Twins Minor League Report (7/23): Slegers Continues Strong Streak

Sunday, the Twins recognized Armed Forces Appreciation Day at Target Field. It was a great ceremony where the various military branches were recognized. On Saturday night, Kernels right-hander Griffin Jax made his final appearance before he leaves to fulfill his final two years of his military commitment. I think it would have been great if the Twins would have brought Jax to Target Field to be recognized. However, when he left the mound with two outs in the seventh inning in Cedar Rapids on Saturday night, he received a standing ovation.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UmpMlnPpWRA&sns=fb

And Steve Buhr captured a great photo of it.

https://twitter.com/JimCrikket/status/888937227232923649

Find out everything and more that happened happened in the Twins system on Sunday.

Let’s start with the transactions of the day:

• Following the Twins loss on Sunday, the team announced the veteran Craig Breslow had been DFAd, and that a corresponding move would be made on Monday. Since Justin Haley is on Day 29 of a maximum 30-day rehab assignment, it is likely that he will be recalled to be a long reliever.
  
• Rochester announced that OF Daniel Palka has been reinstated from the DL. Ryan Strausborger was placed on the disabled list.
  

RED WINGS REPORT

Rochester 7, Toledo 1

Box Score

After this game, Aaron Slegers is now 11-4 overall with a 3.35 ERA. Over those seven starts, he is 7-0 with a 2.05 ERA. In seven innings, he gave up one run on four hits and a walk over seven innings. He also struck out seven. Drew Rucinski struck out two in his scoreless inning. Jake Reed then struck out two in a scoreless ninth.

On the offensive side, Mitch Garver again led the way. Batting second, he went 2-3 with two walks, his 21st double and his 14th home run. Matt Hague went 2-4 with a walk and his 18th double. He also stole his sixth base. Kennys Vargas added his fifth home run. Daniel Palka made his return and went 1-2 with two walks.

CHATTANOOGA CHATTER

Chattanooga 4, Mobile 6

Box Score

Felix Jorge had his second straight rough start since returning from the big leagues. The right-hander gave up six runs on ten hits and a walk over just 2.2 innings. He struck out three.

Todd Van Steensel came on and threw 2.1 scoreless innings to drop his season ERA to 1.47. He walked one and struck out two. Paul Clemens walked two and struck out two over two scoreless innings. Luke Bard struck out one in a scoreless eighth frame.

The team tried to come back but fell short. Former Brewers outfield Andy Wilkens led the way by going 3-5 with his 13th double and seventh home run. Carlos Paulino went 3-3 with his fourth double. Max Murphy went 2-5 with his fourth double.

MIRACLE MATTERS

Ft. Myers 2, Tampa 6

Box Score

It was a very interesting game for the Miracle, well, even before the game started. While meeting with the umpires and the opposing manager before the game, Miracle manager Doug Mientkiewicz was ejected. In the fifth inning, when Sean Miller was called out on a stolen base attempt, hitting coach and acting-manager Steve Singleton was ejected. Later that inning, Kevin Garcia was tossed after being called out at first base.

Brady Anderson started for the Miracle and went the first six innings. He gave up six runs on eight hits. He walked four and struck out two. Tom Hackimer came on and threw two scoreless innings, striking out four. His Miracle ERA dropped to 1.21. Sam Clay struck out two in a perfect ninth.

The Miracle bats managed just six hits in the game. Brent Rooker went 1-3 with a walk. Brian Navarreto and Nelson Molina each had RBI singles.

KERNELS NUGGETS

Cedar Rapids 8, Lansing 5

Box Score

Several hitters had big games for the Kernels, but they also received a really strong start. Clark Beeker recorded his ninth win of the season. The right-hander threw six shutout innings. He gave up four hits, walked none and struck out three.

Ryan Mason came on and was charged with three runs on four hits and a walk in 1.2 innings. He struck out two. Max Cordy got the final four outs, but gave up two runs (one earned) on three hits in 1.1 innings.

Caleb Hamilton went 3-3 with a walk and three RBI. Hank Morrison went 3-4 with a walk. Amaurys Minier had the big hit of the game, though. He hit his third home run, a grand slam. Travis Blankenhorn went 2-5 with his ninth stolen base. Aaron Whitefield went 2-5 with his 25th stolen base.

E-TWINS E-NOTES

Elizabethton 9, Bluefield 11

Box Score

This game was back and forth. The Twins fell behind early, had a big comeback, but then lost it late.

Huascar Yona started and struggled. He gave up six runs on eight hits and two walks in 3.2 innings. He struck out three. Then Bailey Ober came in for his professional debut. The 12th-round pick from the College of Charleston threw 3.1 scoreless innings. He gave up three hits, walked none and struck out three. 31 of his 41 pitches were strikes.

Akil Baddoo played his second game for the E-Twins. He went 3-4 with a walk and he led off the bottom of the first inning with his first Appy League home run. Jordan Gore continues to rake. With a 3-5 game, he is now hitting .418 on the season. He added his fourth double. Jose Miranda was 2-5 with three RBI.

Down 6-4 heading into the bottom of the sixth inning, Kolton Kendrick led off with a solo homer, his second homer of the year. Later in the inning, Shane Carrier hit a three-run homer to give Twins the lead. It was his third homer with the E-Twins.

Blair Lakso got the final two innings. He was charged with five runs on five hits over those innings. He walked two (one intentional) and struck out three.

GCL TWINS TAKES

GCL Twins

Box Score

The GCL Twins do not play on Sundays.

TWINS DAILY PLAYERS OF THE DAY

Twins Daily Minor League Pitcher of the Day – Aaron Slegers, Rochester Red Wings

Twins Daily Minor League Hitter of the Day – Akil Baddoo, Elizabethton Twins

MONDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS

Rochester @ Indianapolis (6:05 CST) - LHP Nik Turley

Chattanooga - No Game Scheduled.

Tampa @ Ft. Myers (6:05 CST) - LHP Lewis Thorpe

Lansing @ Cedar Rapids (12:05 CST) - LHP Anthony Marzi

Elizabethton @ Pulaski (6:00 CST) - TBD

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

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