Ladendorf homers as Twins cool off Reds

GCL Reds 1 at GCL Twins 5

W: M. Garcia (2-1, 3.61); L: E. Hildenbrandt (3-2, 2.92); SV: M. Schiavoni (2)
HR: TWI: T. Ladendorf (1).

The Twins took an early lead Friday at the Lee County Sportsplex and never relinquished it, picking up a 5-1 win over the 3rd placed Reds in the South Division standings.

Andres Diaz singled his way onto base and one out later, Tyler Ladendorf hit his first home run of the season over the left field. That was definitely a feel good run as Ladendorf has struggled at the plate this season and everyone has been pulling for him.

Maurico Pimentel and Kevin Coddington hit back-to-back singles off Twins starter Martire Garcia. Alexis Oliveras singled to drive in Pimentel for the Reds lone run. Garcia would induce Humberto Sosa to ground into a double play and then took Eli Rimes out on strikes to retire the side.

Jakub Hajtmar doubled in the bottom of the sixth, and Gonzalez singled him in. Andres Diaz would take a single too, but Hyeong-rok Choi would flyout, ending the inning.

The Reds replaced Canadian hurler Evan Hildenbradt with Bryan Gardner in the bottom of the seventh. Ladendorf would go down on strikes, but Danny Rohlfing drew a walk. Herbert Lara singled and Arron Hicks doubled to score the pair, to give the Twins their fourth and fifth runs.

Garcia worked six for the Twins allowing just the one run on 3 hits and a walk while striking out six. He's been somewhat of a human strike out machine all season long. Mauro Schiavoni picked up his second save of the season, allowing a pair of hits while fanning two over three innings.

Ladendorf lead the attack, going 2-for-3 at the plate with run and 2 RBIs. Diaz would finish up 2-for-4 with a run, while Hicks, Hajtmar, Danny Ortiz, and Gonzalez were all 1-for-4, Hajtmar with a run, Hicks with 2 RBIs and Gonzales with one, leaving Ortiz to be the one hit wonder of the game.

Lara finished up 1-for-3 with a run at the bottom of the order. Rohlfing would hit 0-and-2, but parlayed a walk into a run for the Twins.

The Twins finish off this four game set on the road against the GCL Red Sox at the City of Palms Complex. As it's Saturday, the game beings at 10:00 AM. The Twins then rest on Sunday.

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The Dominican Summer League game between the DSL Cubs1 and the DSL Twins was postponed due to rain from Tropical Storm Fay, which is likely to threaten the Florida coast early next week. The DSL Twins are schedule to take on the DSL Reds on the road on Saturday, weather permitting, for a 10:30 AM game. With seven games left in the season, it's likely that the game will not be made up.

Twins down Reds, 6-2

GCL Reds 2 at GCL Twins 6

W: M. Mopas (2-1, 4.15); L: L. Machuca (0-1, 6.75); SV: K. Nanney (2)
HR: TWI: A. Diaz (3), M. Gonzales (3).

The two big guys on the team, Andres Diaz and Mike Gonzales, each clobbered their 3rd home run of the year to help lead the Twins to 6-2 pasting of the GCL Reds at the Lee County Sportsplex on Tuesday.

Diaz took a singled off Reds starter Luis Machuca with one out in the top of the second inning. A wild pitch moved Diaz to 2nd, and Reggie Williams singled advanced him to 3rd. Jae-Hyung Jang doubled to bring in Diaz and while Hyun-wook Choi's singled plated Williams. Jon Goncalves then sacrificed in J.J. to give the Twins a big lead early.

The top of the fourth saw Samuel Vasquez single for the Sarasota based squad and following a fly out to Brodie Pullen, Theodis Bowe singled as well. A wild pitch by Twins starter Miguel Munoz advanced the runners. Mauricio Pimentel singled in Vasquez while Alexis Oliveras' ground out plated Bowe to give the Reds their two runs.

Gonzalez hit a solo shot homer run over the right field fence to start out the bottom of the 6th. Diaz followed that up with a double and advanced to 3rd on Vasquez's fielding error. Williams would ground out before J.J. singled to drive in Diaz, to make it 5-2 Twins.

Diaz went yard off David Torcise, putting a fly ball over the left field fence in the bottom of the 8th to finish off the scoring.

