Twins, Reds split two

Fort Myers 11 at Sarasota 3

W: C. Gutierrez (2-0, 2.35); L: S. Carroll (6-5, 3.51)
HR: SAR: J. Francisco (18).

The Fort Myers Miracle found their bats late in the suspended contest against the Sarasota Reds, coming away with an 11-4 victory against their I-75 rival.

Scott Carroll would replace Rafael Gonzalez, who threw only one inning before the game was interrupted by rain. Juan Portes would come in for the Miracle to replace Brandon Roberts, who had played in the first inning of the suspended game, getting as far as 3rd base before being left stranded.

In the top of the 2nd inning, Danny Berg would take a walk to start out. Danny Lehmann then singled, and a sac-bunt by Yancarlos Ortiz moved the pair of runners. Portes would sacrifice in Berg. Edward Ovalle followed that up with line drive to right to plate Lehmann, giving the Miracle a 2 run lead early.

Wilson Ramos would walk off Carroll in the top of the third. Following a fly out to Johnny Woodard, Eli Tintor tripled to drive in Ramos. Berg singled in Tintor, but Lehmann would ground into a force out that took Berg out at second and Ortiz lined out before they could do anything more with the inning.

Alex Burnett would allow back-to-back singled to Eddy Rodriguez and Yuber Rodriguez. Chris Heisey ground into a force out that took E-Rod out at 3rd and moved Y-Rod to 2nd. After Justin Tordi was retired on strikes, Juan Francsico went yard for his 18th of the season, launching a ball over the left field fence to give the Sara-Reds 3.

Carroll would work five innings, and was still on the mound in the top of the six to issue another walk to Berg. Lehmann singled and Ortiz reached on a force attempt when Carroll mis-threw the ball. Berg would come in, to make it 5-3 Miracle. Portes would pop out before Ovalle doubled to score Lehmann. Steve Singleton's line drive to right plated Ortiz and Ovalle, helped out by a Daniel Perales throwing error. Singleton thought he could make it to 3rd while the Reds tried to recover the ball, but was mistaken, as E-Rod fired the ball to Francisco to take him down at 3rd. Ramos would single before Woodard popped out to send the Reds up to bat.

Burnett worked four, allowing 3 runs on 4 hits while fanning 5. Carlos Gutierrez would come in for the next three, giving up a pair of runs and a walk while striking out 3.

Dan Zeffro would replace Carroll in the top of the 7th, giving up a lead off double to Tintor. Berg singled Tint to 3rd, and Lehmann's sac-fly put him over the plate. Ortiz's ground out moved Berg to second and a Portes line drive saw him over the plate to make the score 10-3, Fort Myers.

The teams would exchange runs in the 8th inning, with Woodard tripling in Ramos for the Miracle and Logan Parker doubling in Francisco for the Reds, but that would pretty much finish off the game.

Gutierrez got the credit for the win, improving to 2-0 on the season. Matt Williams worked the final two innings for the Fort Myers squad.

Berg finished up 2-for-2 with a pair of walks, 3 runs and a run scored. Ramos and Lehmann were both 2-for-4 with a pair of runs each, Ramos with a walk and Lehmann with a RBI. Titnor was 2-for-5 with a double and a triple, a pair of runs and a RBI. Ovalle was 2-for-6 with a run and 2 RBIs. Portes and Woodard were both 1-for-4, Portes with 2 RBIs, Woodard with a walk, a triple and 1 RBI. Singleton was 1-for-5 with a RBI. Ortiz, who finished up 0-for-4 at the plate, chipped in a run.

After a bit of field grooming and a break in which the dogs attending the game got to go walkies or perhaps get a dog of their own to wolf down, the two teams set up for the rematch.

Box
Log



Fort Myers 0 at Sarasota 8

W: L. Ondrusek (1-5, 4.19); L: D. Guerra (10-7, 4.93)
HR: SAR: J. Francisco (19), L. Parker (4).

The last time the Fort Myers Miracle bats when whiz, wham, boom and they took a big blow out win, they were shut out in the following game. Such as the case at Ed Smith Stadium on Saturday as the Miracle forgot to swing in the second game, letting the Sarasota Reds blank them 8-0.

