TRANSACTIONS
UT Mickey Gasper activated from injured list (St. Paul)
C Ricardo Peña transferred to 60-day injured list (Fort Myers)
RHP Carlos Gutierrez was released by the Twins (FCL Twins) 

SAINTS SENTINEL
Game 1
Worcester Red Sox 4, St. Paul Saints 0
SP: Darren McCaughan: 4.0 IP, 8 H, 4 ER, 0 BB, 5 K
HR: None
Multi-hit games: None

In the first seven-inning game of the doubleheader, it was a lackluster offensive performance for the Saints, who only mustered two hits—one each from Austin Martin and Jonah Bride. The rest of the lineup was held completely in check. Carson McCusker had a particularly tough game, going 0-for-3 with three strikeouts.

On the mound, Darren McCaughan gave up four earned runs in four innings, including a first-inning homer to Red Sox prospect Kristian Campbell. His ERA rose to 5.40 on the season.

Game 2
Worcester Red Sox 5, St. Paul Saints 2
SP: Pierson Ohl: 4.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 5 K
HR: None
Multi-hit games: None

The Saints got a gem from Pierson Ohl in Game 2. He threw four innings of one-hit, zero-earned run baseball while striking out five. The lone run he allowed came on an unearned sequence after a Payton Eeles error. Ohl lowered his Saints ERA to 2.82. Unfortunately for St. Paul, Erasmo Ramirez gave up six hits and four runs in two innings of relief, including a bases-clearing double from Red Sox prospect Nathan Hickey.

Offensively, the Saints looked promising early with three hits and two runs in the first, highlighted by Jonah Bride’s two-run single with the bases loaded. But they collected just one more hit the rest of the game. McCusker finished the doubleheader 0-for-7 with five strikeouts.

WIND SURGE WISDOM
Wichita Wind Surge 6, Frisco RoughRiders 5
SP: C.J. Culpepper: 3.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
HR: None
Multi-hit games: Kala’i Rosario (2-for-4, 2B, RBI)

CJ Culpepper got the start and worked three innings, allowing just one earned run. The Wind Surge mounted two different comebacks, first rallying for three runs in the seventh on a Jose Salas hit-by-pitch with the bases loaded and a Jorel Ortega RBI single. After surrendering the lead in the eighth, Wichita responded again with a three-run bottom half featuring key doubles from Kala’i Rosario and Ben Ross. Cole Percival gave up one in the ninth, but the Surge held on to improve their second-half record.

KERNELS NUGGETS
Fort Wayne TinCaps 2, Cedar Rapids Kernels 1
SP: Cole Peschl: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
HR: None
Multi-hit games: Caden Kendle (2-for-4)

Cole Peschl was slotted to be the starter for the Kernels today but left after just one inning with some sort of injury. Even given the tough assignment for the rest of the game, the Kernels got strong pitching, allowing just two runs and five hits on the day. Jacob Kisting was particularly impressive, tossing three hitless innings, striking out four and lowering his ERA to 1.17.

Unfortunately, the Kernels offense was unable to pull through, crossing just one run when Kyle DeBarge scored on a wild pitch. Center fielder Caden Kendle delivered the lone multi-hit game of the day for Cedar Rapids.

MUSSEL MATTERS
Fort Myers Mighty Mussels 5, Lakeland Flying Tigers 4 (10 innings)
SP: Adrian Bohorquez: 4.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K
HR: Yasser Mercedes (6), Dameury Pena (6), Blaze O’Saben (1)
Multi-hit games: Yasser Mercedes (2-for-5, HR, RBI), Blaze O’Saben (3-for-3, HR, 2 RBI, BB)

While the other Minor League clubs had slow days at the plate, the bats were hot in Lakeland, Florida for the Fort Myers Mighty Mussels, who launched three home runs. Yasser Mercedes got it started in the first inning with his sixth of the season. Dameury Pena followed with a solo shot of his own in the fifth, and Blaze O’Saben added his first home run of the season in the eighth.

