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!

GCL Twins down Snyder, Red Sox

GCL Red Sox 1 at GCL Twins 3

W: M. Munoz (4-2, 3.09); L: W. Lin (0-2, 4.41); SV: B. Pugh (1)
HR: None.

Juan Sanchez went 3-for-4 at the plate driving in two runs to pace the GCL Twins to a win over the GCL Red Sox at the Lee County Sportsplex in Fort Myers, Florida, Monday.

Miguel Munoz worked six scoreless innings for the GCL Twins.

The GCL Red Sox had two low minor league hurlers on rehab, Caleb Clay and Eammon Portice who worked the first two innings, plus Kyle Snyder from the AAA Pawsox, the second time the Twins have faced Snyder this season.

Snyder would work two innings before giving way to Wang-Yi Lin in the bottom of the 5th. Lin would get Jakub Hajtmar to ground out before giving up walks to Josmir Pinto and Javier Brown. Jon Goncalves singled out to left to load up the bags. Herbert Lara would ground out, bringing in Pinto before Sanchez ground ball single brought in Brown and Goncalves to give the Twins three. Danny Ortiz would single, but Mike Gonzalez hit into a ground out to end the inning.

After giving up only two hits and fanning 6 through the first six innings, Munoz returned to the Twins mound for the top of the 7th. He'd allow a single to Casey Kelly before giving up walks to Roberto Felix and Bryan Peterson, to fill up the bases. He'd then get Chih-Hsiang Huang to ground into a double play, allowing Kelly to score but taking Peterson out at 2nd. Jake Mauer took Munoz from the the mound at the point, getting Bruce Pugh out of the bullpen to replace him. Pugh would get Joantoni Garcia to fly out to retire the Red Sox, stranding Feliz on third.

Pugh would work the finally 2 innings, giving up a hit while fanning 3. Neither would the Twins get anything more as Lin went on to work 2 more innings before giving way to Jennell Hudson for the final inning.

Ortiz was 1-for-3 in the contest, becoming the one hit wonder of the game. Pinto was 1-for-1 with a pair of walks and a run, while Goncalves was 1-for-3 with a run. Brown, 0-for-2 picking up the final run on a walk.

The Twins rest on Tuesday and return to action Wednesday against the GCL Pirates in Bradenton for a noon game.

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Herald Tribune

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DSL White Sox1 3 at DSL Twins 11

W: L. Parra (5-1, 1.63); L: C. Zabala (6-2, 1.77)
HR: None.

The DSL Twins pounded out 11 runs on 14 hits to batter the division leading DSL White Sox1 11-3 at home on Monday.

Jerry Puentes doubled to lead off for the White Sox1. Following a pop out to Jeffer Patino and a ground out to Juan Vegas, Puentes scored. Angel Ferreiras singled then advanced to 2nd on a throwing error by Carlos Vasquez. Hector Acuna would single him in, giving the White Sox1 a pair of runs to start off the game.

The Twins began their scoring barrage in the bottom of the 2nd inning, with Jairo Perez singling before Felix Caro popped out. Eliel Sierra and Jhonatan Arias both singled, allowing Perez to score. Juan Blanco's line drive to left brought in Sierra, and Arias would would steal home while Blanco stole 2nd. Carlos Vasquez and Wifly Gil both ground out, ending the fun for the second inning at least.

Juan Vega took a walk in the top of the third off Twins starter Orlando Villaroel, who then unleashed a wild pitch, sending Vega to 2nd. A double by Angel Ferreiras brought Vega in before Villarel could get Hector Acuna to strike out.

The bottom of fourth saw Caro double and Sierra reach on a fielding error. Arias' single loaded the bags. Blanco ground into a force out to score Caro and, following a strike out to Vasquez, Sierra would score on a balk, with Blanco advancing to 3rd. A passed ball by Sox catcher Danny Yepez got Blanco to 3rd, at which point Gil doubled to drive him in.

Yovan Rodriguez would replace Carlos Zabala in the bottom of the sixth and he'd return to the mound for the Sox in the seventh. Danny Santana took a triple off him to lead off, and Oswaldo Arcia drew a walk. Perez reached on a force attempt; a fielding error by Sox shortstop Mijel Garcia allowed Santana to score. Caro would strike out, before missed catch on a pick off attempt brought Arcia over the plate Sierra would double, but Arias flew out and Franco popped out to end the inning.

