Sunday, May, 16th

Twins Talk
Yankees 7 Twins 1 (22-14)

• I am starting to wonder what the Twins need to do to get a win against the Yankees as they Yankees extended their winning streak over the Twins to 12 games with a 7-1 victory yesterday afternoon in the Bronx. In this series the bullpen has been the problem giving up 8 runs in 6 innings in this series, while the Twins offense did not do much to help Twins starter Francisco Liriano. Liriano got the start for the Twins and was effective, but not spectacular in this game. We as Twins fans have been spoiled by Liriano thus far this season as when he gives up more than a run or two we think it is a bad start. In this one he had a quality start in that he went 6 innings and only gave up three runs on nine hits along with seven strikeouts to raise his era to 2.63 on the year and drop his record on the season to 4-2. Liriano had his 6th quality start in his 7 outings and has really become the ace of the staff. To hold that Yankee lineup to 3 runs in 6 innings I think is quite a feat. He did give up a few to many hits, but 8 of the 9 hits were singles and has yet to give up a homerun in 48.2 innings. Jesse Crain came on in the 7th and to quote fellow blogger Fanatic Jack it was a Crain Wreck. Crain got only one out and gave up three runs on two hits along with a walk to raise his era to 6.75. Ron Mahey then came on and gave up a homerun and got two outs to give up his first runs of the year to increase his era to 0.90. Jose Mijares pitched a perfect 8th inning to lower his era to 6.23.

• The Twins bats went silent in this one against Yankees starter Andy Pettitte as they managed one run on seven hits along with drawing four walks and leaving eight guys on base in this one. The Twins were led by Justin Morneau who went 2-4 at the plate to bring his average up to .366. Joe Mauer went 1-4 at the plate with his 17th rbi of the year in the losing cause. Orlando Hudson, Brendan Harris, Alexi Casilla, and Drew Butera each contributed hits in the game against the Yankees.

• Today, the Twins try to salvage the last game of the series as they send Nick Blackburn to the mound against Yankee starter Sergio Mitre as Blackburn tries to turn in his third straight quality start for the Twins. Gametime is at 12:05 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx.

Rochester Wrap

Louisville 12 Rochester 9 (14-22)

• The Red Wings could not build off their win Friday night as they lost again to Louisville last night by a score of 12-9 thanks to another rough outing by Glen Perkins. Perkins got the start and got shelled again, but if his defense hadn't let him down it would not have been as bad as it ended up being. Perkins went 5+ innings and gave up 7 runs on 7 hits although thanks to two errors only 4 of the 7 runs were earned along with 3 strikeouts and giving up two homeruns to drop his record on the year to 0-5 and actually lower his era to 10.08 on the year. Glen Perkins is someone I just can't figure out as he was a solid pitcher for the Twins just a couple seasons ago and now he has turned into this. In 27.2 innings of work he has given up 31 earned runs. I have heard rumblings that he is pitching hurt, but I just can't see the Twins allowing someone to keep pitching if there was something wrong with him. The bottom line is Glen Perkins is on the verge of being sent to the bullpen and possibly if that doesn't help on the edge of being without a job and this is the most unbelievable decline I have ever seen as he was a solid starter just a few short years ago and now look at him he is getting shelled in the minor leagues. Cole Devries then came on and threw gas on the fire going one inning and giving up four runs on four hits along with two walks and a strikeout to raise his era to 11.57. Jose Lugo then came in and pitched two innings and gave up a run on two hits along with three strikeouts to lower his era to 7.83 on the year. Anthony Slama pitched a perfect ninth along with a strikeout to lower his era on the year to 1.93.

• The Red Wings picked a good time to get the bats going even though the pitching staff imploded and did not allow them a chance to win. They did put up 9 runs on 15 hits along with drawing 4 walks and leaving 8 guys on base. They did commit two errors that hurt them, which were both by Trevor Plouffe, his 5th and 6th errors of the season. The Red Wings were led offensively by Danny Valencia who continued his red hot month of May by going 3-5 with his 12th and 13th doubles of the year and drove in three runs to bring his rbi total up to 20 and his average up to high water mark of .307. It is amazing how he has come on in May compared to April. In April he hit only .256 with an ops of .652, but in May he has been on fire hitting .388 with an ops of .922. If Valencia can keep this up it won't be long till he is up with the Twins showing what he can do. Another guy that is hot for the Red Wings is Jose Morales who in two games for Rochester is 8-9 at the plate. In this one Morales went 3-4 at the plate with his 2nd rbi to bring his average to .889. Brian Dinkelman went 3-4 at the plate also to bring his average up to .289 on the season. Brock Peterson went 2-2 at the plate with his fourth homerun and drove in two runs to bring his rbi total on the year to 15 and his average up to .243. Trevor Plouffe went 2-5 at the plate with his ninth double of the year along with his 19th rbi to bring his average up to .297. Dustin Martin went 2-5 at the plate with his 31st rbi of the year to bring his average up to .333.

• Today, the Red Wings finish off their series with Louisville as they send Jeff Manship to the mound for Rochester. Gametime is at 12:05 at Frontier Field in Rochester as the Red Wings try to bounce back.