Diaz was 3-for-4 at the plate with 3 runs, falling a double short of the cycle, with a run batted in. J.J. was also 3-for-4 but with 1 run and 2 RBIs. Goncalves was 2-for-3 with a RBI while Juan Sanchez, Gonzalez, Williams and Wook were all 1-for-4, Gonzales with the home run, Williams with a run, and Wook with a RBI to leave the one hit wonder title to Sanchez.

Munoz worked four innings, allowing 2 runs, earned on six hits and 3 walks while fanning 5. Mike Tonkin worked a scoreless fifth and Ian Mopas picked up the win, his second of the year, while fanning 4 over 2 innings. Khol Nanney picked up his 2nd save for the GCL Twins, allowing 3 hits and fanning a pair over two innings.

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Arlington Heights JournaL
Red Leg Nation Blog

The Elizabethton Twins defeated the Bristol White Sox in the Appalachian League action. Evan Bigley and Jon Waltenbury both put a pair of home runs each over the wall in the game. Former GCLer Thom Wright picked up the win in 2.2 innings of relief, allowing 1 run, earned on five hits while striking out one. Mark Hamburger earned his 8th save of the season for the E-Twins (Box/Log).

The DSL Twins fell to the DSL Cubs1, 6-1 Tusday, Yorby Martinez walked and was plated when Jhonatan Arais ground into a double play. Danny Santana was 2-for-4 at the plate but did not factor into the scoring. Orlando Villaroel took the loss, allowing 4 runs, 2 earned, on 5 hits while striking out 3 in three innings worth of work (Box/Log.

Orioles rally past Twins in ninth

GCL TWins 3 at GCL Orioles 5

W: J. Almanzar (2-3, 6.00); L: M. Schiavoni (1-2, 2.31)
HR: ORI: E. Meyer (1).

The GCL Orioles rallied back from a 3-0 deficit to win in the 9th inning, 5-3 over the GCL Twins at the Twin Lakes Complex in Sarasota, Florida Monday.

With two outs on the board in the top of the first inning, Danny Ortiz reached on a fielding error by Orioles' 2nd baseman Jerome Hoes. Andres Diaz and Tyler Landendorf hit back-to-back singles to plate Ortiz. Hyeong-rok Choi's line drive to right scored Diaz to give the Twins a 2-0 lead.

Danny Rohlfing would single off Oriole's starter Justin Moore in the top of the 4th, then moved to 2nd on Herbert Lara's sac-bunt. Aaron Hicks took a walk, and Javier Brown went down on strikes before Ortiz singled out to center to drive in Rohlfing.

Edgar Ibarra worked five innings for the Twins scattering 3 hits while fanning seven.

He would return for the bottom of the sixth and allowed a single to Luis Ramierez and a walk to Hoes. Bruce Pugh would then come in to replace Ibarra and gave up a single to Edinho Meyer to load the bags. Garabez Rosa's line drive brought in both Ramirez and Hoes, with both runs being charged to Ibarra. A sac-bunt by Omar Casamayor advanced the runners before Pugh took Dashenko Ricardo out on strikes. He then issued a walk to Janensis Guerrero before getting Larry Rivera to pop out to end the inning with a bases load situation.

Mauro Schiavoni replaced Pugh in the bottom of the eighth and hit Casamayor with a pitch after getting Rosa to pop out. A wild pitch then moved Casamayor to 2nd. Ricardo would pop out in foul territory, and pinch hitter Dennis Perez would reach on a throwing error by Rok that also allowed Casamayor to score, tying up the game. Grolmann Gonzalez would go down on strikes to strand the two Orioles runners however.

It was a brief reprieve however. Xavier Avery popped out and Ramierez flew out before Schiavoni walked Hoes. Hoes then stole 2nd. Meyer would knock his first home run of the year over the left field fence, to give the Orioles the go ahead run, plus an insurance run, and ending the game.

Rok would finish up 3-for-5 at the plate with a RBI while Hyun-wook Choi went 2-for-4 in the designated hitter role. Ladendorf was 2-for-5 with a RBI. Dias (1-for-3), Rohlfing (1-for-4) and Ortiz (1-for-5) all had runs for the Twins, Diaz with a pair of walks, and Ortiz with a RBI as well.

