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  • Twins Minor League Report (6/4): Blankenhorn Blasts, Romero Romps

    Cody Christie

    By Cody Christie

    It's hard to believe the calendar has already turned to June. Cedar Rapids and Fort Myers need to make runs at first half playoff spots in the weeks to come. Rochester and Chattanooga need to continue to fight for their own playoff positions even though their leagues don't hand out first half playoff spots.

    Would any teams be able to gain some separation on Sunday? Which players would shine? Read on to find out.

    Image courtesy of Seth Stohs, Twins Daily (Travis Blankenhorn)

    Twins Video

    RED WINGS REPORT

    Rochester 2, Norfolk 1

    Box Score

    It took awhile for Rochester's offense to wake up in this contest. With the team trailing 1-0 late in the game, Tommy Field finally got things rolling. He started the seventh with a single and than moved to third on a JR Murphy single. Zack Granite came up with the go-ahead, a triple, to put Rochester on top by one.

    Adam Wilk started and allowed one earned run, a home run, on six hits over four innings. He struck out one and didn't walk a batter. Ryan Eades improved to 2-0 on the season as he tossed three shutout innings with four strikeouts and one walk. His season ERA dropped to 1.13. Ryan Pressly picked up his first save, a two-inning affair, as he only allowed two base runners.

    CHATTANOOGA CHATTER

    Chattanooga 6, Jackson 5

    Box Score

    Chattanooga jumped out to any early 3-0 lead in the first inning. Three of the first four batters reached without recording a hit as Jackson committed an error, walked a batter and hit a batter. Dan Gamache took advantage with a one-out single to plate a pair of runs. Levi Michael capped the inning with a run-scoring single as things were looking good for the Lookouts.

    Top pitching prospect Fernando Romero pitched seven innings and saw five runs scored while he was on the mound. Lucky for him, only two of the runs were earned as he struck out eight and didn't allow a walk. Nick Gordon and Gamache each had an error in the fourth which allowed three unearned runs to score. Luke Bard and Mason Melotakis combined to allow one base runner over the final two frames. Bard struck out the side in the eighth.

    Trailing by one in the bottom of the ninth, LaMonte Wade and Travis Harrison started the inning with doubles. Gamache was intentionally walked before Levi Michael advanced the runners with a bunt. Ryan Walker played the hero as he doubled in the winning run.

    MIRACLE MATTERS

    Fort Myers 0, Palm Beach 5

    Box Score

    It's tough to win many games when a team is limited to three hits. Fort Myers was shut out on Sunday. Zander Wiel, Tanner English and Trey Vavra all went 1-for-3 as English and Vavra both collected doubles. The Miracle didn't collect a walk in the game and only one batter stepped into the plate with a runner in scoring position.

    Lachlan Wells lost two full count battles in the bottom of the first before giving up a three-run home run. He went five innings, allowing four earned runs on five hits with three strikeouts and two walks. Tom Hackimer pitched two scoreless innings with a couple of strikeouts. Sam Clay finished the game with a scoreless eighth.

    KERNELS NUGGETS

    Cedar Rapids 11, Burlington 6

    Box Score

    The Kernels exploded for five runs in the second inning and they still needed a four-run eighth frame to separate themselves from the Bees. All of the Kernels second inning damage came with two outs. Caleb Hamilton and Christian Cavaness walked before a Brandon Lopez triple brought them home. Aaron Whitefield walked and stole second in front of a two-run single from Travis Blankenhorn. Jarmaine Palacios capped the inning with a run-scoring double.

    Hamilton played a key role later in the game as his two-run homer helped to separate Cedar Rapids. A couple of batters later, Travis Blankenhorm popped his sixth home run of the season to bust open the game. Blankenhorn finished with three hits and four RBI. On the defensive side of the ball, Cavaness threw out a runner at home in the seventh to keep the Kernels up one.

    Eduardo Del Rosario didn't have his best stuff but he was able to earn his fifth win. He struck out one and walked two while allowing four earned runs over five innings. Zack Tillery struggled a little as well. He walked three batters and saw a run scored without giving up a hit. Logan Lombana pitched 1.1 innings and gave up one earned run on three hits. Ryan Mason pitched two shutout innings to close out the game.

    TWINS DAILY PLAYERS OF THE DAY

    Pitcher of the Day – Fernando Romero, Chattanooga Lookouts (7 IP, 2 ER, 8 K, 0 BB)

    Hitter of the Day – Travis Blankenhorn, Cedar Rapids Kernels (3-for-5, HR, 4 RBI, 2 R)

    MONDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS

    Rochester vs. Scanton/WB (6:05 CST) - TBD

    Chattanooga vs. Jackson (6:15 CST) - LHP Stephen Gonsalves (0-2, 3.18 ERA)

    Fort Myers @ Palm Beach (5:30 CST) - LHP Lewis Thorpe (0-2, 1.38 ERA)

    Cedar Rapids - Scheduled Off-Day

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

    Cody Christie is a Twins writer and content contributor. His writing can be found exclusively at Twins Daily and his voice can be heard on radio stations throughout the Upper Midwest. Outside of the Twins, he is a father, high school teacher, and avid runner.
    Follow Cody Christie on Twitter: nodaktwinsfan

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    Oldgoat_MN

    Oldgoat_MN 2,434

  • Verified Member

    • Posted

    Thank you Cody.

    In the MONDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS it shows that Lewis Thorpe has a record of 0-2 with a 1.38 ERA. I had to look it up to see if that was a typo. No.

    To be even more ridiculous, he has a WHIP of 0.769, 11.1 K/9 and 4K/W. 

