Minor League Report (5/28): Pitcher's Duel In Cedar Rapids

We’ve got quotes from the Kernels starting pitcher, catcher and manager as well, so continue reading today’s Minor League Report.

TRANSACTIONS

On Saturday, there was just one transaction in the Twins system:

• In Ft. Myers, Max Murphy was placed on the 7-Day disabled list with a strained hamstring. Taking his spot is Engelb Vielma who has been rehabbing in extended spring Ttaining.
  

RED WINGS REPORT

Rochester 3, Charlotte 4

Box Score

The reports of the demise of Eddie Rosario might have been a little premature. The outfielder went 4-5 with his sixth double for the Red Wings. He raised his average to .289. Byron Buxton nearly homered but had to settle for a ground rule double on the play. He was 2-4 with his ninth double. Jorge Polanco added his second double.

Tommy Milone was the definition of a strike thrower on Saturday night. 82 of his 102 pitches were strikes. The lefty gave up two runs on three hits over 7.2 innings. He didn’t walk a batter and struck out seven. JT Chargois came on for the final out of the eighth inning. He gave up a hit but the inherited runner did not score. Alex Wimmers came on for the ninth. He gave up two runs and got just one out. Sean Burnett got the final two outs on the inning.

CHATTANOOGA CHATTER

Chattanooga 3, Tennessee 2

Box Score

Travis Harrison drove in three runs which was enough to help the Lookouts to a 3-2 win. The outfielder went 2-3 in the game with his ninth double. Dalton Hicks and Ryan Walker were both 2-3. Hicks hit his 10th double.

Aaron Slegers made the start. The lanky right-hander gave up two runs on five hits over six innings. He walked two and struck out six. Corey Williams was excellent in relief. He struck out three over two shutout innings to improve to 2-0. Trevor Hildenberger recorded his fifth save with a perfect ninth inning.

MIRACLE MATTERS

Ft. Myers 2, Charlotte 3

Box Score

This game was close until the eighth when Charlotte put together a big inning. Stephen Gonsalves gave up some hits, but he put together another quality start. In six innings he gave up three runs (2 earned) on nine hits. He walked one and struck out seven.

Todd Van Steensel came in and pitched a scoreless seventh inning. However, things didn’t go so well in the eighth. It started with four straight hits. After getting two outs, he gave up a single and a home run. Six runs on six hits, in a hurry. Brian Gilbert got the final out.

Logan Wade went 2-4 with his fourth triple. Alex Real went 2-3 with a walk. Tanner Witt and Brian Navarreto each hit his first home run of the season.

KERNELS NUGGETS

Cedar Rapids 1, Wisconsin 2

Box Score

The story in this game was all the strikeouts. Unfortunately, it was the Kernels who struck out on the scoreboard at the end of the night.

Righty Miles Nordgren made the start for the Kernels. He came into the game with 28 strikeouts in 31+ innings. In this game, he went seven innings and struck out 12 batters without issuing a walk. He gave up one run on four hits, easily the best start of his professional career. The lone run he allowed came on a broken bat blooper.

The right-hander who says that he hits 90 “on a good day” said that he threw “a lot more sliders” instead of his curveball.

His catcher AJ Murray was impressed. “He made my job easy. I just put my glove down and he threw it there every time. He was in control the whole game the whole time, and it’s probably the best I’ve seen him throw this year or last year.”

Williams Ramirez came on and worked a season-high three innings. He gave up just one hit, walked none and struck out five. He showed a mid-90s fastball with a very sharp, high-70s curveball.

Earlier in the day, Jake Mauer said that Ramirez had never pitched under the lights as he has done a couple of times now with the Kernels. Following the game, Mauer said that Ramirez “He’s got a live arm too. It’s electric. It comes out good. It’s downhill. Breaking ball’s good. He looks more and more comfortable out there each time.”

When I said, “The lights don’t seem to bother him,” Mauer said with a chuckle, “No I think he’s used to it now.”

Could Ramirez eventually start? Mauer said he could, but right now, the team needs someone to pitch late in games ,and Ramirez is in that mix too.

Unfortunately, the Kernels were unable to muster any offense. However, in the bottom of the ninth, they were able to get one across to tie the game and send it to extra innings. JJ Fernandez lined a double to the right field corner. Alex Perez ran for him and advanced to third base on a slow bounder to third base. Jermaine Palacios lined out to medium-deep center field allowing Perez to score the game-tying run and send it to extra innings.

In the 11th inning, CK Irby came on. The first batter blooped a single. The second batter bunted. Irby fielded and threw to second. The throw tailed into the runner’s helmet and bounced away. He was able to advance to third, though he was clearly hurt and left the game. A deep fly to right scored the go-ahead run.

JJ Fernandez led the way with his 10th double and first triple of the year. Luis Arraez went 2-4. LaMonte Wade wasted no time extending his on-base streak to 28 games with a first inning walk. He added a single later. Sean Miller hit his third triple, and Brad Hartong hit his second double.

TWINS DAILY PLAYERS OF THE DAY

Twins Daily Minor League Pitcher of the Day – Miles Nordgren, Cedar Rapids Kernels

Twins Daily Minor League Hitter of the Day – Eddie Rosario, Rochester Red Wings

SUNDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS

Charlotte @ Rochester (12:35 p.m. CST) - LHP Andrew Albers

Tennessee @ Chattanooga (5:15 CST) - RHP Omar Bencomo

Ft. Myers @ Charlotte (11:35 am CST) – RHP Kohl Stewart

Wisconsin @ Cedar Rapids (2:05 CST) – RHP Cody Stashak

Please feel free to ask any questions and discuss the Saturday games.