Twins Minor League Report (5/29): Miracle Blast Threshers

To find out exactly how each of the affiliates pulled out their wins, read on and be sure to add to the discussion in the comments!

TRANSACTIONS

Before the games on Tuesday, there were several moves in the system:

• Recent waiver claim and utility man Taylor Motter was assigned to Triple-A.
  
• SP Myles Jaye was traded to Cleveland for cash considerations and assigned to the Indians Triple-A team.
  
• Chattanooga activated SP Kohl Stewart from the temporary inactive list.
  
• OF Shane Carrier was assigned to Fort Myers from Cedar Rapids.
  
• Ervin Santana officially sent on rehab assignment to the Miracle.
  
• OF Jared Foster was released from Fort Myers.
  
• 1B Robby Rinn was assigned to Cedar Rapids from Elizabethton’s roster.
  

RED WINGS REPORT

Rochester 11, Durham 8

Box Score

The Red Wings went up 1-0 after the top of the first thanks to an RBI single from Kennys Vargas to score Willians Astudillo, but it went downhill quickly from there.

Starting Pitcher Stephen Gonsalves was roughed up by the Durham lineup in the bottom half, including a leadoff home run for the Tampa Bay Rays affiliate. Three walks and two more hits, including a bases clearing double ended the lefty’s night after recording just two outs. All told, Gonsalves gave up five runs. Of his 38 pitches, just 18 went for strikes and his ERA rose to 4.00.

Luckily for Gonsalves, he wouldn’t end up on the hook for a loss as his Rochester teammates did their best to pick him up. A three-run third inning, two-run fourth, and another in the fifth put them up 7-5.

Gabriel Moya pitched three innings of shutout relief, getting them into the fourth. He allowed two hits and struck out two. Jake Reed went the next 2 1/3 innings, but did allow single runs in the fifth and sixth for a 7-7 tie. Nick Anderson was summoned for the seventh frame, and went one-two-three, striking out two. He did the same in the eighth and back out for the ninth a leadoff walk led to an unearned run. Anderson got the win with his three innings, giving up just one walk and striking out four. His ERA is a 1.16 for the season.

The Red Wings tacked on four more runs in the eighth for their final tally. They sent 10 men to the plate in the inning and got six singles, a fielding error, and a sac fly to account for those runs.

Astudillo and Chris Carter each picked up three hits on the night. Kennys Vargas hit a three-run home run and had four RBIs. Jake Cave (solo) and Taylor Featherston (two-run) added home runs. As a team they racked up fifteen hits and were 9-for-16 with runners in scoring position.

CHATTANOOGA CHATTER

Chattanooga 1, Birmingham 0

Box Score

For the first five innings of this one, the Lookouts had a good old-fashioned pitching duel with the Barons.

On the bump for Chattanooga was lefty Lewis Thorpe, while Birmingham sent out #OldFriend Matt Tomshaw. Thorpe would complete five innings, allowing just three hits and two walks, while striking out eight. Tomshaw went seven innings, allowing one run (unearned) on five hits and a walk and struck out four.

The Lookouts got their run in the seventh inning, as an error on Tomshaw on a bunt from Edgar Corcino got him all the way to third, and a Ryan Walker single brought him in.

Todd Van Steensel and Ryne Harper combined for four shutout and hitless innings. They each struck out three in two innings apiece. Van Steensel recorded his fifth win and Harper his fifth save.

Corcino finished 2-for-4. Sean Miller added his first double and Chris Paul drew two walks in the win.

MIRACLE MATTERS

Fort Myers 8, Clearwater 1

Box Score

The rehabbing Ervin Santana was on the mound for the Miracle and looked much better from a stat line perspective than his first outing with Chattanooga. He hit his pitch count after one batter in the fourth and finished with 3 1/3 innings pitched. He allowed one run on two hits (triple and double in the first), walked one, and struck out three. According to the Fort Myers twitter account, Santana’s velocity still wasn’t quite there, but the results were certainly more encouraging:

https://twitter.com/MiracleBaseball/status/1001614140203560960

From there it was the Fort Myers lineup that shined. They racked up eight runs on nine hits, including home runs from Jimmy Kerrigan (to lead off the game), Shane Carrier (two run shot to cap a five run third inning), and solo shots from Jaylin Davis and Joe Cronin in the sixth.

