Twins Minor League Report (9/3): Playoffs, Play-Ins, and Playing On

Find out everything that happened in the Twins minor league system on Saturday.

RED WINGS REPORT

Rochester 1, Lehigh Valley 5

Box Score

The Red Wings playoff hopes came to an end on Friday night, so Saturday was the first game that didn’t really have season significance. Then again, for minor leaguers - especially guys in AAA - every game is an opportunity to impress.

Tyler Duffey made the start and threw a complete game. However, he gave up five runs on seven hits over eight innings. He walked two and struck out seven. Four of the hits were home runs.

Tanner English moved to the leadoff role and picked up his first two Red Wings hits. He also stole his first base. Mitch Garver went 2-4. Leonardo Reginnato led the way going 4-4 in the game.

CHATTANOOGA CHATTER

Chattanooga 2, Jackson 1

Box Score

Kohl Stewart spent some time on the DL but quickly returned and made the Saturday start. He gave up just one run on three hits over six innings. He walked three and struck out one. He improved to 9-6 with the Lookouts with a 3.03 ERA. Randy LeBlanc picked up his first save, in his first relief appearance, with three no-hit, scoreless innings. He walked two and struck out four.

Niko Goodrum and Dalton Hicks each went 2-4. Edgar Corcino hit his seventh double.

MIRACLE MATTERS

Game 1 - Ft. Myers 7, Bradenton 3

Box Score

Dereck Rodriguez looked to continue a strong string of starts. The right-hander gave up two runs on five hits over five innings. He struck out three without issuing a walk. He was replaced by Confesor Lara who worked the next two innings. He gave up one run on three hits and a walk. Michael Theofanopoulos struck out four batters over two perfect innings.

Nick Gordon had a very good game. He went 3-3 with a walk and his 23rd double. He stole two bases and now has 20 on the season. Christian Ibarra went 2-3 with a walk and his second triple. Joe Maloney provided the big hit of the game. He hit a three-run homer. It was his fifth home run with the Miracle.

Game 2 - Ft. Myers 6, Bradenton 11

Box Score

Game 2 just got off to a bad start. Lefty Sam Clay started and recorded just one out. He gave up six runs on two hits and four walks. Logan Lombana made his first Miracle appearance. He gave up one run on five hits and two walks in 2.2 innings. He struck out one. Cam Booser gave up two runs on three hits in 1.2 innings. He walked one and struck out three. Luke Westphal gave up two runs on two hits in 2.1 innings. He walked two and struck out three.

Brian Navarreto went 3-3 in the game. Alex Perez went 1-3 with a walk. AJ Murray hit his third Miracle homer. Daniel Kihle went 1-2 with a walk, his first triple and three RBIs.

KERNELS NUGGETS

Cedar Rapids 5, Wisconsin 8

Box Score

Over his past eight starts (five of which have been for Cedar Rapids), Brady Anderson has given up a combined four earned runs. On this night, Anderson was charged with six runs on 12 hits in 5.1 innings. He walked one and struck out two. Williams Ramirez went the next 2.1 innings. He gave up two runs on two hits. He walked three and struck out four. Tom Hackimer got the final four outs, two of them on strikeouts.

Zander Wiel led the Kernels offense. He went 3-5 with his 17th home run and two RBIs. JJ Fernandez hit a big three-run homer. It was his tenth homer of the season and second in as many games. Jaylin Davis hit his 12th and 13th doubles. Manuel Guzman walked three times.

E-TWINS E-NOTES

Elizabethton 4, Johnson City 7

Box Score

The E-Twins hosted Game 1 of their best-of-three series against neighboring Johnson City.

Lewin Diaz got the team started on a positive note when his solo home run gave them a 1-0 lead. Diaz added a double later. Caleb Hamilton twice had an RBI single in the game as well. Luis Martinez was also 2-4. Shane Carrier hit a double.

Miguel DeJesus was tasked with the Game 1 start. He gave up three runs on four hits and three walks in five innings. He struck out four. Hector Lujan came on and was charged with two runs on three hits and a walk in 2.2 innings. He struck out one. Johan Quezada gave up two unearned runs on two hits in one inning. Quin Grogan came on to get the final out.

Former Gopher and the reigning Big Ten Player of the Year Matt Fiedler hits third for Johnson City. He was the 10th-round pick of the Cardinals this past June and has spent the summer in the Appalachian League. After a very slow start, he ended the regular season hitting .325/.386/.487 (.874) with 20 doubles and four home runs.

Game 2 will be in Johnson City, as will Game 3, if necessary.

GCL TWINS TAKES

GCL Twins 3, GCL Red Sox 4

Box Score

The two teams were rained out in their game that was supposed to be played on Friday so their regular-season finale came on Saturday morning. Win and In! The winner of the game would advance to the playoffs. The losing team’s season was over.

Unfortunately the GCL Twins season is over. They fell behind 4-0. They scored three in the eighth inning, but the comeback fell just short.

Tyler Fox made the start for the Twins. The right-hander from Nebraska-Omaha went the first 5.1 innings. He gave up three runs on four hits and two walks. He struck out one. He was replaced by Zach Strecker who went the next 1.2 innings and gave up a run on four hits. Onas Farfan threw two scoreless innings to end the game. He gave up one hit, walked two and struck out one.

Lean Marrero went 3-3 with his sixth double in the game. He stole his fifth base. Akil Baddoo had a two-run triple in the team’s big inning. Jorge Munoz stole two bases, his 12th and 13th of the season.

TWINS DAILY PLAYERS OF THE DAY

Twins Daily Minor League Pitcher of the Day – Kohl Stewart, Chattanooga Lookouts

Twins Daily Minor League Hitter of the Day – Zander Wiel, Cedar Rapids Kernels

SUNDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS

Rochester @ Lehigh Valley (5:35 CST) - RHP Omar Bencomo

Chattanooga @ Jackson (2:05 CST) - RHP Ryan Eades

Bradenton @ Ft. Myers (9:35 CST) - RHP Keaton Steele

Clinton @ Cedar Rapids (2:05 CST) – RHP Sam Gibbons

Playoffs Round 1 Game 2: Elizabethton @ Johnson City (5:00 CST) - RHP Tyler Wells

GCL Twins - Season Over

Please feel free to ask any questions and discuss Saturday's games.