Article: Twins Minor League Report (7/30): Slegers Solid, Buxton Homers

[Cody Christie]

This time of year can be a vicious time in the minor leagues. While some teams are fighting for a playoff spot, some players don't know the organization they will be playing for later in the week. In the age of social media and constant updates, it has to be unnerving to go to bed and not know if you will be moving across the country.

 

Two players will join the Twins systems as part of a deal for Jaime Garcia. Right-handed pitcher Zack Littell and LHP Dietrich Enns with Enns being assigned to Rochester and Littell headed to Chattanooga. Littell was ranked as high as the #20 prospect in the Yankees organization.

 

Also, pitchers Charlie Barnes and Bryan Sammons have been promoted from Elizabethtown to Cedar Rapids.RED WINGS REPORT

Rochester 2, Toledo 0

Box Score

Byron Buxton and ByungHo Park both homered to back up a stellar start from Aaron Slegers. Slegers tossed eight shutout innings by scattering four hits and striking out one. It was the fifth straight game he has pitched into the seventh inning and he has only allowed one earned run over his last four starts. Toldeo had only five opportunities to bat with runners in scoring position.

 

Buxton was pulled early from the game on Saturday with a tight hamstring but he was back in the line-up on Sunday. He led off the top of the sixth inning with a home run. He should be back with the Twins later this week. Park added an insurance run in the top of the ninth inning to help back the strong outing from Slegers It was Park's ninth home run of the year and his third in the last six games.

 

John Curtiss earned his fifth save since being promoted from Chattanooga. He walked two batters for the first time at Triple-A. He struck out the first batter of the ninth but then saw the next two reach with free passes. One runner made it to third but he wiggled out of it for the save.

 

CHATTANOOGA CHATTER

Chattanooga 6, Montgomery 3

Box Score

After a 21-inning game on Saturday, nine innings wasn't enough to decide this contest either. The Lookouts needed two runs in the seventh and one in the eighth to tie things at three. A three-run top of the tenth, and the Lookouts won their 69th game.

 

Stephen Gonsalves started and pitched into the seventh inning. He allowed three runs on six hits with four strikeouts and four walks. It was the first time he had allowed more than three walks this season. A tired Lookouts bullpen was taxed again. Todd Van Steensel pitched 2.1 shutout innings with a strikeout and two walks. Gabriel Moya took over when Van Steensel got into trouble in the ninth. He made it out of that frame and only allowed one hit in the tenth inning for his first win in the Twins system.

 

TJ White got the scoring started in the seventh inning as he was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. One batter later, a wild pitch allowed Max Murphy to scamper home and cut the lead to 3-2. In the eighth inning, Alex Perez and Murphy walked to put runners in scoring position. Jonathan Rodriguez plated a run with a sharp single to right. Rodriguez reached base four times in the game. The 10th inning was a wild mess with two hits, four walks and a wild pitch. It was enough to plate three Chattanooga runs.

 

MIRACLE MATTERS

Fort Myers 4, Clearwater 0 (Game 1- 7 Innings)

Box Score

After a two-hour rain delay, the Miracle were able to open up the scoring in the fifth inning. Zander Wiel singled to start the frame before moving to second on a wild pitch. Brandon Lopez drove him in from second with a single and Fort Myers was up 1-0.

 

The Miracle added three insurance runs in the top of the seventh. Wiel and Lopez walked with one out. Jaylin Davis reached on an fielding error by the shortstop to load the bases. Recently promoted Brent Rooker walked to bring in a run. Kevin Garcia brought in a run with a sacrifice fly and Shane Kennedy drove in a run with a two-out single to cap the three-run frame.

 

Anthony McIver started and pitched four scoreless frames. He struck out two, walked one, and limited the Threshers to two hits. Michael Theofanopoulos earned his fifth win,having pitched two scoreless frames in relief. Tom Hackimer finished off the shutout with a perfect final frame.

 

Fort Myers 0, Clearwater 2 (Game 2- 7 Innings)

Box Score

There was little to write home about for the Miracle in this one. In fact, the team didn't manage a hit as Harold Arauz went the distance and struck out 10. Brandon Lopez was the lone batter to reach base with a walk in the final inning. He made it to second after a ground out but was left in scoring position.

 

Keaton Steele allowed one run on four hits while striking out two. He pitched three frames and didn't allow a walk. Williams Ramirez took over for Steele and tossed two scoreless frames. He only allowed one hit and struck out three. Alex Muren saw one run cross the plate in the final frame. It was an important insurance run for Clearwater to help Arauz finish off the no-hitter.

 

KERNELS NUGGETS

Cedar Rapids 3, Lansing 5

Box Score

Aaron Whitefield drove in all three runs for the Kernels and stole two bases but his one-man wrecking crew approach didn't lead to a win. A three-run home run in the sixth inning proved to be more of a wrecking ball than what Whitefield provided. Ben Rortvedt and Joe Cronin each reached base twice while Rortvedt scored a pair of runs.

 

Anthony Marzi allowed five runs (four earned) over five innings with five strikeouts and two walks. The pivotal three-run homer was given up by Marzi before had he retired a batter in the sixth. Logan Lombana allowed one base runner over two innings with a pair of strikeouts. Max Cordy continued to put up zeros with two scoreless frames. He limited the LumberKings to one hit.