Yuber Rodriguez took a walk off Deolis Guerra to start. One out later, Juan Francisco went yard, for his 19th of the season to put 2 on the board. Todd Frazier would go down on strikes before Logan Parker's 4th of the season, made it 3-0 Reds.

Y-Rod singled in the bottom of the 3rd and came home on a Chris Heisey triple. Francisco then singled in Heisey. Guerra was able to induce Todd Frazier to hit into a double play. He'd then walk Parker before Carson Kainer popped out to end the inning.

Jose Lugo replaced Guerra on the bottom of the sixth. He'd get Justin Tordi to strike out before Jacob Long singled. Y-Rod hit a follow up single and Heisey was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Francisco hit into a force out that took Long out at home, but left the bases load. Frazier doubled to drive in two. Parker and Kainer each drew a walk to force in the 8th run.

Whit Robbins was 2-for-3 with a double for the light hitting Miracle. Juan Portes was 1-for-3 with a double. Tintor was also 1-for-3, good for the One hit wonder of the game title.

Logan Ondrusek picked up the win for Sarasota during a bull pen start. He worked five innings for his first win of the year.

Box
Log
Miracle
NDN
Herald-Tribune
Let's Go Miracle
Rays:
Breeze
News Press


There was a posse report this morning at Gulf Coast League that Pat Neshak would be pitching for the Miracle on Monday. I showed a great deal of doubt about that one, so it was amended to "he'd be at the game" in some capacity or other. LEN3 is reporting in his blog that Neshak as begun a throwing program but that he won't work himself up to throwing from a mound until later this month.

It's possible, depending upon his progress, that Neshak might pitch in Fall Instructional League, then get ready for 2009 spring training. The Twins probably won't want to risk his health by pushing for his recovery too soon.

On a more immediate note, Tyler Robertson played a session long catch this morning prior to the GCL game. He'll may take a GCL start by the end of the next week if all goes as planned.

I wasn't keeping score, but I believe the GCL Orioles were leading when their game against the Twins at the Lee County Sportsplex was suspended due to rain and lightning in the area. Joe Testa had just finished pitching the top of the fifth, starter Martire Garcia was struggling with his control early in the contest.

It's possible the game resumed - I don't think it rained all that long - but it did chase the very small crowd away. I left at that point as well. The GCL Twins play on the road tomorrow against the GCL Reds, while the GCL Red Sox host the division leading Pirates at the City of Palms Complex.

Note: Ah...they did resume! The Twins rallied back for a 5-3 win! Way to go Twins!

Evidently, the GCL has gone to a wild card format. There will be no more buy for the highest ranked team. Instead they highest ranked team will play the wild card - the team with the best record after the Division Leaders. At this point, that would be the Twins, but not if they keep taking losses to the O's the Pirates.

Cats fall to Bowie, Wings slip by Indians

New Britain 1 at Bowie 10

W: D. Hernandez (7-4, 2.55); L: R. Mullins (7-9, 4.63)
HR: BOW: M. Wieters 2 (9).

Brock Peterson would take a walk in the top of the six off Bowie's David Hernandez. David Winfree tripled him in. That was pretty much it for the Rock Cats' offense.

Ryan Mullins would take the start and work six inning for the New Brtian Rock Cats. He'd give up four runs, all in the fifth inning.

Blake Davis took a walk and Jonathan Tucker singled. Carlos Rojas single out to left scored the pair. Following a Nolan Reimold fly out, Matt Wieters launched his 8th home run of the season over the center field wall to two more.

The six runs, four earned, that Frank Mata allowed were largely inconsequential as New Britain seemed disinterested in hitting the ball, managing only five against 3 Bowie pitchers.

Aside from Winfree, who finished up 1-for-4 with a triple, Steve Tolleson and Dustin Martin were also 1-for-4, both end up as the one hit wonders of the contest. Drew Butera and Brian Dinkelman were 1-for-3 each with a double down at the bottom of the order.

Game three of the four game series is Saturday night at 7:05 PM. RHP Chris Tillman (7-3, 3.63 ERA) Will throw out the first pitch for Bowie, while the Rock Cats send RHP Yohan Pino (4-5, 5.04 ERA) to the mound.

