Twins Minor League Report (9/7): ): E-Town Dominates, Kernels Sweep, and Lookouts Lose Late

CHATTANOOGA CHATTER

Montgomery 3 @ Chattanooga 2

Box Score

Chattanooga gave up a pair of runs in the top of the first inning, starting the game with three consecutive singles and a sacrifice fly to plate two runs. After a bumpy first inning, Lookouts starter Dereck Rodriguez settled down and went deep into the game. He gave up no more runs after the two in the first, went 7.0 innings, struck out seven, and walked no one. He was lifted for Cody Stashak, who gave up a run in the top of the eighth, which ended up being the difference maker.

After they fell behind early, the Lookouts battled back to tie the game in the bottom of the seventh, before Stashak coughed up the lead an inning later. The Lookouts were led by Max Murpy, 2-4 with an RBI double and T.J. White, who launched a solo home run to tie the game in the seventh. The bottom of the Lookouts order really struggled on Thursday night, a combined 0-9 for the 7-8-9 hitters. The Lookouts had opportunities, but were 0-8 with runners in scoring position, stranding all eight of those runners.

KERNELS NUGGETS

Cedar Rapids 7 @ Kane County 3

Box Score

A big fourth inning led the Kernels back to the Western Division Championship Series for the fourth straight year. The Kernels scored six runs in the fourth, erasing an early two-run deficit, topped by a Trey Cabbage three-run homer, his only hit on a 1-2 night that included a walk. Jimmy Kerrigan had a big night at the plate as well, 3-5 with a pair of runs scored.

Manager Tommy Watkins acknowledged to Kernels beat reporter Jeff Johnson that they found a tip in the Cougars pitcher. "“You know what, we got a hit and got him in the stretch. We had something on him, and it was more out of the stretch than in the windup." Read Jeff's story in its entirety here.

Clark Beeker went 7.0 innings, scattered nine hits and gave up three runs (two earned) while walking three and striking out six. He was lifted for Colton Davis who gave the team 1.2 innings of two-hit baseball before Hector Lujan came in to get the final out of the game against the only batter he faced to preserve the win.

The Kernels will await the winner of the Peoria and Quad Cities deciding Game 3 on Thursday night, and will begin the Championship Series on the road on Saturday.

E-Twins E-Notes

Pulaski 1 @ Elizabethton 12

Box Score

In the first game of the Championship Series, the Twins let Pulaski know they were ready to get down to business, blasting the Yankees 12-1. The Twins were led by J.J. Robinson, 3-4 with two RBIs and T.J. Dixon, 3-3 with a double, a home run, a walk and three runs scored!

Nick Brown earned the win with 6.0 innings of one-run baseball. He gave up five hits, walked three, and struck out three. Ryley Widell gave the Twins 2.0 innings of scoreless baseball, and recorded five of his six outs via the strikeout, but he also walked a pair of guys and gave up three hits. Jose Martinez finished the game with 1.0 inning, he gave up just one hit, no runs, no walks, no strike outs.

TWINS DAILY PLAYERS OF THE DAY

Twins Daily Minor League Pitcher of the Day – Clark Beeker, Cedar Rapids Kernels

Twins Daily Minor League Hitter of the Day – T.J. Dixon, Elizabethton Twins

FRIDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS

Chattanooga @ Montgomery (6:35pm) – TBD

Cedar Rapids - Off

Elizabethton @ Pulaski( 6:00pm) - TBD

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