Twins Minor League Report (5/20): The Return Of Romero

For much more on what happened on Friday in the Twins farm system, please continue.

TRANSACTIONS

It was a pretty quiet day on the transaction front on Friday with just one move announced.

• The Cedar Rapids Kernels added RHP Fernando Romero and sent Kuo Hua Lo to Extended Spring Training.
  

RED WINGS REPORT

Rochester 1, Durham 4

Box Score

This game was actually pushed forward a half-hour due to expected weather conditions later in the evening. The Red Wings scored one in the ninth inning, but that was it for them. They were facing Baseball America’s 2015 Minor League Player of the Year Blake Snell. The left-hander threw six shutout innings, allowing just three hits. He didn’t walk a batter and recorded ten strikeouts.

Overall, the Red Wings had just five hits. Adam Brett Walker and James Beresford each had a single and a walk. Kennys Vargas had the lone extra-base hit, his sixth double.

Logan Darnell started for the Red Wings. He was charged with four runs on ten hits over 5.1 innings. He didn’t walk any and struck out two. Buddy Boshers struck out four of the five batters he faced. Ryan O’Rourke had a walk and a hit allowed in his inning, but he did not give up a run.

CHATTANOOGA CHATTER

Chattanooga 3, Jackson 2

Box Score

Nick Greenwood was back on the mound for the Lookouts and had another terrific start. He gave up two runs - both in the 6th inning - on six hits over seven innings. He walked one and struck out three. Trevor Hildenberger came on and recorded his third save. He walked two and struck out one over two innings.

Offensively, Dalton Hicks continued to lead the way. The slugger went 2-4 with his fourth home run of the year. Joe Maloney added a two-run triple. Zach Granite went 2-4.

MIRACLE MATTERS

Ft. Myers 2, Tampa 8

Box Score

Before the game, it was announced that Eduardo Escobar and Kyle Gibson would start rehab assignments with the Miracle. Gibson is expected to start on Saturday. Escobar made a start on Friday night. He batted second and played shortstop. He was 1-3 with a triple before leaving the game late (as planned).

Max Murphy went 2-3 with a walk in the game. Alex Real added his fourth homer. Chris Paul reached double-digits in doubles with his tenth.

Randy Rosario went just 4.2 innings, though he wasn’t helped by his defense. He gave up six runs but just two were earned. Still, he gave up seven hits and walked four in his outing. He did strike out four as well. John Curtiss had his best Miracle outing to date. He struck out two in 2.1 perfect innings. Luke Bard came in and struck out five over two innings. He gave up two unearned runs on a hit and two walks.

KERNELS NUGGETS

Cedar Rapids 9, Quad Cities 0

Box Score

Two years ago at about this time, I was driving down to Cedar Rapids, excited because I was going to get to see lefty Lewis Thorpe and right-hander Fernando Romero, two very exciting, young pitching prospects. While getting some gas, I looked on my phone and noticed that Romero had been placed on the disabled list with an elbow issue. By the time I got to Cedar Rapids, people were pretty clear that he would be out for awhile. In June, Romero had Tommy John surgery. While rehabbing, he had knee injury that required surgery and cost him time.

Fast-forward to tonight. The hard-throwing right-hander came back in style. He threw five innings without giving up a run. He didn’t walk a batter and no, he didn’t give up a hit. He struck out four. He finished with 63 pitches. Anthony McIver came in and kept the no-hitter intact into the 7th inning. He struck out four over three scoreless innings. He gave up two hits. Michael Cederoth worked a scoreless ninth.

The top five hitters in the Kernels order provided most of the offense. Leadoff man Luis Arraez went 2-3 with two walks and his seventh double. Daniel Kihle led the way. He hit his first two Midwest League home runs. He drove in six runs in the game. LaMonte Wade went 2-5 and stole his fourth base. AJ Murray went 2-5. Five-hitter Zander Wiel went 3-5 in the game.

TWINS DAILY PLAYERS OF THE DAY

Twins Daily Minor League Pitcher of the Day –Fernando Romero, Cedar Rapids Kernels

Twins Daily Minor League Hitter of the Day – Daniel Kihle, Cedar Rapids Kernels

THURSDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS

Rochester @ Durham (5:35 CST) - RHP Jose Berrios

Chattanooga @ Jackson (6:05 CST) - LHP David Hurlbut

Tampa @ Ft. Myers (5:05 CST) – RHP Kyle Gibson (likely followed by Stephen Gonsalves)

Quad Cities @ Cedar Rapids (6:35 CST) – RHP Dereck Rodriguez

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