Twins Minor League Report (7/2): July 3rd Fireworks

Find out everything and more that happened happened in the Twins system on Monday, starting with the transactions of the day.

TRANSACTIONS

There were a handful of transactions in the Twins system on Sunday.

• Following the Twins win on Monday night, Kennys Vargas was optioned to AAA Rochester. Ehire Adrianza was activated from the disabled list to take his spot.
  
• Infielder Leonardo Reginnato was placed on the disabled list for the Red Wings.
  
• The Red Wings also announced that Justin Haley will be making a rehab start for them on Tuesday. He made one appearance in the GCL, and earlier in the week, he made a start with the Miracle.
  
• Chattanooga announced the Twins’ signing of catcher Carlos Paulino. He spent the past two seasons in the Twins organization, splitting time between the Lookouts and Red Wings. He signed with the Marlins before this season but was released recently.
  
• Brian Navarreto was sent from Chattanooga back to Ft. Myers.
  
• Felix Jorge returned to the Lookouts, with Alex Muren sent down to Ft. Myers.
  
• Also, Chattanooga's Ryan Eades was named the Southern League Pitcher of the Week. He pitched twice and recorded five hitless innings.
  

RED WINGS REPORT

Rochester 12, Lehigh Valley 3

Box Score

On Monday night, the Red Wings won for the 16th time in their last 19 games. Aaron Slegers posted another quality start and the bats certainly showed up on this night.

Slegers won for the fourth straight time. The right-hander gave up three runs on seven hits over the first 6.2 innings. He walked two and struck out six to improve to 8-4 with a 4.08 ERA. Drew Rucinski got the next four outs. John Curtiss came on for the ninth inning. He gave up a hit, but he struck out two in a scoreless inning.

Mitch Garver got the offense going. He went 2-4 with a walk, his 17th double and his eighth home run. Matt Hague was also 2-4 with a homer, his seventh, and three RBI. John Ryan Murphy went 2-5. Zack Granite is hitting .363 after a 1-5 game. He stole his 15th bat. Byungho Park has been on fire the last couple of weeks. He went 3-5 with his fourth homer and three RBI.

CHATTANOOGA CHATTER

Chattanooga 4, Mississippi 2

Box Score

It was another start for Stephen Gonsalves, which means that Stephen Gonsalves put together another quality start. The left-hander gave up two runs on eight hits over six innings. He struck out six without issuing a walk. He improved to 5-3 with a 2.67 ERA. Gonsalves was replaced by Todd Van Steensel whose season's ERA dropped to 1.72 with two more scoreless frames. He struck out three. Nick Anderson recorded his first AA save with a perfect ninth which included a strikeout.

The offense did little early in the game. In fact, they had just two hits until the seventh inning when they put a three-spot on the board. The big hit again came off the bat of Levi Michael.He hit a three-run homer, his fourth of the season. They added another run in the eighth for the final tally. Edgar Corcino went 2-5 with his 14th double. Nick Gordon was 2-4. Alex Perez went 2-4 with his first AA double.

MIRACLE MATTERS

Ft. Myers 10, St. Lucie 7

Box Score

The game ended well after midnight in Ft. Myers. The start of the game was delayed, and then there was a longer delay in the third inning.

On Sunday, the Miracle used an 11-run eighth inning to earn a big win. They used a big inning again on Monday to come back and win another game. Down 7-4 going into the bottom of the 7th inning, the Miracle scored six runs to take a three-run lead.

Cody Stashak started and went the first three innings. Given a 4-1 lead, he loaded the bases in the top of the third. Tim Tebow launched a double to the fence in left center field to tie the game. (Tebow went 1-2 with 2 walks) That’s when the rains came.

When the game continued, Williams Ramirez came into the game. He threw two shutout innings. Tom Hackimer worked the next two innings. He struck out two but was charged with an unearned run. Andrew Vasquez recorded his first Miracle save with two shutout innings.

Zander Wiel went 2-5 with his 15th and 16th doubles. Kevin Garcia went 2-5 with a triple. Jaylin Davis went 2-3 and was hit by a pitch. Mitchell Kranson and Jermaine Palacios were both 2-5. Max Murphy went 1-3 with two walks.

