Article: Twins Minor League Report (6/14): Blankenhorn Walk-off Winner Lifts Wahoos

[Tom Froemming]

Travis Blankenhorn ended Pensacola’s night on a high note, hitting a walk-off single in the 11th inning. Also, Josh Winder pitched well, Willians Astudillo had four more hits and Brent Rooker provided a game-winning base knock.

 

Come check out what else happened across the system Friday night.TRANSACTIONS

-Twins recall RHP Zack Littell from Rochester.

-RHP Fernando Romero optioned to Rochester.

-RHP Jacob Blank retired.

-Several more drafted players signed. Again, you can keep up with them on the Twins Daily Draft Signing Tracker article.

 

RED WINGS REPORT

Rochester 7, Charlotte 6

Box Score

 

Kohl Stewart: 5.1 IP, 7 H, 5 ER, 2 BB, 4 K, 66.3% strikes (65 of 98 pitches)

HR: None

Multi-hit games: Willians Astudillo (4-for-5), Luis Arraez (3-for-5, 2B), Jake Cave (2-for-3, BB), Wilin Rosario (2-for-5, 2B)

 

These two teams traded blows, with the lead changing hands four times in the first six innings. Charlotte knotted it up in the eighth, but a Brent Rooker RBI single to score Willians Astudillo in the bottom of that inning was the difference maker.

 

Kohl Stewart surrendered five runs in his 5 1/3 innings, but Gabiriel Moya did a great job stabilizing this game. He provided 1 2/3 perfect innings, striking out three batters in the process. Cody Stashak was credited with both a blown save and the win. He gave up a run in the eighth, but struck out a pair of batters in a scoreless ninth to protect the one-run lead.

 

Astudillo had four singles in this game, and now has a 1.553 OPS since being sent down to Rochester. Jake Cave had another two-hit night, and has a 1.174 OPS so far in June. Luis Arraez had three hits, including a double, lifting his batting average up to .351 in his time with the Red Wings.

 

BLUE WAHOO BITES

Pensacola 5, Tennessee 4 (11 innings)

Box Score

 

Charlie Barnes: 5.0 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 4 BB, 4 K, 60.9% strikes (56 of 92 pitches)

HR: None

Multi-hit games: Travis Blankenhorn (2-for-6, 2B)

 

Tennessee jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning and held that advantage until the bottom of the sixth. A Travis Blankenhorn leadoff double sparked a two-run rally in the bottom of the sixth.

 

The Blue Wahoos still trailed heading into the bottom of the ninth. Michael Davis led off the inning with a six-pitch walk, was bunted over to second base by Jimmy Kerrigan and scored the game-tying run on a Taylor Grzelakowski single.

 

Tyler Palm pitched a scoreless 10th inning, but gave up the go-ahead run in the 11th. The Pensacola bats had one more comeback in them. Kerrigan hit a game-tying RBI single and scored the winning run on a Blankenhorn walk-off single.

 

 

Tom Hackimer and Zack Weiss did an excellent job in the middle innings for Pensacola. They both pitched a pair of scoreless innings, Hackimer struck out four batters and Weiss had three punchouts.

 

MIRACLE MATTERS

Fort Myers OFF - FSL All-Star break

 

KERNELS NUGGETS

Cedar Rapids 3, Clinton 1

Box Score

 

Josh Winder: 7.0 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 3 K, 68.1% strikes (56 of 81 pitches)

HR: None

Multi-hit games: Jared Akins (2-for-4, 2B)

 

Just three pitchers total were used in this game. Both teams combined. You don’t see that too often in a nine-inning game in the minors. Josh Winder held Clinton to one run over seven innings before Derek Molina came out of the pen to slam the door shut over the final two frames. Molina threw 25 of his 36 pitches for strikes (69.4%), got seven swinging strikes and had four strikeouts.

 

Cedar Rapids scored two in the first inning, thanks to a Wander Javier RBI single and a Chris Williams run-scoring double. Javier was removed from the game in the top of the fourth inning.

 

 

Clinton committed four errors in this game. Their poor starter, George Soriano, pitched a complete game and still got the loss despite giving up zero earned runs.

 

STARS OF THE DAY

Twins Daily Minor League Pitcher of the Day: Josh Winder, Cedar Rapids

Twins Daily Minor League Hitter of the Day: Travis Blankenhorn, Pensacola

 

TOP PROSPECT SUMMARY

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

 

5. Wander Javier (CR): 1-for-2, R, RBI, K

6. Brent Rooker (ROC): 1-for-3, 2 RBI, K

11. Nick Gordon (ROC): 1-for-4, BB, R

14. Ben Rortvedt (PNS): 1-for-4, BB, R, RBI, 3 K

16. Gilberto Celestino (CR): 0-for-4, K

18. LaMonte Wade (ROC): 0-for-3, BB

 

SATURDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS

Rochester vs. Charlotte, 6:05 pm CT (Chase De Jong)

Pensacola vs. Tennessee, 6:05 pm CT (Jorge Alcala)

Fort Myers OFF - FSL All-Star Game, 6:05 pm CT

Cedar Rapids vs. Clinton, 6:35 pm CT (Andrew Cabezas)

 

Please feel free to ask any questions and discuss the games.

