Twins Minor League Report (6/11): Miracle Clinch, Turtle Power

RED WINGS REPORT

Rochester 4, Columbus 3

Box Score

On Sunday night, I wrote about Willians Astudillo not wanting to be in Rochester. He has been trying to hit his way back to Minnesota. He’s had 11 at-bats in Rochester so far and he has collected eight hits. I’ll let that sink in a little. Tonight, he clocked the go-ahead home run in the sixth inning. Talk about Turtle Power!

https://twitter.com/RocRedWings/status/1138608925715156992

Jake Cave also continued his hot hitting ways. He reached base three times including his 12^th double along with scoring a run. Nick Gordon got the scoring started early with a first inning solo home run. Brent Rooker reached base three times including his ninth double.

On the mound, Devin Smeltzer went five strong innings, striking out seven and walking one. He allowed three runs, all of which came off two home runs. Rochester’s bullpen picked up the slack as they allowed one hit in the final four innings. Cody Stashak struck out three in two shutout innings. Gabriel Moya and Fernando Romero combined to strikeout three over the final two innings.

BLUE WAHOO BITES

Pensacola 0, Biloxi 6

Box Score

The Blue Wahoos struggled to find any offense in this game. Travis Blankenhorn and Taylor Grzelakowski had the team’s only hits and both players reached base two times. Pensacola struck out 16 time against Shuckers pitchers. Overall, the club went 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position and left six men on base.

Andro Cutura started and pitched five innings. He allowed four runs on four hits with seven strikeouts and two walks. His seven strikeouts were a season high. Adam Bray took over for Cutura and he tried to make it through the rest of the game. He ran into some trouble in the bottom of the eighth as two men crossed the plate. He lasted 2 2/3 innings while striking out three and walking one. Jordan Gore recorded the last out and allowed one hit.

MIRACLE MATTERS

Ft. Myers 6, Tampa 1 (Game 1- 7 Innings)

Box Score

With the first-half division title on the line, Ryan Jeffers and Giancarlo Stanton got into a home run battle. Spoiler alert… Jeffers comes out on top. In Game 1 of the double-header, Jeffers cracked a pair of two-run home runs to help the Miracle. Trevor Larnach also helped the cause as he went 3-for-3 and scored two runs. Michael Helman added a two-run double to help stretch the lead.

Tyler Watson pitched into the fifth inning and held Tampa to one earned run, a home run to Stanton. He struck out four and walked one in 4 2/3 innings. Joe Record pitched 2 1/3 scoreless frames to put the Miracle in position to clinch a first-half title. He struck out two and limited the Tarpons to one hit.

Ft. Myers 7, Tampa 2 (Game 2- 7 Innings)

Box Score

Royce Lewis got things started in the first inning as he singled and moved to second on a throwing error on a pickoff attempt. Lewin Diaz moved him to third on a groundout before a wild pitch allowed Lewis to scamper home.

Fort Myers kept it going in the second as the first four batters reached base. Mark Contreras singled and Trey Cabbage followed with a walk. Ernie De La Trinidad singled to load the bases and then Ryan Costello stepped to the plate. His sixth double of the season scored two runs to put the Miracle up 3-0.

That would be more than enough for Melvi Acosta. He started for the Miracle and tossed five shutout innings. He limited Tampa to four hits while adding three strikeouts. It was his first time making it through five innings since May 5. Alex Phillips allowed two runs during the final two innings, but Fort Myers had more than enough to clinch the first half title.

https://twitter.com/MiracleBaseball/status/1138636425929383936

https://twitter.com/MiracleBaseball/status/1138639378983636992

KERNELS NUGGETS

Cedar Rapids 4, Wisconsin 1

Box Score

Cedar Rapids waited until the fifth inning to get their bats going, but the club was able to push across runs in three consecutive frames to come out on top. Austin Schulfer was in control on the mound. He limited Wisconsin to one hit over six innings. He struck out eight and walked two on the way to his first win since May 22.

Carlos Suniaga earned his first hold as he struck out the side in the seventh inning. Derek Molina picked up his eighth save and like many of his other appearances this year, he was asked to get more than three outs. Over two innings, he didn’t allow a hit, struck out two, and walked one.

Gabe Snyder provided most of the offensive punch. He went 2-for-3 with a pair of home runs. His three RBIs were the difference in the game. Jared Akins added his seventh home run, a solo shot in the sixth inning.

TWINS DAILY PLAYERS OF THE DAY

TD Pitcher of the Day- Austin Schulfer, Cedar Rapids (6.0 IP, 1 ER, 1 H, 8 K, 3 BB)

TD Hitter of the Day- Ryan Jeffers, Fort Myers (2-for-6, 2 HR, 4 RBI, BB, 2 R, K)

PROSPECT SUMMARY

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

#1 - Royce Lewis (Ft. Myers) – 3-8, R, RBI, K

#2 - Alex Kirilloff (Pensacola) – Injured list

#3 - Brusdar Graterol (Pensacola) – Injured list (shoulder)

#4 - Trevor Larnach (Ft. Myers) – 4-7, 2 R

#5 - Wander Javier (Cedar Rapids) – 0-4

#6 - Brent Rooker (Rochester) – 1-2, 2B, R, RBI, 2 BB

#7 - Jhoan Duran (Ft. Myers) – Did not pitch

#8 - Lewis Thorpe (Rochester) – Did not pitch

#9 - Blayne Enlow (Ft. Myers) – Did not pitch

#10 - Akil Baddoo (Ft. Myers) – Injured List (Tommy John surgery)

#11 - Nick Gordon (Rochester) – 1-4, HR, R, RBI, 2 K

#12 - Stephen Gonsalves (Rochester) – Injured list (elbow)

#13 - Ryan Jeffers (Ft. Myers) – 2-6, 2 HR, 4 RBI, BB, 2 R, K

#14 - Ben Rortvedt (Pensacola) – 0-3, BB, K

#15 - Yunior Severino (Cedar Rapids) – Injured List (thumb)

#16 - Gilberto Celestino (Cedar Rapids) – 0-4

#17 - Zack Littell (Rochester) – Did not pitch

#18 - LaMonte Wade (Rochester) – 1-3, RBI, K

#19 - Jorge Alcala (Pensacola) – Did not pitch

#20 - Jose Miranda (Ft. Myers) – 0-3

WEDNESDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS

Rochester vs. Columbus (6:05 CST) – LHP Lewis Thorpe (3-3, 5.95 ERA)

Pensacola vs. Tennessee (6:35 CST) – LHP Bryan Sammons (4-1, 2.29 ERA)

Fort Myers @ Tampa (5:30 CST) – TBD

Cedar Rapids vs. Wisconsin (12:05 CST) – LHP Kody Funderburk (0-0, 0.00 ERA)

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