Twins Minor League Report (8/20): Quezada, Vazquez Dominate

Keep reading to find out more on the night in the Twins minor league system on Monday. As always, please feel free to discuss and ask questions.

TRANSACTIONS

• Chattanooga put RHP Omar Bencomo (foot) and infielder Chris Paul finger) on the disabled list. Catcher Brian Olson was activated. Also, the Twins signed RHP Austin Adams from the Sugar Land Skeeters and placed him on the Lookouts roster. Adams is 31-years-old and pitched in 53 games for Cleveland between 2014 and 2016.
  

RED WINGS REPORT

Rochester

Box Score

The Red Wings enjoyed a rare night off to watch the Stephen Gonsalves MLB debut. OK, it was a scheduled off-day, but still…

https://twitter.com/RocRedWings/status/1031537024556298241

Also, Kennys Vargas was named the International League’s hitter of the week.

https://twitter.com/RocRedWings/status/1031560369263849472

CHATTANOOGA CHATTER

Chattanooga 6, Montgomery 2

Box Score

The Lookouts used some well-timed long balls to take control of this game. Early on, Luke Raley hit his third Lookout homer, and later, Jimmy Kerrigan hit a long, three-run homer, his fifth with Chattanooga this year. Brian Navarreto went 3-for-4 with a couple of RBIs. Jaylin Davis reached .300 with a 2-for-4 night. He added a walk.

Tyler Wells started and went the first five innings. He gave up two runs on seven hits and a walk. He struck out three batters. Williams Ramirez struck out three batters over two scoreless innings. Andrew Vasquez then gave up just one hit over two scoreless innings. He struck out six.

MIRACLE MATTERS

Ft. Myers

Box Score

The Miracle were also given the day off to watch Gonsalves debut. Or, it’s a scheduled day off.

https://twitter.com/MiracleBaseball/status/1031553733543383042

KERNELS NUGGETS

Cedar Rapids 12, Wisconsin 4

Box Score

Down 4-3 going into the eighth inning, the Kernels scored four runs in the eighth and another five runs in the ninth to run away with the win in Wisconsin. Gabriel Maciel went 3-for-5 with his second triple and three runs scored. Ryan Jeffers was also 3-for-5 with three runs. Michael Helman went 2-for-4 with a walk and his second double. Trevor Larnach went 2-for-4 with a walk, his fifth double, and three runs scored. Those four were the first four hitters in the Kernels lineup. Number five hitter, Ben Rodriguez, added four RBIs. His 18th double cleared the bases.

Tyler Watson started and was charged with four runs on four hits in 5 2/3 innings. He walked five and struck five out. Johan Quezada made his Kernels debut. After missing most of the past two years with shoulder injuries. On this day, he faced ten batters and got ten outs, six via the strikeout.

E-TWINS E-TALK

Game 1 - Elizabethton 8, Johnson City 6

Box Score

The E-Twins scored six runs in the second inning and held on for a win in Game 1.

Kody Funderburk made the start. The lefty gave up four runs on seven hits over 3 2/3 innings. He walked two and struck out four. Blair Lakso came in and got the win. He gave up two runs on two hits and five walks in 1 1/3 innings. Tanner Howell recorded his first E-Twins save with two innings of scoreless ball. He gave up one hit and walked one.

Yeltsin Encarnacion led the offense. He went 3-for-3 with his fifth double. He scored three runs and stole his second base. Yunior Severino went 2-for-4 with two RBI. Gilberto Celestino was 2-for-4 with his third double and his eighth stolen base. Jared Akins hit his third double, and Ricky De La Torre hit his ninth.

Game 2 - Elizabethton 3, Johnson City 2 (9 innings)

Box Score

With two outs in the bottom of the ninth, Trevor Casanova singled to score Yeltsin Encarnacion and give the E-Twins the win.

https://twitter.com/ETwinsBaseball/status/1031760417146785792

Brian Rapp started and gave up two runs on five hits over 4 2/3 innings. He walked two and struck out four. Pedro Garcia came on and did well. He threw 4 1/3 scoreless innings. In the extra innings, both the eighth and the ninth, he was able to leave the bases loaded and keep the game tied. He gave up three hits, walked three and struck out four.