Schiavoni took both the blown save, his first, and the loss, his second, on 1.2 innings worth of work. Dominican right hander Jorge Almanzar picked up the win for the Orioles.

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DSL Diamondbacks/Reds 2 at DSL Twins 8

W: J. Garcia (1-0, 5.40); L: E. Silvestre (2-5, 4.66)
HR: DSL TWI: J. Rodriguez (2).

The DSL Twins knocked out 8 runs on 8 hits and a pair of Dia-Reds errors to pick up a win in seven innings during a shortened game in the Dominican Summer League.

Jairo Rodriguez singled and Lesther Galvin doubled in the bottom of the second with one out on the board. Following a strike out to Yorby Martinez, Randy Pina reached on a fielding error that also plated the two runners. A Xavier Gonzalez double, a Jairo Perez single and a Rodriguez home run, his second of the 2008 season, gave the DSL Twins 3 more runs in the bottom of the 3rd.

Walks to Gonzalez and Oswaldo Arcia turned into runs on a Perez fly ball to left in the bottom of the 4th. Perez would try to make it to 3rd on the throw, but was caught up in between 2nd and 3rd and tagged out.

Carlos Vasquez walked in the bottom of the 8th, and moved to second when Gonzalez was hit by a pitch. Arcia singled him in with a fly ball to center.

Jhonny Garcia picked up the win in 1.2 innings of relief work. Lesmir Vargas allowed only 1 unearned run on 3 hits and a walk while fanning two over four innings, but left with the no decision.

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Pirates slide by Twins, take over Divison lead

GCL Pirates 4 at GCL Twins 3

W: J. Charry (2-1, 1.38); L: B. Pugh (1-2, 3.00)
HR: None.

The GCL Pirates slipped by the GCL Twins Tuesday at the Lee County Sportsplex to take the South Division lead from the Twins.

Adenson Chourio singled in the ninth inning and stole 2nd base. After Ben Gonzalez went down on strikes, Twins reliever Bruce Pugh got wild, unleashing a pitch that send Chourio to 3rd. The Twins would try to make a play at the plate, allowing Juan Garcia to reach, but were not fast enough as Chourio scored to tie up the game. Garcia then stole 2nd and moved to 3rd on Jarek Cunningham's fly out. A throwing error by Juan Sanchez at 3rd allowed Alex Vargas to reach and Garcia to score to give the Pirates the lead.

Chourio would start out the game too, reaching on fielding error by Andres Diaz at first and then moving to second on Gonzalez ground bunt single. Ronny Paulino took a walk off Twins starter Jean Mijares to load up the bags. Cunningham sacrificed in Chourio before Vargas ground into a force out and Garcia ground out to sent the Twins to the plate.

Andury Acevedo doubled in the top of the second after Edwin Roman struck out, Acevedo stole 3rd. Kyle Suakko took a walk before a Chourio singled plated Acevedo. Mijares would then get Gonzalez and Ronny Paulino to ground into force outs retiring the side.

Tyler Cox would work the first 4 innings for the Pirates, allowing the Twins only 3 hits and a pair of walks while fanning 3. Matthew Foust would take over the in bottom of the fifth inning and issue a walk to Jon Goncalves. Hicks ground into a double play however, so the Twins started all over with Juan Sanchez walking. Danny Ortiz then doubled out to right which scored Sanchez, putting the Twins on the board.

Diaz doubled in the bottom of the six and after Tyler Landendorf went down on strikes, Josmil Pinto singled and Jakub Hajtmar walked. Francisco Ortiz would then be called to the mound to get the Pirates out of their jam, but Ortiz allowed a single to Goncalves that scored Diaz. Hicks would hit a sac-fly to plate Pinto to give the Twins a 3-2 lead. And it would stay that way.

Until the ninth.

Jorge Charry worked the 8th and the 9th, striking out two Twins batters and getting Diaz to ground out to finish of the contest. Pugh would take the loss, his second of the season, as well as the blown save although one of the two runs he surrendered was unearned.

Goncalves was 2-for-3 for the Twins with a RBI, Pinto was 2-for-4 with a run while Ortiz and Diaz were both 2-for-5, Diaz with a double and a run, Ortiz with a pair of doubles and a run scored. Juan Sanchez was 0-for-4 with a walk and a run.

The Twins head to Twin Lakes Park on Wednesday to face the GCL Orioles for a Noon game. They play the Reds on Thursday in Sarasota before returning home on Friday against the Red Sox.

