Nats double up Twins, crush playoff hopes

GCL Twins 5 at GCL Nationals 10
W: P. Arnold (1-0, 3.18); L: M. Munoz (0-1, 67.50); SV: D. Gil (1)
HR: None.

While Miguel Munoz has shown an incredible capacity for the strike out, he has also demonstrated questionable control throughout the 2008 season. Thursday, Munoz was volatile.

After getting Chris Curran to fly out in the first inning, Munoz would give up singles to Esmailyn Gonzalez and Destin Hood. Ronnie Labrie then drew a walk off him to load the bases. Johnathan Ramirez singled to score two. Munoz then hit John Higley with a pitch, keeping the bags full. Stephen Lombardozzie's line drive to left brought in Labrie and Sandy Leon took a walk to force in Ramirez. A fielding error by Danny Rohlfing at first allowed Brett Newsome to reach and Higley to score. After batting around the order, Munoz would finally find the strike zone, taking Curran down swinging, but then turned around and gave up another walk, this time Gonzalez, forcing in Lombardozzie. Field Manager Jake Mauer finally got Munoz off the mound, going with Mauro Schiavoni, who got Hood to ground into a force out.

The Twins can swing some sticks but a six run hole is pretty big to come back from.

With two outs in the top of the 3rd, Juan Sanchez singled and Danny Ortiz doubled him in. Mike Gonzales snapped a line drive out to center to bring in Ortiz before Josmir Pinto popped out.

Lombardozzi singled out to center followed by a Leon pop out. Lombardozzie then stole 2nd and Newsome's line drive single brought him in to make it 7-2 Nats.

Shiavoni would work 4.1 innings allowing only 3 hits while fanning four, but National starter Patrick Arnold was reasonably stingy, scattering six hits over 5.2 innings while fanning five. Frederico Tanco would take over for him with two outs on the top of the sixth, getting Rohlfing to fly out to retire the Twins.

Mike Tonkin relieved Shiavoni in the bottom of the inning, walking Newsome and advancing him on a wild pitch, but then getting Curran to pop out, Gonazlez to line out and Hood to ground out.

The Twins would not really threaten until the top of the 8th when Gonzales took a walk and Pinto singled him to second. A wild pitch by Tanco advanced the pair. Anderson Hidalgo's ground out plated Gonzales, while Pinto move to 3rd on Rohlfing's ground out. Tyler Ladendorf would get plunked by a pitch. The Nationals made a pitching move then, inserting Danny Gil for Tanco. Jon Goncalves would come in to the Twins line up as a pinch hitter and took a walk. Aaron Hicks' single to right drove in Pinto and Ladendorf, but Reggie Williams flew out to end the rally too soon.

The Nationals took the runs back in the bottom of the inning.

Leon doubled of Tonkin and moved to 3rd on Newsome's sac bunt. Curran would reach on a fielder's choice, but the Twins could not get the play made at the plate, and Leon scored. Gonzalez doubled, putting runners on 2nd and 3rd. Mauer would call closer Kelvin Mota out of bullpen, but Mota gave up a double to Hood that drove in the two Nats runners. He'd be taken out at 3rd though as Labrie was allowed to reach on a fielder's choice. Ramirez then ground into a force out to end the inning.

Gil would get the job done for the Washington farm in the top of the 9th, getting Ortiz and Gonzales to hit into ground outs. He'd allow a single to Pinto, but Hidalgo ground into a force out, ending the Twins championship hopes early.

The Twins were not the only South Division team disappointed in their playoff quest as the GCL Pirates fell to the GCL Phillies, 7-4 in Bradenton.

The Phils and the Nationals now move on the final best of three series to determine the Rookie League Champions.

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As always THANK YOU TWINS FOR A GREAT 2008 SEASON! Coming up next, Fall Instructional League here at the Lee County Sportsplex!

Twins beat storm, Pirates in Bradenton

GCL Pirates 2 at GCL Twins 8

W: J. Mijares (1-2, 3.93); L: G. Alvarado (4-2, 3.43); SV: M. Mopas (1)
HR: TWI: A. Hicks (4), D. Ortiz (2), H. Lara (1).

The GCL Twins used home field advantage at the Pirates complex and 10 hits to win 8-2 against their South Division rival. The game was moved to Bradenton due to the stormy conditions in Fort Myers as the Lee County Sportsplex and the surrounding area prepared for the arrival of Tropical Storm Fay.

The Pirates came out of the gate like a baby hurricane with Adenson Chourio singling off starter Jean Mijares. Ben Gonzalez would strike out, but Chourio stole 2nd and Jarek Cunningham doubled him in. Edward Garcia's ground out advanced the runner and Carlos Silva's ground ball single to center brought him in.

Aaron Hicks homered in the bottom of the inning to cut the Pirates lead in half. Danny Ortiz would follow suite in the bottom of the 4th, to tie up the game. Both balls went over the right field fence, helped by storm brought winds.

Josmir Pinto singled and then moved ot 2nd on Jakub Hajtmar's sac bunt. Juan Sanchez doubled him in. Herbert Lara made use to the wind to put his first home run of the year over the right field fence, scoring two. The Pirates were starting to hate that fence. Following a bunt out to Hicks and a single to Anderson Hidalgo, the Pirates would switch pitchers bringing in Ivan Herrera-Rusova to temporarily quell the Twins' fun.

The top of the seventh would see Sanchez double and Lara reach on Cunningham's throwing error. Hicks would take a walk, loading the bags. Hidalgo flew out and Ortiz struck out, but Mike Gonazales tripled to clean off the bases making it 8-2 Twins.

Mijares would work six inning allowing 2 runs, earned on five hits and a walk. Ian Mopas finished off, allowing just one hit and a pair of walks while fanning two over three innings.

Sanchez would finish off 2-for-3 with a walk, a pair of doubles, two runs and a RBI. Ortiz and Gonzales went 2-for-4 at th plate, Ortiz with a run and a RBI as one of the game's three yard birds, and Gonzales with a triple and 3 RBIs. Hicks was 1-for-3 with a walk, a pair of runs, and a RBI. Hidalgo, Pinto and Lara were each 1-for-4, Pinto with a run, Lara with 2 runs and 2 RBI, leaving Hidalgo to be the one hit wonder of the game.

