Scoreboard for July 13, 2007

JAMIE GERMANO staff photographer
Red Wings shortstop Gil Velazquez dives and flips the ball to second baseman Alex Casilla to force Indianapolis’ Russ Johnson in the sixth inning.

Indianapolis 3 at Rochester 4

Record 49 - 42

W: B. Duensing (6-2, 3.15); L: M. Tejera (3-2, 4.19); SV: B. Korecky (23)
HR: IND: Y. De Caster (5).

From redwingsbaseball.com: The Red Wings beat the Indianapolis Indians 4-3 Friday night at Frontier Field. Bobby Korecky picked up his 23rd save of the season. This ties him with RHP Travis Bowyer for the all-time Red Wings record for saves, set in 2005. Offensively, Matthew LeCroy knocked in two runs for the Wings and Brian Buscher continued his offensive hot streak with three hits and an RBI.

Rochester starter Brian Duensing struggled a little at the start of the game allowing singles for the first two Indianapolis batters. The Wings defense turned a double play to put one runner on third base. Deunsing ended the threat by striking out the final batter. In the second, Duensing struck out the first two batters of the inning and retired the third easily.

The Wings got on the scoreboard in the second as Buscher slammed a double over the centerfielder's head, then advanced to third on a single from Chris Heintz. Buscher was brought home on a fielder's choice from Gil Velazquez giving the Wings an early 1-0 lead.

In the third, Alexi Casilla hit a single to left field to start the inning. He advanced to second as Indianapolis starter Michael Tejara walked Tommy Watkins. Casilla then needed to jump over a line drive single to left field from Darnell McDonald in order to reach third unharmed. With the bases loaded and no outs, Matthew LeCroy hit a fly ball to centerfield plating Casilla. Watkins and McDonald both stole bases to place the two runners in scoring position. They were stranded there as Glenn Williams struck out and Buscher popped a fly ball to centerfield to end the inning with the score of 2-0.

Duensing struggled again in the fifth. He started the inning by walking Russ Johnson and then allowed a single from Luis Matos. After striking out Luis Ordaz, Duensing gave up another single to Carlos Maldonado to load the bases. He escaped trouble by catching a bunt attempt by Don Kelly, forcing the runners to stay on base. Duensing retired the final batter, ending the inning holding on to the Wings lead.

The Wings increased their lead in the bottom of the fifth. Casilla started the inning with a single to left field, then advanced to second on a safcrifice bunt by Watkins. After, Tejera intentionally walked McDonald and allowed a single from LeCroy that plated Casilla and moved McDonald to third, who barely reached the base safely. McDonald was brought home as Buscher slammed a single to center field, giving the Wings a 4-0 lead.

Indianapolis cut the Wings lead in half in the sixth. Duensing started the inning by striking out Jose Hernandez, then walking Brad Eldred. Yurendell de Caster then smashed a ball over the back wall for a two-run home run to bring the score to 4-2. After Duensing walked the next batter, Carmen Cali took the mound. Cali allowed a single before striking out the final batter.

Cali continued with the strikeouts as he fanned all three batters in the seventh inning. The strikeouts kept going into the bottom of the seventh as the first two Wings batters struck out before a line drive down the first base line from Buscher for a double. The inning ended when Indianapolis relief pitcher Salomon Torres struck out Heintz.

The Indians closed the gap on the Wings lead in the eighth. Korecky relieved Cali and started the inning by retiring the first batter. de Caster drove a ball down the first base line for a double and was brought home off a single RBI from Johnson, bringing the score to 4-3. Johnson advanced to second on a ground out but was picked off by Korecky at second to end the threat.

Korecky easily retired the final three batters for the Indians to end the game and recieve his record-tying 23rd save. Duensing recorded the win, improving his record to 6-2.

NOTES: Tommy Watkins and Denard Span appeared on the Slow Flow Show Friday morning on 89.7 FM WITR and WITR.RIT.edu. Check out a photo in our Pics of the Day feature....RHP Nick Blackburn was honored Friday at the Morgan Stanley Red Wings Player of the Month lunch; Check out a photo of Nick with Twins farm director Jim Rantz, Wings COO Naomi Silver, Monroe County Executive Maggie Brooks, Morgan Stanley's Annemarie Cook, and manager Stan Cliburn in our Pics of the Day feature... The 21 hits by the Red Wings Thursday night were the most hits in a game since August 30, 2004 when the Red Wings had 25 hits in a 21-5 win vs. Pawtucket at Frontier Field. Last night was only the eighth time since 1997 that Rochester has had 20 or more hits in a game (5/11/2007 20 hits in 13-2 win @ Buffalo, 8/30/2004 25 hits in 21- 5 win vs. Pawtucket, 7/2/2002 20 hits in a 17-11 win vs. Buffalo, 5/7/2000 20 hits in 17-1 win @ Toledo, 6/1/1999 20 hits in 17-9 win @ Toledo, 7/21/1998 20 hits in 11-4 win vs. Syracuse, and 7/20/1997 21 hits in 13-7 win @ Charlotte) ... The Red Wings pitching staff has allowed the fewest base on balls (218) in the International League this season (Norfolk is 2nd with 263 entering play Friday). The last time Rochester led the International League in fewest walks allowed was 1995.

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Andrew Pinckney, the third baseman for the Portland Sea Dogs, looks past a New Britain runner Friday night while preparing to throw to first for an out. The Sea Dogs earned a 6-3 victory at Hadlock Field. Shawn Patrick Ouellette/Staff Photographer

New Britain 3 at Portland 6

Record: 42 - 46

W: C. Zink (9-3, 2.89); L: K. Waldrop (3-6, 5.33); SV: B. Vaughan (6)
HR: NBR: F. Molina (6). POR: B. Bell (1).

From portlandseadogs.com: For the second straight night, the Sea Dogs rallied back from a 3-0 deficit to beat the New Britain Rock Cats. On Friday night, Portland scored four of six runs with two outs and defeated the Rock Cats, 6-3 in front of 7,185 at Hadlock Field. The Sea Dogs have won four straight and improved their overall record to 45-43.

Centerfielder Bubba Bell led the charge for Portland, going 3-for-4 and smacking his first Double-A home run with two outs in the sixth inning. Jeff Corsaletti and Chad Spann smacked 2-run doubles for Portland.

Charlie Zink (9-3) earned his 22nd career win the Sea Dogs, the most as a Red Sox affiliate, hurling six strong innings on three runs and five hits.

Kyle Jackson, Lincoln Holdzkom earned holds with perfect innings and Beau Vaughan finished the night with a scoreless ninth to earn his sixth save of the season.

Kyle Waldrop (3-6) lasted four and 2/3 innings, allowing eight hits and four runs to suffer the loss for New Britain. Angel Garcia yielded two runs in his Double-A debut for the Rock Cats.

New Britain took a 2-0 lead in the second inning on a sacrifice fly by Felix Molina and a run-scoring double by Matt Allegra. Molina smacked the first pitch of the fourth inning for a home run – his sixth of the season. Portland pitchers retired 17 of 20 after Molina’s home run to close out the game.

Portland improves to 5-6 against the Rock Cats with the series continuing on Saturday at Hadlock Field. Right-hander Justin Masterson (1-0) makes his Hadlock Field debut and Anthony Swarzak (2-2) gets the starting nod for New Britain.

Allied Home Mortgage Big Dog of the Game – Bubba Bell

Notes...Portland’s bullpen hasn’t allowed a run in 13.2 IP...Bubba Bell missed the cycle by a triple, picking up his first Double-A extra-base hit in the first inning…Zink earned his 8th quality start of the season and his 41st career win...Chad Spann made his first career start at first base and finished 1-for-4, 2 RBI.

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A VERY big bird

Jupiter 3 at Fort Myers 8

Record 9 - 13

W: J. Manship (3-1, 3.13); L: R. Tucker (5-5, 3.86)
HR: JUP: G. Sanchez (5), C. Ross (1).

The Marlins used one of their fire sales to stock up on first round draft picks. They followed the Twins pattern and took a bunch of young arms, many of which are with the Jupiter Hammerheads this season. So we've been seeing a sting of them getting starts on the mound for Jupiter.

Friday night's offering was no different as we saw Ryan Tucker take the start. Baseball America ranks him 8th overall in the Marlins organization prospect wise. The main difference however, was the Miracle found some hits and the Hammerheads turning in some seriously sloppy fielding in the first inning.

"Hits?" you say. 17 of them, to be exact, a season high for the Miracle if I'm not mistaken, as the Miracle downed Jupiter 3=8.

The Hammerheads got onto the board first as Cody Ross homered off starter Jeff Manship. The Miracle responded though with a 4 run 1st though as Brian Dinkelman and Steve Tolleson both singled their way onto base. Juan Portes flew out before Erik Lis singled. A throwing error by Agustin Septimo, and a ball that went all over the field, brought in both Dink and Tolley and left Lis on 3rd. Valencia brought Lis home, moved to 3 on a Johnny Woodard single and came home on a Dwayne White grounder out to right.

The Marlins might want to consider drafting some fielding the next time around.

Dinkelman doubled on his next at bat to start off the bottom of the 2nd inning and came home when Tolleson singled out to center fielder Kris Harvey.

Juan Portes singled in the bottom of the 4th to keep his hit streat alive. that was also the end for Tucker, who was charged with 5 runs (all earned) on 10 hits while striking out 2 over the 4 innings. He was replaced by Jacob Marceaux, who cooled off the Miracle bats substantially, allowing only 3 hits in 2 innings, while walking 1 and striking out 2.

Manship worked good through 7 innings, getting into trouble in the 8th. Gaby Sanchez homered in Kris Harvey for 2 runs. Manship got Andrew Jenkins out swinging and walked J.T. Restko before he was pulled from the mound in favor of Armando Gabino. I imagine he'd hit is pitch count limit - I'm sure Brian has that information.

Travis Talbott pitched the 7th for Jupiter, allowing 1 hit and walking 1 while striking out 1. Kurt Koehler replaced him for the 8th. Jeff Christy knocked a line drive out to left, and moved on a Dinkelman sac bunt. Christy went to 3rd on a while pitch by Kurt Koehler, and Portes drew a walk. Erik Lis doubled Christy in and moved Portes to 3rd. A Danny Valencia single and a throwing error by Chris Coghlan bround Portes and Lis in.