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Herald Tribune

I had hoped to get some autographs from both the Reds and the Pirates before this season is over but that seems unlikely at the present time unless I take time off from my day job and go to a game. The remainder of the weekend games at home are against the O's and the Red Sox and the cost of fuel is prohibiting me from going to away games this year. Ah well... There's always T.T.M.

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DSL Twins 2 at DSL Diamondbacks 3

W: D. Rosario (4-5, 4.21); L: E. Alvarez (0-2, 1.67)
HR: None.

The DSL Twins took a one run lead in the seventh inning, but were unable to hold on, falling 3-2 on the road to the DSL Diamondbacks.

Ramon Acosta allowed a run in the second inning, unearned. After striking out Jose Jose, Luis Brito would walk Gerson Montilla ground out, moving Brito to 2nd before Wilfy Gil failed to field the ball at center and allowed Pedro Arias to reach and Brito to score. Acosta would work four, allowing 1 hit and walking 3 while fanning five. His era remains at 0.00 on the season.

Raynard Doran and Renzo Reverol worked two innings each, limiting the Diamondbacks to only 1 hit and three walks.

With Ramon Mariano on the hill for the D-Backs and one out on the board, Jairo Rodriguez would single in the top of the seven, then score on a Juan Blanco double combined with a fielding error by Kelvin Javier. Randy Pina would ground out, but a throwing error by Raywilly Gomez at 3rd base allowed Xavier Gonzalaz to reach and Blanco to score, putting the Twins on top.

A single, a wild pitch and a double saw Edison Alvarez surrender the tying run in the bottom of the ninth.

Alvarez would then give up back-to-back singles in the tenth to Jose and Brito. After getting Gerson Montilla to ground into a force out, Pedro Arias would send a ground ball to center to drive in Brito to give the D-Backs the game.

The DSL Twins host the DSL Orioles on Wednesday for a 10:30 AM Dominican time game.

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Twins hold off Orioles rally

GCL Orioles 5 at GCL Twins 6

W: K. Mota (1-0, 0.00); L: D. De La Cruz (0-1, 7.71)
HR: TWI: A. Diaz (2).

The GCL Twins got back into the win column on Wednesday at the Lee County Sportsplex, holding off a late inning rally by the GCL Orioles.

The Twins took an early lead in the bottom of the second. Andres Diaz led off with a home run, his second in as many days. Daniel Ortiz singled then stole 2nd base. Tyler Ladendorf would double out to right and Michael Gonzalez would single to score Ortiz. Josmil Pinto would ground into a force out that caught Gonzalez at 2nd, but Ladendorf scored on the play for the Twins 3rd run.

In the top of the fourth, Garabez Rosa singled off of Alex Curry. One out later, Zach Dillon would double him in to make it 3-1 Twins.

Javier Santana would draw a walk off reliever Elliott Biddle. A sac-bunt would move him 2nd, and he would be tripled in by Rosa, cutting the Twins lead down to one.

The Twins offense got back to work in the bottom of the 7th. Juan Sanchez singled then stole 2nd. Two outs later, Aaron Hicks would single to drive in Sanchez making it 4-2 Twins.

The bottom of the 8th saw Ladendorf reach on a throwing error, and move to second on the play. A wild pitch by O's reliever Randor Bierd got him to 3rd. Gonzalez then doubled to plate him, making it 5-2 Twins.

Mauro Schiavoni would be on the mound in the top of the 9th. Luis Ramierez would take a double off of him, and Dillion singled to push him over the plate. A throwing error by Reggie Williams would move Dillon to 2nd base. He'd be replaced by pinch runner Grolmann Gonzalez. Jerome Hoes then drew a walk. Steve Blevins would be brought into shut down the O's rally and would get Jose Kianes to pop out before being replaced by Kelvin Mota. Dashenko Ricardo drew a walk off Mota to load the bags. Francisco Meja would fly out, but a fielding error by Diaz at first allowed Javier Santana to reach and Gonzalez and Hoes to score, tying up the game.

The O's would turn to Donis De La Cruz to try to preserve the tie and push the game into extra innings. Reggie Williams would reach on a fielding error with one out on the board. Hicks was then intentionally walked. Diaz walked as well to load the bags, and De La Cruz would hit Ortiz with a pitch, forcing in a run and handing the win to the Twins.

