Farm Report: Granite, Kernels bats stay hot hot hot

Triple-A: Rochester Red Wings 9, Syracuse Nicknames 3

After 2B Tommy Field and DH ByungHo Park gave Rochester a first inning, three-run lead, Adam Wilk would generously give it right back. But later the Red Wings ran into a reliever named Austin Adams, who melted down for a five-run inning.

Field, Park, John Ryan Murphy, and CF Zack Granite all had multi-hit games. A quick digression on Granite, who is now batting .311. During last night’s Twins broadcast, Dick Bremer wondered if Granite was “forcing the Twins’ hand” — making it impossible not to call him up.

Hold on, Dick. Where would Granite play? The Twins have four outfielders. Two of them routinely struggle against left-handed pitching, but guess what — Granite’s lefthanded. Expect the Twins to wait and see here. Should there be an injury, or Robbie Grossman return to his career norm (of being bad) facing righthanders, then, if Granite’s still doing well, he could get a call.

[Box Score]

Double-A: Chattanooga Lookouts 7. Montgomery Biscuits 4

And another five-run inning. This time it chased Biscuits pitcher Benton Moss in the sixth, with RBIs from 3B T.J. White (on a single), SS Nick Gordon (a double), and 2B Ryan Walker (a triple). 1B Jonathan Rodriguez had two hits in the game, and C Dan Rohlfing three. Not a bad day for positions 2-6! Oh yeah, and position 7 contributed the customary LaMonte Wade walk.

Starter Fernando Romero was so-so, picking up six Ks yet walking five guys. Twins 40-man resident Mason Melotakis got roughed up in relief, and Luke Bard was perfect in 2.1 with four Ks.

[Box Score]

High-A: Tampa Yankees 2, Ft. Myers Miracle 1

The Miracle are in the bottom third of pretty much every Florida State League offensive category, and showed it in this one, collecting five singles and zero walks to go along with eleven strikeouts from three Yankee pitchers. The only Ft. Myers run came on a wild pitch. Do you need names? I don’t think you do. Frankly, it’s a testament to manager Doug Mientkiewicz that this team is only six games under .500.

The pitching was a five-man effort, as Gone Girl David Fischer only lasted 4.2 innings (due to five walks surrendered). Your Roll Call includes Tom Hackimer, Andrew Vasquez, Sam Clay, and Alex Muren. Each had at least one punchout, and only Hackimer gave up a run.

[Box Score]

Low-A: Cedar Rapids Kernels 15, Burlington Bees 5

The third Mean Corn game in mine days to feature double-digit scoring, this was a 22-hit party for the home crowd. Seven Kernels had muti-hit games, including three by C Ben Rortvedt, 3B Travis Blankenhorn, DH Mitchell Kranson and 1B Lewin Diaz. SS Jermaine Palacios had a scorching five-hit night. One of his was a dong. I sense he’ll be helping that anemic Miracle lineup soon.

Nervous Muppet Clark Beeker lasted six innings, allowing four runs and picking up five strikeouts. Crime Dog Patrick McGuff closed out the final two frames.

[Box Score]

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