Tuesday's game against the GCL Orioles has been postponed due to Tropical Storm Fay. Wednesday's game again the Reds will be a game day decision based on the condition of the fields following the storm.

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DSL Twins 5 at DSL Yankees2

W: J. Garcia (3-0, 2.79); L: J. Arias (5-4, 3.12); SV: E. Alvarez (13)
HR: None.

After three days off, the DSL Twins were a little slow coming out the gate, but finished up strong, pulling out a 5-3 win over the DSL Yankees2 on the road.

Orlando Villaroel took the start for the Twins and saw Eduardo Sosa reach on a fielding error by shortstop Carlos Vasquez. Jhorge Liccien then singled to advance Sosa to 3rd. Kelvin De Leon would fly out before Reymond Nunez reached on a fielder's choice that took Sosa out at home. Henry Pena followed that up with a double however, that plated Liccien, giving the Yankees2 one run. Villaroel would then take Jose Toussen down on strikes to end the innings.

Liccien doubled in the bottom of the 3rd and came home on De Leon's follow up single, which game the home team a two run lead.

Villaroel worked five, allowing the 2 runs, only one earned on 7 hits while striking out 3. Johnny Garcia would take over the mound in the sixth inning.

In the bottom of the 7th Juan Rijo singled then moved to 2nd on Keny Rodriguez's ground out. A wild pitch by Garcia put him on 3rd. Sosa would strike out, but Liccien doubled to drive him in, giving the Yankees2 a 3-0 lead.

Elvin Orozco would take over the mound for the Yankees2 in the top of the 8th. With two outs on the board, Felix Caro and Jhonatan Arias hit back-to-back singles for the Twins. Wilfy Gil's fly ball single then plated Caro, to give the Twins 1 and spoil the Yankees2 shut out bid.

It would be spoiled even further in the top of the 9th, when Oswaldo Arcia doubled and advanced to 3rd on a fielding error by Sosa in center. Jairo Perez would go down on strikes but Eliel Sierra singled, driving in Arcia. This triggered a pitching change with Justo Arias taking the Yankees2 mound. He'd issue a walk to Rafael Sanchez to start. The Twins would insert a couple of pinch runners, with Yancarlo Franco taking over for Sierra and Juan Blanco taking Sanchez's place on the base paths. Jean Carlos Mercedes lined out, but Danny Santana, coming in as a pinch hitter for Caro tripled to drive in two, giving the Twins the lead. Arias's single plated Santana to finish off the scoring.

Edison Alvarez blanked the Yankees2 in the bottom of the inning to pick up his 13th save of the season.

Arias was 2-for-4 at the plate with a RBI, Gil was 2-for-5 with a RBI. Arica, Perez and Sierra were all 1-for-4, Arcia with a double and a run, Perez with a double and Sierra with a RBI.

The DSL Twins host the DSL Rockies on Tuesday for a 10:30 am Dominican time contest. They are tied for 2nd in the North Division, trailing the DSL Yankees2 by one game with five left to play.

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Twins defeat Red Sox, cling to first place

GCL Twins 9 at GCL Red Sox 3

W: A. Lobanov (3-1, 3.54); L: A. Zerpa (2-1, 2.57)
HR: TWI: J. Sanchez 2 (2), J. Pinto (1).

Jakub Hajtmar went 5-for-6 at the plate with a pair of runs while Danny Ortiz had a pair of runs and a pair of runs batted in to lead the GCL Twins to a 9-3 blow out over the Boston Red Sox at City of Palms Complex on Wednesday.

The Twins take Thursday off and return home Friday to face the GCL Pirates.

Aaron Hicks lead off in the top of the first with a walk, then he stole 2nd. Hajtmar's single, combined with a fielding error by Bryan Peterson drove in Hicks to give the Twins first blood. Hajtmar would move to 2nd on a wild pitch by Red Sox starter Pedro Perez, but fly outs by Ortiz and Michael Gonzalez and a line out by Andres Diaz stranded the Twins Czech fielder.

Wilfred Pichardo singled then stole 2nd. A fielding error by Tyler Ladendorf send Pichardo to 3rd and allowed Derrik Gibson to reach. Casey Kelly sacrificed in Pichardo. Gibson would steal 2nd, then score on Peterson's single to left, putting the Red Sox on top.

Peter Ruiz would replace Perez for the top of the fifth, and Hajtmar singled off the reliever. Ortiz's ground ball to right put Hajtmar on 3rd. Gonzales would ground into a double play that drove in Hajtmar, tying up the game. Diaz would double, but Ladendorf flew out to end the contest.

Gibson tripled off starter Angelo Sanchez and Kelly singled him in to put the Red Sox up by one again.

However, the Twins found Armando Zerpa to their liking with Hajtmar singling off the new reliever. Ortiz would hit into a force out, and Gonzales would be hit by a pitch, putting two men on. Diaz then ground into a force out that would have been a double play, but Tyler Yockey at first missed the catch, allowing Diaz to reach. Ortiz would score on the play, to even up the game again. Diaz stole 2nd, and Ladendorf walked, but Josmil Pinto hit into a force out to end the send the Sox up to the plate.

Andrei Lovanov replaced Sanchez in the bottom of the 7th. Sanchez would be charged for 3 runs, only 2 earned, on 6 hits while fanning three over 6 innings. Lovanov would work the next two, allowing only 1 hit.

Juan Sanchez went yard in the top of the 8th, and following a fly out to Jon Goncalves, Hicks took a walk. Hajtmar singled and Ortiz then tripled the two runners in. Dustin Mercadante replaced Zerpa at that point for the Red Sox, but a wild pitch by the new reliever allowed Ortiz to score before Gonzales and Diaz hit into ground outs to retire the side.

Michael Lennox came out to the mound for the top of the ninth for the Red Sox and after getting Ladendorf to ground out, watched Pinto put his first home run of the season over the left field fence. Sanchez then followed suit, putting his second of the game over the same left field fence to top the Twins out at 9 runs.

Kelvin Mota would go three up, three down in the bottom of the 9th to end the contest and take away any hope of a Red Sox rally.

