Twins Minor League Report: Sawyer, Perez, Diaz Provide Big Hits

Keep reading to find out more on the night in the Twins minor league system on Monday. And as always, please feel free to discuss and ask questions.

AWARDS

Before we get too far, here are some awards for last week.

• The Twins names Cedar Rapids outfielder Alex Kirilloff their minor league hitter of the week. They also named both Edwar Colina and Jovani Moran as the minor league pitchers of the week. The two Kernels combined for a no-hitter last week.
  
• Stephen Gonsalves was named the International League Pitcher of the Week. In his two starts, he went 2-0 with a 0.63 ERA. In 14 1/3 innings, he gave up just one run on four hits. He walked two and struck out 14.
  

TRANSACTIONS

• The Twins announced that LHP Dietrich Enns has cleared waivers and been outrighted to the Red Wings.
  
• The Miracle announced that RH RP Tom Hackimer has been activated.
  
• This is more of an injury update than a transaction, but Lachlan Wells is headed for Tommy John surgery. The young left-hander from Australia will have the surgery next week.
  

RED WINGS REPORT

Rochester 7, Buffalo 3

Box Score

The Red Wings were down 2-0 through the game’s first six innings, and then the offense took off. They scored five runs in the seventh frame. The big shot was a grand slam off the bat of Wynston Sawyer, his first AAA home run.

Sawyer was 2-for-4 in the game. Jimmy Kerrigan was also 2-for-4 and added his first AAA homer as well. James Ramsey, Taylor Featherston, Jermaine Curtis, Brock Stassi and Leonardo Reginatto each had two hits as well. Curtis and Stassi had double. Reginatto added a triple.

Myles Jaye started and threw the first six innings. He gave up two runs (one earned) on four hits and a walk. He struck out two. Gabriel Moya gave up a run on two hits over the next two innings. He walked two and struck out five. Luke Bard struck out all three batters he faced in the ninth.

CHATTANOOGA CHATTER

Chattanooga 6 , Jackson 4

Box Score

Down 3-2 going into the bottom of the sixth, the Lookouts loaded the bases. Infielder Alex Perez came up and unloaded the based with his first triple since joining the team last week from Ft. Myers. Perez went 2-for-4 in the game. Edgar Corcino went 2-for-4 with his sixth double. Brian Navarreto went 2-for-4 with his third double. Chris Paul was 2-for-3 with a walk.

Lewis Thorpe reached the 100-pitch count, and 70 of them were strikes. The lefty from Australia gave up three runs on eight hits over 5 1/3 innings. He walked three and struck out five. Cody Stashak came on and gave up a hit and a walk, but he recorded five outs. Tyler Jay gave up an unearned run on one hit over the final two innings to record his first save of the year. He struck out two.

MIRACLE MATTERS

Ft. Myers 5, Charlotte 7

Box Score

The Miracle bats were able to score some runs, but the team was unable to keep runs from scoring in the loss.

Sean Poppen made the start for the Miracle. The right-hander gave up four runs (two earned) on five hits (two home runs) and four walks in four innings. He struck out five. Hector Lujan came on and gave up two runs on four hits and a walk in three innings. Andrew Vasquez gave up an unearned run on two hits over the final two innings.

Jaylin Davis led the offense with three hits. Lewin Diaz provided the big offense. He was 2-5 with a three-run homer, his fourth home run of the year. Luis Arraez was 2-5 with his second double.

KERNELS NUGGETS

Cedar Rapids 2, Dayton 3

Box Score

Royce Lewis just continues to rack up single after single. Lewis singled in his first three at-bats on Monday night and is now hitting a robust .372 on the season. Alex Kirilloff went 2-5 with his 11th double of the season. Ben Rortvedt added his fifth double.

First, be sure to read Steve Buhr’s terrific article on Kernels starter Edwar Colina. He made his fourth start of the season on Monday night. He gave up two runs on two hits, but he went just 3 1/3 innings because he walked six batters. He struck out two. His no-hit partner Jovani Moran came on and got the next five outs. He was charted with one run on two hits and two walks. He struck out two. Carlos Suniaga then struck out two over two scoreless innings. Jose Martinez pitched one scoreless inning.

The teams will play again on Tuesday night in Dayton. Originally, 2017 top pick Hunter Greene was scheduled to start for Dayton, but his next start has been pushed to Saturday.

STARS OF THE DAY

Twins Daily Hitter of the Day: Wynston Sawyer, Rochester Red Wings (2-4, Grand Slam (first AAA homer), four RBI)

Twins Daily Pitcher of the Day: Luke Bard, Rochester Red Wings (1 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K)

TOP PROSPECT SUMMARY

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

#1 - Royce Lewis (Cedar Rapids) - 3-5, R, SB(10)

#2 - Fernando Romero (Minnesota) - 6 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 9 K, 97 pitches (57 strikes)

#3 - Nick Gordon (Chattanooga) - 0-4, RBI

#5 - Alex Kirilloff (Cedar Rapids) - 2-5, 2B(11), RBI, K

#7 - Brent Rooker (Chattanooga) - 1-4

#10 - Akil Baddoo (Cedar Rapids) - 0-3, 2 BB, K

#13 - Lewin Diaz (Ft. Myers) - 2-5, HR(4), 3 RBI, R, K

#16 - Ben Rortvedt (Cedar Rapids) - 1-4, 2B (5), R, 3 K

#17 - Travis Blankenhorn (Ft. Myers) - 0-4, BB, K

#19 - Tyler Jay (Chattanooga) - 2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K

TUESDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS

Rochester @ Buffalo (5:05 CST) - RHP Aaron Slegers (2-1, 2.67 ERA)

Jackson @ Chattanooga (6:15 CST) - RHP Kohl Stewart (3-1 ,4.91 ERA)

Charlotte @ Ft. Myers (6:00 CST) - RHP Tyler Wells (3-1, 2.70 ERA)

Cedar Rapids @ Dayton (6:00 CST) - LHP Tyler Watson (2-1, 2.08 ERA)

Please feel free to ask any questions about Monday’s full schedule of games, or ask any questions you may have.