Twins Minor League Report (8/27): Ober Continues Domination

Find out everything that happened happened in the Twins system on Tuesday, starting with some awards and the transactions of the day.

TRANSACTIONS

• Taking LHP Lewis Thorpe’s spot on the Twins roster is RHP Randy Dobnak.
  
• RHP Ryne Harper returned to the Red Wings after being optioned on Saturday.
  
• OF Alejandro de Aza activated from the injured list for the Red Wings.
  
• LHP Charlie Barnes sent down to Pensacola.
  
• SS Jordan Gore began a rehab in the GCL. As you will see below, he might be trying something new.
  
• Not really a transaction, but the Twins announced that Byron Buxton's Cedar Rapids rehab has hit a setback. For more information, click here.
  

RED WINGS REPORT

Rochester 3, Buffalo 5

Box Score

Kohl Stewart started and gave up two runs on three hits and three walks over five innings. He struck out six batters. Brusdar Graterol came on for the sixth inning. After a walk and a hit batter, he got a fielder’s choice. However, the next batter connected on a three-run homer. Graterol got the final two outs, the third out on a strikeout. Trevor Hildenberger came on and gave up just a single over two scoreless innings.

The Red Wings tried to mount a comeback in the bottom of the ninth inning. Down 5-0, they scored three runs, but fell short. Tomas Telis went 2-for-4 and drove in the first ninth inning run. Zander Wiel followed with a two-run homer, his 22nd of the season. He went 2-for-3 with a walk in the game.

BLUE WAHOOS BITES

Pensacola 4, Jackson 2

Box Score

Bailey Ober has been quite the story in 2019. After pitching well in Ft. Myers, when healthy, he has now been really good in three starts with the Wahoos. On this night, he gave up only an unearned run on four hits and a walk in seven innings. He struck out 11.

https://twitter.com/BlueWahoosBBall/status/1166524981032845312

Another story of note, Stephen Gonsalves came in for the eighth inning. He gave up an unearned run on a walk and a hit batter in his inning. He struck out two. Alex Phillips came on and got the final three outs for the save.

Pensacola scored all three of their runs in the first inning. Alex Kirilloff scored on a ground out from LaMonte Wade. Mark Contreras added a two run single. Ryan Jeffers went 2-for-3. Trevor Larnach went 1-for-3 with a walk.

It was the final game of the home schedule for Pensacola. After taking Wednesday off, they will begin their final series of the season.

https://twitter.com/BlueWahoosBBall/status/1166543322606985216

MIRACLE MATTERS

Game 1 - Ft. Myers 2, Dunedin 3

Box Score

Lachlan Wells started the first game. He gave up two runs on five hits in the first five innings. He walked two and struck out four. Tyler Watson gave up one run on one hit in one inning.

Yeltsin Encarnacion led the offense. He went 3-for-3 and drive in a run. The Miracle had just seven total hits.

Game 2 - Ft. Myers 5, Dunedin 2

Box Score

In game two, the Miracle got a strong start and a big blast.

Trey Cabbage and Jose Miranda provided much of the Miracle offense. Miranda went 3-for-3 with a walk and his 24th and 25th doubles. Trey Cabbage went 2-for-3 with a walk and his fifth-inning, three-run homer proved to be all that they needed to get the win.

On the mound, Dakota Chalmers put together another solid start and picked up his first Miracle win. He gave up one run on three hits over five innings. He walked three and struck out eight batters. Zach Neff recorded his sixth save. He struck out three over two innings of work. He gave up one run on two hits.

KERNELS NUGGETS

Cedar Rapids 4, Peoria 3

Box Score

The Kernels nearly went to extra innings for a second straight night, but instead, Spencer Steer played hero in the bottom of the ninth with a walk-off single.

Steer went 2-for-5 in the game. Wander Javier provided a big hit, his tenth home run of the season.

Luis Rijo had another impressive outing in August. He gave up just one run on four hits and a walk over six innings. He struck out six batters. Jose Martinez went the next 1 1/3 innings. He gave up two runs (one earned) on four hits and a walk. Dylan Thomas came out and got the final two outs of the eight inning and all three outs in the ninth frame.

E-TWINS E-NOTES

E-Twins 3, Greeneville 1

Box Score

Ruben Santana spent three summers playing in the Dominican Summer League before coming to the States this year. On Tuesday night, Santana led off the game with the first home run of his professional career.

Fidel Castro tied the game in the third inning with a home run for Greeneville, but in the fourth, the E-Twins responded with two runs. Seth Gray had an RBI double, followed by an RBI single by Trevor Jensen.

Gray hit his 14 and 15th doubles. Max Smith added his 12th double.