    If he keeps pitching like this I'm guessing he'll be fine. Might even have a winning record before the end of the year.

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    diehardtwinsfan

    diehardtwinsfan 14,830

  • Community Moderator

    • Posted

     

    Thank you Cody.

    In the MONDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS it shows that Lewis Thorpe has a record of 0-2 with a 1.38 ERA. I had to look it up to see if that was a typo. No.

    To be even more ridiculous, he has a WHIP of 0.769, 11.1 K/9 and 4K/W. 

    If he keeps pitching like this I'm guessing he'll be fine. Might even have a winning record before the end of the year.

     

    Looks like he's continued to develop in spite of the injuries... SSS I know, but encouraging. 

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    Cody Christie

    Cody Christie 3,226

  • Twins Daily Contributor

    • Posted

     

    Thank you Cody.

    In the MONDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS it shows that Lewis Thorpe has a record of 0-2 with a 1.38 ERA. I had to look it up to see if that was a typo. No.

    To be even more ridiculous, he has a WHIP of 0.769, 11.1 K/9 and 4K/W. 

    If he keeps pitching like this I'm guessing he'll be fine. Might even have a winning record before the end of the year.

     

    Thorpe's game logs

    05/19/2017 4.0 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 3 SO
    05/25/2017 4.0 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 6 SO (Loss)
    05/31/2017 5.0 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 7 SO (Loss)
     

    Not sure how he got the loss in the 5/25 game. He only allowed one earned run and then Williams Ramirez gave up an earned run in relief. Team lost 2-1.

     

    In the 5/31 game, the Miracle got shutout. The only run came after a throwing error by Thorpe on a pick-off attempt. 

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    ThejacKmp

    ThejacKmp 2,978

  • Provisional Member

    • Posted

     

    Thorpe's game logs

    05/19/2017 4.0 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 3 SO
    05/25/2017 4.0 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 6 SO (Loss)
    05/31/2017 5.0 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 7 SO (Loss)
     

    Not sure how he got the loss in the 5/25 game. He only allowed one earned run and then Williams Ramirez gave up an earned run in relief. Team lost 2-1.

     

    In the 5/31 game, the Miracle got shutout. The only run came after a throwing error by Thorpe on a pick-off attempt. 

     

    This is an entirely different thing but I've always thought that it's nuts that a run is unearned if the pitcher makes an error. A run on a wild pitch is earned but if the pitcher throws the ball into the seats fielding his position leading to runs, it's unearned. Makes no sense - and maybe it would be an encouragement for pitchers to field their position well.

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    Cody Christie

    Cody Christie 3,226

  • Twins Daily Contributor

    • Posted

     

    This is an entirely different thing but I've always thought that it's nuts that a run is unearned if the pitcher makes an error. A run on a wild pitch is earned but if the pitcher throws the ball into the seats fielding his position leading to runs, it's unearned. Makes no sense - and maybe it would be an encouragement for pitchers to field their position well.

     

    I agree. If the pitcher makes the mistake, it should count against the pitcher in some capacity. I guess it could lead to them getting the "loss" but wins and losses are dumb. For example, look at Thorpe's numbers.

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    Steve Lein

    Steve Lein 3,180

  • Twins Daily Contributor

    • Posted

     

    Thorpe's game logs

    05/19/2017 4.0 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 3 SO
    05/25/2017 4.0 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 6 SO (Loss)
    05/31/2017 5.0 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 7 SO (Loss)
     

    Not sure how he got the loss in the 5/25 game. He only allowed one earned run and then Williams Ramirez gave up an earned run in relief. Team lost 2-1.

     

    In the 5/31 game, the Miracle got shutout. The only run came after a throwing error by Thorpe on a pick-off attempt. 

     

    On 5/25, I would assume the Miracle did not score their run until they were down 2-0 already. Thus, there was never a situation where Thorpe was taken off the hook for being behind while on the mound.

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    Cody Christie

    Cody Christie 3,226

  • Twins Daily Contributor

    • Posted

     

    On 5/25, I would assume the Miracle did not score their run until they were down 2-0 already. Thus, there was never a situation where Thorpe was taken off the hook for being behind while on the mound.

    You are correct, fine sir. After a little more research, I see the Miracle were down 0-2 before they scored late in the game. 

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    Cody Christie

    Cody Christie 3,226

  • Twins Daily Contributor

    • Posted

     

    I noticed that Nick Gordon was charged with his tenth error on the season. Is that a reason to be concerned?

    He's played over 100 innings at second base for the first time in his career. Three of the errors are at second. He might still be learning some of the nuances of a different spot on the field. There are different angles to the ball and things like that. There have been questions about him sticking at short. The hope is he can stay there. Engelb Vielma is a stronger defender at short. A future infield with Vielma and Gordon up the middle could be fun to watch. 

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    Seth Stohs

    Seth Stohs 23,732

  • Owner

    • Posted

     

    I noticed that Nick Gordon was charged with his tenth error on the season. Is that a reason to be concerned?

     

    In general, I would say no, though it is of course worth watching. 8 of his 11 errors are at shortstop. He's got a .946 fielding percentage... Which isn't bad. But he was about 20 points higher in E-Town, in Cedar Rapids and in Ft. Myers, so he can be better. 

     

    I would also agree with Cody that it could be some of the moving back and forth from SS to 2B earlier in the year when he and Vielma were both in Chattanooga. But i think it's important for him to be able to play both positions as we don't know which one he'll play in MLB. It'll be good for him to see time both places, so it may be a good thing in the big picture. 

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