The Twins tacked on three more in the bottom of the eighth. Reliever Emenejildo Arias would get Vasquez out on strikes before allowing a double to Gil. Santana reached on a fielding error, and Arcia tripled the pair in. A missed catch by left fielder Juan Vega turned the triple into an in-the-park home run as Arcia scored as well.

Leonardo Parra would pick up the win, allowing only 1 hit while fanning two over three innings of relief. Edison Alvarez worked the final 2 innings, allowing 2 hits and a walk.

Sierra finished up 3-for-4 at the plate with a double and a pair of runs. Arias and Arcia were each 2-for-4, Arias with a run and a run scored, Arcia with a walk, a triple, a pair of runs and 2 RBIs. Gil and Caro were both 2-for-5, Gil with a pair of doubles, a run and a RBI and Caro with 1 double and 1 run.

Blanco was 1-for-3 with a run and a pair of RBIs; Santana and Perez were both 1-for-5, Santana with a triple and a pair of runs and Perez with a run and a RBI.

The DSL Twins travel to face the DSL Indians Tuesday morning for a 10:30 AM Dominican time game.

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Mejia's double lifts O's over Twins

GCL Twins 4 at GCL Orioles 5

W: M. Moore (1-0, 0.00); L: A. Lobanov (2-1, 3.65); SV: J. Reyes (1)
HR: None.

The GCL Orioles rallied past the GCL Twins at Twin Lakes Park to pick up a 5-4 win Sunday afternoon. The double header scheduled for Sunday was rescheduled to the July 25, 2008 to prevent the Twins from playing back-to-back double headers on Sunday and Monday.

The Twins got on the board first with Aaron Hicks taking a walk, then stealing 2nd. He'd advance to 3rd on a throwing error by O's catcher Dashenko Ricardo. Danny Ortiz hit into a ground out that plated Hicks.

Miguel Munoz took the start for the Twins and would not give up a hit until the 3rd inning, when he allowed a single to Francisco Mejia.

The top of the fifth saw Danny Rohlfing double and Anderson Hidalgo walk. Jakub Hajtmar ground out, advancing the pair. Herbert Lara's single to right brought them in, helped in part by a fielding error charged to Justin Martin.

Ricardo would take a single of Munoz in the bottom of the stanza then move to 2nd on Jose Kianes ground out. Following a fly out to Martin, Michael Gioioso doubled to plate Ricardo and a second double, to Mejia would bring in Gioioso before Javier Santana flew out to end the inning.

Andres Diaz doubled with one out on the board in the top of the sixth. Rohlfing singled to advance him to 3rd and a Hidalgo line drive plated him for the Twins' fourth run.

Munoz would finish up allowing 2 runs on 4 hits while fanning 4 over six innings worth of work. Andrei Lovanov would replace him in the 7th.

The Russian reliever would get Richardo out on strikes before Kianes drew a walk. Martin and Gioioso hit back-to-back singles, scoring Kianes, cutting the Twins lead to one run. Mejia then doubled to plate the two runners, putting the O's on top.

The Twins would load the bases in the top of the 9th before the O's got Jean Carlos Reyes in to stop them. Reyes would get Mike Gonzales out on strikes and Diaz to hit into a fly out to end the game.

Rohlfing and Hidalgo were both 2-for-3, each with a double and a run, Hidalgo with a walk and a RBI as well. Lara was 2-for-4 with a RBI. Diaz, in the designed hitter role, was 1-for-5 with a double and a run while Landedorf was the game's one hit wonder, finishing up 1-for-4 at the plate.

That was one more hit than Hicks got as 0-for-3 at the plate, but he walked twice and also had a run for the Twins.

The Twins return home to Lee County Sportsplex on Monday to take on the GCL Reds in a double header. Game time is 11:00 AM.

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Bulletin: Testa
North Side Notch Blog

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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GCL Twins blank GCL Red Sox at City of Palms

GCL Twins 5 at GCL Red Sox 0

W: M. Munoz (1-1, 5.00); L: C. Cabral (0-1, 4.50)
HR: None.

