Twins Minor League Report (6/15): Vargas Powers Wings, Jorge Dominates Again

Here is Wednesday night’s minor league update.

RED WINGS REPORT

Rochester 4, Columbus 1

Box Score

While there were other hits as the game went along, Kennys Vargas provided the biggest hit of the game in the third inning. He came to the plate with the bases loaded and unloaded for his ninth home run of the season. The grand slam gave the Red Wings a 4-0 lead, a lead they were able to hold onto the rest of the way.

Andrew Albers started and improved to 5-1 with the win. He gave up one run on eight hits over 5.1 innings. He walked one and struck out four. Sean Burnett came on and got the next five outs, two of them on strikeouts. Alex Wimmers threw two scoreless innings to record his fifth save of the season.

Vargas was 3-4 in the game including his 11th double. Eddie Rosario was 2-3 with a walk. Tommy Fields went 1-2 with two walks and his sixth double.

Danny Santana went 1-4. It was his second rehab game. After starting in right field on Tuesday night, he started in centerfield on Wednesday.

CHATTANOOGA CHATTER

Chattanooga 2, Montgomery 4

Box Score

The Lookouts fell behind early and just were unable to mount much of a rally the rest of the way. DJ Baxendale started. In just three innings, he gave up three runs on nine hits and a walk. He struck just one out. Raul Fernandez came on and gave up one run on three hits over his three innings. Mason Melotakis struck out two in his inning. Omar Bencomo struck out one in a perfect inning.

The Lookouts had six hits. Levi Michael had the lone extra-base hit, his fifth triple of the year. Zach Granite had an RBI single. Travis Harrison was 1-3 and added a sacrifice fly.

MIRACLE MATTERS

Ft. Myers 4, Lakeland 2

Box Score

Felix Jorge just continues to amaze and impress. Wednesday night was no exception. The right-hander started the game by throwing seven shutout innings. He gave up one in the eighth. Overall, he gave up one run on six hits over 7.2 innings. He struck out six without issuing a walk. He is now 6-3 with a 1.59 ERA. Brandon Peterson got the Miracle out of the 8th and then gave up one run in the ninth but held on for his fourth save. He struck out four in 1.1 innings.

TJ White was one of my breakout prospects coming into this season. He is a sturdy, 5-10 and 215 pounds, but he has really good speed and power. Due to need, he was pushed to AA to start the season and really struggled. Last week, he came back to teh Miracle and as you would expect he struggled to find his stroke again. But that’s changing. Moved to the leadoff spot, he went 3-4, was hit by a pitch and homered in this game. Nick Gordon, now batting third again, went 3-5 with his 11th double. Alex Perez went 2-4 with his first double with the Miracle. Brian Navarreto was also 2-4. Alex Real added his seventh double.

KERNELS NUGGETS

Cedar Rapids 2, Burlington 1

Box Score

This was quite the pitching matchup through the first seven innings. Burlington’s Jared Ruxer and Jhonny Polanco combined to throw seven shutout innings. Kernels right-hander Miles Nordgren matched zeroes with them. Nordgren gave up just three hits, walked one and struck out six.

Sam Gibbons came in for the eighth inning. He gave up one run on three hits. However, in the bottom of the inning, the Kernels were also able to get on the board. Sean Miller led off and reached on an error. After a one-out walk by Zander Wiel, Nelson Molina bounced one to first base. The first baseman fielded it but his throw to second base hit Wiel. Instead of a possible double play, Sean Miller scored the game-tying run. Next up was Daniel Kihle and he lined a single to score Zander Wiel.

Williams Ramirez came on for the ninth inning. He got the first two outs, but after a single, Michael Theofanopoulos came in and got the final out. It was Theofanopoulos’ second save.

TWINS DAILY PLAYERS OF THE DAY

Twins Daily Minor League Pitcher of the Day – Felix Jorge, Ft. Myers Miracle

Twins Daily Minor League Hitter of the Day – TJ White, Ft. Myers Miracle

THURSDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS

Columbus @ Rochester (12:35 CST) - LHP Jason Wheeler

Chattanooga @ Montgomery (7:05 CST) - Ryan Eades (vs Chih-Wei Hu)

Ft. Myers @ Bradenton (5:30 CST) – RHP Keaton Steele

Cedar Rapids @ Quad Cities (7:00 CST) – RHP Cody Stashak

Please feel free to ask any questions and discuss Wednesday's games.