Box
Log
Baysox/OSC
Courant
MLN Sports
Schumck Stops Here Blog



Indianapolis 2 at Rochester 3

W: K. Mulvey (5-8, 3.78); L: R. Ohlendorf (2-3, 4.29); SV: B. Korecky (20)
HR: IND: M. Kata (8), N. Morgan (1).

The Rochester Red Wings managed to slip by the Indianapolis Indians, 3-2 at Frontier Field Friday night.

The Indians would claim first blood when Nyjer Morgan homered, his AAA first of the year over the right field wall.

The Wings answered back in the bottom of the second with Trevor Plouffe doubling then coming home on a Jeff Christy single.

In the bottom of the fourth, Luke Hughes singled before Matt Macri went down on strikes. Plouffe then doubled Hughes in.

Matt Kata claimed his 8th home run off Kevin Mulvey in the top of the fifth, knocking the solo-shot over the right field wall. Jason Pridie and Alejandro Machado hit back to back singles in the bottom of the inning. Sergio Santos bunt pop would double Machado off first, but Garrett Jones singled to drive in Pridie. Jones would try to go to second, and was taken out on the throw, but the run stood for the game winner.

Mulvey allowed 2 runs on six hits and 3 walks while striking out 7 over 6.2 innings. Ricky Barrett and Bobby Korecky worked the mop up chores, with Korecky earning his 20th save in the process.

Plouffe would finish up 3-for-3 with a pair of doubles, a run and a run batted in. Jones went 3-for-4 at the plate with a RBI, while Pridie and Machado were each 2-for-4, Pridie with a run. Hughes (1-for-4) added a run, and Macri and Christy went 1-for-3 each, Christy with a RBI, leaving Macri to be the one hit wonder of the game.

Box
Log
Red Wings/OSC
Indians/OSC
RD&C
R-News
IndyStar
Extra Bases Blog
Sandlot Swashbucklers Blog
Rogers Minor League Report

Bromberg shines as Beloit shuts down Kane County

Beloit 6 at Kane County 2

W: D. Bromberg (7-9, 5.04); L: J. Richmond (7-9, 4.54)
HR: None.

David Bromberg has been nothing if inconsistent this season. After getting shelled in his last outing, he turned around Friday night at Kane County to shut the Cougars out for the first five innings.

Brombert scattered 5 hits and 4 walks, while striking out eight for his seventh win of the season. Mike Allen worked the next 1.2 innings before giving way to Blake Martin.

The Snappers couldn't even find a hit through the first three innings, and after Ben Revere flew out, the fourth looked it might be more of the same. But Estarlin De Los Santos singled his way onto base. Yangervis Solarte flew out before Rene Leveret singled out to right to drive in De Lo, giving the Snappers an early lead.

With two outs on the board in the top of the fifth, Jeanfred Brito singled then stole 2nd. Chris Cates laced a double out to right to drive in Brito.

It would stay that way until the 8th inning, when things got interesting. Ben Revere reached on a fielding error, then stole 2nd base. De Lo's ground out moved him to 3rd. Jamie Richmond would then intentionally walk Yangervis Solare and Leveret would get plunked with a pitch to load up the bags. This also brought a pitching change as Brad Hertzler took over on the hill for the Cougars. MarK Dolenc's line drive plated the first two runners and moved Leverett to 2nd. He'd go to 3rd on a throwing error by Hertzler. A balk would then put Leveret over the plate and advance Dolenc to 2nd. Ramon Santana and Alan de San Miguel would both go down on strikes however, giving Kane County a turn at the plate.

With one out on the board, D.J. Hollingswoth singled as did Shane Keough. Adam Klein would go down on the strikes before Justin Frash's single plated Hollingsworth. A ground ball to right by Larry Cobb scored Keough to make it 5-2 Beloit.

Cates would walk, move to 2nd on a Revere ground out and score on De Lo's line drive single to finish off the scoring.

De Lo finished up 3-for-5 at the plate with a run and a rune scored. Leveret was 2-for-3 with the same. Dolenc, Dirty and Brito were all 1-for-4, Brito with a run, Dolenc with a pair of RBIs, while Cates finished up 1-for-3 with a walk, a double, a run and a run scored.

