Athletics 16 Twins 1
- The Twins had a dreadful game yesterday and I am not going to talk too much about it or make a big deal out of it because the Twins are still only 2.5 games out of last place and it doesn't seem like Detroit or Chicago are going to run away with the division so the Twins have a shot even though they lost 16-1 to Oakland yesterday. Glen Perkins got the start for the Twins and was terrible. Perkins only lasted 1+ inning and gave up 8 runs on 6 hits along with 3 walks and a homerun to raise his era on the year to 5.55 and dropped his record on the year to 5-6. After the game Perkins reported some discomfort while warming up so the Twins are sending him to a specialist in LA today to get his shoulder looked at. That could be the reason that he has struggled so much as of late as he has given up 16 runs in his last 3 starts so hopefully it is nothing serious and he can go back to being a solid pitcher. Kevin Mulvey came in relief and was no better than Perkins. Mulvey also went 1 inning and gave up 4 runs on 6 hits. After the game the Twins optioned Mulvey back down to AAA and promoted reliever Jesse Crain. R.A. Dickey then came in and fell on the grenade so to speak as he went 4.1 innings of relief and gave up 4 runs although only 3 were earned on 5 hits along with 3 walks to raise his era on the year to 3.62. Brian Duensing then finished the game by going 1.1 scoreless innings on 1 hit along with a walk and a strikeout to lower his era on the year to a still not very good 6.19.
- The Twins offense got off to a good start by scoring a run in the first, but that was all they could get. It is kind of hard to come back when you are behind 12-1 after only 2 innings. Justin Morneau led the attack going 1-2 at the plate with a walk and his 24th homerun of the year, which is one more than he had all of last year, and his 79th rbi which leads the American League to increase his average on the year to a very good .317 on the year. Denard Span after going 2-19 on the roadtrip seemed to come out of it by going 2-3 at the plate along with a walk to bring his average up to .284 on the year. Michael Cuddyer, Brian Buscher, and Alexi Casilla each contributed a hit in the losing cause for the Twins.
- Tonight, the Twins begin a series with the hottest team in baseball in the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim as the Twins will send staff ace Scott Baker to the mound and will face Jared Weaver of the Angels.
Rochester Wrap
Rochester 5 Pawtucket 0
Rochester 6 Pawtucket 1
- The Red Wings completed a sweep of a doubleheader last night against Pawtucket with a 5-0 win in the first game and followed that with a 6-1 win in the second game to pull within 7.5 games of first place Scranton/WB. Jeff Manship got the start in the first game and in a word he was awesome. Manship went 6 innings and did not give up a run on only 1 measly hit along with 3 walks and 3 strikeouts to lower his era on the year to 3.38 and improved his record to 3-1. Manship has gotten better and better each start he has made with the Red Wings and has gotten to the point that it is not out of the question to consider him getting a call up to the Twins if Glen Perkins has to miss some time. He has shown good control and basically an ability to get hitters out and that is all you can ask for out of your starter. Rob Delaney then came into the 7th and pitched a scoreless inning of relief to pick up the win for the Red Wings. Delaney pitched 1 inning on 1 hit along with a walk to lower his era on the year to 4.07. In game 2 Armando Gabino got the start for the Red Wings and he did a good job for the Wings. Gabino went 4 innings and gave up 1 run on only 3 hits along with 2 walks and 4 strikeouts to lower his era on the year to 2.92. Gabino has done such a good job with the Red Wings that the next time the Twins need a solid bullpen guy they should give Armando a chance and see what he can do at the major league level. Juan Morillo then came in and went 2 shutout innings to pick up the win to move his record on the year to 4-3. Morillo went 2 innings and gave up 1 hit along with a walk and 4 strikeouts to lower his era on the year to 2.85 on the year. Sean Henn then came in and pitched a perfect inning to lower his era on the year to 1.57.