Brent Headrick made the start for the Twins. He worked two scoreless innings and didn’t give up a hit. He walked two and struck out one. Ryan Shreve came in and gave up one run on four hits over the next four innings. He struck out six without issuing a walk. Denny Bentley worked the next two innings and kept Greeneville from adding any runs. He gave up one hit, walked one and struck out two. Tyler Beck worked a scoreless ninth inning. He gave up a hit and a walk but struck out three batters.

Wednesday is the final day of the Appalachian League regular season. I’d explain how the E-Twins can make the playoffs, but Nick Badders did all the work, so let’s let him.

https://twitter.com/BadderUpSports/status/1166523310433296384

GCL TWINS TAKES

Game 1 - GCL Twins 3, GCL Rays 2 (10 innings)

Box Score

The game was suspended on Monday in the bottom of the fourth and resumed on Tuesday morning. On Monday, non-drafted free agent Evan Gillespie started the game and gave up just two hits over four scoreless innings. He struck out four.

When the game resumed on Tuesday, Jordan Gore was on the mound. He faced five batters. He walked three and struck out two batters before exiting the game. Yes, this is the same Jordan Gore who began the season as the starting shortstop of the Pensacola Blue Wahoos. In a game he pitched for Pensacola earlier this season, he was regularly hitting 96 mph on the radar gun.

Anthony Escobar turned 19 a couple of days ago. He went the final 5 1/3 innings He gave up two runs on four hits to record the win. He struck out three without issuing a walk.

In the game, Luke Raley went 3-for-5. Brent Rooker went 1-for-3 before exiting. Alex Craig had a single and two walks. LaRon Smith hit his fifth double, and Jesus Feliz hit his ninth double.

Game 2 - GCL Twins 6, GCL Rays 4

Box Score

Regi Grace made the start and gave up three runs (one earned) on three hits in four innings. He walked one and struck out seven batters. Danny Moreno came on and gave up one hit in a scoreless inning. Junior Navas gave up a run on three hits in the sixth inning. Steve Theetge worked a perfect seventh inning for his first pro save.

The GCL Twins scored six runs with just five hits. However, in what was certainly an enjoyable game to watch, they walked 12 times. Jesus Feliz, Eric Jones, Francisco Martinez, Alec Craig and Jim Caceres each walked twice. Feliz added his third triple.

In rehab news, Luke Raley was 1-4 with a sacrifice fly. He again played center field. Brent Rooker went 1-for-3 with a walk. DHd after playing left field in Game 1.

TWINS DAILY PLAYERS OF THE DAY

Twins Daily Minor League Pitcher of the Day - Bailey Ober, Pensacola Blue Wahoos

Twins Daily Minor League Hitter of the Day – Trey Cabbage, Ft. Myers Miracle

PROSPECT SUMMARY

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

#1 - Royce Lewis (Pensacola) - 1-4, 2B(9), K

#2 - Alex Kirilloff (Pensacola) - 1-4, R, K

#3 - Brusdar Graterol (Rochester) - 1 IP, 1 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, HBP

#4 - Trevor Larnach (Pensacola) - 1-3, BB, R, K

#5 - Wander Javier (Cedar Rapids) -

#6 - Jordan Balazovic (Ft. Myers) - Did Not Pitch

#7 - Keoni Cavaco (GCL Twins) - Game 1 (1-4, R, 2 K)

#8 - Brent Rooker (Rochester) - GCL Rehab Game 1 (1-3), Game 2 (1-3, BB, 2 R)

#9 - Jhoan Duran (Pensacola) - Did Not Pitch

#10 - Blayne Enlow (Ft. Myers) - Did Not Pitch

#11 - Lewis Thorpe (Rochester) - Did Not Pitch

#12 - Nick Gordon (Rochester) - Injured List (lower leg contusion)

#13 - Ryan Jeffers (Pensacola) - 2-3, R

#14 - Luis Arraez (Minnesota) - Did Not Play

#15 - Matt Wallner (Cedar Rapids) - Did Not Play

#16 - Ben Rortvedt (Pensacola) - Injured List

#17 - Akil Baddoo (Ft. Myers) - Injured (Tommy John)

#18 - Jorge Alcala (Rochester) - Did Not Pitch

#19 - Misael Urbina (DSL Twins) - Season Complete

#20 - Travis Blankenhorn (Pensacola) - Did Not Play.

WEDNESDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS

Rochester @ Buffalo (6:35 CST) - RHP Preston Guilmet (2-6, 4.81 ERA)

Pensacola - No Game Scheduled

Ft. Myers @ Dunedin (DH @ 4:00 CST) - RHP Jordan Balazovic (6-4, 3.04 ERA), TBD

Quad Cities @ Cedar Rapids (6:35 CST) - RHP Matt Canterino (1-1, 1.80 ERA)

Greeneville @ Elizabethton (5:30 CST) - TBD

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

Please feel free to ask any questions and discuss the Tuesday games or any other minor league topics you would like.