Dinkelman finished up the night 2-for-4 with 2 runs, Tolleson was 3-for-5 with 1 run and 1 RBI, Lis was 5-for-5 with 2 runs and 1 RBI, Valencia, who was working the batting cages today, was 4-for-5 with 1 run and 2 RBIs and Christy was 2-for-4 with 1 run. Luis Ugueto and Dwyane white both struck out twice, and perhaps will follow Valencia's example and work the batting cages tomorrow.

All in all a pleasant evening with a good crowd on hand for Happy Hour Friday and to see the ZOOperstars.

Much as I find those big inflatable things amusing, it would nice if they'd change up the skits, I know they have different ones. We've had the same Clammy Sosa routin for the 3 years running. I was more interested in getting Chris Volstad's autograph, while Volstad wanted to watch Sharkey McGuire.

Ed got totally creamed by Harry Canary. He'll be picking silly string out of his stuff for the next week. (I know, the Canary did that to me one year.)

Sean Fox FINALLY got to see Rob Delaney on the mound. I asked him if he'd called the ninth inning Thursday believing he was watching Delaney on the mound and he groaned and said yes. Needs to get his eyes checked.

Toby Gardenhire was not in the line up tonight. I do hope that by using up 17 hits tonight, the Miracle can still find a few to help support Zach Ward for his next start.

I understand Missy hurt her back again on the berm. She may not be around for her Missy Bank Give-Away Saturday night.

I believe lefty Glen Perkins will be starting for the Miracle tomorrow, and I'm sure the Hammerheads have yet another first rounder for us to watch.

Note: There is no GCL game tomorrow. That means, with the exception of the feline alarm clock, I have no reason to get up early. So if the scoreboard is not up in a timely fashion, you'll know the cat has been "plaquated" and that I'm still slug-a-bed.

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Beloit 5 at West Michigan 3 (12 innings)

Record 11-9

W: A. Craig (2-1, 3.45); L: P. Napolitan (0-2, 5.58)
HR: None.

E: Ortiz (19, fielding).

From oursportscentral.com: Despite a three-run rally in the ninth inning to force extra innings, the Whitecaps fell to Beloit in 12 innings 5-3 in front of a crowd of 6,392 at Fifth Third Ballpark.

Beloit SS Yancarlos Ortiz's two-RBI single broke a 3-3 tie in the top of the 12th inning to give the Snappers a two-run advantage. Brennan Boesch singled in the bottom of the 12th and two outs later went to third on Michael Bertram's infield single, but Boesch took a wide turn around third base and was tagged out by Beloit 3B Chris Cates. It was the second straight 12-inning game between the two teams this series.

Beloit scored three runs off of ‘Caps starter Duane Below as he went 6.0 innings, three runs allowed and seven strikeouts for the no-decision.

Beloit led 3-0 until the bottom of ninth when Gorkys Hernandez led off with a triple to right field. He scored on the next at-bat on Bertram's groundout. Jeramy Laster then singled and Deik Scram walked to put two on with two outs. Scott Sizemore then ripped a line drive to right field that bounced in for a hit. The ball took a strange bounce and skidded away from Beloit right fielder Eli Tintor as both runners scored to tie the game.

The ‘Caps had runners in scoring position in each of the extra frames, but could not drive in the go-ahead run.

Beloit starter Cole Devries stifled the ‘Caps bats for eight innings of shutout ball and started the ninth inning, but was chased from the game after Hernandez's leadoff triple. He finished with 8.0 innings, one run allowed for the no-decision.

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BDN*
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* Article published Friday, July 13

Elizabethton 6 at Burlington 13

Record 19 - 3

W: D. Bernat (3-0, 2.57); L: S. Hirschfeld (1-2, 5.19)
HR: ELI: R. Leveret (5).

From MiLB.com: Wilson Tucker drove in four runs and scored three times to lift Burlington past Elizabethton, 13-6, on Friday.

Tucker ripped three hits, including two doubles, for the Royals (15-8), who totaled a season-high 19 hits. Jake Lane and Brett Amyx each drove in two runs, while Patrick Norris scored three times.

Burlington reliever David Bernat (3-0) allowed three runs -- two earned -- on three hits in four innings while striking out nine and walking one. Starter Bryan Paukovits gave up three runs on six hits and struck out two without a walk in four frames.

Rene Leveret hit a two-run homer, his fifth, and drove in three runs for the Twins (19-4).

Elizabethton starter Steven Hirschfeld (1-2) gave up six runs on nine hits and a walk with four strikeouts in 4 1/3 innings.

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* Article published Friday, July 13

GCL Orioles 3 at GCL Twins 0

Current Record: 14 - 6

W: A. Conklin (1-0, 3.00); L: W. Marquez (1-1, 2.29); SV: L. Huches (4)
HR: None.

The hits were the same, but the results were different at the GCL Orioles blanked the GCL Twins, 3-0 Friday afternoon at the Lee County Sportsplex. Each team had 6 hits in the contest.

The GCL Twins had been blanked only one other time this season, and that was by the Orioles as well.

Errol Simonitsch took a rehab start for the Twins. The lefty allowed only 1 hit and struck out 2 in 2 innings worth of work. He was followed by another rehab, Sean Land, who pitched for no hits and no walks while striking out 1 in 1 inning worth of work.

Winston Marquez got on the mound in the 4th inning and allowed a double to Rodolfo Cardonia. But he got Elvin Polanco out on strikes, Lee Ellis to ground out and Tyler Kolodny to pop out to end the inning.

He walked Robert Vasquez to start the 5th, then hit Luis Bernardo with a pitch. Levi Carolus moved the two around with a sac bunt. Calvin Lester singled out to center, which bround in Vasquez. Marquez was getting dangerous though, as he then plunked Nicholas Ray. A Cardona sac fly brought Bernardo home, but with the bases load, Polanco ground out to end the inning.

Ray singled in the 8th, and moved to 3rd on a failed pick off attempt. Joe DiGeronimo plated him for the Orioles 3rd run.

Marquez would be charged with 2 earned runs on 4 hits and 2 walk while striking out 3 in five innings. Rodney Gessmann closed out the game, allowing 1 hit and striking out 1.

Juan Richardson was 2-for-4 for the Twins and Jeanfred Brito, Andrew Schmiesing, Jon Waltenbury, and David Hernandez each a hit in the contest.

Aaron Odom, Andrew Conklin and Leonardo Huches combined to keep the Twins off the scoreboard.

The Fort Myers team takes the day off Saturday and travels to Bradenton on Sunday to face the Pirates.

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DSL Reds 3 at DSL TWins 4

Current Record: 15 - 19

W: E. Santana (2-0, 2.20); L: J. Ruiz (0-1, 10.29); SV: R. De La Rosa (7)
HR: None.

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VSL Cubs/Twins 3 at VSL Devil Rays/Reds 6

Current Record 25 - 24

W: O. Bencomo (2-2, 2.37); L: P. Guerra (6-3, 3.53); SV: L. Yendis (1)
HR: VSL CHC/MN: A. Martin (1). VSL TB/CIN: J. Cedeno (5).

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Scoreboard for July 12, 2007

JAY CAPERS RDC staff photographer
Kevin Slowey worked six solid innings for the Red Wings and got plenty of support with 21 hits and 11 runs from his offense in Thursday night's victory.

Indianapolis 3 at Rochester 11

Record 48 - 42

W: K. Slowey (7-2, 1.79); L: R. Rodriguez (0-2, 11.12)
HR: ROC: B. Buscher 2 (5).

From redwingsbaseball.com: The Red Wings defeated the Indianapolis Indians 11-3 Thursday night at Frontier Field. The Wings offense dominated during the game with at least one hit in every inning. Brian Buscher led the offensive power play with two home runs, helping the Wings to 21 hits, the highest for the season.

Indianapolis took an early lead in the first inning. Lead off batter Don Kelly started the inning with a base hit to right field, then stole second. Kelly was brought home on an RBI single by Jose Hernandez to give the Indians the lead, 1-0.

The Red Wings tried to get on the scoreboard in the bottom of the first. Alexi Casilla started with a base hit, followed by two more hits from Matt Tolbert and Darnell McDonald. Casilla tried to make it to third off Tolbert's hit, but wasn't quick enough to beat a perfect throw from right fielder Yurendell de Caster and was tagged out. Tolbert then moved into scoring position off McDonald's hit, but was stranded there as Indianapolis was able to get the next two outs.

Buscher tied the score for the Wings in the second inning with a solo home run down the first base line, his fourth as a Red Wing. The Wings were unable to take the lead as Indianapolis starter Ricardo Rodriguez easily retired the next three batters.

After two hits and a run in the first inning, Rochester starter Kevin Slowey retired the next 10 batters he faced, with the help of diving defensive plays by Denard Span and McDonald.

Buscher did it again the next time he was up to bat, starting the fourth inning by smashing a home run off the top of the right field scoreboard, a 440-foot blast increasing the Wings lead. The Wings offense followed Buscher and ran with the lead in the rest of the fourth. Jose Morales hit a base hit after the home run and then advanced to second off a single by Span. Morales moved to third and Span was tagged out at second on a fielder's choice from Casilla. Tolbert plated Morales off a line drive, just past the glove of first baseman Brad Eldred. McDonald then slammed a ball to the wall for a two-run RBI double, bringing home Casilla and Tolbert, to increase the Wings lead to 5-1.

The Indians picked up a run off Slowey in the fifth, after Luis Ordaz knocked in de Caster with an RBI single. The Wings were able to keep the Indians from scoring another run by stopping Ordaz from reaching scoring position by great defensive plays by leftfielder Tommy Watkins and second baseman Tolbert to end the inning with a score of 5-2.

The Indians closed in on the Wings lead even further in the sixth. Michael Ryan got a base hit and moved to third off a line drive to center field by Hernandez. de Caster then hit a line drive to left field plating Ryan and placing him and Hernandez in scoring position bringing the score to 5-3. The Indians were left on base as Luis Matos grounded out to end the inning.

