Minnesota Twins Daily Morning Dip For July 6th, 2017

Minnesota Twins Daily Dip, July 6th, 2017

Welcome to the July 6th edition of the daily dip, the new daily piece of news and notes here on Puckett’s Pond. You’ll find the scores and a quick summary of every level of the Minnesota Twins organization and links to any information you need to know to follow the Minnesota Twins here every morning!

We’ll start with the news and notes portions and work our way through each level of the system!

News and Notes

LHP Hector Santiago placed on DL with upper thoracic back pain
RHP Alan Busenitz recalled from Rochester

Los Angeles Angels 2, Minnesota Twins 1

The Angels avoided a series sweep by taking Wednesday’s game 2-1 over the Twins. Even in a loss, Ervin Santana hurled a gem, throwing a complete game 9 innings, allowing 2 runs on 7 hits and 2 walks, striking out 5. After missing two games, Brian Dozier returned to the lineup, going 1-4 with an RBI, drawing a walk and striking out twice. Byron Buxton and Eddie Rosario led the offense with two hits, Rosario collecting one double, and Buxton getting a steal.

July 6th Probable Starter: Jose Berrios vs. Baltimore Orioles, 7:10PM CT

Rochester Red Wings 3, Pawtucket Red Sox 1; Pawtucket Red Sox 2, Rochester Red Wings 0

The Red Wings split a double header with Pawtucket on Wednesday. In the first game, Dillon Gee threw a gem, going 5 scoreless innings in the start, allowing 5 hits and a walk, striking out 3. Alex Wimmers threw two innings for the save. Kennys Vargas got two hits, including a double, in his first game back at the AAA level.

Rochester was shut out in the second game. Both teams employed a mix of relievers for the game, a make up of a postponed game from May 6th. D.J. Baxendale threw the first 3 innings for the Red Wings, allowing 2 runs (1 earned) on 7 innings and no walks, striking out 2. Mason Melotakis threw two scoreless innings, allowing one hit, no walks, and striking out three. Matt Hague was on base 4 times on the day with a single, a double, and two walks.

July 6th Probable Starters: Tim Melville vs. Pawtucket, 12:35PM CT

Chattanooga Lookouts 5, Tennessee Smokies 3

The Lookouts and Smokies went back and forth all game long, never sure on the game until Nick Anderson was able to strike out two Smokies hitters, the final one with the bases loaded, to close out the 9th inning and end the Smokies’ night. Dereck Rodriguez pitched a tremendous game, going 7 innings, allowing 2 runs on 7 hits and 2 walks, striking out 6. Levi Michael led the offense, collecting three hits, including a double.

July 6th Probable Starter: Fernando Romero vs. Tennessee, 6:15PM CT

Fort Myers Miracle 3, Tampa Yankees 1

After the previous day’s 14-inning affair, the Miracle took care of business in regulation on Wednesday. Sean Poppen made the start, going two scoreless innings, allowing 2 hits and no walks, striking out 2. Keaton Steele followed, going 5 innings, allowing a run on 4 hits and no walks, striking out 4. Alex Muren finished with a dominant pair of innings for the save, striking out 5. Nelson Molina had a monster offensive day, going 4-4 with two triples.

July 6th Probable Starter: Lewis Thorpe @ Tampa, 6:00PM CT

Wisconsin Timer Rattlers 5, Cedar Rapids Kernels 3

The 2nd inning did in the Kernels as Wisconsin scored 5 and the Kernels could never make it back up, in spite of a late 2-run rally in the 9th inning. Evan Sanders made the start, going 1 1/3 innings, allowing 5 runs (4 earned) on 5 hits and 2 walks, striking out 2. Three relievers then combined for 7 2/3 innings of scoreless relief, allowing 2 hits and 2 walks, striking out 7. Christian Cavaness had three hits, including a double.

July 6th Probable Starter: Domenick Carlini vs. Wisconsin, 5:35PM CT

Elizabethton vs. Princeton, postponed due to rain

July 6th Probable Starter: Moises Gomez vs. Princeton, 4:00PM CT (Game 1); TBD vs. Princeton (Game 2)

GCL Twins 10, GCL Rays 8

The Twins came out early and often, scoring all 10 of their runs in the first 5 innings of the game and held on to win on Wednesday. Carlos Suniaga made the start for the Twins, going 3 innings, allowing 2 runs on 3 hits and a walk, striking out 3. Dane Hutcheon led a number of solid offensive days with three hits, including a double and a triple, driving in 5 runs. Akil Baddoo had a double, a single, a walk, and stole a base to fill up a stat sheet.

July 6th Opponent vs. GCL Rays, 11:00AM CT

DSL Twins 11, DSL Yankees 10

In a see-saw finish, the Yankees tied the game in the bottom of the 8th at 9 apiece, the Twins took the lead with 2 in the top of the 9th, and then held on as the final out was recorded with two runners on base to get the win. Luis Gil got the start and threw well, going 2 scoreless innings, allowing 2 hits and 2 walks, striking out 5. The Twins racked up 5 extra base hits and 4 stolen bases in the game, led by Yeltsin Encarnacion, who had a triple, 2 singles, and a walk. Yeison Perez had a home run, a single, was hit by pitch, and stole a base, leading the team with 3 RBI.

July 6th Opponent vs. DSL Angels, 9:30AM CT

Minor League Pitcher/Hitter Of The Day

Pitcher: Dereck Rodriguez, Chattanooga – 7 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 6 K
Hitter: Nelson Molina, Fort Myers – 4-4, R, 2 triples, RBI

Next: Twins Can Work Trade Deadline For Future and Now

One Last Thing

Ervin Santana completed his 4th game of the season on Wednesday, which leads the major leagues. He also has 3 shutouts, which leads the majors as well. On top of that, he also leads the majors with 18 games started.

He’s only made 18 starts thus far. If we project to 33 starts (a full season’s work load, though Santana has not made that many starts since 2011), that would project to 7 complete games and 5 shutouts. No MLB pitcher has thrown that many complete games or shutouts since 2011.

In Twins history only 6 pitchers have ever made 30 starts with 5 complete games and 5 shutouts. The last time any Minnesota Twins starter did such was 1980. The last Twins starter who led the league in shutouts, ironically was Rich Robertson in 1996. Why that is ironic is Robertson tallied a 5.12 ERA on that season and led the American League in walks, but somehow he still spun 3 shutouts on that year.

Minnesota Twins Daily Morning Dip, July 6th, 2017