Twins Minor League Report (7/18): Larnach Debuts and Top Bats Fly

TRANSACTIONS

Rochester Red Wings

Add INF Alex Perez

DEL OF Zack Granite placed on DL with right shoulder contusion

Chattanooga Lookouts

Add C Brian Olson active from DL

RED WINGS REPORT

Louisville 2, Rochester 0

Box Score

Stephen Gonsalves was on the bump for this one, and he turned in a good outing for Rochester. Holding Louisville scoreless through six innings, the Red Wings simply couldn’t push a run across of their own, and fell by a 2-0 tally.

The game would be scoreless through six innings, at which point Louisville would strike first. With John Curtiss on the bump, a single would push across the game’s first run. The Red Wings then found themselves trailing 2-0 entering their last raps in the 9th.

(But check out this athleticism from Curtiss to cut down a run)

Getting singles from both LaMonte Wade and Andy Wilkins, Rochester would put up a threat. Unfortunately recently acquired Jon Kemmer went down swinging, and Edgar Corcino popped out to end the game.

Rochester will head back to upstate New York tomorrow and look for some home cooking in a doubleheader with the Norfolk Tides.

CHATTANOOGA CHATTER

Chattanooga 4, Mobile 2

Box Score

Despite working as a starter for the majority of the season, Anthony Marzi came on in relief for this one. Paco Rodriguez got the ball to kick off the contest, and he turned in a scoreless first inning while striking out two. Marzi then worked four innings and the bullpen finished off the 4-2 victory.

Chattanooga got on the board first, thanks to an error in an attempt to throw out Mitchell Kranson. The errant throw allowed Luis Arraez to score, and the Lookouts took the lead.

Unfortunately, being on top wouldn’t last long for the Lookouts. Mobile immediately answered against Marzi in the bottom of the fourth. Pushing across two runs, they grabbed their first and only lead of the contest.

Fueled by a pair of solo blasts from Jimmy Kerrigan and Brian Navarreto, Chattanooga leapt back out in front 3-2 heading into the eighth inning. Navaretto then singled in Arraez to add an insurance run, and the 4-2 lead would be enough to get the win.

In a five game set with the Bay Bears, Chattanooga owns a 1-0 lead and will look to extend that in game two tomorrow night.

MIRACLE MATTERS

Fort Myers 13, St. Lucie 7

Box Score

Early and often was the mantra tonight for the Miracle. Despite having ace Tyler Wells on the bump, Fort Myers put runs on the board in bunches, and in turn gave their pitchers some breathing room.

Scoring four runs in the first inning, Fort Myers got a handful of contributors. Alex Kirilloff drove in the first run on an RBI since to score Mark Contreras. Caleb Hamilton scored Joe Cronin from third on a single of his own. Shane Carrier then kept the carousel going with another RBI single to push Kirilloff and Hamilton across the plate.

After the Mets chipped two runs off the lead, Royce Lewis gave the Miracle a bit more breathing room. A looping single to center drove in Aaron Whitefield, and Fort Myers led 5-2 in the second. Another push by the Mets had Fort Myers looking at a lead in jeopardy, but Lewin Diaz came through with the insurance this time. In the fifthinning, his sac fly drove in Cronin and it was a 6-4 game.

Aaron Whitefield launched a two-run shot in the sixth for his second dinger of the year, and in turn, put Fort Myers up 8-5. St. Lucie battled back again and got within one, 8-7 in the seventh. An eighth inning barrage for Fort Myers put this one away however. A Contreras double drove in two, and then a Kirilloff triple scored another couple of Miracle baserunners. For good measure, Hamilton \drove in Kirilloff from third on a ground out to cap off the five-run eighth inning.

Downing the Mets 13-7, Fort Myers was able to cap off a series sweep. They’ll welcome Lakeland tomorrow night for another three-game set.

KERNELS NUGGETS

Cedar Rapids 2, Great Lakes 1

Box Score

With Edwar Colina on the mound, Cedar Rapids was handed six quality innings of scoreless work. Colina was able to fan seven while allowing just three free passes. Neither team scored until the seventh inning, and it was a two-run ninth that put the good guys out in front for good.

The Loons tallied the first run of the game on a double in the seventh off of Calvin Faucher. That would be the only run they’d tally however, and the rally caps came out for the Kernels a couple of innings later.

Looking at a loss with their last at-bat in front of them, Toby Gardenhire’s squad needed a rally. With Jared Akins and Ben Rodriguez manning second and third, Jacob Pearson was called upon to pinch hit. Coming through with a single to left, both runners scored and Cedar Rapids had their first lead of the contest.