Diaz and Gonazlez were both 2-for-4 on the night, Diaz with a walk, a run and a run batted in, while Gonazlez had a pair of runs scored. Hicks and Ladendorf were 1-for-3 each, Hicks with a pair of walks and a RBI, and Ladendorf with a pair of runs. Ortiz, Pinto and Sanchez were all 1-for-4, Ortiz with a run and a RBI, Pinto with a RBI and Sanchez with a run.

Curry would work four innings for the Twins, allowing 1 run, earned on a pair of hits while fanning 3. Biddle went the next 1.2, giving up a run on 2 hits and 2 walks while striking out 1. Schiavoni worked 2.1, allowing 3 runs, 1 earned, on 2 hits and a walk while fanning 2. Mota picked up the win on .2 innings work of work.

The Twins will stick around at the Lee County Sportsplex on Thursday, hosting the GCL Reds. The teams will play the conclusion of the rain suspended game from Saturday. The Reds were leading by 1 and the Twins had runners on first and third when the game was halted. They will play the remainder of nine innings, and weather permitting, will follow it up with a seven-inning version of the regularly scheduled game.

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Herald Dispatch: Blevins
Orioles Hangout

DSL Twins 8 at DSL Rockies 5

W: P. Guerra (3-0, 3.70); L: J. Vargas (0-2, 2.41); SV: E. Alvarez (6)
HR: None.

The DSL Twins actually took a road win from the DSL Rockies. The team improved to 4-7 on the road. Coupled with their 10-1 home record, that is good for second place in the North Division, 2 games back from the DSL Cubs 1.

Pedro Guerra took the start for the Twins, allowing 3 runs, earned, on 7 hits and a pair of walks while fanning 4.

The Twins got onto the board in the top of the 2nd, with Jean Carlos Mercedes taking a walk with one out. Jairo Rodriguez reached on a force attempt and a wild pitch from DSL Rockie's starter Jonathan Vargas moved the pair. Danny Santana then drew a walk to load the bags. Wilfy Gil walked as well to score Mercedes. Juan Blanco would then sacrifice in Rodriguez to give the Twins 2.

The Rockies would take one back in the bottom of the inning, with Miguel De Leon singling, moving to 2nd on a pop out, to third on a wild pitch and coming home on Michael Ramirez single to center.

The top of the fourth saw Santana single with one out, then steal 2nd. Gil followed that up with a ground ball to center that scored Santana.

Back-to-back singles to Felix Caro and Jairo Perez put runners on base. A missed catch error by Moises Charles in right field and a throwing error by third baseman Gabriel Reyes resulted in a run for Cairo. Eliel Sierra would be hit by a pitch and steal 2nd. Mercedes would strike out, and Rodriguez would reach on a fielder's choice that took Perez out at home. Santana struck out to end the inning.

The Rockies would take two back in the bottom of the sixth.

The top of the 7th would see Caro single and be replaced by pinch runner Yancarlo Franco. Franco then moved on a pair of throwing errors by Jefri Hernandez, who probably shouldn't try picking anyone else off. Sierra then singled to score Franco, and advanced to second on a fielding error. Mercedes and Rodriguez would both walk to load the bags before Felito Dominguez was brought in to replace Hernandez. Santana singled to score Sierra; Mercedes would be taken out at home on the play. Gil would single to score Rodriguez, but Santana would be taken out at 3rd base to end the inning.

The Rockies got a pair more in the bottom of the 8th, with De Leon and Ramirez both doubling.

Sierra would reach on fielding error in the top of the ninth that put him at 2nd base. A wild pitch advance him to 3rd. He'd come home when Oswaldo Arcia ground into a double play.

Gil finished up 2-for-3 with a walk and three RBIs. Caro and Santana were both 2-for4 with a run each, Santana with a walk and a RBI as well. Perez was 2-for-5.

The Twins host the DSL Diamondbacks on Thursday for a 10:30 AM Dominican time game.

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Twins boarding party repelled; Pirates slip by

GCL Twins 6 at GCL Pirates 7

W: V. Igsema (1-0, 12.00); L: S. Blevins (1-1, 3.38); SV: C. Aure (1)
HR: TWI: A. Diaz (1). PIR: M. Mendez 2 (2).