- The Red Wings did not do a whole lot in game 1 of the doubleheader, but it was enough to get it done as they scored 5 runs on 6 hits to pick up the win. Surprise Surprise Danny Valencia was the hitting star of the game going 2-3 at the plate with his 10th double and his 19th and 20th rbi's of the year to bring his average up to .371 on the year. David Winfree went 1-3 at the plate with his 23rd double of the year to bring his average up to .274. Justin Huber went 1-2 at the plate with his 14th homerun of the year and his team high 52nd rbi to bring his average up to .283. Matt Tolbert and Steve Tolleson each contributed hits to the winning cause for the Red Wings. In game 2 the Red Wings got 6 runs on 8 hits. The Red Wings were led by Brock Peterson who went 2-3 at the plate with his 5th homerun of the year and his 20th and 21st rbi's of the year to bring his average up to .269. Jose Morales went 2-3 at the plate with his 13th rbi to bring his average up to .292. Steve Tolleson went 2-4 at the plate with his 13th rbi of the year to bring his average up to .294. Danny Valencia and David Winfree each contributed hits in the winning cause for the Red Wings.
- Today, the Red Wings finish their series off with Pawtucket as Philip Humber gets the start for Rochester.
New Britain Business
Portland 3 New Britain 0
Portland 5 New Britain 1
- The Rockcats lost a couple tough games last night to Portland that sent them into 3rd place in the division. The Rockcats lost to Portland by 3-0 in the first game and then lost 5-1 in the second game. In game 1 the Rockcats sent Ryan Mullins to the mound and he was very solid and was the tough luck loser. Mullins went all 7 innings and gave up 3 runs on 8 hits along with 6 strikeouts to lower his era on the year to 4.83 and dropped his record on the year to 6-9. Ryan Mullins has really been very consistant for the Rockcats the last couple months and has given them a chance to win just about every time out. Last night the problem was not his pitching it was the fact that the Rockcats offense could not get anything going against Portland pitching. In game 2 Frank Mata got the spot start and was very solid just like he is every time he makes a start for the Rockcats. Mata went 3.2 innings and gave up 1 run on 2 hits along with 1 walk and 4 strikeouts to lower his era on the year to 3.97 and dropped his record on the year to 1-3. Alex Burnett then came on and really struggled with his control. Burnett worked 2 innings and gave up 1 run on 2 hits along with a very uncharacteristic 4 walks and 1 strikeout to raise his era to 2.08. Jose Lugo then came in and was not very good for the Rockcats. Lugo went 1.1 innings and gave up 3 runs on only 2 hits along with 2 walks to raise his era on the year to 4.24. The problem with Lugo is the Rockcats have been using him too much as he has already appeared in 45 games which is on pace for a good 70 appearances which is too many for a minor leaguer.
- The Rockcats really struggled with the bats last night as they were only able to score 1 runs in 2 games and you are not going to win very many games when you score 1 run in 14 innings. In game 1 the Rockcats did not score a run on only 4 hits. The only really good thing offensively was the triple by Juan Portes which was his 3rd of the year and brought his average up to .306. Rene Tosoni, Toby Gardenhire, and Yancarlos Ortiz each contributed a hit in the losing cause. The good news in game 2 is that the Rockcats scored a run, but the bad news is they only scored 1 run on 5 hits and that was not nearly enough to get the win. Steve Singelton led the offense going 1-3 with his 5th double of the year and his 3rd rbi to bring his average down to .500. Rene Tosoni went 1-2 at the plate with his 21st double of the year to bring his average up to .283. Brian Dinkelman went 1-3 at the plate with his 24th double of the year to bring his average up to .292.
- Tonight, the Rockcats have another doubleheader with Portland and Deolis Guerra gets the start in the first game while Cole Devries gets the start in the second game.
Fort Myers Minutes
Fort Myers 2 Tampa 1
- The Miracle won their 2nd consecutive game with a tough hard fought game against Tampa with a big 2-1 victory. David Bromberg got the start for the Miracle and was outstanding. Bromberg went 6.2 awesome innings and gave up 1 run on only 3 hits along with 3 walks and 5 strikeouts to lower his era on the year to a very good 2.86 and improved his record on the year to 8-1. David Bromberg has been the story of the year for the Miracle after dusting off a rough 2008 season to probably being the best pitcher in the Miracle rotation. With a good fastball and good breaking pitches Bromberg will likely move through the organization fast as long as he keeps his walks down and continues to keep his strikeouts up. Spencer Steedley then came on and worked the last 2.1 scoreless innings to pick up his 6th save of the year. Steedley went 2.1 innings and gave up 1 hit and no runs along with a walk and a strikeout to lower his era on the year to 1.79.