KERNELS NUGGETS

Cedar Rapids 2, Clinton 0

Box Score

A night after Griffin Jax shut out Clinton in his first Kernels start, lefty Anthony Marzi started another shutout for the team. Signed over the weekend from the independent New Britain Bees, Marzi threw the first 6.2 innings. He gave up three hits, walked one and struck out eight batters.

His pitching coach, JP Martinez, was impressed. “Marzi forced the ball inside all night which he told me he likes to. So his plan lined up with what we had on their hitters. He creates some deception, throws across his body and fills the zone. Push-pull with his changeup was good, and he put some right-handed hitters away with his slider, which was nice to see.”

Ryan Mason came on and got the next four outs. Hector Lujan recorded his eighth save with a 1-2-3 ninth inning, including a strikeout. Lujan took over closer’s duties about a month ago, and he has been terrific. It’s a role he has enjoyed.

“The biggest thing I've felt that has helped me get comfortable in these games is just having the mentality of attacking and getting ahead of hitters. Being able to get ahead in the count with any pitch depending on the hitter and what his approach has been the whole game. All in all, I'm just trying to be able to get out there and do what I can to help get a team W.”

Martinez noted that Lujan was displaying some of the traits of a closer all season, even before claiming the role. “Hector has been poised and aggressive whenever we’ve thrown (in) him all year. He picked up a cutter in the offseason, and we’ve worked hard to refine it. It has become his bread and butter and is pretty firm, sitting 87-89. He’s got a lively fastball at 93-96, so it’s tough for guys to get comfortable against him. I’ve been really happy with his mentality, his work ethic, and his composure in those tight spots.”

Ben Rortvedt drove in the first run with a single. He was 2-4. Lewin Diaz drove in the other run with a single. He also was 2-4. Joe Cronin was 2-4 with a triple. Lean Marrero was also 2-4.

E-TWINS E-NOTES

Elizabethton 7, Danville 1

Box Score

The E-Twins turned the tables in Danville on Monday night after Danville won on Sunday by the same score.

Edwar Colina was very good. The right-hander gave up up one run on three hits over six innings. He walked three and struck out seven. The bullpen finished the job. Converted catcher Juan Gamez struck out two over two perfect innings. Jose Martinez struck out one in the ninth.

2017 ninth-round pick Mark Contreras went 3-5 with his first two doubles and his first triple as a pro. TJ Dixon went 2-5 with his first triple. Carson Crites went 2-6. Kolton Kendrick and Trey Cabbage both had a single and two walks.

GCL TWINS TAKES

GCL Twins 2, GCL Rays 3 (10 innings)

Box Score

Right-hander Tyler Beardsley hasn’t pitched in a game since he started for Cedar Rapids in May 21. On Monday, he made a rehab appearance in the GCl. He threw two scoreless innings. He gave up three hits, walked none and struck out three.

Beardsley noted, "It felt good to be back out there competing. I've put a lot of hard work in these last six weeks to get back on the mound."

Amilcar Cruz worked the next two innings. He gave up no runs on two hits, walked one and struck out two.

Next to the mound for the Twins was Brusdar Graterol. He gave up two runs on four hits over five innings. He walked just one and struck out eight batters.

Royce Lewis is now hitting .360 after this 2-5 game. He added his fourth double. Alex Robles went 2-4 with his second double. Ben Rodriguez added his first pro double.

The game was tied going into the bottom of the 10th inning. Vadim Balan entered the game. He hit the first batter. The next guy laid down a bunt. Balan fielded it and threw it away. The runner came around from first base to score and end the game.

TWINS DAILY PLAYERS OF THE DAY

Twins Daily Minor League Pitcher of the Day – Anthony Marzi, Cedar Rapids Kernels

Twins Daily Minor League Hitter of the Day – Mark Contreras, Elizabethton Twins

TUESDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS

Pawtucket @ Rochester (6:05 CST) - RHP Justin Haley

Tennessee @ Chattanooga (5:15 CST) - RHP Kohl Stewart

Ft. Myers @ Tampa (6:00 CST) - TBD

Wisconsin @ Cedar Rapids (5:05 CST) - RHP Eduardo Del Rosario

Princeton @ Elizabethton (6:00 CST) - RHP Huascar Ynoa

GCL Rays @ GCL Twins (9:00 am CST) - TBD

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