 

Click here to view the article

[MNT1996]

Ever since Tortuga got sent to Rochester the Red Wings have been winning left and right. Turtle magic is real

[Han Joelo]

What’s the word on Javier? Not hurt again, I hope.

[Tom Froemming]

 

What’s the word on Javier? Not hurt again, I hope.

Just updated the article with a Tweet from Jeff Johnson of the Cedar Rapids Gazette. Does not sound significant. 

[jkcarew]

Since we’re solving mysteries...what’s the latest on Kirilloff?

[Seth Stohs]

updated to add a couple of transactions.

[Seth Stohs]

 

Since we’re solving mysteries...what’s the latest on Kirilloff?

 

I was told it's the wrist again... but still no idea of severity.

[dbminn]

 

Ever since Tortuga got sent to Rochester the Red Wings have been winning left and right. Turtle magic is real

 

Adding Arraez and a healthy Rooker hasn't hurt them either.

 

And one more solid start from Sean Poppen and I'll want a "Poppen Fresh" t-shirt.

[DocBauer]

To have Cave, Austudillo and Arraez just sitting there at Rochester providing depth is crazy!

[Aerodeliria]

Free Hackimer! Good to see him back to his old self.

 

One thing I don't like about Blankenhorn is that his name is too long, so it really doesn't fit on the jersey well.

 

I agree with Doc. We have three players tearing it up in AAA, but there aren't any spots open with the big boys.

[Danchat]

 

Since we’re solving mysteries...what’s the latest on Kirilloff?

LaVelle E Neal said on the radio yesterday that Krilioff should be back within the "next week or so". Apparently he just got a Cortisone shot in his wrist, and he's going to try to play very soon.

[jmlease1]

 

To have Cave, Austudillo and Arraez just sitting there at Rochester providing depth is crazy!

 

It's pretty ideal for the MLB club. You've got someone to call on for the OF, middle INF, and anywhere but CF/P in those three so if someone yanks a hammy or something in MLB you've got someone ready to go no matter where to step up.

 

Really impressed with how Blankenhorn has unlocked his power potential this year. This is something we haven't seen from him since rookie ball and it makes him a prospect to pay attention to, rather than Just Another Guy. Next step will be for him to refine his approach at the plate to get on base a bit more, drawing a few more walks, without losing that power stroke. But he's nearing a career high for HRs already and doing it without becoming some ridiculous K machine so the future has brightened considerably with him.

 

I'm a little concerned about Kirilloff. Hate to see someone his age already battling a wrist injury and while the cortisone shot will probably get him back on the field, I hope it doesn't end up masking something more serious and/or long term. He''s a special hitter, but a bum wrist disrupts that pretty significantly. Hitters with wrist problems are like pitchers with shoulder issues: makes you nervous.

[PDX Twin]

 

-RHP Jacob Blank retired.

 

I guess this means that his manager won't be able to fill in the Blank on the lineup card.

[PDX Twin]

 

One thing I don't like about Blankenhorn is that his name is too long, so it really doesn't fit on the jersey well.

 

 

 

Well, to extend the pun of my previous comment, he could just put ____enhorn.

[jokin]

 

To have Cave, Austudillo and Arraez just sitting there at Rochester providing depth is crazy!

 

Yep. I'm going to see the Wings play in Columbus and Toledo next week.

 

For my own selfish reasons, I hope they are still on fire at the plate, and still with the Wings.

[rdehring]

Great 3-0 night, 3-1 if you include the DSL Twins 8-3 loss to the Rockies in which Urbina did not play.

 

Another great game at Rochester by the Double A's, pushing the Wings to within 4 games of .500.  Also third straight shutout appearance by Moya.  Could he be getting on track?

 

Is Winder a legitimate top prospect?  Or more of the Wells category, someone who gets great results without getting anyone overly excited about his future?

 

See that the Kernel's still trail Burlington by a game for that second wild card spot.  Plus, I suspect Burlington has the tie breaker.  Can't expect there is more than a game or two left in the first half so that cold start probably cost them a playoff spot.  Time to restock from the draft and EST and make a second half run!!!!!!!

 

[Edit: went back and checked, their record vs. Burlington is 6-5, so the Kernel's hold the 1st tie breaker.  Not positive, but think there is 2 games left for them to make up the 1 game deficit....go Kernel's]

[ashbury]

I guess this means that his manager won't be able to fill in the Blank on the lineup card.

We had only one. Back in the day, the Braves had Larvell Blanks.

[Seth Stohs]

 

Well, to extend the pun of my previous comment, he could just put ____enhorn.

 

First on ... Not So Good... this one... Pretty good!!

[Aerodeliria]

Well, to extend the pun of my previous comment, he could just put ____enhorn.

LOL! I was trying to think of pun myself, but just couldn't think of one. You pulled off a nice double steal. Hat tip!

Edited June 16, 2019 by Aerodeliria

[jkcarew]

 

LaVelle E Neal said on the radio yesterday that Krilioff should be back within the "next week or so". Apparently he just got a Cortisone shot in his wrist, and he's going to try to play very soon.

Thanks much!...I hadn't heard anything. If its the wrist, I have two reactions....one, why the mystery with the 'undisclosed' when he went to the IL; two, it's a re-injury....I go from wanting him playing, to pumping the brakes...they obviously already made one mistake by rushing it.