On the mound, Adrian Bohorquez gave the Mussels four innings of one-run (unearned) ball before handing things off to the bullpen. After Tyler Stasiowski blew the save in the ninth, Blaze O’Saben stepped up again in the top of the 10th, driving in Bryan Acuña with the go-ahead run. Ivran Romero closed the door in the bottom half to secure the win. The Mussels are now 7-1 in extra inning games this season.

COMPLEX CHRONICLES (Double Header)

Game 1
FCL Twins 4, FCL Orioles 1
Melvin Rodriguez: 3.0 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 4 BB, 3 K
HR: None
Multi-hit games: None

The FCL Twins grabbed a win against the FCL Orioles thanks to strong pitching from Melvin Rodriguez, Xander Hamilton, and Brent Francisco, who allowed just four hits and one run combined.

Offensively, Ricardo Paez reached base three times via walk and scored three of the Twins’ four runs on the day.

Game 2
FCL Twins 4, FCL Orioles 3
SP: Xavier Kolhosser 3.0 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 2 K
HR: Yandro Hernandez (2)
Multi-hit games: Yandro Hernandez (2-3, HR, 2 R, RBI)

The FCL Twins were able to sweep the doubleheader in walk-off fashion when Merphy Hernandez scored Carlos Silva on an RBI single in the eighth inning. The standout performance came from Yandro Hernandez who contributed an inside-the-park home run in the 1st inning.

Following the double header sweep the FCL Twins finished the regular season at 39-20, the best record in the Florida Complex League this season. The FCL Twins will play the Tigers on Saturday in the four-team playoff.

DOMINICAN DAILIES
DSL Rangers 7, DSL Twins 5
SP: Jesus Gomez: 4.0 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 6 K
HR: None
Multi-hit games: Yovanny Duran (2-for-4, BB, RBI), Haritzon Castillo (2-for-5, 2B, RBI), Joyner Perez (2-for-4, 2 RBI)

Despite a strong day at the plate with nine hits, the DSL Twins fell to the Rangers 7-5. Jesus Gomez struck out six and allowed just two earned runs over four innings before the game unraveled in the fifth. Eli Urena struggled with control, issuing a walk, hitting a batter, and throwing three wild pitches. Yovanny Duran, Haritzon Castillo, and Joyner Perez each turned in multi-hit games and continue to be bright spots in the DSL lineup.

PLAYERS OF THE DAY
Batter: Blaze O’Saben (Ft. Myers): 3-for-3, HR, 2 RBI, BB
Pitcher: Pierson Ohl (St. Paul): 4.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 5 K

FRIDAY PITCHING PROBABLES
Worcester @ St. Paul (7:07 PM CT) – RHP Bailey Ober (0-0, 0.00 ERA)
Frisco @ Wichita (7:05 PM CT) – RHP John Klein (6-5, 3.52 ERA)
Fort Wayne @ Cedar Rapids (6:35 PM CT) – RHP Ty Langenberg (2-4, 5.32 ERA)
Fort Myers @ Lakeland (6:05 PM CT) – RHP Jason Doktorczyk (3-4, 4.81 ERA)
DSL Twins @ DSL Marlins (10:00 AM CT) – TBD

PROSPECT SUMMARY
#1 – Walker Jenkins (Wichita) – 0-for-3, 2 K
#2 – Luke Keaschall (St. Paul) – 1-for-6, BB
#3 – Kaelen Culpepper (Wichita) – 0-for-4, BB, 2 K
#8 – Gabriel Gonzalez (Wichita) – 1-for-3, BB, 2 K 
#11 – Brandon Winkour (Cedar Rapids) – 1-for-4, R, 2 K
#14 – Kyle DeBarge (Cedar Rapids) – 0-for-3, R, K
#15 – C.J. Culpepper (Wichita) – 3.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
#16 – Billy Amick (Cedar Rapids) – 0-for-3, 1 BB, 1 K
#19 – Eduardo Beltre (FCL Twins) – 1-for-4, 2 RBI, 2 K