Sanchez finished up 2-for-5 at the plate with a pair of runs and a pair of runs batted in courtesy of the home runs. Pinto was 3-for-4 with a walk a run and a RBI. Goncalves would go 1-for-4 with a walk, while Diaz was 1-for-5 with a double.

The Twins remain in first place in the South Division, half a game ahead of the GCL Pirates. They are tied with the GCL Phillies for the overall spot in the GCL. The top team in the league gets a buy in the first round of the playoffs with the other two divisional winners playing a one-game elimination contest to determine who will go do the Championship round.

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Former GCL starter Alex Curry suffered his 2nd loss in the Appalachian League as the Elizabethton Twins fell 13-5 to the Bristol White Sox. Angel Morales hit a single shot home run in the second inning, his 10th of the season for the E-Twins, who committed 4 errors in the game, leading to 3 unearned runs (Box/Log).

Pedro Guerra limited the DSL Reds to only 2 runs, both unearned, on 4 hits while fanning 7 over seven innings in route to his 7th win for the DSL Twins. Manuel Soliman was 2-for-3 at the plate with a double a run and a RBI, while 1st baseman Jairo Perez had a pair of runs. Edison Alverez picked up his 12 save of the season for the DSL Twins who are in 3rd place in the 10-team North Division, 3.5 games behind the division leading DSL White Sox1 (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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Twins split with Red Sox

GCL Twins 4 at GCL Red Sox 10

W: M. Lennox (1-2, 5.00); L: A. Sanchez (2-2, 3.38)
HR: RSX: R. Feliz (7).

A 5-run sixth inning broke open a close game and gave the GCL Red Sox a huge win the in the completion of the game that was suspended on Sunday, July 27.

Angelo Sanchez had taken the start and would be back on the mound when the game resumed.

Juan Sanchez would reach in the top of the 3rd on a play that took Jon Goncalves out at home. Aaron Hicks, who had singled his way on to base, would move to 3rd on the play. Sanchez advanced to 2nd when short stop Derrik Gibson missed the throw on a caught stealing attempt. Danny Ortiz would ground out, moving Sanchez to 3rd and Hicks would score on the play. A Mike Gonzales single then sent Sanchez home to give the Twins a two run lead early.

Joantoni Garcia walked in the bottom of the 3rd and Kenneth Roque singled to move him to second. A walk to Christian Vazquez loaded the bags but Angelo would get Wilfred Pichardo out on strikes. Derrik Gibson ground into a force out that put Garcia over the plate and took Vazquez out at 3nd. Bryan Peterson went down on strikes to end the inning.

Tyler Ladendorf singled and stole second. Danny Rohlfing would be called out on strikes before Javier Brown singled to move Ladendorf to 3rd. Goncalves would ground into a force out that took Brown out at 2nd, but allowed Ladendorf to score. Hicks would triple Goncalves in to make it 4-1 Twins.

Roberto Feliz homered in the bottom of the 4th, a solo shot to cut the lead in half.

Michael Lennoz would replace Wang-Yi Lin in the top of the 5th. Despite a double to Gonzales and a wild pitch, the Twins could not convert. In the bottom of the stanza Pichardo tripled and came home on a Gibson single to make it 4-3 Twins.

Then came the bottom of the sixth. Chih-Hsiang Huang and Andrew Frezza both took singles off Sanchez to start. Garcia would move the pair on a sac-bunt, and Roque singled to score Huang. Vazquez ground into a force out that plated Frezza but took Roque out at 2nd. Pichardo would steal second and Gibson walked. Peterson then singled, which - combined with a missing catch error by Ladendorf at short and a throwing error by Hicks in center - cleaned off the bags, to make it 8-4 Red Sox.

Sloppy play boys! Sloppy play!

The Red Sox iced their cake in the bottom of the eighth with Roque singling. After Vazquez flew out, Pichardo singled. The two runners then orchestrated a double steal. Gibson would double out to left to bring in the pair.

Angelo Sanchez would take the loss, giving up 8 runs, six earned on 10 hits and 3 walks. He would fan 9 over six innings however.

Gonzales was 4-for-5 at the plate with a double and a RBI. Hicks was 2-for-4 with a triple, a run and RBI. Juan Sanchez, Ladendorf and Goncalves were all 1-for-4 with a run, Goncalves with a run scored as well. Brown, 1-for-3 would share the one hit wonder title with pinch hitters Hyeong-rok Choi and Jakub Hajtmar, both of which singled in the top of the ninth. A wild pitch would move the pair but Gonzales would strike out, ending the contest.

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GCL Red Sox 1 at GCL Twins 4

W: K. Nanney (2-0, 1.50); L: C. Cabral (1-3, 6.03)
HR: None.

The Twins got a bit of revenge in the regularly scheduled game, which was shortened to 7 innings. A pair of errors by Red Sox pitcher Cesar Cabral would lead to a 3-run sixth inning to give the GCL Twins a 4-1 win.

Mike Gonzales and Hyeong-rok Choi hit back-to-back doubles off Cabral in the bottom of the 2nd to open the scoring.

The Red Sox would tie it right back up however, with Wilfred Pichardo singling then stealing 2nd. Gibson would steal 3rd, and a throwing error by Josmil Pinto would allow Pichardo to score.

It would stay that way though until the bottom of the sixth. Danny Ortiz singled and moved to second on a Tyler Ladendorf sac-bunt. A fielding error by Cabral allowed Ladendorf to reach 1st. Gonzales singled to drive in the speedy Ortiz and. Ladendorf would go to second, but Gonzales evidently though he was going to 3rd and kept running. He'd be taken out in between first and second by second baseman Kenneth Roque. A throwing error on a pick off attempt moved Ladendorf to 3rd. Rok would reach on a fielder's choice that took Ladendorf out at home. Pinto then tripled in Rok and a fielding error by Chih-Hsiang Huang allowed Jakub Hajtmar to reach and Pinto to score.

Gonzales was 2-for-3 with a run and a run scored in the designated hitter role. Ortiz, Rok and Pinto were all 1-for-3 with a run, Rok with a double and a run scored and Pinto with a RBI as well. Herbert Lara was 1-for-4 with a double. Hajtmar would end up as the one hit wonder, going 1-for-3.

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Sox and Dawgs Blog

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DSL Indians 2 at DSL Twins 4

W: E. Cardenas (5-1, 1.47); L: E. Araujo (3-2, 1.96); SV: L. Parra (1)
HR: None.

