Twins Minor League Report (6/3): Big Swim

RED WINGS REPORT

Rochester 7, Lehigh Valley 4 (Game 1)

Box Score

Oswaldo Arcia got his first hit in AAA. (He’s now batting .067.) But it was a big hit, a two-out, two-run single in a four-inning third inning that helped propel Rochester to a win. Danny Ortiz and Argenis Diaz both also drove in two runs.

Jason Wheeler was not great. He allowed four runs (three earned) on nine hits in 3.2 innings. His ERA has jumped to 6.11.

Luckily, the combination of Caleb Thielbar (four outs, one hit, one strikeout), Mark Hamburger (three outs, two hits, one strikeout) and A.J. Achter (three outs, one strikeout) pitched shutout ball and the Red Wings were able to get a win.

Rochester 3, Lehigh Valley 2 (Game 2)

Box Score

Lester Oliveros certainly wasn’t as impressive in this start as he was in the last one but still helped get the job done. He allowed two runs in 3.2 innings.

He was relieved by Alex Meyer, who knows how to fill up a box score. He walked two, hit one, allowed one hit and struck out five in 2.1 innings. Despite his inefficiency (56 pitches, 34 strikes), he picked up the win. (At this point, seriously, just put him in the big-league pen… he’s not a starter anymore, at least not this year. And he would be an interesting option to have at Molly’s disposal.)

Achter, who earlier picked up his eighth save, pitched a scoreless ninth to earn his ninth save.

Josmil Pinto hit his sixth home run. Oswaldo Arcia hit a double - but struck out twice. Kennys “Big Spoon” Vargas was officially 0-1, but walked twice and scored a run.

The Red Wings are two games up on Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

CHATTANOOGA CHATTER

Chattanooga 3, Tennessee 6

Box Score

Lookouts star pitcher Jose Berrios certainly didn’t look like his normal self, arguably pitching his worst game in recent memory. Berrios was sharp through two innings but struggled in the third allowing a two-run single and then a three-run home run to consecutive batters. To his credit, though, Berrios was able to come back and get through three more innings, mowing down the batters in order in both the fourth and sixth innings.

All told, Berrios allowed five run (all earned) on six hits and three walks. He struck out seven. This is the second time in as many starts against Tennessee that Berrios has struggled. Luckily, Tennesse is a Cubs affiliate, so he should be able to avoid most of these hitters - for the most part - until they meet in the World Series.

Having a start like this isn’t all bad. It helps remind the player that he still has things to work on. It also helps remind us fans that la máquina is, in fact, human.

Nick Burdi allowed a run that can be blamed on his lack of control. He walked a batter, then had a wild pitch and that runner came around to score on a single. He struck out one. Burdi has improved after a very poor start, but there is still a lot left to be desired.

Cole Johnson allowed a hit in a scoreless ninth.

After putting up three second-inning runs, the Lookout bats went cold. Max Kepler continued swinging a hot bat, doubling in a run. Carlos Paulino drove in two with a single.

Byron Buxton singled twice and stole his 16th base of the season. Miguel Sano missed the game after aggravating a finger injury in last night’s game.

This current five-game tailspin has dropped the Lookouts to 29-22 and has seen their division lead shrink to only percentage points over Tennessee.

MIRACLE MATTERS

Ft. Myers 4, Charlotte 5 (10 innings) (Game 1)

Box Score

The Miracle got 11 hits in the opener of today’s doubleheader, but couldn’t manage to string together enough offense to defeat Charlotte, losing the extra-extra-innings game.

The trio of catchers, Alex Swim, Mitch Garver and Michael Quesada, all had two-hit games. Niko Goodrum, Garver and Bryan Haar all had doubles.

Ryan Eades allowed a lot of contact. He three runs on nine hits and two walks. He struck out one. Brandon Peterson struck out three, getting five outs without allowing a hit. Peterson dropped his ERA to 0.94.

Matt Summers blew the save, and took the loss, allowing two runners to score in the bottom of the 10th. The Miracle had taken the lead in the top of the inning on Garver’s double, which scored Engelb Vielma.

Ft. Myers 4, Charlotte 2 (Game 2)

Box Score

Alex Swim and Marcus Knecht each had three hits in a game where Fort Myers only scored in one inning, but was able to do it four times.

Logan Wade, Zach Granite and Swim all provided run-producing singles and Jared Wilson, making his high-A debut, produced five innings of quality baseball to help get the Miracle a win.

Wilson struck out five batters and walked one before giving way to Todd Van Steensel. Van Steensel struck out four in two innings to get the save.

KERNELS NUGGETS

Cedar Rapids 9, South Bend 5

Box Score

Don’t look now, but this Cedar Rapids team is getting it done. Five straight wins and nine out of the last 10. And it’s an opening-day rotation that has lost three guys to Fort Myers and one guy to injury.

One guy who has spent all year in this rotation is Felix Jorge. In 6.2 innings, Jorge allowed four runs (three earned) on seven hits and two walks. He struck out four. While the line isn’t that impressive, it is the third time this season that he’s made it into the seventh inning. He fell one out short of completing seven for the second time of the year.

Luke Bard replaced Jorge and earned the win. He gave up one run in 2.1 innings. By “earned” the win, though, I mean he was the pitcher of record when the Kernel bats went nuts.

The six-run eighth saw seven consecutive batters reach and 11 bat total. The biggest hits came in the form of two-run doubles: One by Edgar Corcino and the other by Tanner English.

Alex Real had three hits, including a double and two RBI.

TWINS DAILY PLAYERS OF THE DAY

Twins Daily Minor League Pitcher of the Day – Jared Wilson, Fort Myers

Twins Daily Minor League Hitter of the Day – Alex Swim, Fort Myers (combined to go 5-8 with three RBI)

THURSDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS

Rochester vs Pawtucket (6:05 CST) – RHP Taylor Rogers

Chattanooga at Tennessee (6:05 CST) – RHP Greg Peavey

Ft. Myers vs Bradenton (6:05 CST) – RHP Kohl Stewart

Cedar Rapids at South Bend (6:05 CST) – RHP Dereck Rodriguez

Feel free to leave any questions or comments below!