Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Wednesday, July, 22nd

Twins Talk

Twins 3 Athletics 2 10 innings



  • The Twins got back on the winning side after the disappointing game on Monday night with a big 3-2 10 inning victory over the A's last night. Anthony Swarzak got the start for the Twins and was very good even though it was his first start in 12 days because of the All-Star Break. Swarzak struggled with his control early on, but when he got going he was dominant. Swarzak went 7 strong innings and gave up 2 runs on 4 hits along with 3 walks and 4 strikeouts to lower his era on the year to 4.10. Swarzak has really done a good job for the Twins since Kevin Slowey was injured and has given the Twins a good chance to win just about every time out there. Swarzak has proven without a shadow of a doubt in my mind that he belongs at the major league level and he can be a very solid starting pitcher at this level that just needs to be given an opportunity. Matt Guerrier then came on and did what he alwasy does and that is get people out. Guerrier went 2 shutout innings along with 2 strikeouts to lower his era on the year to a very good 2.18. Guerrier has been so good out of the bullpen that the only thing that scares me is his 45 appearances and if he is going to run out of gas like he did last year. Joe Nathan came on in the 10th to pick up his 26th save in 28 opprotunities with a scoreless inning to lower his era to 1.21.

  • The Twins did not get alot going offensively in this game thanks to good pitching out of A's starter Dallas Braden, but got just enough to get the job done. Michael Cuddyer was the hero as he hit an rbi triple in the top of the 10th that put the Twins ahead a night after the disappointment of Monday night. Joe Mauer got back to his old ways by going 2-5 at the plate to bring his average up to .362 to take back the AL batting title race over Ichiro. Joe Crede went 2-5 at the plate with his 12th and 13th doubles of the year to bring his average up to .239 on the season. Delmon Young went 1-4 at the plate with his 1st triple of the year. Justin Morneau also contributed a hit in the winning cause for the Twins.
  • Today, the Twins finish off their series with Oakland as Glen Perkins gets the start for the Twins.

Rochester Wrap

  • The Red Wings had their game with Pawtucket rained out and will be made up as part of a doubleheader today with Jeff Manship getting the start in game 1 with Philip Humber getting the start in game 2.

New Britain Business

  • The Rockcats had their game with Portland rained out and will be made up as part of a doubleheader today with Ryan Mullins getting the start in game 1 with Cole Devries getting the start in game 2.

Fort Myers Minutes

Fort Myers 7 Dunedin 6

  • The Miracle snapped a tough 3 game losing streak with a tough come from behind victory over Dunedin last night by the score of 7-6. Michael Tarsi got the start for the Miracle and he was very solid in this game. Tarsi went 6.2 and gave up 3 runs on 8 hits along with 4 walks and 5 strikeouts to lower his era on the year to 3.86. Ever since Tarsi got to the Miracle he has been very solid giving the Miracle quality innings and giving them a chance to win every time out. He is not a super prospect and probably the worst starter on the Miracle roster, but overall he has overperformed all season long and I think he will continue to do that all season long and give the Miracle a chance to possibly do something special and possibly win a FSL title. Henry Arias then came on and was not very good, but thanks to the offense was able to pick up the win to move his record on the season to 2-3. Arias went 2.1 innings and gave up 3 runs on 4 hits along with a walk to raise his era on the year to 5.24. Henry Arias is one of those guys that I can't figure out because one time he will pitch very good and then the next few times after that he will get shelled. If the Miracle are going to do anything in the FSL playoffs Arias is going to have to become more consistant.

  • The Miracle did not put a whole lot on the board offensively, but were helped out by 4 Dunedin errors that led to 3 unearned runs that got them the victory. In all the Miracle scored 7 runs on only 8 hits so those errors played a big part in the game. Chris Parmalee led the offense by going 2-4 at the plate with his 14th homerun of the year and his 53rd and 54th rbi's of the year to improve his average to .258 on the year. Chris Parmalee has put together a pretty quality season as he will have 20+ homeruns and drive in close to 100 runs and hit in the .260 range. Evan Bigley went 2-5 at the plate with his 12th double of the year and his 19th rbi to bring his average up to .264. Nick Romero went 1-3 at the plate with his 9th double of the year and improved his average up to .273. Joe Benson, Deibinson Romero, and Allan De San Miguel each contributed a hit in the winning cause for the Miracle.
  • Tonight, the Miracle begin a series with Tampa as David Bromberg gets the start for Fort Myers.

Beloit Beat

  • The Snappers had yesterday off and will be beginning a series with first place Cedar Rapids tonight with Brad Tippett scheduled to start for Beloit

E-Town Tidbits

Princeton 3 E-Town 2

  • The E-Town Twins suffered a tough loss to swallow as they went down to Princeton last night by a score of 3-2. After tieing the score at 2 in the 5th the Twins let the game get away in the 7th where they gave up the winning run. Brad Stillings got the start for the Twins and was good once again. Stillings went 6 innings and gave up 2 runs although only 1 was earned on 4 hits along with 2 walks and 2 strikeouts to lower his era on the year to 3.97. Edgar Ibarra then came on and took the loss to drop his record to 1-2 on the year. Ibarra went 2 innings and gave up 1 run on 2 hits along with a strikeout to raise his era on the year to 6.00. Peter Kennelly then came on and pitched a scoreless inning on a hit.

  • The E-Town Twins really could not get anything going offensively as they were only able to muster 2 runs on 6 hits in the game. Josmil Pinto led the offense going 2-4 at the plate with 8th double of the year and raised his average up to .308. Reggie Williams homered in his 2nd consecutive game to bring his total up to 3 and drove in 2 runs to bring his total up to 12 and improved his average up to .269. Brian Dozier, Michael Gonzalez, and Anderson Hidalgo each contributed hits in the losing cause for the Twins last night.
  • Tonight, the Twins continue their series with Princeton as Michael Munoz gets the start for Elizabethton.