Saturday, October 20, 2007

Dogs sink Rafters, 3-1

Nolan Reimold


Surprise 1 at Phoenix 3

W: N. Blackburn (1-0, 5.40); L: B. Jukich (0-1, 8.10); SV: F. Hernandez (2)
HR: PDD: N. Reimold (2).

Former Miracle pitcher Nick Blackburn picked up the win as the Phoenix Desert Dogs downed the Surpise Rafters, 3-1.

Phoenix took at early lead in the game, when Cliff Pennington (Oakland) walked then advanced to second on a balk by Rafter's starter Ben Jukrich (Cincinnati). Jeff Baisley (Oakland) plated Pennington with line drive to put the Dogs on the board in the bottom of the first.

The Dogs extended their lead in the second, when Nolan Reimold (Baltimore) homered off the former Sarasota Reds starter. Jukirch would work 3.2 innings, giving up 2 runs on 3 hits and 3 walks while striking out 1.

Blackburn, who was a FSL All-star in 2005, worked 3 innings, allowing 1 hit and walking 1 while striking out 4.

He would be replaced in the 4th by Amos Day (Chi White Sox). The Rafters took advantage of the pitching change with Kila Kaaihue (Kansas City) singling to start the inning, followed by Texas' John Mayberry. With 2 outs, Chris Gimenez (Cleveland) would then single out to left to bring Kaaihue in, giving the Rafters their lone run in the game.

Phoenix picked up their insurance run in the 8th, Jason Delaney (Pittsburgh) singled his way onto base. He'd be replaced by pinch runner Blake Davis (Baltimore), who then stole 2nd and moved to 3rd on a wild pitch by Darren O'Day (LA Angels). Baisley's sac-fly would push him over the plate.

Minnesota's Matt Macri was 0-for-3 at the plate with 1 walk.

Fort Myers' Eddie Morlan pitched 1.1 inings of relief, allowing 3 hits, but no runs, nor did he strike out anyone.

Aside from Jukrich, former Sara-Reds Chris Tatum (c) and Chris Dickerson (of) are also on the Rafters as are Reds prospects Sam Lecure (p), Tyler Pelland (p), Pedro Viola (p), and Adam Rosales (1b).

The Dogs take on the Scottsdale Scorpions on Saturday at 7:05 PM MST.

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Lara at Aragua - Postponed

Thursday's game between the Cardenales de Lara and the Tigres de Aragua was postponed due to rain. The two teams rematch in Aragua on November 6th, so I imagine it will be made up then.

The Aragua Tigers hosts the Leone del Caracas Friday at 7:30 PM AST.

Tigres rip Leones

Alex Romero


Caracas 1 at Aragua 7

W: C. Bailey (1-0, 0.00); L: B. Knox (0-1, 3.60); SV: F. Butto (1)
HR: ARA: B. Buscher (1).

The Tigers de Aragua defeated the Leones del Caracas Friday in Aragua. Twins 3rd base prospect Brian Buscher hit a 2-run homer in the first inning, his first of the Venezuelan Winter League season to give the Tigres the early lead. Former Miracle Luis Maza (LA Dodgers) had singled his way onto the bags off Leones' starter Brad Knox (Oakland).

Aragua added to their lead in the 4th when another former Miracle, Alex Romero (Arizona), doubled in Ruben Salazar (F/A) and Mike Aviles (Kansas City). A throwing error by Gregorio Petit (Oakland) made Romero think he could make his way home as well, but he was taken out the plate by former Twins catcher Henry Blanco (Chicago Cubs).

Avilies doubled in Ronny Cedeno (Chi Cubs) and Buscher in the bottom of the 8th. A Salazar ground out had plated Jesus Feliciano (NY Mets), who had singled his way onto the bags, earlier in the inning.

The only Leones run came in the top of the 7th when Roger Cedeno (Chi Cubs) doubled off Yohan Pino (Minnesota) the came in off an Angel Castillo (LA Angels) double off Bobby Korecky (Minnesota).

Maza finished up the game 1-for-4 with 1 run, Romero was 1-for-3 with a walk and 2 RBIs, Buscher was 1-for-2 with 2 runs, 2 RBIs and 2 walks. Pino was tagged for 1 run off 2 hits, in 1.1 innings, Korecky allowed 1 hit and struck out 1 in 1.0 innings and Jose Mijares allowed a hit to the one batter (Carl Loadenthai - Atlanta) he faced in the top of the 8th innning.