Gil Velazquez entered the game playing shortstop while Casilla moved to second base to start the seventh. Carmen Cali, who was recently optioned back to Rochester, entered the game relieving Slowey after Slowey allowed eight hits, six in his last two innings. Cali started the inning by allowing a double from Ordaz and walking Kelly to place the tying run on base. He got out of the inning with no runs by striking out the final two batters.

With a new Indianapolis pitcher, Brian Rogers, the Wings more than doubled their lead in the seventh. Matthew LeCroy started the inning with a base hit and was then replaced by pinch runner Trent Oeljten. Oeljten advanced to second on a base hit by Williams and both moved into scoring position off a wild pitch. Rogers then walked Buscher to load the bases. Morales came up to bat and grounded the ball to force out Oeljten at home plate. With the bases still loaded, Watkins hit a line drive to left field for an RBI single, plating Williams. Span then grounded into a force out bringing home Buscher. With three hits already, Casilla singled on a ground ball scoring Morales. After Rochester's third run of the inning, Indianapolis brought in Mark Corey to relieve Rogers and face Velazquez, who slammed a 2-run RBI double to centerfield to plate Span and Casilla doubling the Wings lead to 10-3. Velazquez was stranded on second as McDonald struck out to end the inning.

Julio DePaula relieved Cali in the eighth and started the inning by striking out the first batter. DePaula then retired the next two batters quickly ending the inning.

The Wings took their lead even further in the eighth. Corey started the inning by walking Oeljten and allowing a single by Williams. Oeljten advanced to third off a fielder's choice from Buscher, which got Williams out at second. Watkins then drove a ball down the third base line for a single RBI bringing home Oeljten to give the Wings the 11-3 lead.

Brain Bass came in to pitch for DePaula in the ninth and struck out the first two batters. The game ended with a strong defensive play by Velazquez who dropped a ground ball but was able to recover quickly to get the final out at first and secure the Wings win.

Slowey took the win for the Wings improving his record to 7-2. Rodriguez took the loss bringing his record to 0-2.

NOTES: The Wings had 21 hits in Thursday night's game, the most hits since the Wings hosted Pawtucket on August 30, 2004 where they had 25 hits ... Garrett Jones was promoted to the Minnesota Twins Thursday. Jones was batting .295 with 11 home runs and 58 RBI in 83 games for the Wings. Jones takes the roster spot of Cali who was optioned to Rochester. Cali is 3-0 with one save and a 2.93 ERA in 20 games for Rochester...Tommy Watkins and Denard Span will be guest DJ's on the Slow Flow Show Friday morning at 10 am, on 89.7 FM WITR and WITR.RIT.edu. Tommy and Denard will be dropping R&B and hip-hop with host jaythreeoh so check it.....RHP Nick Blackburn will be honored Friday at the Morgan Stanley Red Wings Player of the Month lunch... RHP Angel Garcia was promoted from Class A Ft. Myers to Double-A New Britain. Garcia was 0-2 with a 3.38 ERA and four saves at Ft. Myers before his promotion.... LHP Glen Perkins (DL, shoulder strain) tossed two innings Wednesday for the Twins' Rookie level Gulf Coast League club, allowing a hit and a walk while striking out two. Perkins will continue his rehab assignment when he starts for Class A Fort Myers Saturday, and will make at least one start for the Wings based on his current rehab schedule...LHP Alexander Smit was claimed off the Twins' 40-man roster by Cincinnati Thursday. Smit was 1-4 with a 5.86 ERA in 18 games (eight starts) at Class A Ft. Myers.

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New Britain 3 at Portland 4

Record: 42 - 45

W: H. Jones (1-0, 3.48); L: J. Martinez (2-5, 3.27); SV: M. James (15)
HR: POR: J. Natale (3).

From portlandseadogs.com: Portland rallied back from a 3-0 deficit, scoring two runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to take the series opener from the New Britain Rock Cats, 4-3 on Thursday night in front of a sellout crowd of 7,368 at Hadlock Field. With the win and a New Hampshire loss, the Sea Dogs moved two games behind the Fisher Cats for the second playoff spot in the Northern Division.

Hunter Jones earned his first Double-A win with a scoreless eighth and Mike Jones converted his 15th save (nine straight) with a perfect ninth to seal Portland’s 44th win of the season.

J.P. Martinez (2-5) walked three in the eighth inning and allowed two runs to take the loss for New Britain.

Trailing 3-2 entering the bottom of the eighth inning, Martinez walked Bryan Pritz and Jed Lowrie to start the frame. Jay Johnson reached on a sacrifice-bunt fielder’s choice to load the bases. Chad Spann, who was assigned to Portland earlier in the day, tied the game with a sacrifice fly. Tim Lahey entered the game after Jeff Natale was intentionally waked and surrendered a sacrifice fly to Andrew Pinckney for the game-winner.

New Britain knocked Portland starter Chris Smith out of the game in the fourth inning after Brandon Roberts produced a run-scoring double with two outs, giving the Rock Cats a 3-0 lead. Earlier in the inning, Matt Allegra nailed a 0-2 pitch for a two-run double, scoring Brock Peterson and David Winfree. Smith lasted three and 2/3 innings, yielding three runs, four hits, five walks and six strikeouts.

Ryan Mullins took a no-decision for New Britain in his eighth start of the season. The lefty allowed one run when Iggy Suarez lined a two-out RBI single in the fifth inning. Mullins retired 13 straight at one point, allowing only four hits, one run and five strikeouts over six innings.

Jeff Natale blasted a lead-off homer in the seventh inning off Jay Sawatski to cut the New Britain lead to 3-2. The home run for Natale was his third of the season and the first at Hadlock Field.

The Sea Dogs have won three of four and host the Rock Cats on Friday night at Hadlock Field – Game time is 7:00 PM. Knuckleballer Charlie Zink (8-3, 2.77) makes his 14th start of the season for Portland. Righty Kyle Waldrop (3-5, 5.11) gets the start for New Britain.

Allied Home Mortgage Big Dog of the Game – Mike James & Hunter Jones

Notes...Chris Smith walked five batters for only the second time of his career (last time: July 20, 2006)…Portland’s bullpen worked five and 1/3 scoreless innings on just two hits – both allowed by Jose Vaquedano...Chad Spann went 0-for-3, RBI in his return to Portland from Triple-A Pawtucket.

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Jay "Copycat" Rainville

Jupiter 1 at Fort Myers 4

Record 8 - 13

W: O. Sosa (4-5, 2.20); L: C. Volstad (7-8, 4.11); SV: E. Morlan (11)
HR: FTM: J. Portes (7).

The big news, upon entering the Stadium, was that Alexander Smit had been taken off the 40-man roster by the Twins, and promptly snapped up by the Cincinnati Reds. He was reassigned by the Reds to Dayton of the Midwest League.

The next big thing was mustache mania - Jay Rainville is growing one, so is David Shinskie - and also that Jay was in the stands, not pitching.

"My shoulders a little sore, so they're pushing me back a couple of days," he says. So he's a double copycat - once for the 'stache and once for copying Pino's sore shoulder. Not to mention being a Red Sox fan and thinking he's Curt Schilling.

Oswaldo Sosa is also a copycat - the was trying to duplicate Brett Sinkbeil's start from Wednesday night. It didn't quite work, but the Miracle did score some runs in support of Sosa and did pick up a 4-1 win Thursday night over the visiting Jupiter Hammerheads.

Fort Myers got on the board early when Brian Dinkleman singled out to center and then moved to 3rd on a Steve Tolleson ground ball. Tolley stole second base (and actually made it this time) and Dinkelman came home on a throwing error by Jupiter catcher John Purdomill, who Brian refers to as "the man with the rifle".

Tolley singled in the 3rd as well, but had no time to worry about stealing again, as Juan Portes kept his hit streak alive by putting a ball over the left field fence to make it 3-0 Miracle.

Dinkelman made it 4-0 in the fourth by walking, then stealing second and coming home on a Tolleson single.

Sosa pitched well through 7 innings, allowing only 3 hits and 1 walk and striking out 5. He really did not get himself into trouble in the eighth either. A fielding error by Toby Gardenhire allowed Kevin Randel on base. Sosa gave up a double to Purdomill, and Kevin Boles decided to take him off the mound. Sosa was NOT happy about it, and probably could have gone the distance.

Eduardo Morlan took over and allowed a single to Lorenzo Scott Jr., which brought Randel home. Morlan got the next two batters out on strikes and got J.T. Restko to pop up to end the inning.

Morlan finished up with 5 strike outs over 2 innings, 2 hits and 1 walk. Tolleson was 4-for-4 at the plate with 1 run and 1 RBI. Danny Valencia was only 1-for-4 and struck out twice.

Chris Volstad when the full 9 innings for the Hammerheads, allowing only 3 earned runs, 9 hits, 2 walks and striking out 5. Volstad, who turns 21 this fall - he's not even old enough to enjoy beer night yet - was ranked by Baseball America as the Marlins #1 prospect coming into the 2007 season.

I'm not sure who writes the Miracle recaps, I assume it's Sean Fox, but it was NOT Rob Delaney on the mound for the ninth. I think all the facial hair has him confused. (Delaney expected to pitch, but did not.)

Game 3 of the series is tomorrow night with the Zooperstars in town. We're not really sure who's pitching at this point but the top two guesses are Jeff Manship or Yohan Pino.

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Beloit 4 at West Michigan 5 (12 innings)

Record 10-9

W: C. Fien (3-0, 4.05); L: J. Lugo (2-5, 5.14)
HR: WMI: B. Boesch (6), D. Scram (2).

E: Kirwan (1, pickoff), de San Miguel (3, throw).

From oursportscentral.com: Whitecaps catcher James Skelton drilled a two-out pitch into the right field gap for a game-winning double as Scott Sizemore beat the throw from right field to give the ‘Caps a 5-4 victory in 12 innings.

With two outs and nobody on base in the bottom of the 12th, Scott Sizemore singled on a line drive to center to set up Skelton's double and the first run of the game since the bottom of the seventh inning.

