Twins Minor League Report (9/4): Post-Season Fun

Miracle Matters

Daytona 1, Fort Myers 5

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The Miracle took a 1-0 lead in the best-of-five Florida State League Championship Series on Thursday night with a victory over the Daytona Cubs. The Miracle jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the second inning and never looked back. Dalton Hicks and Stuart Turner scored those two runs on an RBI single from Tyler Grimes with two outs in the second. Miracle Starter Matt Tomshaw was cruising into the sixth inning before running into a little bit of trouble. The Cubs' leadoff hitter in the sixth reached on a ground ball that deflected off Tomshaw, and then advanced to second when Tyler Grimes committed a throwing error trying to make a play on the deflected ball. The next hitter dropped a bunt single to put runners on the corners with no outs. Tomshaw then struck out a hitter before a ground-rule double plated a run. The Miracle were saved a run as the base runners were only allowed to advance two bases. Tomshaw then walked the next batter and induced an inning-ending double play a batter later.

With the score now 2-1, Adam Brett Walker, who finished first in the FSL in homers in the regular season, led off the bottom of the sixth and deposited the third pitch of the inning over the Green Monster in left field. The Miracle added another run in the sixth when Travis Harrison doubled home Jason Kanzler. The Miracle closed out the scoring in the bottom of the seventh via an RBI double from Adam Brett Walker, scoring Stuart Turner. With runners on second and third with no out and a chance to really break the game open, the Miracle failed to put another ball in play as Tyler Grimes and Jason Kanzler struck out swinging before Aderlin Megia was hit by a pitch. Then with bases loaded and two outs, Niko Goodrum went down on strikes as well.

With the score then 5-1, D.J. Johnson and Brandon Peterson finished things up for the Miracle, holding the Cubs scoreless for the final two frames.

On the night, Adam Brett Walker was 3-4 with a run scored, that double and home run, and two RBIs. The 22-year-old is hitting .444 this post season, and as I mentioned above, led the FSL in homers this year, with 25 long balls. A year ago in Cedar Rapids Walker lit up the Midwest League with 27 round-trippers. Walker should start 2015 in Double-A and really test his mettle against some of the better pitchers in the minor leagues.

Travis Harrison was 2-4 on the day with two doubles, an RBI and a walk. The Miracle hitters totaled eleven hits, four walks and nine strike outs against the Cubs.

Matt Tomshaw's final line was six innings pitched, six hits, one earned run, two walks and he struck out four. D.J. Johnson pitched two scoreless innings to earn his second hold of the post season, and Brandon Peterson finished things off in the eighth.

The Miracle are back at "home" at Jet Blue Park for game-two on Friday evening at 6:05pm.

Kernels Nuggets

Cedar Rapids 2, Burlington 1

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After dropping the first game of the series in Cedar Rapids, the Kernels snuck past the Burlington Bees 2-1 to force a third game in this three-game series. The Kernels and the Bees played three quiet innings until Cedar Rapids broke the scoreless tie in the top of the fourth. With runners on the corner and no outs, Alex Swim singled home a run to give the Kernels a 1-0 lead with two runners on and no outs and a chance to extend their lead. The next batter, J.D. Williams, popped one up to the first baseman, and then Engelb Vielma and Michael Quesada both struck out swinging to end the Kernel's threat.

The Bees tied the game with two outs in the bottom of the sixth on an RBI single, ending the evening for Kernel's starter Mat Batts. Brian Gilbert replaced Batts and struck out the next batter swinging to end the sixth.

In the top of the eighth Logan Wade pushed the Kernels ahead by a run with a solo home run, which turned out to be the winning run for the Kernels. In the bottom of the eighth, things heated up after Jake Mauer was ejected arguing a safe call at first base on a bunt attempt that gave Burlington runners on first and second with no outs. Mauer's ejection perked up his team as Gilbert proceeded to pick off the runner at second base, and then quickly induced an inning ending double play to move play to the ninth.

Down by one, the Bees put runners on the corners with no outs against Jake Reed, who replaced Gilbert to start the inning. Reed struck out the next batter and then induced an inning ending double play of his own on a grounder to Engelb Vielma at shortstop to preserve the Kernels' victory.

The Kernels recorded just seven hits on the night, to go along with a single walk while striking out ten times. Chad Christensen was 2-4. The hero of the night, Logan Wade, was 1-4 with that solo blast. On the mound, Mat Batts pitched very well, scattering three hits over 5.2 innings, giving up only one run. Brian Gilbert pitched 2.1 scoreless innings before turning things over to Jake Reed for an adventurous save.

The Kernels and the Bees will finish things off on Friday at 6:30pm at Community Field in Burlington, winner take all.

TwinsDaily Minor League Players of the Day

TwinsDaily Minor League Hitter of the Day - Adam Brett Walker, Fort Myers

TwinsDaily Minor League Pitcher of the Day - Matt Tomshaw, Fort Myers

Friday's Probables

Daytona @ Fort Myers, 6:05pm, Ethan Mildren

Cedar Rapids @ Burlington, 6:30pm, Stephen Gonsalves