- The Miracle did not score alot, but it was good enough to get the win for the Miracle in a tough game as they only got 2 runs on 6 hits. Nick Romero went 2-3 at the plate to raise his average to .280 on the season. Alex Soto went 1-4 with a double and his 4th rbi of the year to bring his average up to .188. Chris Parmalee went 1-3 at the plate with his 15th double of the year to bring his average up to .262. Joe Benson, and Allan De San Miguel each contributed a hit in the winning cause for the Miracle.
- Tonight, the Miracle continue their series with Tampa as Tyler Robertson gets the start for Fort Myers.
Beloit Beat
Beloit 2 Cedar Rapids 1 10 innings
- The Snappers won a tough hard fought game against Cedar Rapids last night by the score of 2-1 and it took 10 innings to get the job done. Brad Tippett got the start for the Snappers and boy was he good. Tippett went 8.2 innings and gave up only 1 run on only 3 hits along with 1 walk and 3 strikeouts to lower his era on the year to 2.31. Tippett has been so good for Beloit that it doesn't make any sense to me why he is still in Beloit. With Fort Myers turning to a reliever to make some starts after the promotion of Mike Mccardell it makes perfect sense for the Twins to promote Brad Tippett to Fort Myers. With his 2.31 era he has done everything he can at this level and is ready for a new challenge up at Fort Myers. Billy Bulluck then came on and pitched 1.1 scoreless innings to pick up his first win as a Snapper and even his record at 1-1. Bulluck went 1.1 innings along with a strikeout to lower his era on the year to 3.38.
- The Snappers did not get much going offensively, but it was enough to get the win as they put up 2 runs on 7 hits to pick up the win. The hitting star for the Snappers was Angel Morales who went 2-4 at the plate with his 12th double of the year to bring his average up to .232. Michael Harrington went 1-2 at the plate with his organization leading 25th double of the year to bring his average up to .236. Danny Rams went 1-4 at the plate with his 3rd homerun and 3rd rbi of the year. James Beresford, Ozzie Lewis, and Drew Thompson each contributed hits in the winning cause for the Snappers last night.
- Tonight, the Snappers continue their series with Cedar Rapids as Dan Berlind gets the start for Beloit.
E-Town Tidbits
Princeton 11 E-Town 8
- The E-Town Twins suffered a rare loss to Princeton last night in a tough hard fought 11-8 loss. Michael Munoz got the start for the Twins and was not very good for the Twins. Munoz went 3.2 innings and gave up 8 runs although only 5 were earned on 10 hits to raise his era on the year to 4.97 and lowered his record to 3-2 on the season for the Twins. Matthew Tone went 2.2 scoreless innings on 1 hit along with 1 walk and 2 strikeouts to lower his era to 2.57. Ramon Acosta then came in and went 2 innings and gave up 3 runs on 6 hits to raise his era on the year to 6.75. Ben Tootle then came on and pitched a perfect inning of relief to finish the badly pitched game for the Twins last night.
- The E-Town Twins were very good offensively, but it was not enough to get the win for the Twins. Brian Dozier led the offense by going 3-5 at the plate with his 5th and 6th doubles of the year along with his 5th and 6th rbi's of the year to bring his average up to .309. Josmil Pinto went 3-3 at the plate with his 2nd triple of the year and his team leading 31st rbi to bring his average up to .333. Michael Gonzalez went 2-4 at the plate with his 3rd homerun of the year and 4 rbi's to bring his season total up to 15 to bring his average up to .309. Chris Hermann went 1-5 at the plate with his 10th double of the year to bring his average up to .312 on the year. Derek Mccallum, Tobias Streich, Dan Rohlfing, and Jon Goncalves each contributed a hit in the losing cause for the Twins last night.
- Tonight, the Twins continue their series with Princeton as Matire Garcia gets the start for Elizabethton.