Casey Fien (3-0) received the win after pitching 2.0 scoreless innings as the ‘Caps fourth pitcher of the evening. Jonah Nickerson started for West Michigan and went 5.0 solid innings, allowing one unearned run while striking out five batters for the no-decision.

The Whitecaps started the game with two runs in the bottom of the first as DH Deik Scram led off with a solo home run to center field. Two batters later, RF Brennan Boesch blasted Brian Kirwan's offering for a solo home run to right-center field to give the ‘Caps a 2-0 lead.

Beloit cut the lead to one run in the second inning, but the game remained 2-1 until the seventh inning when the Snappers struck with two outs off Whitecaps reliever Kelvin Cedano. Beloit 2B Steven Singleton hit a bloop shot in a driving rain to left field that dropped into left field and got away from Jeramy Laster and scored two runs to give Beloit the 3-2 lead. Wilson Ramos followed it up with an RBI double to make it 4-2. Despite the brief rain showers, the game was never stopped due to weather.

The Whitecaps came right back into the bottom of the seventh on Laster's two-RBI single to knot the score at 4-4 and remained that way until the dramatic 12th inning.

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Whitecaps
BDN*

* Article published Thursday, July 12

Princeton 4 at Elizabethton 5

Record 19 - 2

W: D. Bromberg (4-0, 2.08); L: J. Hall (3-1, 2.05); SV: B. Erickson (1)
HR: PRI: K. Kang (1).

From MiLB.com: David Bromberg tossed five solid innings as Elizabethton topped visiting Princeton, 5-4, on Thursday.

Bromberg (4-0) won his fourth straight start after giving up a run on three hits and two walks with seven strikeouts. The 19-year-old right-hander leads the Appalachian League with 32 strikeouts.

Twins reliever Blair Erickson yielded an unearned run on two hits while fanning one in the ninth inning for his first save.

Rene Tosoni hit an RBI single and Rene Leveret, who tops the league with 29 RBIs, delivered a run-scoring groundout in the third for Elizabethton (19-2), which won its fourth straight. Matthew Lawman and Gregory Yersich stroked RBI base hits in the fourth and seventh respectively.

Devil Rays starter Jeremy Hall (3-1) allowed three runs on six hits with two strikeouts over five frames.

Kyeong Kang led off the fifth with his first homer, and Jeff Carroll and Mayobanex Acosta added RBI groundouts in the seventh for Princeton (11-11), which is on a five-game skid.

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E-star*

* Article published Thursday, July 12


Mark Hamburger & Danny Berlind

GCL Twins 7 at GCL Red Sox 1

Current Record: 14 - 5

W: D. Berlind (3-0, 0.00); L: P. Perez (0-3, 4.03)
HR: None.

It used to be the Berlind and McCardell show, now it's Brelind & Hamburger.com, but the results are still the same - excellence.

Daniel Berlind went 5 innings Thursday at the City of Palms Complex, allowing only 2 hits, walking a pair and striking out 6 to lead the GCL Twins to a 7-1 victory over the Boston Red Sox.

Ben Revere singled and stole 2nd to get the offense rolling in the 4th inning. A throwing error by Red Sox second baseman Kenneth Roque put Andrew Schmiesing on base. Juan Richardson's ground out brought Revere across the plate. Angel Morales was plunked by a pitch. The pair then orchestrated a double steal. Nick Biagini doubled to plate the pair and give the Twins a 3-0 lead.

The Twins added 2 more runs in the sixth when Alexander Soto's force out brought in Schmiesing and Juan Richardson. A Revere triple in the seventh and a sac-fly by Schmiesing finished off the Twins scoring efforts.

Mark Hamburger gave up the lone Red Sox run in the bottom of the seven when Engel Beltre singled and stole second, then came home when Victor Serrano ground into a double play.

Charles Nolte mopped up in the last two innings using six ground outs to finish up the game.

Revere finished off the game 2-for-5 with 2 runs and 1 RBI. Jeanfred Brito and Yangervis Solarte both had singles for the Twins, with Brito also having a run in the seventh.

The Twins return home to the Lee County Sportsplex to face the Orioles, who trail the first placed Twins by 2 games in the South Division standings.

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Herald Tribune

DSL Diamondbacks 2 at DSL TWins 1

Current Record: 14 - 19

W: B. Rojas (1-1, 5.95); L: F. Paulino (0-1, 3.21); SV: J. Marte (11)
HR: None.

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VSL Mariners 9 at Cubs/Twins 5

Current Record 25 - 23

W: M. Campos (1-0, 6.00); L: A. Sanchez (1-1, 2.42)
HR: VSL SEA: J. Rivero (5).

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Scoreboard for July 11, 2007

IL 7 at PCL 5 All-star Game

W: B. Bullington; L: J. Lehr; SV: C. Doyne
HR: INTA: M. Hessman, B. Moss. PCLA: C. Brazell, V. Pascucci.

IL tops PCL

The International League defeated the Pacific Coast League 7-5 in the Triple-A All-Star Game at Isotopes Park in Albuquerque, N.M.

Rochester Red Wings second baseman Matt Tolbert was hit by a pitch in the first inning and scored the game’s first run on a double by MVP Timo Perez.

Tolbert finished 1-for-2 with an RBI and scored two runs.

Rochester closer Bobby Korecky pitched a scoreless eighth inning for the IL, despite giving up two hits and a walk.

Wings catcher Jose Morales went 0-for-1 and Rochester manager Stan Cliburn coached third base for the IL.

Red Wings Game night

Matchup: Indianapolis Indians (Triple-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates) vs. Rochester Red Wings.

When/where: 7:05 p.m./Frontier Field.
Radio: WHTK-AM (1280).
Television: Time Warner 26.
Tickets: $10, $8.50, $6.
Starting pitchers: TBA.

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Eastern League All-star Game - Cancelled: Fog

From MiLB.com: While fog and fire alarms could not stop the Home Run Derby, the 2007 Eastern League All-Star Game wasn't as fortunate.

In a game that's supposed to be fun for players and fans, this year's Midsummer Classic at Dodd Stadium was all about the weather.

After two-plus innings during which outfielders were obscured by fog and routine fly balls dropped in for hits because players couldn't see them, managers Dave Machemer and Tim Bogar -- along with the umpiring crew and Eastern League president Joe McEacharn -- decided to call the game.

The score was tied, 2-2, when play was halted.

"The game was fine," said Bogar, who managed the South Division. "Problem is, when the ball was hit, if it was hit in the outfield at all, the players had no chance. To me, it was kind of embarrassing to the outfielders. I don't think it can be enjoyable to watch that type of game."

"I was just trying to have a little fun out there," added South Division right fielder Brian Barton of the Akron Aeros, who got a late break on a line drive that turned into a triple. "I actually had to look at the infielders to see exactly where the ball was, and I still had no clue."

In the top of the first, Trenton Thunder right-hander Jeff Marquez took the hill for the North and pitched a solid inning. He allowed just one hit and threw 22 pitches while getting over the butterflies in his first All-Star appearance.

"You kind of want to go out there and throw as hard as you can, but you can't," said Marquez. "I just went out there and had a good time."

The North got off to quick start in the bottom half against South starter Dallas Trahern. Eugenio Velez of the host Connecticut Defenders hit the ball back to the mound, where Trahern made an athletic play to knock it down but rushed his throw as Velez raced all the way to third. Mark Kiger of the Binghamton Mets plated Velez with a groundout to put the North in front.

The North continued to apply the pressure in the second against Radhames Liz of the Bowie Baysox. Rob Cosby of the New Hampshire Fisher Cats laced the ball down the right-field line for a triple that Barton had trouble finding in the fog. After Portland's Jeff Corsaletti struck out, Robinzon Diaz grounded out to second to score his Fisher Cats teammate and put the North up 2-0.

Players, however, were really starting to struggle with the thick fog and adjusting their strategies. Hitters tried to put the ball in the air, while pitchers were desperately trying to keep it on the ground.

"It was pretty much try to hit a pop fly and hope it falls somewhere," Barton said.

"[I wanted] to keep the ball on the ground," said North pitcher Alan Horne of the Thunder, who struck out two in a scoreless second. "Anything that was in the air was extra bases."

Players literally could not see. From the press box, signs on the outfield fence could not be read and players often disappeared into the murky abyss.

"I think Joe [McEacharn] made a good decision [to cancel the game]," Bogar said. "The umpires did a good job of trying to do it, trying to play."

"You're just asking for somebody to get hurt out there is what it was tonight," Horne added.

In the top of the third, Binghamton's Kevin Mulvey gave up a double to Val Majewski, then issued one-out walks to Jesus Merchan of the Reading Phillies and Asdrubal Cabrera of the Aeros to load the bases. Neil Walker of the Altoona Curve struck out, but Jackson Melian of the Erie SeaWolves hit a routine fly ball to right fielder John Bowker of the Defendeers, who lost it in the fog.

It was at that point the managers, umpires and McEacharn huddled to discuss suspending the game.

"It's one of those things you can't control," Barton said with a smile. "Hopefully, most of these guys will have the opportunity next year, including myself."

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Bulletin


Captain gets ready to put one over the wall!

Jupiter 3 at Fort Myers (of course) 0

Record 7 - 13

W: B. Sinkbeil (4-4, 3.55); L: Z. Ward (2-12, 3.14)
HR: None.

The Jupiter Hammerheads have some interesting fielding techniques, which seemed to start when Brent Sinkbeil kicked a Steve Tolleson bunt over the foul line. They were making mistakes. Perhaps, as the Miracle were hosting baseball camp again today, the Fort Myers team was just too tired to take advantage of them.

In any case Sinkbeil allowed 7 hits and 1 walk and struck out 4 in nine innings worth of work to hand the Miracle their 17th shutout of the season.

Juan Portes singled in the 9th inning to keep his hitting streak alive. Steve Tolleson had the only multi-hit outing, going 2-for-3 and drawing the lone walk. Beyond that, the Miracle never seriously threatened the Fish farm team.

