Twins Minor League Report (5/9): Rodriguez Slams Lookouts To Win

Read on to see how all the affiliates fared on Tuesday night!

TRANSACTIONS

Before we get to the games, there were a few transactions on Tuesday.

Byungho Park was reinstated from the disabled list to the Red Wings, but did not play in their game. To make room, Quintin Berry was released.

At Fort Myers, Casey Scoggins traded places with Bradley Strong from extended spring training.

RED WINGS REPORT

Rochester 1, Lehigh Valley 4

Box Score

Kyle Gibson made his first non-rehab assignment start in AAA since the 2013 after his demotion late last week and while it was of the quality start variety, he also took the loss.

Three singles and two RBI groundouts against him in the first put the Iron Pigs up 2-0, and that would prove to be enough for them as the Red Wings managed just six hits and were only 1-3 with runners in scoring position on the game.

They made it 2-1 in the third after Ben Paulsen led off the inning with a double, moved to third on a Bengie Gonzalez single, and came home on a Zack Granite double-play grounder. That was it for Rochester as they went down one-two-three in each of the sixth, seventh and ninth innings thereafter.

Gibson left after six innings and down 3-1. He allowed six hits and walked one, but also struck out eight (for what it’s worth, Gibson owns nearly an 8K’s/9IP rate at AAA in his career, a full 2 K’s higher than his MLB rate).

Buddy Boshers allowed one run on three hits and a walk in 1.1 innings. He struck out one. D.J. Baxendale finished the game for the Red Wings by retiring both hitters he faced.

CHATTANOOGA CHATTER

Chattanooga 6, Montgomery 5

Box Score

After his offense left the bases loaded in the top of the first, starter Paul Clemens ran into early trouble of his own that led to two runs in the bottom half, and a 4-0 lead for Montgomery by the time he exited after the fifth inning. The four runs came courtesy of five walks and six hits, including two home runs allowed. He struck out three.

Luke Bard came on for the sixth and had his own troubles, as the Biscuits extended their lead to 5-0 before he escaped a jam with runners on second and third. He came back out for the seventh and was able to get two outs, but two walks and his own throwing error ended his appearance with the bases loaded.

Fireballer Nick Burdi was summoned and got his man on a swinging strikeout to end the threat. Putting out that fire with some of his own would prove to be one of the biggest moments of the game.

The Lookouts finally got on the board in the eighth when Edgar Corcino led off the inning with a single that was followed by an RBI double from Jonathan Rodriguez. That would not be the last time Montgomery heard from him.

Burdi went one-two-three in the eighth including another strikeout to get his team back up to the plate down four going into the ninth.

A single, two walks, and a hit batter scored one and left the bases loaded for the Lookouts before the Biscuits were able to record an out. Unfortunately for them, Rodriguez was stepping in the box again next.

His grand slam put them out front for the first time at 6-5, and the tables were turned. With his big night, he also extended his hitting streak to thirteen games.

John Curtiss came on for the ninth and sent the demoralized Biscuits down in order, striking out the last two hitters of the game to pick up his fifth save.

MIRACLE MATTERS

Palm Beach 7, Fort Myers 1

Box score

The Miracle had trouble with Cardinals starter Junior Fernandez the entire game, as his big velocity gave them fits. In the complete game effort, he held them to five hits and one walk while striking out six.

Fort Myers’ lone run came in the fourth to cut the Palm Beach lead to 5-1, as Max Murphy led off with a triple and was driven in by a Nelson Molina single. Kevin Garcia had two singles in three at-bats, and Murphy added a single in the sixth to account for all five of their hits.

David Fischer took the hill for the Miracle and went five innings. He allowed five runs (four earned) on five hits and three walks while striking out four. Four of those runs came in the third due to Fischer’s own throwing error on a bunt play, a wild pitch, and a two-run home run.

Michael Theofanopoulus and Alex Muren each allowed a run in their inning of work, combining to allow three hits and a walk in the sixth and seventh, before Anthony McIver was able to stop the bleeding for the final two innings. He allowed just one hit and struck out all three hitters in the ninth to finish the game for Fort Myers.

KERNELS NUGGETS

Cedar Rapids 3, Dayton 5

Box Score

The Kernels fell behind early in this one and weren’t able to claw their way back in. Starter Tyler Beardsley gave up single runs in the first and second innings as they fell behind 2-1. An RBI triple in the first and groundout in the second accounted for those runs.

Cedar Rapids made it 2-1 in the fifth thanks to an RBI single from Shane Carrier to bring in Caleb Hamilton, who had doubled.

To that point Beardsley had settled in, but the sixth inning would put an end to his night. Five of the first six hitters reached base, and by the time he got a 7-2 double play on a tag attempt the Kernels were down 5-1.

The offense added single runs in the seventh and ninth thanks to Jaylin Davis’ fourth home run of the year and an RBI single from Carrier, but they weren’t able to close any further.

Reliever Andrew Vasquez pitched the final two innings for Cedar Rapids, allowing just one hit and striking out two.

Hamilton (3-4, 2B, R) and Carrier (2-4, 2 RBI) had multiple hit efforts to lead the offense. Jermaine Palacios added his seventh double.

TWINS DAILY PLAYERS OF THE DAY

Pitcher of the Day – Nick Burdi (W) and John Curtiss (S), Chattanooga Lookouts (2.1IP, 4 K’s)

Hitter of the Day – Jonathan Rodriguez, Chattanooga Lookouts (2-5, R, 2B, Game Winning GS-HR, 5 RBI)

WEDNESDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS

Rochester @ Lehigh Valley (6:05PM CST) – LHP David Hurlbut (2-2, 1.61 ERA)

Chattanooga @ Montgomery (7:05PM CST) – TBD

Palm Beach @ Fort Myers (10:05AM CST) – RHP Keaton Steele (1-4, 7.96 ERA)

Cedar Rapids @ Dayton (6:00PM CST) – RHP Tyler Wells (2-0, 2.17 ERA)

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