The host GCL Pirates repaid the GCL Twins for the loss on opening day by turning a walk into a game winning run in the bottom of the eighth.

Martire Garcia took to the mound to pitch the bottom of the first inning and walked Victor Sachez and Freizer Pedron. After getting Alex Vargas out on strikes, Miguel Mendez knocked ball over the left field fence for his first home run of the season.

Andres Diaz singled in the top of the second for the Twins. Following a fly out to Daniel Ortiz, Tyler Ladendorf would reach on a fielding error by Pirates 3rd baseman Andury Acevedo. Tim Atherton would lay down a sac bunt to move the pair and catcher Danny Rohlfing would take a walk. Anderson Hidalgo then walked as well to force in Diaz for the Twins first run.

The Pirates wasted little time taking it back though as Jarek Cunninghman doubled, then moved to 3rd on Craig Perry's ground out. Sanchez would single to plate Cunningham. Despite a steal by Sanchez and a fielding error by Hidalgo, Garcia would get Vargas to ground into a force out to end the inning without any further damage.

After working four full innings, Garcia would come back out in the fifth. Mendez would knock his second yarder of the game, this time over the right field fence. The Dominican lefty then allowed a single to Kyle Morgan before Jake Mauer fetched Kelvin Mota out of the bullpen. Joe Munoz would greet Mota with a double, but Mota got Acevedo out on strikes. He then walked Cunningham before inducing Perry to ground into a double play to end the inning.

Garcia would be charged with 5 earned runs, on seven hits and 4 walks. He struck out only 1. For the Pirates, Gabriel Alvaredo would work the first three allowing only one unearned run on 2 hits and 2 walks while striking out 1. He'd be relieved by Tyler Cox, who worked the next two, allowing only one hit and one walk to the Twins while striking out 1.

Meoli Devora would take over the pitching for the Pirates in the top of the sixth. Aaron Hicks would single before Diaz, hitting in the clean up slot, smacked a ball over the left center field fence to give the Twins another pair of runs.

Sanchez would knock a line drive out to center for the Pirates, then move to second when Pedron drew a walk. Alex Vargas would send a line drive out to left to load the bags before Mendez would ground into a force out. Sanchez scored on the play though, which took Pedron out at 3rd. Kyle Morgan then lined into a double play to end the inning.

The Twins need runs, but the top of the 7th would product none despite Hidalgo reaching on a fielding error and Lara hitting a ground bunt single. Jakub Hajtmar walked to load the bases, but Zach Foster would get Hicks out on strikes and Diaz out on a pop up to 3rd to leave the Twins stranded.

Michael Ian Mopas then took over for the 7th inning. He'd allow only a walk to Cunningham, making short of the Pirates.

The Pirates sent Victor Igsema out to the mound in the top of the 8th. Danny Ortiz would pop out before Ladendorf tripled out to right. Atherton then singled him in. Rohlfing's grounder to left moved Atherton to 2nd, and Hidalgo then hit a grounder to center to load the bags. Twins lead off man Herbert Lara then doubled to score two, which tied up the game at six runs each.

Steve Blevins relieved Mopas for the 8th, and allowed a walk to Sanchez. A sac-bunt by Pedron moved the outfielder to 2nd. Vargas then knocked a line drive to right to score Sanchez for what would prove to the game winning run. There would be no insurance markers however, and Mendez ground out and Morgan flew out to end the inning.

Christopher Aure worked the top of the 9th and got Hicks, Diaz and Ortiz to all fly out to end the game.

Lara would go 3-for-5 with the double and two RBIs. Diaz was 2-for-5 with a pair of runs and a pair of RBIs courtesy of the home runs. Ladendorf and Rohlfing were 1-for-3 with a run each, Rohlfing had a walk as well. Atherton was 1-for-2 with a walk, a run and a run scored. Hidalgo was 1-for-3 with walk and a RBI. Hicks was 1-for-5 with a run and a pair of strike outs. Ortiz was the one hit wonder, going 1-for-5 at the plate.

Hajtmar was the only Twin that did not get a hit, but the second baseman did take a walk.

The Twins host the Orioles at the Lee County Sportplex on Wednesday for a noon game. Unlike the Miracle game on Thursday, you will not have to worry about paying extra for aisle seating and pocket schedules, getting screened when you come through the gates, or having to pay to bring your baggage with you. Of course, there won't be any beer either, but I'm sure you can deal with that in exchange for getting the game off on time.