New Britain Business

New Britain 6 (7-27) Harrisburg 0

• Last night was the highly touted debut of starting pitcher Kyle Gibson in a AA uniform and man did he not disappoint in a 6-0 win for New Britain to break a 7 game losing streak for the Rockcats over Harrisbrug. Gibson in this one was everything that we thought he could be and more. Gibson went 7.1 innings and did not give up a run on only 4 hits along with a walk and an impressive 10 strikeouts. The most impressive part of his night in my mind was of the 22 outs that he recorded only 3 of them were on fly balls. He is a groundball pitcher who will get plenty of ground balls, but what is impressive to me is he throws between 92-94 with good breaking pitches in that he is able to get strikeouts as well. Really the sky is the limit for Gibson as realistically he could be pitching for the Twins right now, but I understand why they want to take their time with him. I am curious to see if he can follow up this outing with good outings the next couple of months and possibly get the call to Rochester before the year is up. You can write it down right here and now that I predict that Kyle Gibson will start the 2011 season in a Twins uniform. Joe Testa came in relief and got two outs along with a walk to lower his era to 6.89 on the year. The rejuvanation of Testa has been something behold as in May he has pitched 8.1 scoreless innings, while in April he had a 14.73 era and appeared on his way back to Fort Myers. However, now he is one of the most consistant pitchers out of the bullpen for the Rockcats and it will be interesting to see if he can keep it going. Matt Williams pitched a scoreless ninth inning along with a strikeout to lower his era to 6.23.

• The Rockcats offense even got into the act in this one scoring 6 runs on 11 hits along with drawing 3 walks and leaving 5 guys on base. Even though they did commit an error by Esterlin De Los Santos, his 10th of the year, they still came out on top. The Rockcats were led offensively by new Rockcat Yangervis Solarte who went 2-4 at the plate with his first homerun and second double of the year and drove in his first and second runs of the year. Steve Singleton went 2-4 at the plate with his seventh double of the year and had his fifth rbi to bring his average up to .248. Juan Portes also went 2-4 at the plate to bring his average up to .179. Ben Revere went 1-5 at the plate with his first homerun of the year and drove in two runs to bring his season total up to 10. Esterlin De Los Santos, Joe Benson, Mark Dolenc, and Tobey Gardenhire each contributed base hits in the winning cause for the Rockcats.

• Today, the Rockcats continue their series with Harrisburg as David Bromberg tries to rebound from his worst start of the season. Gametime is at 1pm in Harrisburg as the Rockcats try to win their second straight game.

Fort Myers Minutes

Fort Myers 6 (16-19) Bradenton 5

• The Miracle pulled off quite a comeback coming back from a 5-0 hole going into the bottom of the 7th before scoring 6 runs in the seventh to take a 6-5 lead and holding on for the victory over Bradenton. Blake Martin got his first start of the season and working on getting more endurance so he only lasted 3 innings. He was effective in those three innings giving up a run on five hits along with two walks and a strikeout to lower his era to 3.43 on the year. It was a good start for Martin and will get some starts until Tom Stuifbergen is ready to move up to Fort Myers. Shooter Hunt then came on and if you needed a lesson on not getting to far ahead of yourself this was the game to look at. After pitching very effective lately fans were wondering why Martin was starting instead of Shooter Hunt and last night we found out why. Hunt went 2 innings and gave up four runs on no hits along with 4 walks and two strikeouts to raise his era up to 5.66 on the year. Hunt had no idea where the ball was going and it showed in this outing so we need to temper our expectations and just let him take it slow and try to put this outing behind him and just get better every day. Andrei Lobanov then came on and got the two batters that he was asked to get. Steve Blevins then came on and pitched 2 shutout innings to pick up his first FSL victory on two hits along with a walk and a strikeout. Billy Bulluck pitched the last 1.1 innings to pick up his 8th save of the year on two hits along with two strikeouts to lower his era to 2.89.

• Better late then never is the moniker that has to go to Fort Myers offense in this one as they scored 6 runs in the 7th to win. They scored 6 runs on 10 hits along drawing 3 walks and leaving 10 guys on base. The Miracle were led offensively by Evan Bigley who went 2-3 at the plate with his eigth rbi of the year to bring his average up to .219. Nathan Hanson went 2-4 at the plate to bring his average up to .237. Brandon Roberts went 2-5 at the plate to bring his average up to .327. Nick Romero went 1-3 at the plate with his 2nd double of the year. Jair Fernandez went 1-3 at the plate with his third double of the year and his 7th and 8th rbi's of the year. Paul Kelly and Ramon Santana each contributed hits in the winning cause for the Miracle.

• Today, the Miracle begin a series with Clearwater with Michael Tarsi getting the start for Fort Myers. Gametime is at 3:05 at Hammond Stadium in Fort Myers as the Miracle try to win again today.

Beloit Beat

Beloit 4 (22-14) Wisconsin 3

• The Snappers won their third consecutive game yesterday afternoon and gained first place all alone with a 4-3 victory over Wisconsin. Edgar Ibarra got the start for the Snappers and did a decent job. Ibarra went five innings and gave up a run on four hits along with four walks and six strikeouts to lower his era to 3.51. Peter Kennelly got 2 outs and gave up two unearned runs along with two walks to lower his era to 6.86. Dakota Watts pitched 1.2 scoreless innings along with three walks to pick up his first win of the year and lower his era to 2.66. Matt Tone then came on and pitched a scoreless inning of relief on two hits to lower his era to 3.43. Kane Holbrooks pitched a scoreless ninth to pick up his fourth save of the year on one hit along with a strikeout to lower his era to 0.83.

• The Snappers did not do a whole lot offensively, but just enough to get the win. The Snappers scored 4 runs on only 5 hits along with drawing 5 walks and leaving 7 guys on base and committing an error by Dakota Watts, his 1st of the year in the winning cause. The Snappers were led by Brian Dozier who went 1-3 with his 6th double of the year and his 14th rbi. Aaron Hicks, Anderson Hidalgo, Danny Rams, and Wang Wei Lin each contributed a hit in the winning cause for the Snappers

• Today, the Snappers continue their series with Wisconsin as Michael Tonkin gets his second start for Beloit. Gametime is at 1:05 in Appleton as the Snappers try to sweep Wisconsin.