Zack Ward issued a walk to Chris Coghlan in 4th inning. Cody Ross moved him to 3rd with line drive out to Brian Dinkelman, who was playing in left field tonight. Aaron Boone, on a rehab assignment, ground into a force out that scored Coghlan. An Andrew Jenkins single and a Gaby Sanchez walk moved Boone to 3rd. He came home on a John Purdomill single. Jenkins tried to come in as well, but Jeff Christy made the play at the plate. This is one of the things I like about Christy. (They tried this at GCL Saturday and I had to hide my eyes because I KNEW Soto wasn't going to make that play at the plate. Alex is a dear, but he needs a LOT of work. ::sigh:: )

Sanchez singled in the 7th and moved to 3rd on Kevin Randel's ground-rule double. Purdomill ground out, but Sanchez came home on the play, giving the Hammerheads their 3-0 lead.

Zach Ward put in a quality start allowing 3 runs on 8 hits and 2 walks while striking out 5 in 7 innings, but still took the loss to drop his record to a staggering 2-12, which is simply unbelievable for a pitcher with his ERA.

Kyle Asleton finished up the game on the mound, striking out 4 in 2 innings.

Jay Rainville (4-9, 3.80) will go to the mound against Chris Volstad (7-7, 4.16), who spent a good deal of time signing autographs, for a Thirsty Thursday game.

Glen Perkins, who pitched in 2 innings in the Gulf Coast League today is expected to join the Miracle for Saturday night's game.

I have one pet peeve...if you're going to sing the National Anthem, at least get the words right. It's "O'er the ramparts we watched..." and "O'er the land of the Free..." not "For the ramparts we watched". Ramparts do not gallantly stream.

And yes, I was wearing a Florida Marlins jersey tonight. And I'm going to wear a fish T-Shirt tomorrow night and another Marlins jersey on Friday. Any questions?

Judging from the comments in the stands tonight, if Kevin Boles returns for the 2008 season, there's going to be a riot. Dan the Beer Man was voted in as the people's choice as a replacement field manager for the rest of the season with Jeff, the bat boy, as batting coach.

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PB Post

Beloit Snappers

Record 10-8

No Turtle Soup today! The Snappers travel to Western Michigan for four on the road on Thursday!

Princeton 1 at Elizabethton 15

Record 18 - 2

W: H. Reyes (2-1, 4.76); L: T. Hayes (1-2, 6.29)
HR: ELI: R. Leveret (4), D. Romero (4).

From MiLB.com: Deibinson Romero drove in five runs and Henry Reyes tossed six strong innings as Elizabethton routed visiting Princeton, 15-1, on Wednesday.

After hitting an RBI groundout in the first, Romero blasted a three-run homer, his fourth, in the fifth and lifted a sacrifice fly during a four-run sixth for the Twins (18-2). The 20-year-old third baseman had three homers and 10 RBIs in Monday's 18-0 romp over Greeneville.

Reyes (2-1) gave up one run on three hits and two walks while striking out a season-high nine over six innings. Bradley Tippett fanned five over two scoreless frames and Michael Rogers struck out two in the ninth as the Twins recorded a season-high 16 strikeouts.

Rene Leveret went 4-for-5 with a homer and three RBIs for Elizabethton. The 21-year-old first baseman leads the Appalachian League with 28 RBIs. Rene Tosoni had four hits, including a triple, three runs scored and two RBIs. Estarlin De Los Santos also drove in two runs, while Rodolfo Palacios and Eric Santiago each had an RBI.

Devil Rays starter Tyree Hayes (1-2) surrendered seven runs -- four earned -- on seven hits and a walk with two strikeouts over 4 1/3 innings.

Dustin Biell lined a run-scoring single in the sixth for Princeton (11-10).

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E-star*

* Article published Wednesday, July 11

GCL Twins 3 at GCL Reds 1

Current Record: 13 - 5

W: M. McCardell (2-0, 2.50); L: J. Arneson (2-3, 4.29); SV: D. Rondon (5)
HR: RDS: J. Bastardo (1).

Minnesota Twins lefty Glen Perkins pitched 2 innings of 1 hit-1 walk baseball Wednesday on a rehab assignment and the GCL Twins bats pounded out 8 hits in route a 3-1 win over the GCL Reds at the City of Sarasota Complex.

The Twins took an early lead in the fourth when David Hernandez doubled a fly ball out to center field with 2 outs. Andrew Schmiesing singled him in after Danny Rohlfing took a walk. But James Beresford flew out to end the inning leaving the Twins with only 1 run for their efforts.

The Twins have liked Charles Snowden in the past, and Thursday was no different. Jon Waltenbury doubled in the sixth off the young Reds' pitcher, and came home on a Rohlfing sac-fly. In the seventh, Snowden gave Jeanfred Brito a free pass to first base. Ben Revere singled out to center and a sac-fly by Yandervis Solarte scored the speedy Brito, making it 3-0 Twins.

The Reds only run came when Jose Bastardo went yard off Lee Martin.

Hernandez, who was picked up as a free agent by the Twins, was 3-for-4 at the plate with 3 doubles and 1 run.

Michael McCardell allowed only 4 hits in 5 innings while striking out 9. Danny Rondon closed out the game, picking up his 5th save of the season.

The Twins stay on the road, taking on the Red Sox Thursday at the City of Palms Complex, before returning home on Friday to face the Orioles.

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DSL Twins at DSL Blue Jays

Current Record: 14 - 18

Postponed - Rain

VSL Cubs/Twins 0 at VSL Phillies 1 (7 innings)

Current Record 25 - 22

W: F. Ballestas (7-2, 0.85); L: B. Sanchez (4-3, 3.11)
HR: None.

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VSL Phillies 6 at VSL Cubs/Twins 6 (7 innings -Tied)

Current Record 25-22

HR: None.

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Scoreboard for July 9, 2007

Rochester Red Wings

Record 47 - 42

Off - All Star break

IF YOU GO

What: PNM Power Derby
When: 7 tonight
Where: Isotopes Park
How much? $10-$20
Hitters: Triple-A All-Stars Valentino Pascucci, Scott Seabol, Craig Brazell, Shelley Duncan, John-Ford Griffin; recent high school graduates Joey Garcia (Rio Rancho) and Garrett Poe (Silver); former major leaguers Mike Marshall and Robert Stratton.

PCL VS IL

What: Triple-A All-Star Game
When: 5:35 p.m. Wednesday
Where: Isotopes Park
How much: $10-$45

On the air: ESPN2, KNML-AM (610)

Notable: Albuquerque will be the first city to host the event twice. In 1993, the NL affiliates knocked off the AL affiliates, 14-3, at the Albuquerque Sports Stadium.

AQUTrib
AQUTrib 2

Reading 8 at New Britain 5

Record: 42 - 44

W: A. Davis (1-0, 4.76); L: J. Floyd (4-7, 4.67); SV: C. Key (9)
HR: REA: P. Ramos (6). NBR: M. Allegra 2 (12).

E: Roberts, B (4, fielding).

From readingphillies.com: The Reading Phillies headed into their two-day Eastern League all star break with an 8-5 win against the New Britain Rock Cats Monday afternoon at New Britain Stadium.

The Rock Cats (42-44) took a 1-0 lead in the third on an RBI double by Matt Moses.

The Phillies (45-45) came back with five runs in the fourth on just one hit. Jesse Floyd (4-7) walked the first three batters before Greg Jacobs and Juan Tejeda hit back-to-back sacrifice flies to put Reading in front. After another walk, Peeter Ramos slammed a three-run homer to left to make it 5-1.

Matt Allegra hit a solo homer in the bottom of the fourth to bring New Britain within three. Allegra also hit a solo blast in the eighth.

Reading answered with three more runs in the fifth. Two more walks started the rally. Jason Hill singled in a run and extended his hitting streak to 20 games. Greg Jacobs followed with a run-scoring single to push his hitting streak to 13 games. The third run scored on an error.

Allen Davis (1-0) threw two perfect innings for the win. Chris Key left the bases loaded in the ninth to get his ninth save.

Much as I am generally loath to suggest it, there are some teams that should let BAM do their websites. The Rock Cats are one of them. At least they would have coverage of their out of town and home games on their site.

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Eagle


Juan Portes extended his hitting streak to 12 games
Fort Myers 4 at Clearwater 8

Record 7 - 12

W: A. Concepcion (1-0, 4.76); L: D. Shinskie (4-3, 3.96)
HR: FTM: E. Ovalle (7), J. Woodard (2). CLE: S. Boyd (1).

The Threshers used a 4-run eighth inning feeding frenzy to pick up the win and the series Monday night at Bright House Networks Field.

With David Shinskie on the mound, Clay Herris doubled a fly ball out to Erik Lis in left field. He was plaed by Jason Donald with a line drive to center. Matt Thayer chased him in with another line drive out to center and the Miracle tried to stop the bleeding by bringing in Adam Hawes.

Hawes allowed two singles one to John Suomi and one to Brad Harman before he got P.J. Antoniato to ground into a force out. A wild pitch by Hawes allowed Suomi to score, but Hawes managed to get the final two outs - a grounder to Brian Burgamy and a strike out to Gregory Golson.

Shinskie pitched 3 innings, allowing 3 runs on four hits while striking out one. Hawes was tagged for 2 runs on 5 hits and 2 walks while striking out 1 in the last three innings.

Starter Alex Smit, which the Fort Myers News-Press reported as been added to the rotation to get him more innings, only made it through 2, allowing 3 runs on 5 hits and 1 walk while striking out 2.

The Miracle got on the board first, with Brian Dinkelman tripling out to right and then coming home on a Juan Portes ground out. But the Threshers answered back when Shaun Boyd went yard over the right field wall.

Edward Ovalle responded with his own homer in the second, again out to right where the winds were blowing.

But a Jason Donald double combined with 3 straight singles throught the middle of the order put Clearwater on top.

Fort Myers tied it up in the fifth when Johnny Woodard tested the winds out to right and was rewarded with a ball going over the wall.

Both teams would exchange late inning runs, with Woodard tripling in Ovalle in the 9th, but the game was well out of reach for the Miracle crew by that point.

The Florida State League take the night off in observance of the Major League All-star game. The Miracle return home Wednesday night against the Jupiter Hammerheads, the High A affiliate of the Florida Marlins. The hapless Zach Ward (2-11, 3.08) will seek some run support from his teammates who have managed 22 hits over the last 2 games.

