Twins Minor League Report (4/16): Vargas Leads Red Wings To Win

TRANSACTIONS

With Ryan LaMarre headed to Puerto Rico as the Twins 26th man, relief pitcher Ryne Harper was promoted to the Red Wings. Cody Stashak was then promoted from Ft. Myers to Chattanooga to take Harper’s spot. Presumably Ft. Myers will add a pitcher on Tuesday when they return to play. Will that be a pitcher from Cedar Rapids, or will they just bring someone over from extended spring training for a game or two?

RED WINGS REPORT

Rochester 6, Charlotte 3

Box Score

The Red Wings traveled to Charlotte from Gwinnett after being rained out on Sunday.

There’s no question that Kennys Vargas would much prefer to be hanging out in Puerto Rico than in North Carolina this week. But after a DFA-filled spring training, he’s not on the 40-man roster, and not with his countrymen Jose Berrios and Eddie Rosario in the Caribbean. Maybe he decided to take it out on the baseball. Or maybe he just wanted to lead the Red Wings to a win, and that’s what he did. Vargas got the Red Wings on the board in the top of the first inning with a sacrifice fly. In the sixth inning, he knocked his first home run of the season to give the team a 3-2 lead. In the seventh inning, he gave the team some insurance with another sacrifice fly. He ended the game 2-3 and added his first double of the season to go with his first home run.

Taylor Featherston found himself on base often. He went 1-2 with three walks. Jake Cave reached three times via the walk. Brock Stassi was 1-3 with a walk.

Fernando Romero was supposed to start on Sunday, but instead he made the Monday night start. He gave up two runs on four hits and three walks. He struck out four batters. However, he came out one out shy of being able to record a win, 4.2 innings, because his pitch count was already at 81 (48 strikes).

Tyler Duffey came on and got the final out of the fifth inning. He then worked three more innings. In his 3.1 innings, he gave up just one hit. He didn’t issue any walks and struck out six. 28 of his 37 pitchers were strikes. John Curtiss came on for the ninth inning. He gave up a run on two hits. He struck out two.

CHATTANOOGA CHATTER

Chattanooga, Jacksonville

The Lookouts were scheduled to start a home series against Jacksonville, but rains caused the game to be postponed. The teams will play a doubleheader on Wednesday.

MIRACLE MATTERS

The Miracle had a scheduled off day on Monday.

KERNELS NUGGETS

The Kernels had a scheduled off day on Monday. It will be interesting to see if they are able to play in Beloit starting on Tuesday.

Steve Buhr recently caught up with Kernels manager Toby Gardenhire who said that the team has “a lot of guys are doing some really good things.”

STARS OF THE DAY

Twins Daily Hitter of the Day: Kennys Vargas, Rochester Red Wings

Twins Daily Pitcher of the Day: Tyler Duffey, Rochester Red Wings

TOP PROSPECT SUMMARY

Here’s a look at how the Twins Daily Top 20 Twins Prospects (or, I guess just “Prospect” tonight, performed:

#2 - Fernando Romero (Rochester) - 4.2 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 4 K

TUESDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS

Rochester @ Charlotte (6:04 CST) - LHP Dietrich Enns

Jacksonville @ Chattanooga (6:15 CST) - RHP Zack Littell

Ft. Myers @ Dunedin (5:30) - RHP Sean Poppen

Cedar Rapids @ Beloit (6:35 CST) - RHP Edwar Colina

Please feel free to ask any questions about Monday’s game, or ask any questions you may have.