Twins Minor League Report (6/28): Torreyes Rips 2 Homers in Rochester Return

TRANSACTIONS

-Lewis Thorpe recalled by the Twins from Rochester.

-Zack Littell optioned to Rochester from the Twins.

-Ricky Ramierz sent on a rehab assignment to the GCL Twins.

RED WINGS REPORT

Pawtucket 7, Rochester 5

Box Score

Chase De Jong: 3.1 IP, 9 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 3 K, 63.8% strikes (44 of 69 pitches)

HR: Ronald Torreyes 2 (5)

Multi-hit games: Brent Rooker (3-for-5, 2B), Ronald Torreyes (2-for-4, 2 HR), Nick Gordon (2-for-5, 2B), Wynston Sawyer (2-for-4, 2B)

Ronald Torreyes returned to the Red Wings in a home run homecoming. He played a couple of rehab games for Fort Myers, but announced his return to Triple A with authority, hitting a pair of homers.

https://twitter.com/RocRedWings/status/1144773832315682816

It was another nice night at the plate from Brent Rooker, too, as he collected three hits, but the Rochester pitching staff couldn’t stop the bleeding. All four pitchers who appeared gave up earned runs, though Cody Stashak racked up five strikeouts in his 2 1/3 innings of work. He’s up to 19 Ks against just one walk in his 12 innings since being promoted to Triple A.

The Wings lineup had its chances to do some more damage, but combined to go 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position.

BLUE WAHOO BITES

Pensacola 5, Biloxi 3

Box Score

Jorge Alcala: 2.2 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 3 BB, 6 K, 61.7% strikes (37 of 60 pitches)

HR: Travis Blankenhorn (14), Brian Navarreto (4)

Multi-hit games: Travis Blankenhorn (2-for-4, 2B, HR), Brian Navarreto (2-for-4, 2B, HR), Alex Kirilloff (2-for-5, 2B)

This game was tied entering the bottom of the eighth inning. To make things even more dire, the first two Blue Wahoos hitters were retired that frame. But Joe Cronin and Aaron Whitefield drew back-to-back walks to spark a rally. Brian Navarreto fell behind 0-2, fought back to work the count even, then delivered a two-run double to left field.

Jorge Alcala had a very uneven start, giving up three runs despite striking out six batters in just 2 2/3 innings, but the Pensacola pen was tremendous. Adam Bray pitched 4 1/3 shutout innings before Sam Clay was perfect over the final two frames.

MIRACLE MATTERS

Fort Myers (Postponed)

The Miracle with play a doubleheader with Bradenton tomorrow.

KERNELS NUGGETS

Wisconsin 4, Cedar Rapids 2

Box Score

Luis Rijo: 4.2 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 4 K, 65.0% strikes (52 of 80 pitches)

HR: None

Multi-hit games: Wander Javier (2-for-3, 2 2B, BB), Gilberto Celestino (2-for-4, 2B)

Tough night for the Kernels. Luis Rijo only gave up one earned run, but couldn’t get out of the fifth inning. His ERA is 2.65 on the year, but his record dropped to 1-5 with this loss. J.T. Perez shined out of the bullpen tonight, throwing 2 1/3 innings of perfect ball to go with three strikeouts.

The Kernels combined to hit five doubles, two coming form Wander Javier, but ended up going just 2-for-11 with runners in scoring position.

E-TWINS E-NOTES

Elizabethton 7, Greeneville 2

Box Score

Ben Gross: 6.0 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 5 K, 76.7% strikes (56 of 73 pitches)

HR: Charles Mack (2)

Multi-hit games: Spencer Steer (3-for-5, 2B), Charles Mack (2-for-5, HR), Willie Joe Garry Jr. (2-for-4)

Spencer Steer, the Twins’ third-round pick from this year’s draft, was a one-man wrecking crew. He hit a two-run double in the second inning, an RBI single in the fourth and another run-scoring single in the eighth.

Ben Gross, a 10th rounder from the recent draft, earned his first professional victory in an excellent start. The only run he gave up over six innings was on a solo homer. He gave up just two other hits and did not walk a batter.

GCL TWINS TAKES

GCL Red Sox 4, GCL Twins 3 (10 innings)

Box Score

Niklas Rimmel: 3.2 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 2 K

HR: None

Multi-hit games: Parker Phillips (2-for-4, BB)

Keoni Cavaco was 0-for-3 with a strikeout and exited this game in the bottom of the fifth inning. According to the game log the Red Sox hit a single to shortstop prior to the substitution.

STARS OF THE DAY

Twins Daily Minor League Pitcher of the Day: Ben Gross, Elizabethton

Twins Daily Minor League Hitter of the Day: Ronald Torreyes, Rochester

TOP PROSPECT SUMMARY

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

2. Alex Kirilloff (PNS): 2-for-5, 2B, K

5. Wander Javier (CR): 2-for-3, 2 2B, BB

6. Brent Rooker (ROC): 3-for-5, 2B, K

11. Nick Gordon (ROC): 2-for-5, 2B, SB, K, E (throw)

16. Gilberto Celestino (CR): 2-for-4, 2B, E (fielding)

19. Jorge Alcala (PNS): 2.2 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 3 BB, 6 K, 61.7% strikes (37 of 60 pitches)

SATURDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS

Rochester vs. Pawtucket, 6:05 pm CT (TBD)

Pensacola vs. Biloxi, 6:05 pm CT (TBD)

Fort Myers vs. Bradenton, Game 1: 4:00 pm CT (Tyler Watson)

Fort Myers vs. Bradenton, Game 2: TBD (Jordan Balazovic)

Cedar Rapids vs. Kane County, 6:35 pm CT (Josh Winder

Elizabethton at Greeneville, 5:30 pm CT (TBD)

GCL Twins vs. GCL Red Sox, 9:00 am CT (TBD)

Please feel free to ask any questions and discuss the games.