Twins Minor League Report (5/5): Hitting Fails, Pitching Fails Too

RED WINGS REPORT

Rochester @ Pawtucket PawSox

Rained out. Will be played as part of a doubleheader on Saturday.

LOOKOUTS LOOK-IN

Chattanooga @ Mobile Bay Bears

Box Score

Chattanooga rallied from a 5-1 deficit to tie the game at five in the top of the eighth inning, but ultimately lost the game on a ninth inning walk-off home run from Ronnie Freeman. Freeman was a Lookouts killer all night, he was 2-4 with a pair of home runs and three RBIs.

Starter David Hurlbut pitched three effective innings for Chattanooga before giving up a run in the fourth and then four more in the fifth. Hurlbut left the game down 5-1, having surrendered nine hits and a pair of home runs. Mike Strong and Mason Melotakis made quick work of the Bay Bears in the sixth and seventh innings, sending them down in order. In the eighth, with the Lookouts back in the game, Luke Westphal gave up back to back line drive singles and was lifted for Trevor Hildenberger before he recorded an out. Hildenberger sent the next three Loons back to the dugout and the Lookouts escaped without allowing another run. Hildenberger fared less well when he headed out for the ninth and gave up the game winner.

Daniel Palka had another big night, 2-4 with a home run and and an RBI. Travis Harrison was 2-4 as well, and Joe Maloney was 2-4 with a double.

Final: Lookouts 5, Bay Bears 6

MIRACLE MATTERS

St. Lucie Mets @ Fort Myers

Box Score

The Miracle had 10 hits but were just 3-12 with runners in scoring position, stranded seven, and fell to the St. Lucie Mets who feasted on Miracle pitching, scoring eight runs.

Starter Keaton Steele gave up most of the damage, going just four innings. He gave up seven hits, seven runs (six earned), four walks, struck out three and was charged with a throwing error. He was lifted for Brian Gilbert who pitched a pair of innings and gave up just a single run. Todd Van Steensel pitched two scoreless innings to lower his ERA to 1.38, and Raul Fernandez pitched a scoreless ninth to lower his ERA to 1.23.

There were those 10 hits for the Miracle, but just one of the extra-base variety, and no walks. Despite the 10 knocks, only Logan Wade had multiple hits, going 3-4 with the lone extra-base hit, a double, and two RBIs.

Final: Mets 8, Miracle 3

KERNELS KORNER

Cedar Rapids @ Great Lakes Loons

Box Score

The Kernels could not manage a hit off of the Great Lakes Loons until midway through the sixth inning, and could not scrape together any runs, falling in a three-hit shutout. Alexander Hermeling, the Loons' starting pitcher, was making his first career start and carried the no-hitter through four scoreless innings before being lifted for a replacement. The Kernels' Jermaine Palacios broke up the no-hitter in the sixth inning with a single off of Great Lakes' reliever Philip Pfeifer. Zander Wiel and Rafael Valera both managed a double, but the Kernels were 0-10 with runners in scoring position, stranding all six of their base-runners. As a team, the Kernels struck out 12 times and walked just once.

Starter Sam Gibbons took his third loss of the year, falling to 1-3 with 4.1 innings of three-run baseball. Gibbons gave up just two hits, and struck out eight, but he walked five Loons. Gibbons was replaced by Michael Theofanopoulos when down 2-0; the reliever threw a wild pitch to the first batter he saw to extend the Great Lakes lead to 3-0. Theofanopoulos, Kuo Hua Lo and C.K. Irby held the Loons scoreless the rest of the way. C.K. Irby had another scoreless outing and retains a 0.00 ERA through his first 12.2 innings of the season, spread over eight games. I put Irby's image up at the top of the page, how handsome is this guy? SWOON!

Final: Kernels 0, Loons 3

TWINS DAILY MINOR LEAGUE PLAYERS OF THE DAY

Hitter of the Day - Logan Wade - Fort Myers Miracle

Pitcher of the Day - C.K. Irby - Cedar Rapids Kernels

FRIDAY'S PROBABLES

Rochester @ Pawtucket (6:05pm) - Andrew Albers (0-0, 8.44) vs. Roenis Elias

Chattanooga @ Mobile (7:05pm) - Omar Bencomo (0-1, 5.40) vs. Anthony Banda

St. Lucie @ Fort Myers (6:05pm) - Ricky Knapp vs. Felix Jorge (1-2, 1.40)

Cedar Rapids @ Great Lakes (6:05pm) - Sam Clay (2-0, 0.79) vs. TBD

Please ask questions and discuss the Thursday games.

-ERolf