And the ticket prices for the GCL Twins are infinitely more affordable than the ticket prices for the Miracle. They are free in fact, as is parking.

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Diaz, Twins do in Orioles, 7-3

GCL Twins 7 at GCL Orioles 3

W: A. Lobanov (1-0, 7.71); L: R. Bierd (0-1, 4.50)
HR: None.

Last year, the Orioles kept throwing a bunch of "crappy little lefties", as Milt put it, at the guys and they couldn't hit them. Pedro Beato was not a lefty but the Dominican was certainly effective in limiting the GCL Twins hits, as they took only 4 off of him in 5 innings. Not that the Twins Angelo Sanchez was a slouch. He too limited the opponent to only 4 hits over 5 innings, and fanned 5 as well.

The Twins would find their bats in top of the 7th, with Reggie Williams singling with one out on the board. Aussie Tim Atherton then doubled, moving Williams to 3rd. Catcher Josmil Pinto reached on a fielding error before the O's Randor Bierd would issue a walk to Juan Sanchez forcing in a run. Herbert Lara then hit a sac-fly out to center to drive in Atherton before Jakub Hajtmar ground into a force out.

Luis Lebron would be thrown at the Twins next or actually he'd throw at the Twins, and hit Danny Ortiz with a ball. Andy Diaz then doubled out center to drive in Ortiz. Tyler Landendorf ground out before Williams, Atherton and Pinto would draw walks to force in Diaz. Luiyi Batista would then be brought in, and got Sanchez to ground into a double play to retire the side.

Andrey Lobanov would work two good inning for the Twins and return to the mound for the 8th. Javier Sanchez and Luis Ramirez would take back-to-back singles off him. Garabez Rosa would pop out before Jake Mauer summoned Alex Curry from the bullpen to replace the Russian lefty. Curry would get Jose Kianes out on strikes, but issue a walk to Zachary Dillon, loading the bags. A wild pitch would drive in Santana and a single by Edinho Meyer brought in Ramirez. Dishenko Ricardo could single to score Dillon, but Omar Casamayor would ground out, leaving the O's down by one.

Lara would reach on a fielding error by Xavier Avery and move to 2nd on the play. Following a pop up to Hajtmar, who handled first base defensively, Danny Ortiz would double to drive in Lara. Diaz then singled to bring in Ortiz. Tyler Ladendorf would ground out before Williams doubled to drive in Diaz.

Daiz would finish up 3-for-5 with 2 runs and 2 RBIs in the designated hitter role. Williams was 3-for-5 with a walk, a run and a run batted in. Ortiz was 1-for-4 with double, a pair of runs and a RBI while Atherton was 1-for-4 with a double, a walk, and a run. Sanchez was 1-for-3 with a walk and a run batted in. and Ladendorf was the one hit wonder going 1-for-5 at the plate.

The Twins stay on the road against the GCL Reds on Saturday. The game is early - 10 AM start. The GCL Twins return home on Sunday to face the Red Sox.

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Tyler's Twins Talk has a breakdown of the GCL Roster. Since he using the info on MiLB to write the piece, there are some incorrect assumptions in it. I also hope that Ladendorf's .143 batting average would give him an indication as to why Tyler is in the GCL and not Elizabethton. While I appreciate all Milb does in it's reporting, it still works on a "telephone" system and the information they report is inaccurate at times.

DSL Twins 1 at DSL Yankees2 3

W: A. Atacho (1-0, 0.69); L: E. Cardenas (1-1, 2.05); SV: M. Croussett (3)
HR: DSL TWI: Y. Franco (1). DSL NYY2: K. De Leon (1).

A single shot home run by Yancarlo Franco in the eighth inning was all the road kill DSL Twins could manage on Friday against the Yankees2.

Eliecer Cardenas suffered the loss, allowing 3 runs, 2 earned on six hits while fanning 5 over 7 innings.

Manuel Soliman was 3-for-4 with a double while Yorby Martinez, Jairo Perez, and Eliel Sierra all had hits, Sierra with a double.

The Twins end the week at home Saturday against the DSL Diamondback/Reds for a 10:30 AM, Dominican time, start.

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