Twins Minor League Report (8/7): Melville Masterful Again

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

Let’s start with the transactions of the day:

• As we heard on Sunday night, LHP Stephen Gonsalves and RHP Luke Bard have been promoted to AAA Rochester. On Monday morning, more parts of the transaction were announced:
  
• OF Edgar Corcino was sent back to the Lookouts. With Zack Granite returning to the Red Wings, and Daniel Palka now healthy, and JB Shuck in the picture, it makes sense to send Corcino to Chattanooga where he will play. Also, as mentioned yesterday, LaMonte Wade was placed on the disabled list.
  
• RHP DJ Baxendale was also sent from the Red Wings to the Lookouts.
  
• The other part of the move is Sam Clay’s promotion from Ft. Myers to Chattanooga.His season has been half-interesting, half-remarkable. In his first outing, he gave up six earned runs on 0.2 inning. Then he went 13 games (24.1 innings) without allowing a run. He then gave up one run in back-to-back games. Since then, he’s pitched in 20 games (31.0 IP) without allowing a run.
  
• Also, about a week ago, the Twins released infielder Zaino Henriquez from the Dominican Summer League roster. The Curacao native did a Q&A with Jeremy before the 2015 season. He had signed with the Twins in August 2015 at the age of 16.
  

RED WINGS REPORT

Rochester 1, Columbus 4

Box Score

Tim Melville was on the mound for the Red Wings, and as he has been since signing from the Atlantic League, he was very good. The right-hander gave up one run on one hit over seven innings. He walked three batters, but he struck out nine. When he left the game, it was tied at one.

Drew Rucinski entered and because of an error, he was charged with three unearned runs on four hits in the eighth inning. He struck out two. Michael Tonkin came on and struck out the side in the ninth.

Daniel Palka went 2-4. The Red Wings run scored on a single off the bat of Matt Hague. It scored Niko Goodrum, who had knocked his 23rd double.

CHATTANOOGA CHATTER

Chattanooga 3, Jackson 9

Box Score

It was another Fernando Romero outing, which is normally a very good thing. On this night, Romero had one of those clunkers that every pitcher experiences. He gave up single runs in the first and second innings before giving up four runs in the third. He settled down and ended his night with two scoreless innings. In all, he gave up six runs on nine hits over five innings. He walked none and also struck out none.

Dereck Rodriguez made his second straight appearance out of the bullpen. He gave up three runs on seven hits in his three innings. He struck out three. Todd Van Steensel dropped his season ERA to 1.45 with a scoreless ninth inning.

MIRACLE MATTERS

Ft. Myers 4, Palm Beach 5

Box Score

Take away the bottom of the third, and the Miracle would have posted a win, even a shutout, but that’s not how it works. Eduardo Del Rosario started, and he gave up five runs on six hits and four walks. The damage all came in that third inning. Williams Ramirez struck out two over two scoreless innings. Then Michael Theofanopoulos struck out one over two scoreless innings.

The Miracle tried to come back. Brent Rooker went 2-4, and his three-run homer in the sixth inning cut the Miracle deficit to just 5-4. But they were unable to push another run across the plate. Mitchell Kranson and Brandon Lopez each had two base hits. Jaylin Davis and Tanner English each added a double.

KERNELS NUGGETS

Cedar Rapids 2, Wisconsin 7

Box Score

The game was close throughout until a four-run eighth inning gave the TimberRattlers the final margin of victory.

Ben Rortvedt and Trey Cabbage combined to give the Kernels their two runs. In the second inning, Rortvedt doubled and later scored on a Cabbage single. Again in the fourth, Rortvedt doubled, his 14th of the year. Two batters later, Cabbage knocked him in with a sacrifice fly. Eight of the nine Kernels hitters had at least one hit, but they were only able to score the two runs. 12 strikeouts may have played a factor in that too.

Tyler Beardlsey started and went the first 4.2 innings. He was charged with three runs on three hits and three walks. He struck out two. Patrick McGuff came on and threw 2.1 scoreless innings. He walked two and struck out two. Colton Davis has been arguably the most consistent Kernels reliever all year, but it started out rough. The first batter of the eighth inning homered, and they added three more runs off of the Kernels reliever. His ERA jumped from 2.52 to 3.18 in this outing.

E-TWINS E-NOTES

Elizabethton, Bluefield

Box Score

The game was postponed by rain.

GCL TWINS TAKES

GCL Twins 0, GCL Orioles 6

Box Score

There was very little offense for the Twins in this game. Alex Robles had the lone hit for the team. Colton Burns had the lone walk.

Henry Centeno made his third rehab appearance. He went 2.2 innings and gave up one run on three hits. He struck out three without issuing a walk. Jordan Balazovic came on and gave up five runs (three earned) on eight hits in 3.1 innings. He walked three and struck out two. Taylor Clemensia threw two scoreless innings. He gave up a hit, walked one and struck out one.

TWINS DAILY PLAYERS OF THE DAY

Twins Daily Minor League Pitcher of the Day – Tim Melville, Rochester Red Wings.

Twins Daily Minor League Hitter of the Day – Brent Rooker, Ft. Myers Miracle

THURSDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS

Columbus @ Rochester (6:05 CST) - LHP Hector Santiago

Jackson @ Chattanooga (6:15 CST) - RHP Felix Jorge

Ft. Myers @ Palm Beach (5:30 CST) - RHP Brady Anderson

Cedar Rapids @ Wisconsin (7:05 CST) - LHP Bryan Sammons

Elizabethton @ Bluefield (DH at 4:05 CST) - RHP Melvi Acosta, RHP Nick Brown

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

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