Casanova led the way. He went 2-3 with a sacrifice fly to give him two of the three RBIs. The other run scored on a pinch-hit single by Chris Williams. Roberto Molina also had two hits. Gilberto Celestino went 1-for-3 with two walks.

GCL TWINS TALK

GCL Twins 0, GCL Rays 6

Box Score

The Twins again had the opportunity to try to hit against Rays pitching prospect and 2018 first-round pick Matthew Libertore. It is the third time in the last few weeks that the Twins have faced the lefty. On this day, Libertore gave up three hits over five shutout innings. He struck out eight without issuing a walk. In the three starts combined, he has thrown 14 2/3 scoreless innings. He’s given up six hits, walked none and struck out 19.

Shane Carrier led the offense with a 2-for-4 game. Erick Rivera added his fourth double.

Andriu Marin started. He gave up two runs on six hits over 3 2/3 innings. He walked one, hit one and struck out five. Dylan Stowell gave up two unearned runs on one hit and two walks in his 1 1/3 innings. He struck out three. Erik Cha recorded the next four outs. He struck out one and didn’t allow a base runner. Niklas Rimmel gave up two runs on four hits over the final two innings. He struck out two.

STARS OF THE DAY

Twins Daily Hitter of the Day: Gabriel Maciel, Cedar Rapids Kernels (3-5, 3B(2), 3 R).

Twins Daily Pitcher of the Day: Johan Quezada, Cedar Rapids Kernels (3.1 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 6 K)

PROSPECT SUMMARY

Here’s a look at how the Twins Daily Midseason Top 20 Twins Prospects performed.

#1 - Royce Lewis (Ft. Myers) - No Game Scheduled

#2 - Alex Kirilloff (Ft. Myers) - No Game Scheduled

#3 - Brusdar Graterol (Ft. Myers) - No Game Scheduled

#4 - Nick Gordon (Rochester) - No Game Scheduled

#5 - Stephen Gonsalves (Minnesota) - 1.1 IP, 6 H, 4 ER, 2 BB, 3 K

#6 - Trevor Larnach (Cedar Rapids) - 2-4, BB, 2B(5), 3 R, RBI, K

#7 - Brent Rooker (Chattanooga) - Did not play

#8 - Akil Baddoo (Cedar Rapids) - Did not play

#9 -Wander Javier - out of for the season

#10 - Zack Littell (Rochester) - No Game Scheduled

#11 - Blayne Enlow (Cedar Rapids) - Did not pitch

#12 - LaMonte Wade (Rochester) - No Game Scheduled

#13 - Travis Blankenhorn (Ft. Myers) - No Game Scheduled

#14 - Lewis Thorpe (Rochester) - No Game Scheduled

#15 - Ben Rortvedt (Ft. Myers) - No Game Scheduled

#16 - Yunior Severino (Elizabethton) - 2-4, 2 RBI, R, K | 1-5, R, 2 K

#17 - Lewin Diaz (Ft. Myers) - Out for the season (wrist)

#18 - Ryan Jeffers (Cedar Rapids) - 3-5, 3 R

#19 - Jacob Pearson (Cedar Rapids) - 0-5, 2 K, SB(6)

#20 - Luis Arraez (Chattanooga) - 0-3, BB, R, K

#21 - Jose Miranda (Ft. Myers) - No Game Scheduled

*Since Wander Javier is out, I’d add #21 to the list.

SUNDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS

Pawtucket @ Rochester (6:05 CST, completion of a suspended game + regularly scheduled game) - LHP Lewis Thorpe (0-1, 4.26 ERA), RHP Michael Pineda (rehab)

Chattanooga @ Montgomery (6:35 CST) - TBD

Ft. Myers @ Palm Beach (5:30 CST) - RHP Clark Beeker (4-7, 4.73 ERA)

Cedar Rapids @ Beloit (7:00 CST) - RHP Randy Dobnak (8-5, 3.35 ERA)

Greeneville @ Elizabethton (6:00 CST) - Luis Rijo (4-1, 2.06 ERA)

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

Please feel free to ask any questions about Monday’s games, or ask any questions you may have.