The Tigres visit Lara for face the Cardenales on Saturday at 5:30 PM AST and then stay on the road against the Navegantes del Magallanes on Sunday for a 5:30 PM (local time) game.

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Jupiter's Sinkbeil sinks Beach Boys

Brett Sinkbeil
(Photo courtesy Missouri State)


Waikiki 1 at North Shore 8

W: B. Sinkbeil (2-0, 1.13); L: J. Sullivan (0-2, 6.75); SV: S. Walker (1)
HR: None.

Who ever said Threshers and Manatees don't play nice together? In the Hawaiin Winter League, members of both teams are playing side by side on North Shore Honu.

The Hanu picked up a win Friday over the Waikiki Beach Boys, but it was neither a Manatee nor a Thresher that was the story of the game.

Rather, Jupiter Hammerhead's ace Brett Sinkbeil picked up his second win of the season, allowing only 1 run on 3 hits and 1 walk while striking out 4 over 5 innings. He holds a stellar 1.13 ERA in Hawaii, having worked 16 innings in 4 games.

Waikiki's only run came in the fifth when Jermaine Mitchell (Oakland) reached on a fielding error by Lakeland Flying Tigers' shortstop Danny worth. Lucas Duda's (NY Mets) single moved him to second before Sinkbeil walked Oakland's Justin Sellars to load the bags. Mitchell would score on Sean McCraw's (NY Mets) force out, but Sinkbeil would then get Antoan Richardson (San Francisco) to strik out and Hector Pillot (NY Mets) to fly out to end the inning.

Steve Chapman (Milwaukee) walked with 2 outs in the 1st lead of North Shore's offense. Lou Santangelo (Houston) also drew a walk before Mat Gamel (Milwaukee) reached on a fielding error and Jamie Romak's (Pittsburgh) double served to bring all three in.

Shintaro Yoshida (F/A) singled his way onto base in the bottom of the second and was followed onto the bags by Michael Griffin (Cininnati) before Chris Valuika (Cincinnati) walked. Michael Champman's (Milwaukee) ground ball to right brought in Yoshida and Griffin, although Chapman would find himself out at 2nd as he tried to strech the single into a double. Santangelo's ground ball to left brought in Valaika before Mat Gamel (Milwaukee) would pop out to end the inning.

Hanu's production fell off after that though, and North Shore would not add the final 2 runs until the 8th inning. Gamel walked to lead off, but Jamie Romak (Pittsburgh) hit into a force out to nab him at 2nd. Dusty Ryan's (Detroit) walk pushed Romak to 2nd and Worth would push Romak over the plate when he reached on a throwing error by Waikiki's Sellers. Yoshida hit a sac fly to score Ryan, but Griffin would pop out to end the inning.

Milwaukee's Kevin Roberts pitched 1 inning of relief for North Shore, striking out 2 before Houston's Sean Walker came in to close the game, walking 2 and striking out 4 in 3 innings.

Colorado's Josh Sullivan suffered the loss, lasting only 3 innings and giving up 6 runs (3 earned) on 5 hits, and 3 walks while striking out 1. Kyohei Muranaka (F/A) finished off the game, both his runs were unearned. He gave up 1 hit, walked 2 and struck out 5 in 5 innings.

The two teams rematach Saturday at 6:30 PM Hawaiin Time.

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Friday, October 19, 2007

Macri leads Pheonix over Javalinas. 7-5

Matt Macri Drew Butera


Phoenix 7 at Peoria Javalinas 5

W: J. Chavez (1-1, 3.60); L: M. Rivera (0-1, 10.38); SV: B. McCrory (4)
HR: PDD: M. Macri (2), N. Reimold (1).

Twins prospect Matt Macri was 2-for-4 with 2 runs, including a home run in the top of the 6th, to help lead the Phoenix Desert Dogs over the Peoria Javelinas 7-5 Thursday afternoon.

Phoenix took an early lead when Cliff Pennington (Oakland) walked, moved to 3rd on Ryan Sweeney's (Chi Sox) single, and crossed the plate when Macri reached on a throwing error by Brandon Hicks (Atlanda). A wild pitch by Garrett Mock (Washington) saw Sweeney home to give the Dogs 2.

The Javelina's answered back when Atlanta's Jordon Schafer singled, stole 2nd then came home on a line drive by former Tampa Yankee Juan Miranda.