The DSL Twins doubled up the DSL Indians at home on Friday. Oswaldo Arcia would have two of the Twins four runs.

Danny Santana would lead off the bottom of the fourth with a line drive to left, then steal 2nd base. Jean Carlos Mercedes' sac bunt moved him to 3rd and Arcia singled to drive him in. Eliel Sierra singled, moving Arcia to 3rd. A wild pitch by Indian's starter Elvis Araujo plated Arcia and sent Sierra to 2nd. Manuel Soliman would pop out, but Jhonatan Arias singled to scored Sierra before Felix Caro ground out to end the inning.

Twins starter Eliecer Cardenas allowed only 2 hits over five innings, striking out 2. The tribe would score on him when Darling Read tripled, then came home on a Roman Vinicio ground out.

Leonardo Parra replaced Cardenas on the mound in the top of the sixth, and after getting Joly Fermin and Agustin Avila to strike out, allowed a triple to Argenis Martinez. Jesus Brito singled out to center to plate Martinez before Rolando Petit popped out to send the Twins back up to bat.

Arcia tripled off Indians' reliever Ramon Cespedes and one out later, came home on Soliman's line drive single to left.

The win was Cardenas' fifth of the season, Parra would record his first save, allowing 1 run on four hits while fanning 5 over four innings worth of work.

For the home boys, Santana and Arcia were both 2-for-4, Arcia with a RBI to go with his pair of runs, Santana with a run. Soliman, Arias and Yorby Martinez were all 1-for-3, the first two with RBIs, leaving Martinez to become the one hit wonder of the game. Sierra finished up 1-for-4 with a run.

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Twins turn trick for win in 10th

GCL Twins 3 at GCL Reds 2

W: M. Schiavoni (1-1, 1.66); L: B. Gardner (0-1, 4.85)
HR: None.

Aaron Hicks, Anderson Hidalgo and Juan Sanchez were all 2-for-5 at the plate as the GCL Twins slipped past the GCL Reds, 3-2 in extra innings, at the City of Sarasota Complex on Thursday afternoon.

Miguel Munoz would keep the Reds off the board for five innings, but finally surrendered a pair of runs in the sixth inning. Alexis Oliveras would be hit by a pitch. Following a fly out to Maurico Pimentel, Darrick Hale singled to move the Reds runner to 2nd. Efrain Contreras doubled in the pair before Munoz could take Sean Conner down on strikes and get Donald Lutz to ground out.

The Twins would get onto the board in the top of the 4th with Raul Rodriguez replacing Hugo Calderon on the mound for Reds. A fielding error by Lutz at first base would allow Danny Ortiz to reach. He'd advance to second on Mike Gonazles ground out the Reds would go for a fielder's choice, trying to get Ortiz out, but a throwing error by Brodie Pullen at 3rd allow Jae-Hyung Jang to reach and Ortiz to score.

The top of the 7th saw the Twins tie up the game. Reliever Rafael Ceballos would get the first two batters he faced out, but Sanchez, Javier Brown and Herbert Lara all took singles off of him which plated Sanchez for the equalizer.

Mauro Schiavoni would work four scoreless innings for the Twins, fanning five. Despite having men on the corners with one out in the top of the eighth the Twins could not capitalize as the J.J. and Reggie Williams both went down on ground outs.

Lara would get as far as 2nd base in the top of the 9th before Hidalgo ground out to retire the side.

Bryan Gardner would allow a single to Ortiz in the top of the 10th inning. After getting Gonzales out on strikes, J.J. would move Ortiz to 2nd on a ground out. Tyler Ladendorf, pinch-hitting for Williams, took a walk. The Reds would send David Torcise to the hill to finish off the Twins, but instead he allowed a single to Sanchez that put Ortiz over the plate for the game winning run.

Schiavoni would strike out 2 of the 3 batters he faced in the 10th to earn the win, his first of the season.

Sanchez would add a run and a RBI to his batting totals, while Ortiz, who was 1-for-5 at the plate, added a pair of runs. Lara would finish up 3-for-4 with a double and a RBI. Gonzales 1-for-4 with a double and a walk while Javier Brown, 1-for-5, was the one hit wonder with a single.

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DSL Twins 13 at DSL White Sox1 3

W: P. Guerra (6-2, 2.27); L: A. Medina (6-3, 1.99)
HR: DSL TWI: O. Arcia (3), L. Galvan (1).

The DSL Twins knocked out 13 runs on 12 hits, 5 walks and 3 White Sox1 errors to destroy the south division leading team 13-3 on the road.

Jairo Perez was 3-for-3 a the plate with a walk, a double, a run and a run batted in, but it was Danny Santana, 1-for-4 with a walk, who racked up three runs for the Twins. Wifly Gil was 2-for-4 with a double and a pair of runs while everyone in the original batting order had a hit except for short stop Carlos Vasquez, who was 0-for-5 with a run.

Lesther Galvan would ground out to start the top of the fifth inning, but Vasquez reached on a fielding error. Gil would get plunked by a pitch and Santana took a walk to load the bags. Jose Rosario would come up to the mound to try to work out of the jam and got Juan Blanco to fly out. Oswaldo Arcia then hit a grand slam over the center field wall, his 3 yarder of the year.

Perez would walk and Jairo Rodriguez would single. Manuel Soliman then took a walk as well, loading up the bags again, Batting around the order, Galvan stepped up to the plate and launched one over the center field wall for the second grand slam of the inning. It was his first of the year. Amazingly enough, they left Rosario in there to finish off the inning, and he would get Vasquez to ground out to send the White Sox1 up to bat.

Pedro Guerra picked up his sixth win of the season, allowing only 2 runs on 10 hits while fanning 4 over six innings worth of work.

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Twins drop Orioles (twice!)

GCL Twins 5 at GCL Orioles 3

W: E. Ibarra (2-0, 3.30); L: J. Moore (1-1, 2.48); SV: K. Mota (8)
HR: None.

Anderson Hidalgo and Danny Ortiz were key players in propelling the GCL Twins to a 5-3 win Wednesday over the GCL Orioles at Twins Lakes Park.

