Twins boarding party repelled; Pirates slip by

GCL Twins 6 at GCL Pirates 7

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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