Peoria took the lead in the 2nd when they tallied 3 runs, including Matt Tulasosopo's (Seattle) marker that came on a throwing error by Twins prospect Drew Butera.

Macri's yard-ball single tied the score up in the 6th.

Butera drew a walk in the 7th, then came home on Pennington's double, along with Jeff Fiorentino (Baltimore), who had also walked his way onto base.

They added 2 more in the 8th after Macri singled his way onto base, then came home on Norlan Reimold's (Baltimore) home run. Butera would double in the inning, but it was for naught as Fiorentino would pop out to retire the side.

Butera finished up the game 1-for-3 with 1 run and 1 walk, while former Mircle shortstop Trevor Plouffe was 1-for-4 at the plate.

Jesse Chavez (Pittsburgh) took the win for the Desert Dogs, allowing 1 hit and striking out 1 in 1 innings worth of work. Seattle's Mumba Rivera suffered the loss, while Atlanta's Sung Ki Jung was charged with the blown save for the Javelinas.

The Desert Dogs take on the Surprise Rafters at home Friday at 12:35 MST.

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Recap

Thursday, October 18, 2007

Aragu drops two

Bobby Korecky
Bobby Korecky


Aragua 0 at La Guaira 9

W: J. Bennett (1-1, 1.00); L: H. Estrada (0-1, 7.50)
HR: LAG: C. Suarez (1).

Tiburones de La Guaira blanked the Tigres de Aragua 9-0 Tuesday, limiting the Tigers to only 5 hits on the game.

Twins prospect Brian Buscher had one of those hits in the 9th, but Mike Aviles (Kansas City) ground into a force out that nabbed Buscher at 2nd. Former Miracle Alex Romero (Arizona) extended his hitless streak, maintaining his .000 batting average on the season.

Former Miracle pitcher Frank Mata gave up 3 runs - none of them earned - on 3 hits and 1 walk while striking out 1 in 1.2 innings. Horacio Estrada (F/A) suffered the loss for the Tigres.

Atlanta's Gregor Blanco was 2-for-2 with 3 runs and 2 walks for the Tiburones, Seattle's Luis Oliveros was 1-for-4 with 2 runs, and Boston's Chris Carter was 2-for-5 with 1 run and 4 RBIs.

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Zuilia 3 at Aragua 1

W: C. Rojas (1-0, 0.00); L: B. Korecky (0-1, 0.00); SV: R. Garces (3)
HR: None.

The Tigres did not fair any better against the Aguilas de Zulia on Wednesday. Twins prospect Bobby Korecky suffered the 3-1 loss for Aragua, giving up 1 run on 2 hits while striking out 1 in 1.1 innings.

Brian Bass took the start for the Tigres, working through 4.1 innings, allowing 4 hits and 1 walk while striking out 4.

Carlos Leon (Philadelphia) bunted his way onto base in the top of the sixth, then moved to 3rd on Darnell McDonald's (Minnesota) ground ball single and a missed catch by Tigre's first baseman Ruben Salazar (F/A). He would come home on Yurendell de Caster's (Pittsburgh) sac-fly to put the Eagles on the board.

They would take two more in the top of the 8th, when former Miracle pitcher Victor Moreno hit Leon with a pitch. McDonald would double him in. After de Caster ground out, Moreno would intentionally walk Carlos Gonzalez (Arizona). Randy Ruiz (San Francisco) singled a line drive out to center to put McDonald over the plate for Zulia.

Brian Buscher reached on a throwing error in the 9th inning by Leon, which went into the dugout, putting the Twins prospect on 2nd. He moved to 3rd on Salazar's fly out and scored on a throwing error by Zulia short stop Luis Bolivar (Cincinnati). That would be all the Tigres could manage though as Ramon Castro (F/A) flew out to end the inning.

Buscher would be 1-for-3 at the plate with 1 run and 1 walk. Fort Myers Alumni Alex Romero (Arizona) finally got his first hit of the VWL season. Jose Mijares worked .2 innings, allowing 1 hit and striking out 2.

Aragua takes on the Cardenales de Lara on Thursday at 7:30 PM, AST.

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Phoenix turns big 5th inning to win

Trevor Plouffe
Trevor Plouffe


Peo Javelinas 3 at Phoenix 6

W: J. Arrieta (1-0, 0.00); L: C. Lo (0-1, 19.64); SV: F. Hernandez (1)
HR: PDD: J. Baisley (2).