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Beloit at Quad Cities - Postponed, Lightning

Record 10-8

From swingbaseball.com: Monday night's game between the Swing and the Beloit Snappers has been postponed due to severe weather in the area. The game will be made up as part of a doubleheader in Beloit on September 1-3.

Snappers
Swing
BDN*

* Article published Monday, July 9

Elizabethton 18 at Greeneville 0

Record 16 - 2

W: M. Tarsi (2-0, 0.69); L: A. Pinales (1-2, 10.95)
HR: ELI: D. Romero 3 (3).

From MiLB.com: Deibinson Romero couldn't watch the Major League Home Run Derby because he was too busy putting on a show of his own.

Romero belted three homers and drove in 10 runs as visiting Elizabethton pounded Greeneville, 18-0, on Monday.

Romero singled and scored in the first inning, crushed a grand slam in the second, and connected for three-run shots in the third and fifth before heading to the bench in the sixth.

"It felt very good to hit those home runs," said Romero through interpreter and first baseman Rene Leveret. "I was very relaxed at the plate today -- I was just looking for my pitch."

"The first homer, you just knew it was gone," said Leveret. "The second went half way up the light stand in left -- it was almost 500 feet. And the third, he kind of hit it with one hand."

Despite not having gone deep in his first 15 games, the 20-year-old third baseman has collected seven hits in his last two contests to raise his average to an even .300.

"I'm in a good groove right now," Romero admitted.

Leveret contributed two hits, three runs scored and an RBI for the Twins (16-2). Ozzie Lewis went 3-for-4 with three RBIs and Estarlin De Los Santos finished with three hits, five runs scored and an RBI.

Elizabethton starter Michael Tarsi (2-0) allowed four hits and a walk with seven strikeouts over five innings. Omar Alcala and Daniel Latham followed with two scoreless frames and Michael Rogers and Bradley Tippett each tossed a hitless inning to close it out.

Timothy Johnson, Ebert Rosario and Andrew Darnell each had two hits for the Astros (4-15).

Greeneville starter Agustin Pinales (1-2) surrendered seven runs -- five earned -- on seven hits and two walks with a pair of strikeouts over two-plus innings. Carlos Lazu was tagged for eight runs on five hits and a walk in 2 1/3 frames.

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Catching up with the E-Star:
Saturday
Sunday

GCL Twins

Current Record: 11 - 5

No Game Scheduled

Herald Tribune

DSL Cubs 5 at DSL Twins 2

Current Record: 13 - 18

W: J. Severino (3-2, 2.45); L: M. Munoz (2-2, 2.86)
HR: None.

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VSL Cubs/Twins

Current Record 24 - 21

No Game Scheduled

Recap for July 8, 2007

JAY CAPERS RDC staff photographer
Rochester's Denard Span beats the tag at first base in the seventh inning against Pawtucket on Sunday. After several more throws to first, he was caught trying to

Pawtucket 4 at Rochester 6

Record 47 - 42

W: J. DePaula (6-5, 3.47); L: B. Hertzler (0-1, 11.25); SV: B. Korecky (22)
HR: None.

E: Morales, J (2, throw).

From RedWingsBaseball.com: The Red Wings beat Pawtucket 6-4 Sunday afternoon at Frontier Field. Nick Blackburn helped the Red Wings sustain an early lead but Pawtucket rallied to tie the score in the seventh. Brian Buscher hit a two-run double in the eighth to give the Wings the win. The Wings resume play after the All-Star Break on Thursday night, with Indianapolis coming to town for a four-game set.

The Wings took an early lead in the first inning. With two outs, Darnell McDonald barely made it safely to first base off an error by Pawtucket. He then stole second, placing him in scoring position. Garrett Jones drove a single to center to bring home McDonald, giving the Wings a 1-0 lead. Jones was stranded at first as Pawtucket starter Devern Hansack struck out Glenn Williams.

Denard Span provided an exciting moment in the Rochester third, leading off with a triple to right-center. Hansack worked around trouble by retiring Alexi Casilla and Tommy Watkins, but Span scored when Hansack uncorked a wild pitch with McDonald at the plate. Span's run made it 2-0 Wings.

Red Wings starter Nick Blackburn has been dominant since joining the Red Wings on May 16. He went the entire month of June without allowing an earned run (five starts); when Buffalo scored a run off Blackburn Tuesday night, it broke a streak of 44 straight innings without allowing an earned run. On Sunday, he allowed baserunners in each of the first three innings before retiring the side in the fourth - in part due to a pair of outstanding fielding plays from second baseman Alexi Casilla.

Jose Morales drew a walk to open the Rochester half of the fifth, followed by a strange scene after Chris Heintz doubled down the third base line. Pawtucket third baseman Joe McEwing immediately argued the call by home plate umpire R.J. Thompson, joined quickly by manager Ron Johnson and other Paw Sox players. When the dust cleared, Hansack was ejected - prompting Edgar Martinez to come into the game replacing Hansack. Martinez got two quick outs, but Watkins drilled a clutch single to left to plate Heintz and make it 3-0 Rochester.

Pawtucket rallied back in the seventh to tie the game. Blackburn started by allowing a single from Michael Tucker followed by another single from Brandon Moss. Bobby Scales then drove an RBI double to right field plating Tucker and placing two runners in scoring position. Moss scored when George Kottaras grounded out and Scales was brought home of a fly ball from Chad Spann to take away the Rochester lead bringing the score to 3-3.

The Wings ran into trouble in the eighth. Julio DePaula relieved Blackburn and started the inning by giving away a single to Ed Rogers. Rogers moved to second off a sacrifice play from McEwing and then to third when David Murphy grounded out. With the lead run on third, DePaula struck out Tucker on a full count pitch to end the threat.

In the bottom of the eighth, the Wings took back the lead. Watkins started the inning by reaching first when he was hit by pitcher Barry Hertzler. Pawtucket pitcher Craig Breslow then came into the game to face McDonald. Breslow retired McDonald and Jones but Williams hit a single and placed Walkins in scoring position. Buscher then hit an RBI double plating Watkins and Williams giving the Wings the lead. Buscher then scored off an RBI single by Morales, bringing the score to 6-3.

Pawtucket tried to make a comeback in the ninth but was unable to succeed. Bobby Korecky came in to pitch, recording his 22nd save of the season. Korecky gave up a single to Moss, then got out the next two batters with a diving save by Span. Spann then brought in the final run for Pawtucket with a double. The Wings were able to hold off the next batter to end the game with the win.

NOTES: Wings infielder Matt Tolbert plays for the US Team in Sunday's Futures Game in San Francisco, starting at 4 pm EDT. You can see the game on ESPN2 and free on the Internet at BaseballChannel.TV.....Tolbert will join teammates Bobby Korecky and Jose Morales, and Wings Manager Stan Cliburn in Wednesday's Triple-A All-Star Game in Albuquerque; watch the Wings in the All-Star Game Wednesday at 7:30 pm EDT on ESPN2.

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R News

Reading 3 at New Britain 4

Record: 42 - 43

W: J. Sawatski (4-3, 4.41); L: J. De La Cruz (1-2, 3.23); SV: T. Lahey (6)
HR: None.

E: Peterson (6, fielding), Plouffe (20, fielding).

From rockcats.com: Felix Molina delivered an RBI triple in the bottom of the eighth inning to give the Rock Cats a 4-3 victory over Reading. The Rock Cats have won four in a row now.

In the eighth, Garrett Guzman led off the inning with a single, but was tagged out on an attempt to steal second base with one out. Brock Peterson drew a walk before Molina stepped to the plate and sent a triple to center field to score Peterson. Tim Lahey fired a scoreless ninth to pick up his sixth save and third in as many games.

The Rock Cats used a bit of small ball to gain a 1-0 lead in the first inning. Rashad Eldridge singled to shortstop Joey Hammond. The shortstop misfired to first to allow Eldridge to move to second base. Trevor Plouffe’s sac bunt advanced Eldridge to third and Guzman delivered a sac fly to right field to score Eldridge.

In the fourth, Matt Moses reached base on a single and Peterson’s triple to center field knocked in Moses for a 2-0 lead.

Reading struck back in the sixth inning. Joey Hammond led off the inning with a double and scored on a double by Jason Hill to cut the Rock Cats’ lead in half, 2-1. Jose Mijares came on in relief for Swarzak and allowed an RBI single to Greg Jacobs that tied the game. Juan Tejeda added an RBI double to put the Phillies ahead, 3-2. Hill extended his hitting streak to 19 games with his double.

The Rock Cats tied the game in the bottom of the seventh when David Winfree doubled and came around to score on Eldridge’s single to right field.

Swarzak limited the R-Phils to four hits and two runs through 5 1/3 innings. Danny Powers and Jay Sawatski added a shutout inning apiece in relief. Sawatski (4-3) picked up the win.

Reading starter Zack Segovia allowed eight hits and three runs (2 ER) in six innings. Julio De La Cruz (1-2) took the loss with one run on three hits in two innings.

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Jeff Manship, in the pose I call "Waiting Herron"

Fort Myers 9 at Clearwater 6

Record 7 - 11

W: J. Manship (2-1, 2.93); L: A. Carpenter (9-5, 3.80); SV: A. Gabino (2)
HR: FTM: D. White 2 (4). CLE: L. Marson (2).

E: Portes (13, fielding).

Saturday, Fort Myers couldn't buy a hit. Sunday the Miracle exploded for 15, breaking a five game losing streak and picking up a 9-6 win over Clearwater.

Edward Ovalle lead the offensive outpouring, hitting 3-for-4 with 1 run, 2 doubles, and 1 RBI. Dwayne White hit 2-for-5 with 2 runs including a pair of home runs and 3 RBI's.

White's solo home run came at the top of the 3rd inning and put the Miracle on the board. He was followed across the plate by Brian Dinkelman and Juan Portes; Dinkelman coming home on a Danny Valencia sac-fly and Ovalle doubling in Portes.

White went yard again in the 6th, bringing in Jeff Christy, who had walked to get on base.