Ryan Mason was credited with the win after following Santana with 2 2/3 scoreless innings. He gave up one hit and struck out three. Logan Lombana got them to the ninth inning, allowing three hits but no runs in two scoreless frames. Alex Robinson finished the game with a one-two-three ninth, including a strikeout.

In addition to the home runs, the Miracle got doubles from Mitchell Kranson and Caleb Hamilton. Kerrigan scored two runs and drove in two with a 2-for-5 night at the plate.

KERNELS NUGGETS

Wisconsin 5, Cedar Rapids 6

Box Score

The Kernels fell behind in this one but battled their way back for the come-from- behind victory.

Royce Lewis and Alex Kirilloff led the offense. Lewis finished 2-for-4 with a run scored, double, and two RBI. Kirilloff went 3-for-4 with a double and three RBI, giving him 41 on the season in 46 games. Jordan Gose scored two runs from the nine hole in the lineup. Lewis’ double in the seventh scored two runs and Kirilloff drove him in with a single to tie the game at five. An RBI double from Robby Rinn in the eighth put the Kernels ahead for good in his Midwest League debut.

Bailey Ober started for Cedar Rapids and allowed all five of the Timber Rattlers runs. They scored three in the third and one in each of the fourth and fifth to take the lead. Ober finished 5 2/3 innings, allowing those runs on ten hits and a walk. He also struck out eight. Melvi Acosta finished the final 3 1/3 innings, allowing no hits and striking out two. He retired all ten men he faced to pick up his first win.

STARS OF THE DAY

Twins Daily Pitcher of the Day – Lewis Thorpe, Chattanooga Lookouts (5 IP, 3 H, 2 BB, 8 K)

Twins Daily Hitter of the Day – Kennys Vargas, Rochester Red Wings (2-for-4, R, HR, 4 RBI, BB)

TOP PROSPECT SUMMARY

1. Royce Lewis (Cedar Rapids) – 2-for-4, R, 2B, 2 RBI

2. Fernando Romero (Minnesota) – Did not pitch.

3. Nick Gordon (Rochester) – 0-for-5, 4 K

4. Stephen Gonsalves (Chattanooga) – 2/3 IP, 5 ER, 3 H, 3 BB, K

5. Alex Kirilloff (Cedar Rapids) – 3-for-4, 2B, 3 RBI

6. Wander Javier (Cedar Rapids) – Out for season with injury.

7. Brent Rooker (Chattanooga) – 0-for-4, K

8. Blayne Enlow (Cedar Rapids) – Did not pitch.

9. Brusdar Graterol (Cedar Rapids) – Did not pitch.

10. Akil Baddoo (Cedar Rapids) – Did not play.

11. Zack Littell (Chattanooga) – Did not pitch.

12. Lewis Thorpe (Chattanooga) – 5 IP, 3 H, 2 BB, 8 K

13. Lewin Diaz (Fort Myers) – 0-for-4, K

14. LaMonte Wade (Chattanooga) – 0-for-4, 2 K

15. Mitch Garver (Minnesota) – 1-for-3, BB, 2 K

16. Ben Rortvedt (Cedar Rapids) – 1-for-4

17. Travis Blankenhorn (Fort Myers) – Scheduled day off.

18. Yunior Severino (Extended Spring Training)

19. Tyler Jay (Chattanooga) – Did not pitch.

20. Felix Jorge (Rochester) – Disabled List, still no official timetable for return

WEDNESDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS

Rochester @ Durham (12:05PM CST) – RHP Aaron Slegers (5-2, 3.27 ERA)

Chattanooga @ Birmingham (12:30PM CST) – RHP Kohl Stewart (3-2, 5.90 ERA)

Fort Myers @ Clearwater (11:00AM CST) – RHP Brady Anderson (0-4, 5.33 ERA)

Wisconsin @ Cedar Rapids (12:05PM CST) – RHP Blayne Enlow (0-1, 3.28 ERA)

Please feel free to ask questions and discuss Tuesday’s games!