Former Miracle shortstop Trevor Plouffe was 2-for-5 Wednesday with a run and 2 RBIs as the Phoenix Desert Dogs overcame the Peoria Javelinas 6-3.

Ryan Mullins worked the start for the Desert Dogs, giving up 2 runs (both earned) on 4 hits and 2 walks while striking out 3.

Corey Wimberly (Colorado) turned a walk into a run in the first inning after moving to 3rd on Dexter Fowler's (Colorado) fly ball single. A sac double-play by Jordon Schafer (Atlanta) sent Wimberly over the plate for the Javelinas early lead.

Peoria turned a second run in the 2nd inning with catcher Devin Ivany (Washington) drawing a walk off the former Mircle starter, moving to 2nd on a ground out and coming across the plate on a Christian Colonel (Colorado) single.

Phoenix used a big 5th inning to do all their damage. After Pittsburgh's Andrew McCutchen got caught stealing 2nd, Ryan Sweeny (Chicago White Sox) would singled his way onto base. With two out BlaKe Davis (Baltimore) bunted his way onto the bags and Nyjer Morgan (Pittsburgh) walked ot load the bags. A fly ball single by Plouffe scored 2, followed by a Jeff Fiorentino (Baltimore) double that brought in Morgan and moved Plouffe to third. Jeff Baisley (Oakland) then put one over the left field wall to make the final total for the inning 6.

Plouffe doubled in the bottom of the 8th with 2 outs, but was left stranded when Fiorentino was called out on strikes.

Baltimore's Jake Arrieta earned the win for Dogs. Twins prospect Matt Macri was 1-for-3 at the plate with 1 walk.

The Javelinas feature several former Tampa Yankees' players including short stop Reegie Corona and pitcher Eric Wordekemper from the 2007 season.

The two teams rematch Thursday at 12:35 MST in Peoria.

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Recap

Yankees prospects on the Javelinas: Steve Jackson (p), Kevin Whelan (p), Steveb White (p), Eric Wordekemper (p), Reegie Corona (ss), Juan Miranda (1b), Brett Gardner (of)

Wednesday, October 17, 2007

Tigers prospects lead Saguaros to 3-2 win

Cameron Maybin
Cameron Maybin batting against the Miracle


Phoenix 2 at Peo Saguaros 3

W: B. Badenhop (1-1, 4.50); L: J. Gray (0-1, 9.00); SV: N. Jamison (2)
HR: PES: C. Maybin 2 (2).

Former Lakeland Tigers ace Burke Badenhop (Detroit) picked up the win for the Peoria Saguaros Monday night, downing the Phoenix Desert Dogs, 3-2.

Cameron Maybin (Detroit) hit a pair of the over the wall, and recorded all 3 runs for Peoria, to lead the Saguaros attack.

Maybin's first yarder came off former Miracle pitcher Anthony Swarzak in the first inning, a long line drive out to left.

Maybin walked in the 3rd inning, stole 2nd, then came home on Will Venable (San Deigo) double off James Johnson (Baltimore) who took over for Swarzak in the third.

Swarzak's final line would be 1 run on 2 hits and 2 walks in 2 innings.

The Dogs managed to tie the game up on 4th, when Jason Delaney (Pittsburgh) singled and Andrew McCutchen (Pittsburgh) tripled him in. A wild pitch by Peoria's Wesley Wright (LA Dodgers) would serve to bring McCutchen over the plate.

Maybin's second homer, this one over the right field fence, came off Jeff Gray (Oakland) in the bottom of the 8th inning.

Former Miracle short stop Trevor Plouffe was 1-for-3 at the plate, getting stranded on first in the top of the 7th.

The two teams rematch Tuesday as the Dogs host the Saguaros for a 12:35 M.S.T. game.

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Desert Dogs down Saguaros, 3-2

Eddie Morlan
Eddie Morlan


Peo Saguaros 2 at Phoenix 3

W: A. Russell (1-0, 0.00); L: P. Overholt (0-1, 9.64); SV: B. McCrory (3)
HR: None.

Former clearwater pitcher Josh Outman pitched 3 innings of no run baseball Tuesday, allowing 2 hits and striking out 3 for the Peoria Saguaros who fell to the Phoenix Desert Dogs, 3-2.