The Threshers roughed up Jeff Manship in the bottom of the sixth. Brad Harman singled out to left field and then Brian Burgamy and Gregory Golson were both walked. A fielding error by Portes brough two of them across the plate. Manship was lifed in favor of Angel Garcia who promptly let the last inherited runner score.

Manship was charged with 4 runs, 2 earned, on 2 hits and 2 walks. He struck out 4 over 5.1 innings worth of work.

The Miracle tacked on 3 more runs in the 7th, with Ovalle coming home on a Johnny Woodard single. A wild pitch and a Dinkelman single brought Woodard home 2 outs later. Luis Ugueto came home on Nathon Johnson's wild pitch.

The Miracle finished off their scoring with Valencia coming home on another of Johnson's wild pitches.

But the Threshers got to Eddie Morlan in the bottom of the 8th, with Lou Marson homering in Clay Harris.

Dinkleman finished up 3-for-5 with 1 run, 1 walk, and 1 RBI, and Ugueto was 2-for-4 with 1 run and 1 walk.

The Twins will finish up the road trip tomorrow. Yohan Pino has a slightly sore shoulder and missed his last start. He will miss another, with Alexander Smit (1-4,5.55) scheduled to take the start. Pino has NOT been placed on the DL, he's just "resting" according to Mike Radcliff, the Twins Director of Scouting, who has been out scouting the Miracle.



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Beloit 4 at Quad Cities 9

Record 10-8

W: B. Dickson (8-4, 3.23); L: M. Fox (5-1, 3.19)
HR: QC: C. Grossman 2 (6), L. Gorsett (4).

E: Cates (3, fielding).

From swingbaseball.com: Chris Grossman homered twice and drove in five runs during a nine-run explosion in the second inning on Sunday afternoon, as the Swing of the Quad Cities cruised to a 9-4 win over the Beloit Snappers at John O'Donnell Stadium.

Quad Cities (9-8, 47-39) got all of their offense in the bottom of the second, highlighted by Grossman's monster performance that included a 4-for-4 day at the plate and two second-inning home runs. Beloit (10-8, 54-34) never recovered from the nine-run deficit, scoring three times in the third and once more in the fifth for the 9-4 final.

The game was scoreless until the bottom of the second, when the Swing sent 13 men to the plate and homered three times to seize a commanding 9-0 lead.

After Christian Reyes was hit by a pitch to open the frame, Grossman belted a two-run homer to left and Luke Gorsett made it back-to-back shots with a solo blast that landed on the left-field berm. That marked the second time this season the Swing had hit consecutive home runs, and the first time since Christian Lopez and Brandon Buckman accomplished the feat in Dayton on April 19.

The rally continued with two on and two out when Donovan Solano sliced a run-scoring single to right-center, and after Steven Hill drew a walk, Reyes drove home two more runs with a base hit up the middle. After starter Matthew Fox was removed from the ballgame Grossman launched his second moonshot of the inning, taking reliever Aaron Craig deep to left with a three-run shot to cap the nine-run rally.

That was plenty of run support for Brandon Dickson (8-4), who earned the win despite allowing four runs on eight hits over five innings of work.

The bullpen was strong once again, as Armando Carrasco, Marco Gonzalez, and Kenny Maiques tossed four scoreless frames to close out the ballgame. Over Quad Cities' last seven contests, the relief corps has gone 2-0 with two saves and a 0.83 ERA as a unit.

The loss went to Fox (5-1), who entered the contest 5-0 with a 0.92 ERA and just three earned runs allowed through 29.1 innings this season. But he lasted just 1.2 frames on Sunday, getting knocked around to the tune of eight runs on five hits.

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Elizabethton Twins

Record 15 - 2

No Game Scheduled

Next Game Monday, July 9, 2007: Elizabethon at Greeneville

GCL Twins 7 at GCL Orioles 9

Current Record: 11 - 5

W: C. Orman (3-0, 3.32); L: S. Arias (1-1, 3.94); SV: L. Huches (3)
HR: None.

E: Arias, S (3, pickoff).

Strong pitching has been the foundation of the Minnesota Twins system and it still remains so, but so far, in this new GCL season, we've seen several of the Twins young prospects struggling on the mound.

This was the case Sunday at Twin Lakes Park as Santos Arias gave up 5 runs on 9 hits and 1 walks, while striking out 4 over 4 innings worth of work.

Minnesota had taken an early lead in the first when Jeanfred Brito doubled and came home on a Rondell White ground out. White, who was finishing up his major league rehab assignment, served as designated hitter in the game and has been experiencing some soreness in his left leg.

But the Orioles took it back on pick off error by Arias and a Rodolfo Cardona sac-fly, then brutilized the Twins young Dominican in the second inning, picking up four straight singles, capitalizing on a wild pitch and allowing Tyler Kolodny to single a line drive through the gap and into center field.

The Twins got 3 back in the top of the fifth when Nick Biagini doubled, and Danny Rohlfing reached on a fielding error by Joe DiGeronimo. Andrew Schmiesing ground into a force out that took Rohlfing out at second, but then used his speed to steal 2nd base getting into scoring position. Jeanfred Brito in the lead off spot tripled a fly ball out to right and then came home on a Ben Revere sac fly.

But the Orioles came right back, using 4 hits and 1 walk to take 4 runs off newcomer Michael Mopas, a draft and follow from 2006 that recently joined the GCL team.

A Revere triple plated Brito in the seventh, while Revere came home on a Yangervis Solarte ground out to give the Twins 2 more. Lee Martin came into pitch two solid innings for the Twins, giving up only 2 hits, and striking out 1 during the outing.

He was followed by Nelvin Fuentes. Something in Fuentes delivery bothered the Orioles as they kept trying to convince the umpire to call a balk. Nick Mahrley would have none of it though and threatened an ejection should the Orioles' bench continue with their allegations.

Solarte singled in the ninth, and came home on a throwing error by Baltimore 3rd baseman Tyler Kolodny, which also allowed Rondell White to get to first base. white was replaced by pinch runner Alexander Soto, but the Twins could not capitalize as Leonardo Huches came in to quash the Twins late inning rally.

White and Brito were both 3-for-5, Brito with 3 runs and 2 RBIs, White with 1 RBI and a double in the sixth that the Twins could not capitalize on because field manager Nelson Prada was holding White at third base instead of allowing to try for home so that he would not reinjure himself. White is expected to be reassigned to the big league club following the All-star break.

The Twins have Monday off, then take on the Pirates Tuesday at 10 AM at the Lee County Sportsplex.

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DSL Twins

Current Record: 13 - 18

No Game Scheduled

VSL Cubs/Twins

Current Record 24 - 21

No Game Scheduled

Scoreboard for July 7, 2007

Pawtucket 4 at Rochester 5

Record 46-42

W: B. Duensing (5-2, 3.12); L: A. Alvarez (4-8, 5.02); SV: B. Korecky (21)
HR: ROC: D. McDonald (4).

From RedWingsBaseball.com: The Red Wings bounced back from getting swept on Friday's doubleheader to beat Pawtucket 5-4 Saturday night at Frontier Field. Garrett Jones had three hits and three RBI to help spark an offense that mustered 10 hits. Brian Duensing (5-2) got the win after pitching seven innings allowing three runs on six hits while striking out four.

In the second inning Duensing ran into trouble after giving up a leadoff double to Brandon Moss. After striking out Kevin Cash, Ed Rogers walked to put runners on first and second base. Alex Prieto then followed with a two-run double to right-center to make it 2-0. David Murphy then slapped a slider to left field to give the Red Sox a 3-0 lead.

In the third the Wings capitalized on Abe Alvarez's control problems. After the first three batters walked to load the bases, their opportunity was nearly squandered when Tommy Watkins struck out and Darnell McDonald flew out to second. With two outs Jones came through with a three-run double to tie the game, giving him his team-leading 25th multi-hit game of the season.

The Wings began their hitting barrage in the fifth. With two outs Watkins singled to left field, and McDonald followed with a two-run home run to left-center to give Rochester a 5-3 lead. Jones then hit a blooper down the right field line that turned into a double, his third hit of the night.

Duensing settled down after a shaky start, not allowing a hit for three consecutive innings. In the sixth, however, he ran into trouble after giving up a single to Michael Tucker. Moss followed with a double to put both runners in scoring position with only one out. Duensing then forced Cash to fly out and Brian Buscher made a diving play on a ground ball by Rogers to get out of the inning unharmed.

Bobby Korecky replaced Duensing in the eighth. After giving up a leadoff single to Joe McEwing on a ball that McDonald misjudged in center field, Bobby Scales followed with a double to put runners on second and third with no outs. Tucker's RBI groundout made it 5-4, but Korecky got the next two batters out to end the threat after intentionally walking Moss with one out to load the bases.

In the ninth Korecky recorded his 21st save amidst great difficulty. Chad Spann led off with a double to center, and two batters later Murphy walked with one out. But McEwing grounded into a 6-4-3 double play to end the game.

Pawtucket starter Abe Alvarez (4-8) pitched five innings allowing five runs while striking out three.

NOTES: Jones is currently 3rd in the IL with 29 doubles. Jones is on pace to hit 45 doubles which would be only nine shy of the Red Wings all-time record for doubles in a season (54) set by Fred Merkle in 1923. Since 1979 infielder P.J. Forbes has the most doubles in a season (37 in 1998). The International League hasn’t had a player hit 40 or more doubles in a season since 2004 when Matt Diaz of Durham (47), Jhonny Peralta of Buffalo (44), and Earl Snyder of Pawtucket (43) all hit over 40 doubles. The International League’s single season record for doubles in a season is 57 set by Jim Holt of Jersey City in 1924....The Red Wings pitching staff has allowed the fewest base on balls (212) in the International League this season (Norfolk is 2nd with 252). The last time Rochester led the International League in fewest walks allowed was 1995.

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Reading 5 at New Britain 6

Record: 41-43

W: K. Waldrop (3-5, 5.11); L: P. Overholt (2-3, 6.58); SV: T. Lahey (5)
HR: REA: G. Jacobs (14). NBR: D. Winfree (6).

From rockcats.com: The Rock Cats combined hot bats with brilliant pitching from the bullpen to down Reading, 6-5. It was the third-straight victory for the 'Cats.