Edgar Iberra took the start for the Twins, scattering seven hits and three walks over five innings to limit the Orioles to a pair of runs while striking out four.

The O's runs would come in the bottom of the 3rd inning, with Xavier Avery singling. He'd be taken out at second however on Luis Ramirez force out, and pinch runner Edwin Cinton replaced Ramirez on the basepaths. Jerome Hoes took a walk and Edinho Meyers singled to plate Cintron. Garabes Rosa's line drive to left scored Hoes before Dennis Perez ground out and and Dashenko Richardo struck out to end the inning.

The Twins were already leading by three at the point however, as they lost no time getting on the board against Orioles starter Justin Moore. Back-to-back-to-back doubles by Aaron Hicks, Hidalgo and Ortiz opened up the game to give the Twins a pair of runs in the opening stanza.

They'd add a third run in the top of the third with Hidalgo singling and Ortiz doubling him in.

In the top of the sixth, Henry Sanchez doubled and Hyeong-rok Choi reached on a fielder's choice that saw Sanchez to 3rd. Danny Rohlfing would line out before Hyun-wook Choi sacrificed in Sachez. Herbert Lara then hit a line drive single out to left to plate Rok for the Twins fifth run.

Joe Test replaced Iberra at the top of the sixth and took the first two batters he faced out on strikes while getting the third to ground out. The seventh inning proved a bit more difficult for the former Wagner College ace, as Avery singled off him to start off the inning. Cintron ground into a force out that took Avery down at 2nd but Cintron then stole second. Hoes would ground out, moving Cintron to 3rd and a passed ball by Danny Rohlfing brought the O's runner home.

Kelvin Mota worked the last two innings for the Twins, picking up his 8th save of the season.

Hidalgo finished up 3-for-4 with a double, a pair of runs and a RBI. Ortiz was 3-for-3 with a pair of doubles and a pair of RBIs. Henry Sanchez was 1-for-3 with a double and a run, Lara went 1-for-4 with a RBI and Hicks finished up 1-for-5 with a double and a run. Rok would contribute a run despite going 0-for-4 in the game.

The Twins are currently tied for the Pirates for first in the GCL South Division as each team has posted a 20-13 record. The Twins are on the road Thursday against the GCL Reds, for a Noon game.

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DSL Orioles 2 at DSL Twins 7

W: O. Villaroel (3-3, 2.06); L: D. Mambru (0-2, 2.75); SV: L. Vargas (1)
HR: None.

The DSL Twins pounded out 7 runs on 8 hits as they routed the DSL Orioles Wednesday morning.

Jairo Perez would get hit by a pitch in the bottom of the second and Eliel Sierra walked to follow him onto the basepaths. Manuel Soliman flew out before Jhonatan Arias walked to fill the bases. Orioles starter Dionicio Mambru then walked Felix Caro and Carlos Vasquez to force in pair of runs. Danny Santana would go down on strikes before Jean Carlos Mercedes took a walk for force in Arias for the Twins 3rd run.

Needless to say, Mambru was not invited back to the mound for the bottom of the 3rd. Enrico Jimenez took over and despite a walk, a wild pitch and a single kept the Twins off the board for that inning at least.

He'd walk Carlos Vasquez in the bottom of the 4th and a sac bunt by Santana advanced him to 2nd. Mercedes singled but Vasquez would be taken out at home. Oswaldo Arcia doubled however to plate Mercedes, giving the Twins a 4-1 lead.

Cesar Ciurcina worked the first four innings for the Twins before giving way to Orlando Villaroel for the next three. Villaroel would give up 1 run on 3 hits and a pair of walks while striking out 2 to pick up his 3rd win of the season.

Jose Sosa would be throwing for the Orioles in the bottom of the 7th. Arcia took a single off of him, and advanced to 3rd on a throwing error by Moises Ciriaco. Perez then sacrificed him in for the Twins 5th run.

In the bottom of the 8th, Arias singles, then advanced to second when Sosa uncorked a wild pitch. A balk would see Arias to 3rd. Wilfy Gil would go down on strikes, and Vasquez would fly out before Santana tripled in Arias. Mercedes would be hit by a pitch before Arcia singled to plate Santana to top off the Twins scoring.

Lesmir Vargas picked up his first save of the season, working a pair of scoreless innings for the Twins.

Arcia was 3-for-5 with a run and a pair of RBIs and Arias was 2-for-3 with a walk, a double and a pair of runs. Mercedes (1-for-3) and Soliman (1-for-4) added singles, Mercedes with a run and a RBI was well. Santana finished up 1-for-4 with the triple, a run and a RBI. Perez (0-for-2) and Sierra (0-for-3) were hitless at the plate but both had walk and run in contest, Perez with a RBI as well.

The DSL Twins are on the road Thursday against the DSL Rockies for a 10:30 AM Dominican Time game.

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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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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 double up Reds

GCL REds 3 at GCL Twins 6

W: J. Testa (1-0, 0.00); L: R. Ceballos (3-1, 8.18); SV: M. Schiavoni (1)
HR: TWI: D. Ortiz (1).

Joe Testa picked up his first professional win and Danny Ortiz went yard as the GCL Twins downed the GCL Reds in a game that saw the Reds use a plethora of pitchers.

One assumes it was a bull pen start and they were trying to use the whole bullpen.

The Reds got on the board first with Mauricio Pimentel singling off of Martire Garcia. Samuel Vasquez would fly out, but Yen-Wen Kuo took a walk, moving Pimentel to 2nd. Efrain Contreras' single scored Pimentel and Donald Lutz's follow up single plated Kuo. Frank Pfister would ground into a force out that took down Contreras. Eli Rimes walked to load the bags, but Garcia got Todd Waller to strike out swinging to strand the Reds runners.

After a fly out to Aaron Hicks and a ground out to Anderson Hidalgo, Danny Ortiz singled, then moved to 2nd on a wild pitch. Andres Diaz drew a walk. Efrain Rodriguez would be called for a balk moving the pair, and then unleashed a wild pitch that scored Ortiz. Mike Gonzales then singled in Diaz to tie up the game. Hyeong-rok Choi also singled, moving Gonzales to second. That marked the first pitching change as Matteo Pizziconi, one of two Italian pitchers on the Reds staff, replaced Rodriguez on the mound. Pizziconi would get Josmir Pinto out on strikes to end the inning.

