again, Pasquantino took it back, this time on a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the sixth. 

Kernels reliever Jon Olsen entered a 2-2 tie in the 8th and gave up back-to-back singles from Michael Massey and Pasquantino before chucking a wild pitch. Quad Cities went up 3-2 and didn’t look back. 

MUSSEL MATTERS
Fort Myers 5, Clearwater 2 
Box Score

Chris Vallimont: 3 IP, 2 H, 0 R/ER, 0 BB, 6 K
HR: Wander Valdez
Multi-hit games: Misael Urbina (2-for-3, BB, RBI)

Chris Vallimont, who came over from Miami in the 2019 trade for Sergio Romo, was reinstated and made his first start of the year Sunday. Vallimont pitched at both A-levels in 2019 and posted a 3.24 ERA with a 30% strikeout rate. Vallimont’s excellence was on full display as he struck out six over three scoreless innings. 

Louie Varland relieved and struck out seven over four scoreless innings of his own. Varland, a St.Paul native, has been fantastic this season, striking out 17 over 8 ⅔ innings with a 2.16 ERA. 

Misael Urbina went 2-for-3 with an RBI single and watched his OPS rise to .829. 3B Wander Valdez drove in three runs, including a two-run homer. 

TWINS DAILY PLAYERS OF THE DAY

Twins Daily Minor League Pitcher of the Day – Andrew Cabezas
Twins Daily Minor League Hitter of the Day – José Miranda

PROSPECT SUMMARY

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

#1 - Alex Kirilloff (Minnesota) – Injured List (wrist)

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

#3 - Trevor Larnach (Minnesota) – 3-for-5, 2 K

#4 - Ryan Jeffers (St. Paul) – 1-for-3, 2B, RBI, BB, K

#5 - Jhoan Duran (St. Paul) – Injured List

#6 - Jordan Balazovic (Wichita) – Injured List (back)

#7 - Keoni Cavaco (Ft. Myers) – 0-for-3, BB, 2 K

#8 - Aaron Sabato (Ft. Myers) –0-for-4, K

#9 - Matt Canterino (Cedar Rapids) – DNP

#10 - Blayne Enlow (Cedar Rapids) – DNP

#11 - Gilberto Celestino (Wichita) – 2-for-4, K

#12 - Brent Rooker (St. Paul) – DNP

#13 - Matt Wallner (Cedar Rapids) – 0-for-4, 3 K

#14 - Misael Urbina (Ft. Myers) – 2-for-3, RBI, BB

#15 - Cole Sands (Wichita) – 4 IP, 3 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 5 BB, 5 K

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

#17 - Ben Rortvedt (Minnesota) – 1-for-1

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

#19 - Jose Miranda (Wichita) – 2-for-4, HR, 3 RBI, K

#20 - Bailey Ober (St. Paul) – DNP