The Rock Cats’ Brock Peterson led off the second inning with a walk and scored on a double by Felix Molina. David Winfree followed with an RBI single to put the ‘Cats ahead 2-0.

Rock Cats starter Kyle Waldrop cruised through the first three innings as he retired the first eight of nine batters he faced, including the first seven straight. Reading struck in the fourth, though, as Waldrop walked leadoff batter Javon Moran. Waldrop struck out the next batter before he unleashed a wild pitch that allowed Moran to move to second. He then walked Michael Costanzo. That brought Jason Hill to the plate, who delivered an RBI single to center field. Greg Jacobs followed with an RBI double that tied that game, 2-2. Joey Hammond’s groundout to shortstop knocked in Hill and gave Reading the lead.

The R-Phils lead didn’t last long. David Winfree led off the bottom of the fourth with a home run to left field that tied the game, 3-3. Brandon Roberts and Garrett Guzman both added RBI singles. Matt Moses tacked on an RBI sac fly that scored Trevor Plouffe and put the Rock Cats ahead, 6-3.

Waldrop (3-5) finished with four runs on five hits through 5 2/3 innings. He left the game after surrendering a solo homer to Greg Jacobs in the sixth inning. The bullpen took over from there, Frank Mata, Jay Sawatski, J.P. Martinez, and Tim Lahey combining for 3 1/3 effective innings. Lahey picked up his fifth save with a scoreless ninth.

For the Rock Cats, Winfree and Korey Feiner each finished the night with two hits apiece.

Reading’s Patrick Overholt was knocked out of the game after dishing up six runs on eight hits and four walks in four innings.

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Ed & Justin secure their seats early for the upcoming homestand against the Hummerheads

Fort Myers 1 at Clearwater 3

Record 6 - 11

W: J. Outman (9-3, 2.58); L: O. Sosa (3-5, 2.36); SV: W. Savage (3)
HR: None.

The Miracle narrowly missed recording their 17th shut out of the 2007 season when Juan Portes plated Caleb Moore to give the Miracle a single run in the ninth inning.

Josh Outman lived up to his name, pitching a near perfect game against the Miracle that was only marred by a pair of walks in the 6 innings he pitched. Ron Hill allowed only 1 hit in 2 innings of relief work, a double by Luis Ugueto in the 8th.

Moore singled off William Savage to start the ninth and advanced to 2nd on a fielding error by Gregory Golson. Danny Valencia singled to follow Portes onto base, but Edward Ovalle ground into a double play to end the game.

Brian Burgamy doubled into left field in the bottom of the 3rd, and then Oswaldo Sosa loaded the bases, issuing a pair of walks, one to Golson, the other to Shuan Boyd. Clay Harris hit a line drive to short that scored Burgamy, and Golson came home on Lou Marson's line drive to center, which gave the Threshers 2.

They tacked on another when Golson scored on a Harris sac-fly off reliever Kyle Aselton.

Sosa finished the night allowing 2 runs on 6 hits and 2 walks while striking out 2 in 5 innings. Aselton allowed one run on 3 hits and 2 walks while striking out 2 in 3 innings worth of work.

The two teams rematch tomorrow night with Jeff Manship (1-1, 2.70) going to the hill against Clearwaters' Luis Villarreal (0-1, 6.00).

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Beloit 5 at Quad Cities 4

Record 10-7

W: A. Burnett (5-5, 3.30); L: S. Garceau (5-7, 3.99); SV: R. Delaney (28)
HR: BEL: A. De San Miguel (4).

E: Ortiz (18, fielding).

From swingbaseball.com: The Swing of the Quad Cities scored four unanswered runs during a late surge Saturday night at John O'Donnell Stadium, but it was not enough in a 5-4 loss to the Beloit Snappers.

Quad Cities (8-8, 46-39) got a stellar performance out of the bullpen yet again, giving the offense a chance to rally after falling behind 5-0 early. Beloit (9-8, 53-34) hung on for the win, however, as closer Rob Delaney notched his 28th save of the year despite allowing just his fourth earned run through 46.2 innings.

The Swing were trailing 5-0 when they cracked the scoreboard in the bottom of the fifth. With one away Donovan Solano was hit by a pitch and Steven Hill singled to left. After the runners advanced to second and third on a wild pitch, a Christian Reyes groundout and a Luke Gorsett single brought them home to pull to within 5-2.

One inning later Tim Dorn led things off with a double and moved to third on a wild pitch. When Willian Sandoval's groundout to short allowed Dorn to cross the plate, the deficit was cut to 5-3.

Facing Delaney in the top of the ninth, Sandoval led off with a flare single to left-center. He was at second base with one out when Solano sliced an 0-2 pitch into right field that scored the runner to bring the Swing to within one run. But Delaney responded by striking out Hill and getting Reyes to bounce into a fielder's choice, preserving the Snappers' 5-4 win.

Starter Shaun Garceau (5-7) suffered the loss for his third start in a row, giving up five runs - two earned - on five hits over 3.2 innings. Alex Burnett (5-5) earned the victory, allowing two runs on six hits over five frames for Beloit.

The Snappers jumped all over Garceau from the first pitch, using a single and two walks to load the bases with nobody out in the top of the first inning. Garceau struck out the next batter and then induced a bouncing ball to the right side of the infield from Matt Betsill, but the Swing could only get one out on the play and the first run of the game crossed the plate.

Beloit added to their lead one inning later. Allan de San Miguel turned on a 1-0 pitch and launched a tape-measure home run that cleared the berm and the black chain link fence in left field. Later in the frame there were men at second and third with two away when Chris Parmelee hit a hot smash up the middle, and when the ball glanced off Sandoval's glove at shortstop both runners came around to score and stretch the lead to 4-0.

After falling behind 5-0 after four innings, the Swing bullpen came up big to keep Quad Cities in the game. Jason Cairns, Kyle Sadlowski, and Kyle Mura combined to allow just one hit over 5.1 shutout frames, as the relief corps lowered their ERA to 0.94 as a unit over their last six ballgames.

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Elizabethton Twins

Record 15 - 2

No Game Scheduled

Next Game Monday, July 9, 2007: Elizabethon at Greeneville


Winston Marquez made the start for the Twins

GCL Red Sox 4 at GCL Twins 5

Current Record: 11 - 4

W: C. Nolte (1-0, 1.13); L: C. Gonzalez (0-1, 1.29)
HR: None.

The GCL Twins blew a 3 run lead, then came back in the ninth inning to win, 5-4, at Hammond Stadium.

The Red Sox got onto the board first when Winston Marquez got into trouble in the 4th inning. Two straight wild pitches moved Darren Blocker to 3rd. Marquez then hit Engel Beltre with a pitch. He moved to second on yet another wild pitch by Marquez. Luis Sumoza hit a sac-fly that would plate Blocker, giving the Red Sox the early lead. Marquez then tossed another wild pitch, but was able to get Ricardo Burgos out on strikes and Matthew Cooney to line out to end the inning.

The Twins got the run back when Juan Richardson reached on a throwing error by Blocker. Angel Morales got on base with a single, but attempted a steal that moved Richardson to 3rd. Morales was caught at second, but Richardson was able to go home on Alex Soto's ground ball single.

A throwing error by shortstop Oscar Tejeda cost the Red Sox in the 5th, when James Beresford singled off starter Pedro Perez. Jeanfred Brito's bunt poped out to 3rd, keeping Beresford on second, but it would be short lived as Ben Revere tripled him home. This gave us all a good look at Revere's speed, which is certainly impressive. Yangervis Solarte bunted Revere home. Solarte moved to second on a wild pitch, and then to third on Richardson's ground out. Another wild pitch allowed Solarte to score, making it 4-1 Twins. Perez would walk Morales before being replaced by Mauricio Mendez to the sounds of "Happy Trails" over the stadium sound system.

Rodney Gessmann replace Marquez for the sixth and had two outs before he found trouble. Beresford threw a grounder into the dugout that moved Luis Sumoza to second and Blocker, who had singled, to 3rd. Gessmann then plunked Ricardo Burgos, loading the bases. A wild pitch brought Blocker home and allowed Mathew Cooney, who had struck out, to reach first on the dropped strike. Victor Serrano then singled out to left. The Twins attempted a play at the plate, but Soto could not get the job done, and Sumoza and Burgos both scored to tie the game. Gessmann finally go this third out, when Che-Hsuan Lin hit a fly ball to left.

The game would remain scoreless for 2 1/2 more innings. Carlos Gonzalez got Jon Waltenbury out swinging, but Andrew Schmiesing drew a walk, then stole second. Beresford flew out, but Brito hit a double hop ground ball single to center that brought in Schmiesing and ended the game.

The usually effective Marquez only struck out 3 in 5 innings, allowing 1 run on 2 hits and 2 walks. Gessmann would be charged with the blown save after allowing 3 runs on 2 hits, neither of which were earned, and 1 walk, while striking out 3 in 3 innings. Charles Nolte closed out the game and picked up his first professional win, with a ground out, a fly out, and a strike out.

Morales was 2-for-3 with a walk, Revere was 2-for-4 with a 1 run and 1 RBI, and Brito was 2-for-5 with 1 RBI. Solarte, Soto, Waltenbury and Beresford each had singles in the game.

Mike Radcliff, the Twins director of scouting attended the game, which was played in the main stadium for a change. Waltenbury said he always wanted to play in front of a sell out crowd, and I had to remind him that 25 WAS a sell out crowd for a GCL game.

The Twins travel to the Twin Lakes Complex tomorrow for a noon game against the GCL Orioles.


Jon Waltenbury rips a ball out to center

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DSL Twins 9 at DSL Yankees I 3

Current Record: 13 - 18

W: M. Garcia (3-2, 2.16); L: P. Sanchez (1-2, 2.55)
HR: DSL TWI: J. Pinto (1), J. Sanchez (1). DSL NYY1: C. Urena (3).

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VSL Cardinals 4 at VSL Cubs/Twins 1

Current Record 24 - 21

W: E. Jimenez (3-1, 4.15); L: J. Mijares (0-3, 4.15)
HR: None.

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