 

E-TWINS E-NOTES

Elizabethton 9, Bluefield 1

Box Score

The E-Twins exploded for nine run on 11 hits to pound the Mets. Every batter in the E-Twins line-up collected a hit. Jose Miranda and Shane Carrier each had multi-hit nights. Andrew Cosgrove knocked his first professional home run. Wander Javier reached base three times and collected his eighth double. Every batter from three through nine in the line-up had at least one RBI.

 

Ryely Widell and Moises Gomez combined for a strong pitching performance. Widell started and tossed four scoreless frames. He struck out six and walked two. He's only allowed one earned run in four professional appearances. Gomez was credited with the win, allowing one earned run over five innings. He struck out five and didn't issue a walk.

 

TWINS DAILY PLAYERS OF THE DAY

Pitcher of the Day – Aaron Slegers, Rochester Red Wings (8 IP, 0 ER, 0 BB, 4 H)

Hitter of the Day – Jonathan Rodriguez, Chattanooga Lookouts (2-for-4, 3 RBI, 2 BB)

MONDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS

Rochester - Scheduled Off-Day

Chattanooga @ Montgomery (7:05 CST) - RHP Kohl Stewart (4-5, 3.47 ERA)

Fort Myers @ Clearwater (6:00 CST) - RHP Sean Poppen (2-2, 3.42 ERA)

Cedar Rapids vs. Clinton (6:35 CST) - LHP Charlie Barnes (MWL Debut)

Elizabethton vs. Kingsport (6:00 CST) - RHP Melvi Acosta (3-1, 6.30 ERA)

GCL Twins @ GCL Rays (11:00 am CST) - TBD

Please feel free to ask any questions and discuss Sunday’s games.

 

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[Seth Stohs]

Aaron Whitefield left the game with a collar bone injury, but as of now, they don't seem too worried about it.

 

The last three Miracle games.

 

Saturday - 1 hit, a Jermaine Palacios single which I was told was a kind single.

Game 1 Sunday - 4 hits (but someone four runs)

Game 2 Sunday - No hits, one walk. 

 

 

[Dman]

Really liking Widell.  Seems like most of the pitchers they drafted this year have been doing well in Elizabethton.  Might be time to get some of them to A ball.  Some of the hitters especially the senior signs could stand to moved up as well.  Especially since Cedar Rapids can't seem to get the offense going and the pitching hasn't been as good after some of promotions either.

[nater79a]

Aaron Slegers, man!  Last three games combined before today's gem:

 

21.2 IP,  15 H,  15 K,  2 BB, 1 ER,  .0.42 ERA, .78 WHIP

 

If that's not the Twins Daily starting pitcher for July the award should be retired!

 

I know the strikeout numbers (lack of) concerns some.  But get him on the 40-man, call him up and let's see what he has.

[Seth Stohs]

 

Really liking Widell.  Seems like most of the pitchers they drafted this year have been doing well in Elizabethton.  Might be time to get some of them to A ball.  Some of the hitters especially the senior signs could stand to moved up as well.  Especially since Cedar Rapids can't seem to get the offense going and the pitching hasn't been as good after some of promotions either.

 

See the Transactions section at the top... 

[diehardtwinsfan]

Should note the OP states Barnes will start in Etown... guessing that's a typo?

[ashbury]

Byron Buxton and ByungHo Park both homered to back-up a stellar start from Aaron Slegers. Slegers tossed eight shutout innings by scattering four hits and striking out one. It was the fifth straight game he has pitched into the seventh inning and he has only allowed one earned run over his last four starts. Toldeo only had five opportunities to bat with runners in scoring position.

Slegers is my Adopt-A-Prospect and I couldn't be more encouraged by his progress this season. He seems a lock for a September look-see, and depending on how the big club navigates the trade winds he could get the call sometime in August maybe.

[sftwinsfan]

I agree with giving Slegers a chance at this point.  Now with Garcia gone and dropping rapidly out of the race, no point in wheeling Colon out there either.  Personally I think Slegers is likely a AAA/AAAA starter that will fail, but he's earned at least a shot to prove otherwise.  

[Han Joelo]

Yeah, I'm confused about Barnes and Sammons. I thought they've already started their careers in E-town.

[Kevin]

 

Yeah, I'm confused about Barnes and Sammons. I thought they've already started their careers in E-town.

Corrected now. See the third paragraph above- editor

[nater79a]

 

I agree with giving Slegers a chance at this point.  Now with Garcia gone and dropping rapidly out of the race, no point in wheeling Colon out there either.  Personally I think Slegers is likely a AAA/AAAA starter that will fail, but he's earned at least a shot to prove otherwise.  

 

Could be a AAAA guy.  But yep, the way he's pitched lately he deserves a shot at the major league level.

 

[Han Joelo]

Cool.  Thanks.  

[carlito_b]

I hope hildenberger opens up the front office's eyes and they give guys with really strong resumes a chance I the pen for the rest of the season.. Mainly John curtis but others fit the bill

[laloesch]

 

Aaron Slegers, man!  Last three games combined before today's gem:

 

21.2 IP,  15 H,  15 K,  2 BB, 1 ER,  .0.42 ERA, .78 WHIP

 

If that's not the Twins Daily starting pitcher for July the award should be retired!

 

I know the strikeout numbers (lack of) concerns some.  But get him on the 40-man, call him up and let's see what he has.

 

yes.  This guy absolutely should be getting a shot instead of Colon who is done after this season anyways.  Not understanding why this hasn't happened yet.