Twins Minor League Report (5/28): Memorial Day Memories Made?

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

TRANSACTIONS

• The Twins announced that they have claimed utility infielder Taylor Motter from the Mariners. He will report to Rochester.
  
• The Kernels made a series of transactions after all of the pitching that was needed in their extensive series with Clinton:
  • First, Akil Baddoo returned to action after missing seven days with a hamstring injury. He told me that missing seven days now made more sense than trying to play through the pain and making it worse.
    
  • The Kernels added right-handed pitchers Melvi Acosta and Jordan Balazovic from extended spring training.
    
  • RHP Moises Gomez was returned to the Elizabethton roster (EST).
    
  • Catcher David Banuelos and RHP Nick Brown were placed on the DL.
    

  [*]Following the Kernels game, we learned that OF Shane Carrier was promoted to Ft. Myers.

RED WINGS REPORT

Rochester 2, Buffalo 4

Box Score

Zack Littell worked a quality start in this game. Unfortunately, the two runs he gave up in the sixth inning proved to be the difference. On the game, Littell gave up three runs on six hits and two walks (and a hit batter) over the first six innings. Tyler Duffey finished the final three innings. He gave up a run on two hits (and also hit a batter). He struck out two.

Nick Gordon led the offense. The shortstop went 3-for-4 in the game. He is now hitting .333 (10-for-30) in his time with the Red Wings. Nick Buss went 2-for-4 with his eighth double. Jake Cave added a single and walked once.

The Red Wings remain over .500 at 24-23 for the season.

CHATTANOOGA CHATTER

Chattanooga

Box Score

The Lookouts got Memorial Day off and will travel to Birmingham, Alabama, to take on the White Sox affiliate.

MIRACLE MATTERS

Ft. Myers

Box Score

The Miracle haven’t been able to get too many games in over the last week due to the tropical storm that is affecting Florida and surrounding states. They had a scheduled off day on Monday and the plan is to head to Clearwater on Tuesday.

KERNELS NUGGETS

Cedar Rapids 3, Clinton 4 (10 innings)

Box Score

The Kernels and LumberKings ended a four-day, six-game series in Cedar Rapids with another extra-innings game. After both ends of the Sunday doubleheader went extra frames, the Kernels called up a couple of arms just to help out.

Tyler Watson made the start. He gave up two runs on three hits and three walks over 4 1/3 innings. He struck out five. Jordan Balazovic was added to the roster before the game. The Canadian was terrific. He gave up three walks over his 3 2/3 innings of work. He gave up no runs, no hits and struck out five. Carlos Suniaga came on and gave up two earned runs. One came in the ninth inning to tie the game, and the other came in the tenth inning which proved to be the losing run. Both runs were unearned. He struck out three.

The Kernels got an nice game from Jose Miranda. He went 3-for-4 with his sixth double. Alex Kirilloff went 2-for-4 with a walk and his eighth home run. Shane Carrier, drove in two runs. Following the game, he was promoted to Ft. Myers. Jordan Gore added a walk and a single.

Regarding Carrier, he had been slumping about a week ago. Teammate Edwar Colina offered a suggestion. He encouraged Carrier to shave his beard. Weird, right? Well, a year ago, Carrier was struggling at E-Town, and he shaved. He then went on a long hitting streak, didn’t get a hit in one game, and then went on a longer hitting streak that carried into his return to the Kernels. Carrier tried it, and almost everything he’s been hitting since has been hit very hard.

The Kernels are now 23-25 on the season as they await Wisconsin for a home series.

STARS OF THE DAY

Twins Daily Hitter of the Day: Jose Miranda, Cedar Rapids Kernels (3-5, 2B(6))

Twins Daily Pitcher of the Day: Jordan Balazovic, Cedar Rapids Kernels (3.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 5 K - Midwest League debut)

PROSPECT SUMMARY

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

#1 - Royce Lewis (Cedar Rapids) - Scheduled Day Off.

#2 - Fernando Romero (Minnesota) - Did Not Pitch

#3 - Nick Gordon (Rochester) - 3-4, R

#4 - Stephen Gonsalves (Rochester) - Did Not Pitch

#5 - Alex Kirilloff (Cedar Rapids) - 2-4, BB, HR(8), R, RBI

#6 - Wander Javier - out of for the season

#7 - Brent Rooker (Chattanooga) - No Game

#8 - Blayne Enlow (Cedar Rapids) - Did Not Pitch

#9 - Brusdar Graterol (Cedar Rapids) - Did Not Pitch

#10 - Akil Baddoo (Cedar Rapids) - 0-5, 3 K

#11 - Zack Littell (Rochester) - 6 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 6 K, HBP

#12 - Lewis Thorpe (Chattanooga) - No Game

#13 - Lewin Diaz (Ft. Myers) - No Game

#14 - LaMonte Wade (Chattanooga) - Per Doogie Wolfson, could come off the DL as soon as Tuesday.

#16 - Ben Rortvedt (Cedar Rapids) - Did Not Play

#17 - Travis Blankenhorn (Ft. Myers) - No Game

#18 - Yunior Severino (Extended Spring Training)

#19 - Tyler Jay (Chattanooga) - No Game

#20 - Felix Jorge (Chattanooga) - Disabled List, still no official timetable for return.

SATURDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS

Rochester @ Birmingham (6:05 CST) - LHP Stephen Gonsalves (4-1, 2.39 ERA) Chattanooga @ Birmingham (7:05 CST) - TBD

Ft. Myers @ Clearwater (6:00 CST) - RHP Clark Beeker (1-3, 2.93 ERA)

Wisconsin @ Cedar Rapids (6:35 CST) - RHP Bailey Ober (1-1, 7.84 ERA)

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