Revere, 0-for-5 at the plate, and Solartes, 0-for-4 with a walk, each had a run in the contest.

The Snappers now return to Pohlman field to host the Peoria Chief's on 80's night, with Fireworks.

Box
Log
Cougars/OSC
KC Chronicle
Friday:
BDN
Gazette Xtra
Flickr Photos by Jim Frazier
Twinsbaseball.com: Hunt
Twinsbaseball.com: Revere



Burlington 3 at Elizabethton 11

W: B. Tippett (7-2, 2.45); L: S. Runion (2-3, 3.86)
HR: ELI: A. Morales (11), N. Romero (6).

Elizabethton Twins starter Brad Tippett limited the Burlington Royals to only one run, earned, scattering 4 hits over seven innings while striking out five. Meanwhile E-Twins off offense showed off some impressive fire power, knocking out 11 runs on 13 hits in route to a blow out at Joe O'Brien Stadium.

Dominic De La Osa singled and moved to second on a wild pitch by Royals starter Sam Runion. Nick Romero's ground out got him to 3rd and he'd score on a Jon Waltenbury ground out. Evan Bigley and Michael Harrington then hit back-to-back doubles to put another run on the board, and Jeff Lanning singled in Harrington to make it 3-0 Twins.

Julio Aparicio singled in the top of the 2nd inning and Diego Cruz doubled him in for the Royals one run off Tippett. A wild pitch would put Cruz at 3rd, but Jason Morales went down swinging and Miguel Moctezuma ground out, stranding the man on base.

With two outs on the board in the bottom of the second, De La Osa singled and advanced to 2nd on a throwing error by Burlington's Morales at 3rd base. Romero then singled De La Osa in, making it 4-1 Twins.

Lanning would single in the bottom of the 3rd while the Twins Morales, Angel, knocked his 11th home run of the season over the right Center field wall adding a pair more to the tally.

Jacob Rodriguez replaced Runion in the bottom of the fourth and sat the next three Twins batters down. The Twins would not tally again until the bottom of the 7th when Edwin Mieles replaced Rodriguez on the hill. He'd walk De La Osa before giving up a home run to Romero. Nick's sixth professional home run went over the center field wall to make it 8-1 Twins.

Danny Berlind's struggles continued as he replaced Tippett in the top of the 8th. He'd walk Jorge Gutierrez and Hilton Richardson before allowing a fly ball single to Angel Franco that plated Gutierrez. Allen Caldwell would sacrifice in Richardson. Josh Vittek took a walk before Danny Rondon replaced Berlind. There is something seriously wrong with Mr. Berlind right now. I'm certain the Twins have looked into injuries, but it seems to me that he needs to be shut down for the remainder of the season. Rondon would take Aparicio out on strikes to retire the side.

Nathan Hanson greeted Victor Jorge with a line drive single and James Beresford followed it up with a single of his own. De La Osa would fly out, advancing Hanson to 3rd, and Romero sacrificed him in. A passed ball by Moctezuma moved Beresford to 2nd before Waltenbury took a walk. Evan Bigley then doubled to drive in the pair for the 10th and 11th Twins runs.

Rondon would pitch the ninth to finish off the game. Tippett improved to 7-2 on the season with the win.

Lanning was 2-for-3 with a run and a run batted in, De La Osa and Romero were both 2-for-4, De La Osa with a walk and 3 runs, Romero with a run and 4 RBIs. Bigley would finish up 2-for-5 with a pair of doubles, a run and 2 RBIs. Waltenbury, Harrington, Morales, Hanson and Beresford were all 1-for-4 with a run each, Walt with a walk and a RBI, Harrington with the same, plus a double, and Morales with a pair of RBIs.

The two teams rematch Saturday at 7:00 PM.

Box
Log
The Pipeline Blog

Twins surrender first place to Pirates

GCL Pirates 5 at GCL Twins 2

W: T. Cox (2-2, 1.98); L: M. Tonkin (0-1, 6.00); SV: J. Charry (3)
HR: None.

The games between these two teams have been hard fought all year and this one was really no different.

Jean Mijares took the start for the GCL Twins and held the Pirates off until the 3rd inning. Pirate Matt Capps, pitching on a major league rehab assignment, was not so lucky.