(Oh, no wonder I'm confused. The Twins roster has him listed as Josmir, while MiLB has him down as Josmil. Poor kid!)

Garcia would walk Vasquez, but otherwise kept the top of the 2nd a short affair.

After a pair of ground outs, Aaron Hicks took a walk, then stole 2nd. Pizziconi would try to pick him off but put the ball into the outfield instead, moving Hicks to 3rd. Hidalgo took a walk, but Pizziconi got Ortiz to ground out, leaving Hicks stranded. This would become on ongoing theme through out the game, as Hicks simply could not get past 3rd.

Lutz singled off Garcia with one out on the board in the top of the 3rd, then stole 2nd base. Rimes doubled him in, putting the Reds back on top.

Luca Panerati, the other Italian on the Reds staff, replaced his countryman for the 3rd inning, getting Diaz to ground out and Gonzales and Rok to fly out.

Joe Testa would replace Garcia in the top of the 4th, and would work the next three innings, fanning 3.

Justin Walker showed up on the hill for the bottom of the fourth. Pinto Singled and Juan Sanchez took a walk. Herbert Lara would advance the pair on a sac-bunt. Following a pop out to Hicks, Hidalgo singled to plate Pinto. Sanchez would try to come home as well, but was called out at home, ending the inning with the game knotted up again.

The bottom of the fifth got Rafael Ceballos out to the hill. Ortiz greeted him with his first home run of the season, putting the ball over the right field fence. Funny, for a little guy, he sure has a lot of power. Diaz ground out but Gonzales singled. Rok would be hit by a pitch. Pinto would go down on strikes before Sanchez singled out to left to drive in Gonzales. A fielding error by Theodis Bowe in left advanced the runners. That did it for Ceballos as the Reds got David Torcise out of the bullpen. He'd get Lara to pop out to end the inning.

Torcise got to come back out for the bottom of the sixth. Hicks would reach on a throwing error and Hidalgo would move him on a sac-bunt. After Ortiz went down on strikes, Torcise unleashed a wild pitch that moved Hicks to 3rd. Sadly Diaz flew out, leaving Hicks stranded again.

The Twins put Ian Mopas on the mound for the top of the 7th. Ian has been complaining of a sore shoulder, but he got Bowe and Pimentel to ground out before allowing a single to Vasquez. Kuo would then pop out to end send the Twins out to bat again. "That went rather well," Mopas said after the game. Yes, it did.

Raul Rodriguez was the lucky recipient of a trip to the mound for the Reds in the bottom of the 7th. He'd allow walks to Gonzales and Rok but would get Pinto to line into a double play. Sanchez singled in Gonzales. I have to say, at 6'6" and 245 lbs, watching the former Diablo Valley Viking bear down on you the plate is a pretty daunting image for any catcher. I was sitting just to the right of the plate and got to see it twice. Glad he's on our team!

Mauro Schiavoni worked both the top of the 8th and the 9th for the Twins and did a fine job keeping the Reds hitless over the two, earning his first professional save.

Hector Santana would be the last of the Reds pitchers we'd have the pleasure of seeing, and he'd give up a triple to Aaron Hicks. Hicks was again left on base though as Hidalgo went down on strikes and Ortiz and Diaz then popped out.

Gonzales and Sanchez were both 2-for-3, Gonzales with a pair of runs and a RBI, and Sanchez with walk and 2 runs scored. Ortiz was 2-for-5 with 2 runs and a RBI, courtesy of the homer. Hicks and Pinto were each 1-for-4, hicks with a triple and walk and Pinto with a run. Hidalgo was 1-for-3 with a walk and a RBI. Rok was 1-for-2 with a walk, while Diaz, who finish up 0-for-4 with walk, chipped in a run as well.

The Twins face the Red Sox Sunday at the City of Palms Complex for a noon game. They rest on Monday.

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GCL Twins romp over Reds, 8-2

GCL Twins 8 at GCL Reds 2

W: M. Munoz (3-1, 3.32); L: J. Rafael (1-2, 1.59)
HR: None.

The GCL Twins took a big lead early and kept the GCL Reds in check through the entire game to pick a up a win at the City of Sarasota complex.

This would be a rematch of the Juan Rafael vs Miguel Munoz contest we saw last Sunday that the Twins came out on top of as well. This time though, Rafael was not dealing the way he did earlier in the week.

Bert Lara and Aaron Hicks took back-to-back singles off Rafael to lead off in the top of the first. Danny Ortiz reached on a throwing error which plated Lara. Tyler Ladendorf then doubled to bring in Hicks. Andres Diaz ground out and Reggie Williams struck out before Anderson Hidalgo took a walk to load the bags. Jae-Hyung Jang singled out to center to drive in a pair, with Hidalgo advancing to 3rd on a fielding error by Samuel Vasquez at center. Juan Sanchez would strike out however, leaving him stranded.

With one out on the board in the bottom half of the stanza, Cody Puckett singled. Frank Pfister hit into a force out that took down Puckett and Humberto Sosa followed that up with a line drive single. Efrain Contreras doubled in Pfister to make the score 4-1, but Vasquez would go down on strikes before the Reds could do any further damage.

Rafael would give way to Canadian hurler Michael Henry in the top of the 5th. Reggie Williams reached on a fielding error and Hidalgo Anderson walked. A wild pitch by Henry advanced the pair before J.J. would strike out. Sanchez reached on a fielder's choice that took Williams out at home, but Lara's line drive would plate Hidalgo for an additional Twins run.

Ortiz and Ladendorf took back-to-back walks in the top of the sixth and the pair advanced on Andres Diaz ground out. Williams would also ground out before Hidalgo doubled to drive in the pair of runners, making the score 7-1.

Lara walked in the 7th off Henry and moved to 2nd on Hicks ground out. Ortiz singled on a line drive out to right to bring in Lara, finishing up the Twins scoring.

Andreys and Nick Lobanov would work the next 3 innings with Andreys going two and Nick going one. Ian Mopas took over in the 9th and promply allowed a triple to Vasquez. He'd put two outs on the board before issuing a walk to Mariekson Gregorius. Theodis Bowe's ground ball single would finally bring Vasquez in, but Puckett would fly out before the Reds could get any closer.

