Twins Minor League Report (8/7): Thorpe Dices, Wallner Wacks, Graterol Returns

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Minnesota

RHP Kohl Stewart optioned to Triple-A

Pensacola

RHP Brusdar Graterol activated from 7-day IL

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https://twitter.com/DWolfsonKSTP/status/1159219085571502082

RED WINGS REPORT

Gwinnett 4, Rochester 3

Box Score

Lewis Thorpe was nails in this one as he went six innings allowing just a single hit and striking out seven. He’s looked strong for the Twins this year, and a performance like this won’t keep him in Triple-A for long.

https://twitter.com/RocRedWings/status/1159251771816140803

In the second inning Zander Wiel hit his 20th homer of the season, which was notable beyond just putting Rochester on the board. The 427-foot blast was Rochester’s 155th of the season setting a new franchise record. The 154 single-season home run record had stood since 1959.

Scoring was at a premium in this one with stud Atlanta prospect Kyle Wright opposing the Red Wings. Caleb Hamilton doubled the score in the seventh on his secondTriple-A two-bagger. That’s where the momentum stopped for the home team.

https://twitter.com/RocRedWings/status/1159286073085890560

A four-run eighth inning, complete with a Pedro Florimon triple for the Stripers had the Red Wings looking up at the wrong side of the scoreboard. With two runners on in the ninth Rochester threatened, but Brandon Barnes’ RBI single was the only run they managed to push across.

BLUE WAHOOS BITES

Mobile 5, Pensacola 1

Box Score

Star Twins prospect Jhoan Duran was tonight’s starter and he was hit around a bit during his six innings of work. Despite striking out six and walking just one, he gave up five earned on seven hits.

Recently activated Travis Blankenhorn blasted his 17th homer of the year to open the scoring, but that was the only run the Blue Wahoos brought home. Giving up four in the bottom of the third, they trailed for the majority of this contest.

Trying to claw their way back, Pensacola did generate a ninth inning threat but Mobile’s bullpen was able to hold things in check.

https://twitter.com/BlueWahoosBBall/status/1159191468680065030

MIRACLE MATTERS

Game 1: St. Lucie 5, Fort Myers 2

Box Score

Playing a twin bill after wet grounds postponed yesterday’s action it was Dakota Chalmers on the bump for game one. He went four innings allowing three runs (two earned) and striking out six. Unfortunately he also walked six and with just one hit given up, the free passes are where the damage came from.

Trailing 1-0 in the fifth Fort Myers took the lead. Michael Davis drove in the first run on a sac fly and Gabriel Maciel followed suit for run number two. The lead didn’t last long as a two run shot in the bottom of the inning put St. Lucie back in the lead, and a sixth inning tally made it a three run margin for good measure.

Game 2: Fort Myers 9, St. Lucie 2

Box Score

Attempting to avoid the sweep on the day, the ball was handed to Melvi Acosta. He turned in five innings of solid work allowing just two runs, and the offense put him in the driver’s seat early.

Jose Miranda gave the Miracle a 1-0 lead on a first inning single, and then the away team broke it open. Fort Myers plated five in the second with the most damage coming on a two-RBI triple from Andrew Bechtold. He got the last 90 feet on a wild pitch and the lead then was two field goals.

A fourth inning triple from David Banuelos plated another run before Miranda ripped his sixth dinger of the year, a solo shot, in the fourth. Up 8-2 heading into the final from, Ernie De La Trinadad wore a pitch with the bases loaded to generate the game’s final run.

KERNELS NUGGETS

Kane County 3, Cedar Rapids 1

Box Score

Kody Funderburk was on the bump and despite there not being much offense tonight, he was worth the price of admission. Twirling five innings of two-hit ball, Funderburk struck out five walking just two.

The Kernels were able to generate just four hits on the evening and their only run came on a ninth inning error. This was a bit of a sloppy affair with the two clubs combining for six errors on the evening.

E-TWINS E-NOTES

Elizabethton 6, Kingsport 3

Box Score

Cody Lawyerson got the nod for the E-Twins tonight and worked three scoreless innings. He gave up no hits while walking one and striking out two. Erik Cha worked 3 1/3 innings of relief to pick up his fifth victory of the season, moving him to a 5-1 record.

https://twitter.com/ETwinsBaseball/status/1159235783334813697

In the top of the first inning Matt Wallner launched his fourth homer of the season. A two-run shot that scored DaShawn Keirsey had the E-Twins on the board. After allowing the Mets to even things up, Keirsey singled in the sixth driving in Trevor Jensen and putting the E-Twins back on top.

