Farm Report: Nick Tepesch strikes out eight in Red Wings loss

Triple-A: Syracuse Chiefs 3, Rochester Red Wings 2

It was the home opener for the Red Wings yesterday! And they lost when the Chiefs broke up the 2-2 tie in the top of the ninth inning.

SP Nick Tepesch actually made the start and did a fantastic job, though. The veteran went an impressive eight innings giving up only two earned runs and and striking out eight. He definitely is giving the Twins some pitching depth at Triple-A.

It was RP Drew Rucinski who gave up the go-ahead run in the ninth. He only managed to get one out before RP D.J. Baxendale was called in to do the rest.

As for batting, 3B Matt Hague was the most impressive for the Red Wings, going 3-for-4. (He’s now hitting .424 at Triple-A, by the way.) DH Kennys Vargas and RF J.B. Shuck both went 2-for-4; Vargas also had an RBI, but no extra base hits for either (or any of the Red Wings hitters, in fact).

[Box Score]

Double-A: Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp 4, Chattanooga Lookouts 0

Ouch. Top prospect SP Fernando Romero had a rough day, lasting all of 2.2 innings before getting the hook. He gave up three earned runs on three hits and five walks (eak) in that short amount of time, though also struck out five batters as well. All this happened on 79 pitches.

After Romero was yanked, RP Nik Turley came in and was impressive, pitching 4.1 scoreless innings and racking up eight strikeouts in the process. RP Mason Melotakis came in for the bottom of the eighth inning, allowing only one unearned run (thanks for the fielding error, SS Nick Gordon).

Obviously, the batting sucked.

[Box Score]

High-A: Ft. Myers Miracle 6, Daytona Tortugas 0

RF Rafael P Valera had quite the day in this Miracle win, going 3-for-4 with a triple, two runs scored, and an RBI. Valera’s performance was accompanied by some strong pitching from SP David Fischer, who lates five innings and struck-out eight.

2B Alex Perez also continued to stay hot, going 2-for-4 with a triple and two runs scored.

[Box Score]

Low-A: Wisconsin Timber Rattlers 3, Cedar Rapids Kernels 2

Well this was a weird ass game.

No joke, the game remained tied 0-0 until the top of the tenth inning. That’s when Kernels RP Alex Robinson gave up a three-run homer to Timber Rattler RF Demi Orimoloye, making it 3-0.

But obviously, the Kernels answered! LF-1B Caleb Hamilton hit a double and then CF Aaron Whitefield hit a dong himself, making it 3-2. Unfortunately though, the rally wasn’t enough.

Top prospect SP Sean Poppen had a great start, giving up only two hits and a walk over 7.2 scoreless innings. He also struck-out eight, which seems to be the magic number for strikeouts for the day Seriously, what the hell? Every affiliate had a pitcher with exactly eight strikeouts. Weird.

[Box Score]

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