Lara finished up 3-for-4 with a pair of walks, a pair of runs and a RBI. Ortiz and Ladendorf were both 2-for-4, Ortiz with a pair of walks, a pair of runs and a run scored and Ladendorf with a double, a walk, a pair of runs, and a RBI. Hicks was 2-for-6 with a run, J.J. and Sanchez each had a single and Hidalgo a double, a run and a pair of RBIs. J.J. also had a pair of RBIs, leaving the one hit wonder title to Sanchez, who added a pair of strike outs.

The Twins return home for a morning game on Saturday against the GCL Red Sox. First pitch is due out at 10:00 AM.

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DSL Indians 1 at DSL Twins 7

W: L. Parra (3-0, 0.84); L: F. Valera (4-2, 4.06)
HR: None.

I wonder what some of the Latin American kids make of the MLB logos, especially - for example - the Indians. In any case, DSL Twins pitching limited the DSL Indians to only 2 hits and the offense went on to collect 7 runs on 8 hits at home on Friday.

The Tribe out find their lone run in the top of the 3rd, with Jesus Brito taking a walk off Cesar Ciurcina then stealing 2nd. A fly out by Rolando Petit moved him to 3rd and he'd score on Kelvin Diaz sac-fly.

The DSL Twins answered back in the bottom of the inning. Rafael Sanchez singled with one out on the board and Wilfy Gil walked. A wild pitch by Tribe pitcher Francisco Valera advanced the pair. A follow up single by Yancarlo Franco plated Sanchez, and Danny Santana sacrificed in Gil, to make it 2-1.

Leonardo Parra worked the next four innings for the Twins, allowing only a walk while striking out 3.

Yancarlo Franco singled in the bottom of the sixth and would come home on Santana's triple. Santana scored one out later on Oswaldo Arcia's ground ball single. The run would signal the end of Francisco Valera's time on the mound, as Oswell Munoz came in to replace him. Jairo Rodriguez reached on a fielding error by Diaz at third, scoring Arcia to make it 5-1.

Sanchez singled in the bottom of the seventh, and Gil would be hit by a pitch. Franco would pop out and Santana strike out before Francisco Jimenez came out of the bullpen to replace Munoz. Manuel Soliman's ground ball single plated the two runners, making it 7-1, Twins.

Lesmir Vargas finished off the last two innings for the Twins.

Sanchez finished up 2-for-3 with a pair of runs, while Franco and Arcia were both 2-for-4 at the plate with a run and a run scored each. Santana finished up up 1-for-3 with a triple, a run and a pair of runs scored.

The DSL Twins finish up the week on the road for a 10:30 AM Dominican time contest against the DSL Yankees 2.

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Bunting Babies; GCL Twins down GCL Reds

GCL Reds 2 at GCL Twins 4

W: A. Lobanov (2-0, 1.93); L: M. Bohana (0-2, 4.76); SV: K. Mota (4)
HR: None.

In a moment of revelation, or, perhaps complete madness, while I was pumping quarters into the dryer at the laundryman, it occurred to me that in fact, Jake Mauer played for the Fort Myers Miracle under field manager Jose Marzan.

Which explained the very odd attempt at a suicide squeeze play that he tried in the bottom of the eighth inning.

It might even have worked...except that J.J. missed the bunt and Jakub, who had started running long before it became evident that J.J. was going to miss the bunt, found himself in between home plate and 3rd and the catcher had the ball.

So today's lesson is, if you're going to try for a suicide squeeze play, you should first make sure that the guy you are telling to bunt has had some success with it in the past.

So Jakub was our second out and Jake finally stopped called for bunts (yeah!) and J.J. hit a triple that drove in Jon Goncalves and the GCL Twins topped the GCL Reds, 4-2.

The game was marked by some great pitching on both sides. Martire Garcia took the start for the GCL Twins and struck out the first two batters he faced. He'd not let a man on base until Theodis Bowe singled in the top of the 4th.

Juan Rafael was equally as good for the Reds, working seven innings allowing 2 runs on 7 hits and a walk while fanning 3.

The Twins got on the board first, when Danny Ortiz singled and moved to 2nd on Tyler Ladendorf's ground out. Reggie Williams then sent a ground ball to center and the Ortiz blazed a trail to the plate. There would be a fight at the plate as Red's catcher Todd Waller got the ball, then lost it, and Ortiz had to scramble his way around to find the plate and touch it, but in the end, Ortiz slapped his hand on the plate and the ball rolled free. The Reds didn't like it, but there was not much they could do about it.

The Reds answered back though with Bowe's grounder to left getting him on base. He'd then steal 2nd. Huberto Sosa singled to drive in Bowe and would advance to 2nd on Juan Sanchez's throwing error, but that's as far as he'd go as Garcia got Conner to fly out to end the inning.

Cody Puckett took a walk off Garcia in the top of the sixth with two outs on the board. He'd then steal 2nd. Frank Pfister would reach on a throwing error by Ladendorf, which also put Puckett on 3d. Sosa's line drive to left plated Puckett to put the Reds on top.

That would finish it for Garcia, who left the game after allowing 2 runs, 1 earned, on 3 hits and walk while fanning 8 over six innings. It was an absolutely stellar performance by the Twins Dominican lefty.

The Twins tied the game up in the bottom of the seventh. With one out up, Sanchez doubled and Herbert Lara's line drive to center drove him in.

Mike Bohana replaced Rafael for the bottom of the eighth. Landendorf found a single (his batting average has now dipped to .196) before Williams went down on strikes (Mauer kept calling for a bunt). We got a bit of luck as Puckett got Jakub Hajtmar's hit to second, but he miss threw the ball to the bag, allowing Hajtmar to reach and sending Landendorf to 3rd. Mauer then opted to put Mike Gonzalez in as a pinch hitter for Hyun-wook Choi, who left the game 1-for-3. Gonzalez is so strong that if he gets some wood on the ball it's almost a guaranteed single and that would be the case this time, as he belted one up the first base line that Sosa couldn't handle, sending it out into right field to drive Landendorf home.