Aaron Hicks and Jakub Hajtmar both pounced on Capps for a back-to-backs singles to lead off the bottom of the first. A fielding error by Victor Sanchez on Hajtmar's line drive allowed the speedy Hicks to score and moved Hajtmar to second. He'd get no farther than 3rd however on Mike Gonzales ground out one out later as Henry Sanchez went down on strikes to end the inning.

Mijares would walk Jesus Aguilara in the top of the 3rd. Edwin Roman bunted, but the Twins chose to take Aguilera out at 2nd. A wild pitch by Mijares sent Roman to second however. After Adenson Chourio went down on strikes, Mijares issued a walk to Ben Gonzalez. Jarek Cunningham then singled to plate Roman and put Gonzalez on 3rd. Alex Vargas ground out however, keeping the score tied.

Michael Tonkin replaced Mijares in the top of the sixth and walked Cunningham. Vargas would ground into a force out, but Edward Garcia then singled to move him to 2nd. Victor Sanchez doubled in Vargas. After Tonkin plunked Andury Acevedo with a pitch, Aguilera singled to bring in Garcia.

Capps would only work one inning before giving way to Tyler Cox who as baffled the Twins most of the season. He'd work the next five, scattering a pair of hits and fanning 4. Emilis Guerrero took over for the seventh inning.

With one out on the board, Anderson Hidalgo singled, then moved to 2nd on a throwing error by Guerrero. A wild pitch got him to 3rd, and he'd score on Josmil Pinto's ground out. Juan Sanchez and Herbert Lara hit back-to-back singles getting Sanchez to 2nd, but Hicks ground out to send the Pirates to the plate again.

Nick Lobanov Worked the seventh and the eighth, giving way to Bruce Pugh in the ninth. Pugh would walk Aguilera and Roman. Chourio singled to load up the bags, and Pugh walked Gonzalez to force in a run. Cunningham would sacrifice in Roman to give the Pirates an extra two points before Vargas popped out and Garcia lined out to send the Twins up to bat again.

Pinto would triple off Jorge Charry but got no support from "Hank the Tank" and Hidalgo, with both going down on strikes. Juan Sanchez's strike out would then end the contest.

The Twins out hit the Pirates, 9-8, but it's not a home run derby so it's not the hits that count. Hidalgo and Pinto were both 2-for-4, with Hidalgo recording a run and Pinto double and a triple, plus a run scored. Juan was 1-for-3 as was Herbert Lara. Hicks, Hajtmar and Ortiz were all 1-for-4, Hicks with a run. Henry Sanchez fell one strike out short of the Golden Sombrero. Sorry kid, no prize for you this time.

The Twins play the GCL Orioles Saturday at the Lee County Sports center for a 10:00 AM game. They are on the road Sunday vs the GCL Reds.

Box
Log

---

DSL Diamondbacks 1 at DSL Twins 4

W: A. Salcedo (3-4, 1.40); L: G. Martinez (3-4, 3.92)
HR: None.

The DSL Twins took a lead in the fourth, added to it in the sixth and held on for a win at home over the DSL Diamondbacks Friday morning.

Lesther Galvin walked in the bottom of the fourth, then one out later, stole 2nd. Jairo Perez would go down on strikes, but Jairo Rodriguez reached on a fielding error by Damil Taveras which also brought in Galvan for the first Twins run.

Danny Santana lead off the bottom of the sixth with a single. Galvan would ground out, advancing Santana to 2nd. Oswaldo Arcia took a walk. The Diamondbacks would make a pitching change then, bringing in Juan Roasrio to replace the outgoing Gustavo Martinez. Perez singled to plate Santana and Rodriguez's follow up grounder brought in Arcia. Perez would be taken out at home on the throw. However, Eliel Sierra would get plunked with a pitch, moving Rodriguez to 2nd, and a Felix Caro single to center got Rodriguez over the plate for the fourth Twins run.

Adrian Salcedo worked seven inning, scattering 4 hits and fanning 4. Jhonny Garcia took care of the last two, giving up 1 run in the ninth on 3 hits.