Philadephia's Pat Overholt would suffer the loss and the blown save in the 5th inning. Raul Padron (Oakland) started out by hitting a ground-rule double off Overholt, who then struck Nolan Reimold (Baltimore) with a pitch. Drew Butera, who was one of the players acquired by the Twins in trade that sent Luis Castillo to the Mets, moved the pair on a sac bunt. Cliff Pennington (Oakland) would ground out before Nyjer Morgan's (Pittsburgh) single to 2nd base pushed the pair over the plate. Blake Davis' (Baltimore) line drive would bring in Morgan before Andrew McCutchen (Pittsburgh) wuld strike out to end the inning.

The Saguaros took the early lead in the 3rd when Xavier Paul (LA Dodgers) and Blake Dewitt (LA Dodgers) both drew a walks off Desert Dogs starter Jack Egbert (Chicago White Sox). Greg Golson's (Philadelphia) single move the pair. Chris Coghlan (Florida) would hit a sac-fly to push Paul over the plate.

The Saguaros tried to rally back in the 9th, when Jeff Larish (Detroit) singled his way onto base and moved to 2nd on a wild pitch by Baltimore's Bob McCrory. Mike Hollimon's (Detroit) ground out put Larish on third, and he'd come over the plate when McCrory uncorked a second wild pitch. Peoria fell short however, when Paul was called out on strikes to end the inning.

Butera was 0-for2 at the plate while Twins prospect Matt Macri was 1-for-4 but did not figure into the scoring.

Former Miracle pitcher Eduardo Morlan tossed the 7th inning for the Dogs, striking out former Hammerhead catcher Brett Hayes and getting Paul and Dewitt to fly out.

Detroit's Cameron Maybin, whose pair of homers hurt Pheonix on Monday, was 0-for-4 at the plate in the designated hitter role during Tuesday's rematch.

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Tuesday, October 16, 2007

Tigres down Bravos, 8-3

Alex Romero
Alex Romero batting for the Miracle in 2004


Margarita 3 at Aragua 8

W: Y. Pino (1-1, 2.25); L: O. Lira (0-1, 0.00)
HR: MAR: R. Cabrera (1).

Former Miracle Yohan Pino pitched 2.2 innings of relief to pick up his first win of this Venezuelan Winter League season Sunday, allowing only 1 hit and striking out 2.

The Bravos opened the scoring in the game when Franciso Leandro (F/A) doubled, moved to third on Anderson Machado's (Cincinnati) ground out and came home J.C. Boscan's (Cincinnati) double. Tigres starter Kyle Middleton (Houston) allowed the run. He would finish up with 3 hits and 2 strike outs in 4.1 innings.

Aragua answered back in the bottom of the inning with Raul Chavez (NY Yankees) drawing a walk. Willie Romero (F/A) singled his way onto base and Twins prospect Brian Buscher reached on a fielding error to load the bags with one out. Mike Aviles (Kansas City) drew a walk to push one run over the plate. Former Miracle Alex Romero (Arizona) would pop out, but a Ruben Salazar (F/A) single would bring in 2 before Juan Lucena's (St. Louis) ground out ended the inning,

The Tigers picked up 4 more in the bottom of the 5th, when Buscher's single was followed by an Aviles' double that took him home. Singles by Salarzar and Jose Martinez (St. Louis), and a double by Lucena would bring in 2 more, with Chavez's sac-fly making it four.

Former Miracle Josmir Romero (F/A) got onto the mound in the sixth, and the Bravos would get a pair of runs off him in the seventh.

Rochester's Ricky Barrett pitched 1 inning for the Bravos, allowing 1 run (unearned) on 2 hits while striking out 2.

Jose Mijares pitched .1 inning again, striking out Dennys Abreau (F/A) before Pino came in to finish the game.

Buscher finished up the game 1-for-4 at the plate with 2 runs and a walk, Alex Romero was 0-for-5, and has yet to record a hit in four games.

The League takes Monday off, Aragua plays at La Guaira on Tuesday at 7:30 PM A.S.T.

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Monday, October 15, 2007

Red Team, Blue Team

Cole Devries
Cole Devries


"Camp Day" started out Saturday morning with the Twins pitching staff engaging in a game of whiffle ball. Played on field 2, the pitchers used a wooden bat on poor little plastic balls that took quite a beating.

For the pitchers, it seemed like a lot of fun. Short little underhand tosses and great big hits. Charles Nolte distinguished himself as the premier whiffle ball hitter in a contest with a made up score of 26-3 at the end. No one was really keeping track, and it really didn't matter.