Looking for some breathing room Elizabethton found it in the late innings. Janigson Villalobos recorded his fourth double of the season driving in two, and a Max Smith single in the ninth added another. Kingsport attempted a comeback in the final frame but could only push a single run across.

With the victory Elizabethton avoided a series sweep on the road and continue their trip tomorrow in Johnson City.

GCL TWINS TAKES

Game 1: GCL Twins 5, GCL Orioles 4

Box Score

Regi Grace started today’s contest for the Twins and turned in four innings of work. He surrendered four runs on four hits while striking out two and walking one. In line for the win, he couldn’t make it through the fifth inning to satisfy the necessary requirement.

The damage was done by the top of the Twins lineup in this one. Third baseman Alec Craig had a two-hit game scoring twice, while Jeferson Morales added two hits of his own (both doubles). Cleanup hitter Victor Heredia was the third member of the multi-hit trio on the afternoon with a two-hit effort as well.

Runs were scored in the first, third, and fourth innings by the GCL Twins and the five tallies were enough to stay afloat after a three-run fourth inning by the Orioles.

Game 2: GCL Twins 5 GCL Orioles 4

Box Score

Matthew Swain got behind by a 4-0 tally through the first two innings of work in game two today, but this one would see the lineup come through once again. Turning the ball over to the bullpen down 4-1, the GCL Twins evened things up with quickness.

In the top of the third inning 2019 first-round pick Keoni Cavaco launched his first professional home run. It was a three-run blast and knotted the score at 4. Waiting all the way until the final frame, the Twins then added another in the top half of the seventh to win the second half of the doubleheader with the same score as the first.

TWINS DAILY MINOR LEAGUE PLAYERS OF THE DAY

Pitcher of the Day – Lewis Thorpe (Rochester) – 6.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 7 K

Hitter of the Day – Matt Wallner (Elizabethton) – 2-5, 2 R, 2 RBI, HR(4)

PROSPECT SUMMARY

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

#1 - Royce Lewis (Pensacola) – 0-4, BB, K

#2 - Alex Kirilloff (Pensacola) – 1-4

#3 - Brusdar Graterol (Pensacola) – Did Not Pitch

#4 - Trevor Larnach (Pensacola) – 0-3, BB, K

#5 - Wander Javier (Cedar Rapids) – 0-3, R, 2 K

#6 - Jordan Balazovic (Fort Myers) – Did Not Pitch

#7 - Keoni Cavaco (GCL) – 1-4, R, HR(1), 3 RBI, 2 K

#8 - Brent Rooker (Rochester) - Injured List (groin)

#9 - Jhoan Duran (Pensacola) – 6.0 IP, 7 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 1 BB, 6 K

#10 - Blayne Enlow (Fort Myers) – Did Not Pitch

#11 - Lewis Thorpe (Rochester) – 6.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 7 K

#12 - Nick Gordon (Rochester) - Did not play

#13 - Ryan Jeffers (Pensacola) – Did Not Play

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

#15 - Matt Wallner (Elizabethton) – 2-5, 2 R, 2 RBI, HR(4)

#16 - Ben Rortvedt (Pensacola) – 1-3, BB

#17 - Akil Baddoo (Fort Myers) - Injured List (Tommy John surgery)

#18 - Jorge Alcala (Pensacola) – Did Not Pitch

#19 - Misael Urbina (DSL) – 1-4, RBI

#20 - Travis Blankenhorn (Pensacola) – 1-4, R, RBI, HR(17)

THURSDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS

Gwinnett @ Rochester (6:05PM CST) – RHP Griffin Jax (Triple-A Debut)

Pensacola @ Mobile (6:35PM CST) – LHP Bryan Sammons (4-4, 4.18 ERA)

Jupiter @ Fort Myers (6:00PM CST) - TBD

Cedar Rapids @ Kane County (6:30PM CST) – RHP Luis Rijo (4-6, 2.58 ERA)

Elizabethton @ Johnson City (5:30PM CST) - TBD

Please feel free to ask questions and discuss Wednesday’s games!