Cats have no defense against Defenders Long Ball

New Britain 2 at Connecticut 5

W: G. Broshuis (6-5, 3.76); L: A. Swarzak (3-4, 4.85); SV: O. Matos (7)
HR: CT: C. Sosa (7), O. Rosario (4).

After due consideration, I've decided the problem with the New Britain Rock Cats is defense, or lack there of. When Matt Moses was with the Miracle, they moved him as soon as he could hit consistently at the High A level. I said that he needed to stay here and work on his defense. "Oh, he can work on his defense in New Britain."

The same with Trevor Plouffe, and David Winfree, and...the kids get up there and are forced to focus on their batting again.

So it isn't Anthony Swarzak's fault he gave up 4 runs, earned on five hits and 3 walks while fanning 4 over six innings. It's all in the lack of defense. Yes, I realize he gave up 2 home runs, but when you can't count on your defense, well...that weighs on your mind, when you're a pitcher.

Anytime the Twins tell you that they value defense as an organization, believe me...they don't. They don't spend the time to develop it.

Olmo Rosario hit a single shot home run in the 4th inning to put the Conneticut Defenders on the board. They'd go on to defeat the New Britain Rock Cats 5-2 at Dodd Stadium.

The Cats answered back in the top of the 5th, with Brock Peterson doubling, then moving to 3rd on Dustin Martin's ground out. Winfree would ground out as well, but it served to plate Peterson.

It as a short lived lead however, Eliezer Alfonzo would single and Adam Witter take a walk before Carlos Soso hammered one over the right field wall, making it 4-1 Defenders.

Peterson would triple in the 7th, then score on another Martin ground out.

Jay Sawatski would give up the final Defender's run in the 7th, with Ben Copeland tripling and Alfonzo doubling him in.

Peterson finished up 2-for-4 with a pair of runs. Felix Molina was 2-for-3 with a double while Martin was 1-for-4 with a RBI. Brian Dinkelman had the only other Rock cat's hit, going 1-for-3 with a walk.

The final contest in the 3-game set is Sunday at 1:05 PM. Zach Ward (2-2, 2.76) will start for the Rock Cats against Giant's prospect Dave McKae (5-3, 5.05).

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Rochester 3 at Indiandapolis 5

W: J. Barthmaier (2-1, 2.84); L: P. Humber (3-6, 5.60); SV: M. Miller (4)
HR: IND: B. Bixler (5), M. Kata 2 (4).

The Indianapolis Indians scored consistently on Phil Humber taking one run over the first five innings to defeat the Rochester Red Wings, 5-3.

Denard Span singled to lead off for the Wings then stole 2nd. Jason Pridie would single out to left to score the speedster for the first Wings run.

Then the Indianapolis offense started. Humber lasted four innings, giving up 4 runs, 3 earned on six hits while fanning 3. Ricky Barrett took over the fifth, and allowed 1 run on 2 hits and a walk. He'd fan 1 over 2 innings.

Trailing 5-1 in the 8th Ryan Jorgensen singled with one out on the board and Denard Span walked. Jason Pridie singled to fill up the bags. Jesse Chavez would replace Chris Hernandez on the mound and get Darnell McDonald to ground into a force out which took Jorgenson out at home. Garrett Jones would single however to score Span before Randy Ruiz was taken out on strikes to end the inning.

Matt Miller would take over the Indians' mound for the ninth and get Sergio Santos out on strikes before Trevor Plouffe singled. He then stole 2nd, and came home on Alejandro Machado's single for the 3rd and final Wings run.

The two teams rematch on Sunday for a 2:00 matinee.

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Extra Bases Blog

The Minnesota Twins inducted former Twins pitcher Rick Aguilera as the 19th member of the Twins Hall of Fame during a special on-field ceremony Saturday night.