That's when they tried to pull the sacrifice squeeze play. With Hajtmar on 3rd, Mauer called for a bunt, but catcher Jae-Hyung Jang missed, causing Hajtmar to be stuck between 3rd and home. Mauer then send Jon Goncalves in to run for Gonzalez and let J.J. hit. The South Korean ripped a triple out to center to bring in Goncalves for the insurance run.

Andrey Lovanov worked two innings of relief, fanning 3, and Kelvin Mota came in allowing a single to Conner with 2 outs on the board, but he then got Efrain Contreras to pop out to end the contest.

The unofficial game time was 2 hours, 15 minutes and we were able to clear out of the Sportsplex before the afternoon rain showers showed up.

The GSL Twins take on the GCL Red Sox at the City of Palms Complex on Monday for a noon game. They then take Tuesday off. Before returning home on Wednesday to face the GCL Pirates.

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New 8x10's are available. Be sure to stop by the gallery for a look. You can download them to print at home or use as computer wallpaper, or send to family and friends, or you can order prints right off Photobucket. New pictures are also being added, so be sure to visit out our Photo Center for a look at some game action.

Twins romp over Orioles, 11-5

GCL Orioles 5 at GCL Twins 11

W: M. Munoz (2-1, 3.86); L: S. Taveras (0-2, 12.46)
HR: None.

For the true baseball enthusiast, nothing quite beats a day watching a GCL game. Unlike most minor (and major) league games, there are no distractions. No promotions, no vendors, no - or very few - unattended kids running around. You can focus on the game of baseball.

Which is the whole point of the Gulf Coast League. For the young players who participate in it to focus on baseball.

The GCL Twins picked up Saturday's contest against the Orioles in about the same place they left off Friday's contest with the Pirates. With a lot of hits.

The Orioles got on top first with Gorabez Rosa bunting. Twins catcher Danny Rohlfing picked up the bunt, but threw wide to first letting Rosa advance to 2nd. Jerome Hoes singled out to short and Tyler Ladendorf made a great save on the ball. Unfortunately his throw was from a bad angle and was a bit off, and Anderson Hidalgo could not handle it, ending up with Rosa on 3rd. He'd come home on Dashenko Ricardo's ground out to second.

The Twins answered right back however with Jon Goncalves taking a walk. Aaron Hicks and Danny Ortiz hit back-to-back singles that drove in Goncalves. After a pop out by Ladendorf, Mike Gonzalez singled to drive in Hicks. Andres ground into a force out that took Mike out at 2nd, but Reggie Williams followed that up with a triple that drove in both runners, making it 4-1 Twins. That would end it for Sam Taveras, as the O's got Luiyi Batista out of the pen.

Batista would keep the Twins semi-quiet in the second, although Hicks singled and Ortiz doubled. Ladendorf would reach on a fielder's choice that saw Hicks taken down at the plate.

Diaz led off in the bottom of the 3rd with a single and Williams doubled him over to 3rd. Rohlfing's single plated Diaz, while Hidalgo sacrificed in Williams. Goncalves would reach on a fielding error by the O's 3rd baseman, and a wild pitch would progress the Twins runners. After Hicks struck out, a second wild pitch scored Rohlfing. Ortiz then singled to drive in Goncalves, making it 8-1 Twins. That ended it for Batista, and Jario De La Cruz got to pitch for a while.

Ricardo walked in the top of the 4th off Twins starter Miguel Munoz. Dennis Perez then doubled to move him to 3rd. Grolmann Gonzalez's sac-fly saw the runner score for the O's second run.

Munoz would work five, allowing 2 runs, only 1 earned, on six hits and a walk while striking out 3. Jose Mijares would take over for the next two, making a rehab start. With some luck, the Venezuelan closer will be ready for New Britain or Rochester shortly after the All-star break.

Mijares would get two quick outs in each inning, but back-to-back hits in the sixth and a walk in the seventh made the third out a little more interesting for the small crowd of onlookers.

Luis Lebron would come in for Justin Moore in the top of the 7th. Moore, a side arm pitcher had worked one inning allowing a single and a walk and tossing a wild pitch, but keeping the Twins from the plate.

Lebron saw Rohlfing reach when he failed to catch the ball. Following a fly out to Hidalgo, a passed ball by Janensis Guerrero put Rohlfing on second. Goncalves and Hicks then hit back-to-back singles to plate the Twins catcher. Ortiz would triple, to drive in the pair of runners, making it 11-2.

Everything went along peachy until the ninth inning. We got our first look at Joe Testa in the eighth, who allowed a lead off single to Perez, but got the O's Gonzalez to ground into a double play, then took Javi Santana out on stikes.

Ian Mopas would come in for the ninth, and allowed Justin Martin to walk. He'd get Francisco Mejia to ground into a double play but then gave up singles to Xavier Avery and Rosa. Hoes took a walk to load the bags, and then Ricardo walked to force in a run. Perez singled to score two more before Mopas could get Gonzalez to ground out, ending the game. (Proving to me that Mr. Hendriks was correct and we did have someone on the squad who could potentially blow a 9-run lead.)

The Twins remain at home Sunday against the Reds with yet another noon start for our boys.

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Someone had asked me, BTW, about AA infielder Luke Hughes playing for Team Australia in the Olympics. Liam reminded me that the Aussies failed to qualify for the Olympics, so, I suppose you can rule out any possiblity of Mr. Hughes involvement in the event.

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The DSL Twins dropped a pair to the DSL Reds, playing the game that had been washed out earlier in the month.

DSL Twins 1 at DSL Reds 4

W: J. Marizan (2-2, 2.23); L: O. Villaroel (1-3, 1.96); SV: S. Gerson (1)
HR: None.

Yancarlo Franco had the lone Twins run, which came in the sixth inning. Franco would double, then score on Yorby Martinez's ground out.

Orlando Villaroel took the loss, allowing 3 runs, earned, on 3 hits and a walk while striking out 4 over 3.

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DSL Twins 1 at DSL Reds 3

W: E. Infante (1-0, 0.44); L: L. Vargas (1-2, 4.40)
HR: None.

Danny Santana singled in the top of the 4th, then stole second base. Jairo Rodriguez then doubled him in for the Twins only tally.

Lesmir Vargas took the loss, putting a run on base via a walk, and seeing him advance on a sac bunt. Jose Gonzalez would then come in a allow a double to score the inherited runner to put the Reds ahead.

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