Twins Minor League Report (5/11): Rooker Walks Off In Grand Style

Keep reading to find out more on the night in the Twins minor league system on Friday. As always, please feel free to discuss and ask questions.

TRANSACTIONS

• The Red Wings announced that OF Nick Buss was reinstated from the disabled list.
  
• To make room, LH RP Mason Melotakis was released.
  
• On Saturday, Trevor May will be added to the Miracle roster on a rehab assignment.
  

RED WINGS REPORT

Game 1 - Rochester 5, Scranton/Wilkes Barre 4 (8 innings)

Box Score

Zack Littell was back on the mound for his second AAA start. He threw six scoreless innings in his first Red Wings game, and be started this game with three more zeroes. He gave up a solo home run in the fourth, but that was it. The right-hander gave up just one run on two hits and two walks over six innings. He struck out eight. Nick Anderson came on for the seventh inning with a two-run lead. He gave up a two-run homer to Erik Kratz that tied the game and sent it to extra innings.

In the eighth inning, Wynston Sawyer was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to give the Red Wings the lead. James Ramsey added an RBI single which was important. Anderson gave up an unearned run (the runner who started the inning on second base) in the eighth, but he recorded the win.

Zack Granite returned to the Red Wings lineup. He went 1-for-3 with a walk and stole a bag. Jake Cave was 1-for-3 with a walk and a two-run single that gave the Red Wings a 2-1 lead. Wynston Sawyer went 2-for-3. James Ramsey went 2-for-4.

Game 2 - Rochester 0, Scranton/Wilkes Barre 7

Box Score

It wasn’t a good second game for the Red Wings. Stephen Gonsalves struggled with his control and command. The lefty gave up four hit, walked three and hit a batter. He gave up six runs, the big blast being a grand slam by Brandon Drury. He left after recording just five outs. Luke Bard gave up three hits over 2 1/3 scoreless innings. He struck out one. Gabriel Moya gave up one run over the final two innings. He struck out four.

The Red Wings managed just four hits in Game 2. Willians Astudillo had two of them. Nick Buss and Jake Cave each had one hit.

The loss puts the Red Wings at 15-15 on the season.

CHATTANOOGA CHATTER

Chattanooga 6, Jackson 2

Box Score

The game was tied at two, with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning. Brent Rooker stepped to the plate and ended the game in walk-off, grand slam fashion. He noted after the game that it was the first time he’s ever hit a walk-off grand slam, though he has had walk-off home runs. His manager, Tommy Watkins, noted following the game, “It was a bomb!”

https://twitter.com/ChattLookouts/status/995157104985083904

Lefty Anthony Marzi was good in his first Double-A start, and he was good again in his second. He gave up just two runs on five hits over 7 1/3 innings. He struck out four without a walk. Ryan Eades came on to get the final five outs. He gave up two hits, walked none and struck out three.

The Lookouts had seven hits, but no hitter had more than one hit. Rooker’s walk-off grand slam was obviously the biggest hit of the game. Edgar Corcino added his seventh double. Nick Gordon was 1-for-3 and was hit by a pitch.

The win pushes the Lookouts season record to 22-13.

MIRACLE MATTERS

Ft. Myers 3, Dunedin 4

Box Score

Travis Blankenhorn got things going in the right direction, but it wasn’t enough on this night. Blankenhorn went 2-for-4 with his sixth home run in the top of the first. Jimmy Kerrigan went 2-for-3, was hit by a pitch and knocked his tenth double.

Brady Anderson made the start. He gave up four runs on seven hits over five innings. He struck out five batters without issuing a walk. Hector Lujan threw two scoreless innings. He gave up a hit, walked two and struck out one. Tom Hackimer gave up a hit, walked one and struck one out in his scoreless inning.

The Miracle fall to 16-19 on the season.

KERNELS NUGGETS

Cedar Rapids 7, Bowling Green 5

Box Score

The game was tied heading into the ninth. The Kernels got RBI singles from Ben Rortvedt and Jordan Gore to take the 7-5 lead which they were able to hang on to for the final three outs.

Blayne Enlow made his fourth Kernels start. He gave up five runs (three earned) on five hits. He walked two and struck out three in 3 1/3 innings. Jovani Moran struck out four over 2 1/3 innings. He gave up just one hit and walked one. Carlos Suniaga gave up one hit and one walk over the final 3 1/3 innings. He struck out two to get the win.

Shane Carrier led the offense. The powerful outfielder went 3-for-4 with a walk and his second and third doubles. Rortvedt was 2-for-4 with a walk. Jean Carlos Arias went 2-for-5 with his second home run. Akil Baddoo went 2-for-5 with a walk and his second double. Royce Lewis added this third double, and Alex Kirilloff hit his second triple to extend his hitting streak to 12 games.

The win moves the Kernels back above .500 at 15-14.

STARS OF THE DAY

Twins Daily Hitter of the Day: Shane Carrier, Cedar Rapids Kernels (3-4, BB, 2-2B(3))

Twins Daily Pitcher of the Day: Zack Littell, Rochester Red Wings (6 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 8 K)

PROSPECT SUMMARY

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

#1 - Royce Lewis (Cedar Rapids) - 1-5, 2B(3), R

#3 - Nick Gordon (Chattanooga) - 1-3, HBP

#4 - Stephen Gonsalves (Rochester) - 1.2 IP, 4 H, 6 ER, 3 BB, 1 HBP, 2 K

#5 - Alex Kirilloff (Cedar Rapids) - 1-5, 3B(2), RBI, 2 K

#7 - Brent Rooker (Chattanooga) - 1-5, HR(2), 4 RBI (walkoff grand slam)

#8 - Blayne Enlow (Cedar Rapids) - 3.1 IP, 5 H, 5 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 3 K (55 pitches, 30 strikes)

#10 - Akil Baddoo (Cedar Rapids) - 2-5, BB, 2B(2), 2 R, 2 K

#11 - Zack Littell (Rochester) - 6 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 8 K (88 pitches, 54 strikes)

#13 - Lewin Diaz (Ft. Myers) - 1-4, 3 K

#14 - LaMonte Wade (Chattanooga) - 0-4, BB, R

#16 - Ben Rortvedt (Cedar Rapids) - 2-4, BB, RBI, K

#17 - Travis Blankenhorn (Ft. Myers) - 2-4, HR(6), 2 RBI, R

SATURDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS

Rochester @ Scranton/Wilkes Barre (3:05 CST) - RHP Myles Jaye (1-2 5.92 ERA)

Tennessee @ Chattanooga (6:15 CST) - TBD

Ft. Myers @ Dunedin (5:30) - RHP Trevor May (1st rehab appearance)

Cedar Rapids @ Bowling Green (6:30 CST) - LHP Bryan Sammons (0-3, 3.00 ERA)

Please feel free to ask any questions about Friday’s full schedule of games, or ask any questions you may have.