It was just a fun way to get a bit of work out, and to do something just slightly different from that the guys have been working on all through camp.

And yes, it seems the pitching staff knows how to run the bases too.

The "real" game, came later. While the Saturday games are slated to start at 10:00 AM, this one got underway at 1:00 PM, with Team Red taking on Team Blue in Hammond Stadium.

Cole Devries took the start for Team Red. For my second look at the former Golden Gopher, the Eden Prarie native was throwing like a candidate for a Miracle starting spot, which he is. He worked 3 solid innings, giving up 4 hits, and striking out only 1, but he kept Team Blue off the board.

Miracleman Brian Dinkelman greeting him with a single to start the game, but Ben Revere flew out, and Rene Tosani hit into a force out that nabbed Dinkelman at 2nd. Deibinson Romero struck out to retire the side.

Team Blue would put Appalachian Pitcher of the Year David Bromberg on the mound. Bromberg issued three straight strike outs, sitting down Esterlin De Los Santos, Alejandro Machado and Brandon Roberts to end the inning.

Chris Parmelee would hit a single to start off the second inning, but Devries got Angel Morales to hit into a double play and Jon Waltenbury ground out. Bromberg went back out and started up right where he left off, by striking out Juan Richardson. He then got Matt Moses and Garrett Olson on line outs to end the inning.

Ben Petsch and Roldolfo Palacios both singled, but Petsch would be taken out attempting to steal, James Beresford would fly out and Dinkleman ground out to end Devries stint on the mound.

Bromberg made short of Greg Yersich (fly out), Alex Soto and Reggie Williams (both on ground outs to end the inning.)

Southpaw Henry Reyes took over for Devries in the fourth, going 3 up, 3 down with Romero picking up his second strike out of the game.

Curtis Leavitt
Curtis Leavitt


Team Blue retaliated by putting Mike Tarsi on the mound. This would be my first look at the lanky lefty.

Tarsi got Mark Dolenc to ground out and De Los Santos popped out before putting Machado on base by plunking him, while Roberts drew a walk. He would strike out Richarson though, to end the inning.

Reyes got Parmelee on a ground out, then walked Morales. Waltenbury hit into a double play and I was beginning to wonder if the Twins pitching staff could blank each other for nine innings. I shouldn't have wondered.

Richardson lined out with an arrow to 3rd, but Olson then slugged a pitch over the right field wall for the first run of the game. Yersich would ground out, Soto would pick up a walk and Williams would fly out to end the inning.

With the fifth over, several new players made their way into the game. Ben Petsch started out by striking out for Team blue, and Palacios never made it to the bag either, but then Parmelee jumped in there for an extra at bat, picking up a walk. James Beresford would then line out and Danny Rams would get his first at bat, picking up a walk. He'd take over behind the plate for Rocky as well.

Nick Papasan replaced Williams in the line up, grouding out for his first at bat. Dolenc struck out, but De Lo singled his way onto the plate. Machado would hit over to short though, so De Lo was taken out at second to end the inning. Danny Lehmann would replace Yersich in the line up and took over behing the plate for the seventh, which also saw Tyler Robertson take to the mound for Team Red.

They're going to have to fix the Kwick Kopy "K" board if Robertson is going to pitch for the Miracle this season. They may even want to consider making it larger. Frank is certainly going to have his work cut out for him.

Dinkleman ground out, but Robertson got Revere and Tosoni out on strikes for a quick top of the 7th. Curtis Leavitt would come in to handle the pitching for Team Blue.

Brandon Robertson singled his way onto base and moved over to second on Richardson's ground out. With Moses batting, he would then steal 3rd. Leavitt would unleash a wild pitch that would put him over the plate to make it 2-0 Team Red. Moses then hit a double, but he'd be stranded when Olson ground out and Lehmann flew out to end the inning.

Romero and Parmalee both hit singles off Robertson to end the inning. He'd take Morales out on strikes, but then Waltenbury slammed a ball out to center field for a triple to tie up the game. Petsch and Rams would both be issued strikes though, leaving Jon standing on 3rd with no where to go.

Leavitt would get Soto to ground out and Papasan and Dolenc to strike out for a quick bottom of the 8th. He didn't want to kill off Team Blue's offesive momentum.