Santana was 3-for-4 at the plate with a run, while Perez was 2-for-4. Rodriguez and Caro were both 1-for-4, Rodriguez with a run and a run scored, Caro with a RBI.

Arcia was 1-for-3 with a walk and a run, and Galvan, who would finish up 0-or-3 at the plate, had a walk and a run.

The DSL Twins also play the Orioles, or at least, the DSL version of them, but they will do so on the road for a 10:30 AM Dominican time game.

Box
Log

Rain suspends Sarasota Contest

The game between the Fort Myers Miracle and the Sarasota Red was suspended in the top of the first inning when a nasty thunderstorm blew up in the area. (Funny, it barely rained in the Cape!)

It will be played as part of a double header on Saturday starting at 4:00 PM. The second regularly scheduled game will be shortened to 7 innings and will start approximately 30 minutes after the conclusion of the first game.

It's Dog's Night Out 3, Dogs will be admitted to the park for $5 each with the proceedes to benefit the Humane Society of Sarasota County. It's also Senior Saturday, featuring a $2 General Admission ticket for mature fans, 55 years young and over.

Miracle

Baseball will play it's last game at Holman Stadium in Dodgertown when the Palm Beach Cardinals take on the Vero Beach Rays on August 31. The Florida State League as confirmed the sale of the Vero Beach franchise to Ripken Baseball. The group has partnered with the Tampa Bay Rays and will move the High-A Rays affiliate to Port Charlotte for the 2009 season, which will also mark the first year of Tampa Bay's spring training at that facility.

While the sale has been approved, Ripken Baseball spokesman John Maroon declined comment, saying that "there are still some aspects of the deal that aren't complete."

The move will unbalance the 12 team Florida State League leaving 5 teams in the East Division while putting 7 in the West Division. A possible scenario would have Lakeland move over to the East Division. "Lakeland has had the experience of being in the East before and it was pretty expensive for them," team president Chuck Murphy was quoted as saying. The league may choose to re-align along North/South lines instead. That issue will be addressed on the League Meetings this fall.

There has been some interest in the Baltimore Orioles relocating their spring training facility to Dodgertown, but that will not happen until 2010 and will not affect their High-A team, the Frederick Keys which plays in the Carolina League. The Sarasota Reds will likely seek to relocate their High A team to the west coast when they move to Arizona in 2010, but a deal will have to be reached with a current Grapefruit League based franchise to play here.

What will happen with the Orioles and baseball in the city of Sarasota remains to be seen. A third possibility involves the move of the Red Sox spring training facility to either Sarasota or Orlando. The Red Sox have wanted back into the Florida State League and either city would allow them to relocate their High-A team. (MiLB.com)

Batting and Pitching: Two players who may well be in a Miracle uniform next season are the topic of a pair of articles on Twinsbaseball.com. First, the Twins take a look at Shooter Hunt, their 3rd pick, (31st overall - 1st round supplemental) in the 2008 first year player draft. Hunt, a New York Yankees fan, had hoped to go to that franchise but when they passed on him he was pleased to be selected by the Twins.

"I knew the Twins do a great job with their pitching staff," Hunt says in the online interview. "I knew a fair amount about the organization and all about their developmental system."

A converted catcher, Hunt has been pitching for only five years now and has experience control problems in college. The Twins are confident they can work out those issues.

"We've worked on a lot of stuff. We've really tried to harness my balance point," said Hunt. "And getting consistent with everything, which is my goal with everything. You have to be consistent to move up the ladder."

Hunt says that he is a baseball junkie. He doesn't golf or fish or anything, he just enjoys baseball and calls himself a student of the game.

"The first couple games just being around the team, it was like, 'This is what I do now.' This is what I've always wanted to do since I was three years old, and now it's time to get going." (Twinsbaseball.com)

Getting going is what center fielder Ben Revere does best. Especially when it involves his bat. The Twins first round pick (28th overall) in the 2007 draft has been very consistent with his bat in the Low A Beloit Snappers franchise. 73 games into the season, Revere is hitting .388, the highest overall in the full-season Minor Leagues. Former Miracle Terry Tiffee of the Triple-A Las Vegas 51s is second at .375 in 87 games.