Kevin Marnon came on to record the save, his second of the season. The three game series will continue tomorrow evening with Cedar Rapids looking at an opportunity to take it on the road.

E-TWINS E-TALK

Elizabethton 6, Greenville 5

Box Score

2018 Minnesota Twins first round pick Trevor Larnach made his pro debut in this one, and Tyler Palm spun five solid innings of work. It took some late runs and lockdown efforts from the bullpen, but the Twins walked away with the victory.

Trailing 1-0 in the fourth inning, Chris Williams came through scoring Lean Marrero and evening the contest at 1. A couple of innings later, in the bottom of the sixth, Trevor Larnach recorded his first professional hit. The single drove in second-round pick Ryan Jeffers, and hehad his first professional RBI on the same play. A wild pitch to Trevor Casanova allowed Williams to come in from third, and Casanova’s first pro homer drove in Larnach. Up 5-1 headed to the seventh, the Twins were in a nice spot.

Having given all of the lead back, Elizabethton needed something in the bottom of the eighth to jump back out in front. Larnach again came through, this time with a fielder’s choice. Jeffers raced home and the 6-5 lead was enough to get the victory.

Elizabethton will continue the series with Greenville tomorrow night. It seems likely that Ryan Jeffers may soon be headed towards Cedar Rapids, but the Twins fans should have a few weeks of Larnach to hold them over.

GCL TWINS TAKES

Twins 8, Orioles 7

Box Score

Coming on and working two innings of relief, 2018 Twins draft pick Erik Cha picked up his first professional win in this one. Fellow 2018 draft pick Denny Bentley was able to record his first professional save to close out the victory.

The first big inning came from the Twins in the 2nd. A 0-0 game was broken open with a six-run effort. A throwing error allowed Samuel Vasquez to come across as the game’s first run. Alberoni Nunez later ripped his 4th double, to plate another three runs. A fielding error on a ball put in play by Victor Tademo brought in both Nunez and Kidany Silva. Having batted around in the inning, the Twins were way out in front.

After having a big inning of their own, the Twins allowed the opposition that feat as well. A five-run 4th had the ball game back to being a close one. Nunez singled and then came around to score on a wild pitch in the 6th. The 7th saw the Twins add another run on an Agustin Marte double. The Orioles would push a run across in the 7th and 8th but were never able to make up the single tally deficit.

These two teams will again do battle tomorrow morning.

STARS OF THE DAY

Twins Daily Pitcher of the Day – Stephen Gonsalves (Rochester) – 6.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 5 BB, 3 K

Twins Daily Hitter(s) of the Day – Alex Kirilloff (Ft. Myers) – 4-5, 2 R, 3 RBI, 3B

TOP PROSPECT SUMMARY

#1 - Royce Lewis (Ft. Myers) – 2-5, R, RBI, 2B

#2 - Alex Kirilloff (Ft. Myers) – 4-5, 2 R, 3 RBI, 3B

#4 - Nick Gordon (Rochester) – 0-4, K

#5 - Stephen Gonsalves (Rochester) – 6.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 5 BB, 3 K

#6 - Trevor Larnach (Elizabethton) – 1-4, R, 2 RBI

#7 - Brent Rooker (Chattanooga) – 0-3, BB, K

#8 - Akil Baddoo (Cedar Rapids) – 1-4

#12 - LaMonte Wade (Rochester) – 2-3, BB

#17 - Lewin Diaz (Ft. Myers) – 0-4, RBI

#18 - Ryan Jeffers (Elizabethton) – 1-2, 2 R, 2B

#19 - Jacob Pearson (Cedar Rapids) – 1-1, 2 RBI

#20 - Luis Arraez (Chattanooga) – 2-4, 2 R

THURSDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS

Norfolk @ Rochester DH (4:05PM CST) – RHP Kohl Stewart (0-1, 5.82 ERA/TBD)

Chattanooga @ Mobile (6:35PM CST) – RHP Omar Bencomo (5-4, 3.42 ERA)

Lakeland @ Fort Myers (6:00PM CST) – RHP Griffin Jax (1-1, 3.38 ERA)

Cedar Rapids @ Great Lakes (6:05PM CST) – LHP Tyler Watson (2-4, 5.44 ERA)

Greeneville @ Elizabethton (6:00PM CST) – TBD

GCL Twins @ GCL Orioles (11:00AM CST) - TBD

Please feel free to ask questions and discuss Wednesday’s games!