Caleb Moore would come into the game in relief of Robertson, who'd be awarded the blown save. He allowed a single to Beresford, but got Dinkelman to ground out. He then walked Revere. Tosoni hit a single to load the bases. Romero then followed that up with another deep single that saw Baby Bear-Cat Bearesford, and Speed Demon Revere over the plate to make it 4-2 Team Blue. Moore would get Parmelee and Morlaes out on fly balls to end the inning.

Rob Delaney came in to close out the game for Team Blue. You know how Delaney is, he HAS to make things interesting.

He got De Lo to ground out, but Parmelee would not handle Machado's hit, putting the man on base on a fielding error. Roberts then drew walk to put a man in scoring position. Juan Richardson and Matt Moses would both fly out though, handing the loss to Moore, and giving Delaney the win, and sending Team Blue back to the locker rooms quite happy.

The Twins play at home Monday and on the road Tuesday before another camp day on Wednesday. Fall Instructional League closes out at home Thursday with a game against the Reds.

NOTES: Joe Benson "did something" to his elbow. It's not serious, but he's exited camp early. Former Miracle slugger Brock Peterson is in town "working on his shoulder".

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Phoenix wins in Scottsdale, falls to Surprise

Nick Blackburn


Phoenix 4 at Surpise 5

W: D. Austen (1-0, 0.00); L: B. Kilby (0-1, 7.71); SV: N. Hoelscher (1)
HR: PDD: J. Baisley (1). SUR: J. Mayberry 2 (3), C. Dickerson (1).

Ranger's prospect John Mayberry launched a two-run blast in the first, then snapped a 4-4 tie with a solo shot in the eighth to led the Surprise Rafters over the Phoenix Desert Dogs, 5-4, on Saturday afternoon. The 23-year-old outfielder had a career-high three homers and seven RBIs on April 26 with Class A Advanced Bakersfield and had a two-homer game on July 11 with Double-A Frisco.

Mayberry's first yarder came off former Miracle starter Nick Blackburn, who was making his Arizona Fall League debute. A ball deflected off Blackburn which allowed Chris Dickerson (Cincinnati) onto base on a line drive single. These was a delay as Blackburn was checked, but he was able to continue, giving up a single to German Duran (Texas). He would take Michael Aubrey (Cleveland) out on strikes before Mayberry stepped up the plate. Dickerson decided this was a good time to steal 3rd and made a run for it, but Phoenix catcher Donny Lucy (Chi White Sox) fired the ball to 3rd baseman Jeffrey Baisley (Oakland) to stop the runner. No one could stop Mayberry though, who's ball cleared the left center field wall. Blackburn would then take Chris Lubanski (Kansas City) out on strikes to end the inning.

In the bottom of the second, Miami, Fl, native Sean Rodriguez (LA Angels) greeted Blackburn with a double. Taylor Teagarden (Texas) ground out, but moved Rodriguez to 3rd. He'd come home on a Jose Duarte (Kansas City) sac-fly. Elvis Andrus (Texas), the brother of former Miracle oufielder Errol Andrus, struck out to end the inning and Blackburn's short stint on the mound.

That gives Blackburn, who has a good chance of landing a role on the Twins next season, a 13.50 ERA to open the short fall season.

Trevor Plouffe played at short again for the Desert Dogs, and was 1-for-3 at the plate. Plouffe singled in the top of the 2nd but was left stranded when Lucy flew out to retire the side.

Plouffe would fly out in the top of the 3rd, drew a walk off the rafter's Von Stertzbach (LA Angels) in the top of the 6th, and reached on a fielding error in the top of the 8th.

Rochester's Matt Macri was brought into the game in the bottom of the ninth, replacing Baltimore's Jeff Fiorentino in the line up as the Dog's tried to capitalize on Nolan Reimold's (Baltimore) Walk to tie the score, but Macri struck out swinging to end the game.

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Late Friday:

Scottsdale 5 at Phoenix 7

W: J. Johnson (1-0, 0.00); L: R. Romero (0-1, 13.50); SV: B. McCrory (2)
HR: SCO: E. Longoria (3). PDD: R. Padron (1).

Oakland's Raul Padron was 3-for-4 at the plate with 1 run, 2 RBI's and a home run to lead the Desert Dogs over the Scottsdale Scorpions, 7-5.

Twins prospect Trevor Plouffe was 1-for-2 with a walk off New York's Adam Bostick (Mets) in the 2nd inning, Plouffe's single came in the bottom of the 8th.

