Twins Minor League Report (7/2): Kernels Kan't Win 'Em All

A day after several of the Twins minor league affiliates’ games were rained out, it was nearly a full schedule on Tuesday night. Elizabethton had the night off, but Rochester played two games to make up for it. A Honkball star showed what he is capable of in New Britain. A big time international signing from last year celebrated this year’s International Signing Day with a nice game. A couple big relief pitching prospects who hadn’t pitched in about ten days got back into action. A couple pitchers from the Twins' opening day roster took the mound in the minors.. Lots happened, including another homer from a guy in Cedar Rapids who quietly is putting up some monster power numbers in the shadow of Chris Colabello and Miguel Sano.[PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]

Speaking of the Kernels, were they able to continue their winning streak? Check out that and what else happened in the Twins farm system on Tuesday:

Game 1 - Rochester Red Wings 2, Syracuse Chiefs 5

Box Score

Cole De Vries was on the mound to start Game 1. The righty gave up three runs on eight hits in 5.1 innings. He walked two and struck out three. Michael Tonkin came on after being out for ten days due to soreness in his shoulder. He went one inning and gave up two runs on three hits. They are his first earned runs in two months. Blake Martin relieved and got the final two outs.

Ray Olmedo went 2-3, the only Red Wing hitter with more than one hit. Antoan Richardson doubled for the eighth time.

Game 2 - Rochester Red Wings 6, Syracuse Chiefs 5

Box Score

Vance Worley was not terribly impressive in Game 2. The Twins Opening Day starter gave up four runs on six hits and in 5.1 innings he walked five and struck out just two. And, for his efforts, he improved to 5-3. Aaron Thompson gave up one run on two hits in the next inning. Luis Perdomo picked up his sixth save by getting the final two outs.

The offense came through in this game though. Eric Farris was 2-4 with his 14^th stolen base. James Beresford went 2-3 with his first double. Eric Fryer drilled a two-run double (his sixth). Deibinson Romero was 1-2 with a walk, his fifth double and two RBI.

New Britain Rock Cats 3, New Hampshire Fisher Cats 1

Box Score

It’s been an up-and-down season so far for Tom Stuifbergen, and on this night he was very good. He threw 6.1 shutout innings, giving up four hits, walking one and striking out three. Edgar Ibara got the next four outs, two of them on strikeouts. Dan Turpen recorded his second save. He gave up one run on two hits and a walk in 1.1 innings; he struck out two.

The Rock Cats won despite just six hits. Josmil Pinto had his 19^th double. Fisher Cats' 2012 first-round pick Marcus Stroman was very good. In 6.1 innings he walked one and struck out 13. He was charged with all three runs and took the loss.

Ft. Myers Miracle 5, Bradenton Marauders 2

Box Score

Tyler Duffey put together his best start for the Miracle. The right-hander threw seven shutout innings and used his defense to do so. He gave up four hits, walked one and struck out zero. Jose Gonzalez came on and worked a perfect eighth frame. Zack Jones made his first appearance since June 23^rd and was a little rusty. In his inning, he gave up two runs on a hit and two walks.

Jhon Goncalves went 2-3 with a walk, his 15^th double and fifth stolen base. Byron Buxton went 2-4.

In Buxton’s first three games with the Miracle, he went 2-13. His last three games have all been multi-hit games through which he is 7-12. Now, he is hitting .360 with the Miracle. He is 19 years old. Just saying.

Cedar Rapids Kernels 4, Beloit Snappers 5

Box Score

JO Berrios was on the mound, hoping to extend the Kernels 2^nd half start to 12-0. He struggled. In just 4.1 innings, he gave up five runs (3 earned) on seven hits. He walked one and struck out six. Madison Boer came on in relief and gave up two hits over 2.2 innings. Steven Gruver came on and struck out two in the final inning.

Jonathan Murphy, in his second game with the Kernels, went 3-4 with a double. JD Williams went 2-4 in his first game back since being hit by a pitch in the knee on Saturday. On the organization's home run leader board, Travis Harrison took over third place with his 14^th.

The loss ends the Kernels 11 game post-All-Star break winning streak. The team is 11-1 in the second half. Beloit won for the fifth straight time, and they are 10-2 in the second half.

Elizabethton Twins

No Game Scheduled.

GCL Twins 2, GCL Orioles 3

Box Score

It’s only been about ten days, but Amaurys Minier has already experienced the ups and downs of pro ball. Monday, he was very good. He went 3-3 with his second and third doubles. Brian Navaretto was 1-2 with a walk and his first double.

Sam Gibbons started and worked the first three innings. He gave up no runs on four hits. He neither walked nor struck out a batter. He did hit one. Lewis Thorpe came in for the next two innings and didn't allow a run. He gave up one hit, walked one and struck out two. Derek Penilla made his first professional appearance. He gave up one run on two hits in an inning. Dan Sattler had Tommy John surgery last August, and he made his first rehab appearance. He gave up two runs on two hits and recorded two outs, one on a strikeout. Sattler took the loss when Miguel Gonzalez came on and gave up a game-winning hit.

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