Miguel Munoz held the GCL Red Sox to only 3 hits and a pair of walks over six innings, in route to a shut out of the Red Sox at the City of Palms Complex. Jean Mijares and Mauro Schiavoni finish up the last three innings to preserve the win.

Herbert Lara would single out to left, then steal 2nd base. Juan Sanchez would be taken out on strikes and Tyler Ladendorf would fly out to right before Tim Atherton singled to bring the Twin's lead off man home. Jon Goncalves would single as well, but Hyuong-rok Choi (Rocky) would be called out on strikes to finish the half.

In the top of the 3rd, Sanchez tripled and following a strike out to Ladendorf, came home on an Atherton single.

Jakub Hajtmar would take a walk in the top of the 4th then steal 2nd. Josmil Pinto would reach on a field error by Red Sox first baseman Eddie Lora, which also allowed Hajtmar to come home, to give the Twins a 3-0 lead.

A pitcher change to Michael Rozier in the fifth didn't help matters for the Red Sox. Rozier would hit Atherton with a pitch. Goncalves would ground into a force out though, which took Atherton out at 2nd. Goncalves then stole 2nd. Rocky then doubled to plate Goncalves. Hajtmar's ground out moved Rocky to 3rd, and Pinto would double him in to the final Twins run.

Atherton finished up 2-for-3 at the plate with a pair of RBIs. Goncalves was 2-for-4 with a run.

The Twins rest on Saturday, and host the Pirates on Sunday for a noon game at the Lee County Sportsplex. If you're coming to watch the GCL Twins game, we suggest you use the Plantation gate to the parking lot, as the Miracle are also playing at home that day, and there is $3.00 parking fee in effect if you use the Six Mile Cypress gate.

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DSL Twins 5 at DSL Orioles 4

W: L. Parra (2-0, 0.82); L: S. Jean (1-2, 5.01); SV: E. Alvarez (7)
HR: None.

The DSL Twins fought off a late rally by the DSL Orioles and hung on to win 5-4 on the road.

Adrian Salcedo worked the first four innings for the DSL Twins, allowing the O's only 2 hits over that time span while fanning a pair.

Meanwhile the offense got to work in the second inning, with Oswaldo Arcia taking a walk, then stealing 2nd base. Eliel Sierra would strike out before Jean Carlos Mercedes singled to bring in Arcia. Jairo Rodriguez's single moved Mercedes to 2nd, and the pair would go home on a triple by Danny Santana. Xavier Gonzalez would go down on strikes before Juan Blanco singled to bring in Santana.

Manuel Soliman and Arcia hit back-to-back singles in the top of the 3rd and Sierra would walk to load the bags. Mercedes would hit into a force out that drove Soliman in for what would prove to be the game winning run. But it was still early in the contest and way too soon to count it done.

Leonard Parra replaced Salcedo in the fifth, and would still be in for the bottom of the 7th. Jaynnertt Melenciano singled and Larry Rivera doubled, but Melanciano would be taken out at 3rd on the play. Edwin Wilson then doubled in Rivera for the first Oriole's run.

With Lesmire Vargas on the mound for the bottom of the eighth, Moises Arias singled and Octavio Wilson walked. Jose Gonzalez would then replace Vargas on the mound, and allowed a double to Rojean Cleota, which scored Arias and Wilson. Cleota would advance to 3rd on a fielding error by Blanco. Martin Serreta would be taken out on strikes before Moises Ciriaco reached on a fielding error by Felix Caro that also brought in Cleota. But Parra would get Melenciano to ground out. With a runner at 2nd, Gonazlez then hit Rivera with a pitch. Edison Alverez was then summoned from the bullpen and the 18-year old Dominican got Wilson to ground into a force out to end the inning.

Despite hitting Joel Polanco with a pitch in the bottom of the 9th, Alvarez quickly finished off the O's to preserve the win, for his seventh save of the season.

Blanco and Arcia were both 3-for-4 in the contest; Blanco with a RBI, and Arcia with a walk and a run. Santana was 2-for-3 with a walk, a run and pair of runs batted in.

The Twins finish up the week at home as the host the DSL White Sox for a 10:30 AM Dominican Time game.

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