His best contribution came in the sixth, when his sac-bunt moved fellow Twins prospect Matt Macri to 3rd and Padron to 2nd. Macri would then score on Cliff Pennington's (Oakland) sac fly.

Macri was otherwise 0-for-3 at the plate with a pop out, a stike out, and ground out.

Eduardo Morlan pitched the top of the 6th inning, getting Mike Carp (NY Mets) and Sergio Santos (Toronto) to fly out, before allowing singles to John Jaso (Tampa Boy) and Nate Schierholtz (San Francisco). He would get Eugenio Velez (San Franscisco) to ground out though to end the inning.

The league takes Sunday off. Phoenix will take on the Peoria Saguaros, Monday at 7:05 M.S.T.

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Wrap

Leones, Tigers spit pair

Jose Mijares
Jose Mijares pitching at Terry Park in 2006


Aragua 2 at Caracas 3

W: C. Bohorquez (1-0, 0.00); L: Y. Pino (0-1, 6.75); SV: J. Plummer (1)

HR: ARA: M. Aviles (1).

The Leones de Caracas defeated the Tigres De Aragua 3-2 Friday in Venezuelan Winter League play.

Former Miracle pitcher Yohan Pino took the loss, giving up 1 run on 2 hits and 1 walk while striking out 1 in 1.1 innings worth of work.

Twin prospect Brian Bass took the start, working 4 innings for the Tigres. Caracas' Carl Loadenthai (Atlanta) singled on a ground ball to center to start out the Leones offense, then stole 2nd. Peeter Ramos (Philadelphia) ground out, but Loadenthai moved to 3rd. A passed ball by Raul Chavez (NY Yankees) saw Lodenthai across the plate for the first run of the game.

The Tigres answered back in the 3rd, when former Miracle Luis Maza (LA Dodgers) doubled out to right. He was followed onto base by Fort Myers Alumni Alex Romero (Arizona) who reached on a fielding error. Mike Aviles (Kansas City) sac-fly brought in Maza to give the Tigres their run. Twin prospect Brian Buscher singled, moving Romero to second, but Ramon Castro (f/a) ground into a force out to end the inning.

Bass final line would be 1 run, earned on 3 hits and no walks, while striking out 3 in 4 innings. Rosman Garcia (Baltimore) would replace him on the mound, getting into a jam in the 6th inning with 1 out. Again, it would be Loadenthai that picked up the run when he reached on a sac-bunt. He would again steal second, and would move to 3rd, this time on a fielder's choice that took Cesar A. Quintero (Houston) out at home. A pitcher change did not help, as he scored off Eduaro Perez's (LA Dodgers) single.

Aviles would homer for Aragua in the 7th. Pino would allow a double to Mario Lisson (Kansas City) in the bottom of the inning, and a fielding error by Jesus Feliciano (NY Mets) moved him to 3rd. He come home on Gregorio Petit's (Oakland) sac-bunt for the game winner.

Buscher would be 2-for-4 at the plate with Romero going 0-for-5 and Maza taking 2-for-5 with a run. Former Twins catcher Henry Blanco was 0-for-4 for the Leones. Former Miracle Jose Mirajes worked .1 innings in relief of Pino and Frank Mata finished up the game, allowing 1 hit and striking out 1 in 1 inning.

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Caracas 0 at Aragua 4

W: V. Moreno (1-0, 0.00); L: J. Cummings (0-1, 7.36)

HR: ARA: J. Martinez (1), R. Salazar (1).

The Tigers got out of the slump on Saturday, blanking the Lions 4-0 at home. Former Miracle Victor Moreno (Baltimore) picked up the win, working 1.2 hitless, walkless, innings while striking out 2. Rochester's Bobby Korecky threw 2 innings of relief ball, allowing 1 hit, walking 1 and striking out 1.

All in all, 6 Aragua pitchers held Caracas to only 3 hits and 1 walk in the game.

Alex Romero (Arizona) capitalized on a walk in the 4th, scoring on Jose Martinez's (St. Louis) home run. The Tigres also got runs from Ruben Salazar (f/a) and pinch runner Aarom Baldiris (f/a) who replaced designed hitter Alex Nunez (f/a) in the game.

Jeremy Cummings (Toronto), who spent time this last season in Rochester, suffered the loss for Caracas, giving up 3 runs (earned) on 5 hits and 1 walk in 3.2 innings worth of work.

Aragua host Margarita on Sunday for a 4:00 PM (Venezuelan local time) game.

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