Revere's bat and blazing speed are the center fielder's two biggest assets. He does however have some defensive issues involving his throwing that the Twins have been working on with him while he plays for Beloit. The online interview however does not dwell on these but on rather takes an in depth look at his batting style and what it might mean for the organization.

Look for Revere to be in the Miracle line up starting in April of 2009. It may be possible to get an earlier look at both players when Instructional League Baseball starts this fall. Stay tuned to MiracleFans.com for FIL information as it becomes available. (Twinsbaseball.com)

The Fort Myers Miracle are proud to announce that intern Ben Heil has been awarded the Florida State League scholarship. Each year the Miracle and the 11 other teams in the Florida State League partner with the Florida Marlins and award one deserving person from each club a $1,500 educational scholarship.

Heil, a native of Cape Coral , Florida is the son of Brian and Ann Marie. The current Florida Gulf Coast University junior interned with the Miracle this summer, learning the finer points of the team's extensive game day operations.

"Ben has been a pleasant addition to our staff this season. He is eager to learn and adjusts well to everything we throw at him," said Miracle General Manager Steve Gliner. "We feel he is a deserving recipient and I know he will use it to further his major in sports management."

The Florida Marlins have sponsored the program with the Florida State League the past nine years thru their Community Foundation and the Executive Director, Nancy Olson. The foundation has contributed $71,000 to this program.

The award is based both on financial need and minimum grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. To be eligible for the scholarship, students must be an employee of or the child or grandchild of an employee of the participating club during the 2008 Florida State League Season, and must be at least a high school junior by the 2008 Fall Term.

"The Miracle front office staff has allowed me the freedom to gain a knowledge of everything that goes into making them what they are today. They truly do live by the motto, "Fun is Good", said Heil, who even filled in as an emergency bat boy earlier this season.

League President Chuck Murphy stated: "This program is one of the best things we do in this League and I congratulate the General Managers on their dedication and emphasis in administering this program. The purpose of the program is to send a message that an education is key to success in life."

The scholarship winners will be guests of the Florida Marlins in pregame ceremonies at Dolphins Stadium on Sunday, August 17. The Marlins host the Chicago Cubs at 1:10 p.m.

Beloit, E-Twins, DSL Twins all victorious

Beloit 5 at Kane County 3

W: M. McCardell (8-3, 2.82); L: J. Friend (4-5, 4.33); SV: S. Arias (2)
HR: BEL: R. Leveret (2). KCC: L. Cobb (11).

Mike McCardell worked 8 innings allowing 3 runs, 2 earned, while scattering five hits and a walk and fanning 7 to help lead the Snappers to a 5-3 win over the Kane County Cougars. Estarlin De Los Santos lead the attack, going 3-for-3 at the plate with a walk and a pair of runs.

Justin Frash singled and Larry Cobb went yard, his 11th home run of the 2008 season, in the bottom of the 3rd for Kane County.

The Snappers answered back in the top of the 4th with De Lo leading off with a single then stealing 2nd. Following a fly out to Paul Kelly, Rene Leveret homered, his 2nd for the Snappers, over the center field wall to tie up the game.

Matt Ray singled but was taken out on D.J.Hollingsworth's force out in the bottom of the 5th. Greg Yersich would attempt to pick off Hollingsworth, but over threw the base, allowing Hollingsworth to score for the unearned run. That put the Cougars on top again and it would stay that way until the top of the 8th.

Justin Friend came to replace Scott Deal and Yersich hit a line drive single to left. He'd be replaced by Jeanfred Brito as a pinch runner, and Brito would move to 2nd on Yangervis Solarte's sac bunt. Andrew Schmiesing ground out, but a wild pitch by Friend let Brito come home to tie up the contest. Ben Revere singled and stole 2nd and De Lo took a walk. A passed ball by Kane County's Petey Paramore advanced the runners. Kelly then walked to load the bags. Leveret's line drive to right scored Revere and De Lo before Mark Dolenc was taken out on strikes.

Leveret finish off 2-for-4 with a run and 4 RBIs. Revere, Ramon Santana and Schmiesing were each 1-for-4, Revere with a run, Santana with a double. Yerisch was 1-for-3, with a single.

Santos Arias worked the final inning to pick up his second save of the season, while McCardell improves to 8-3 on the year.

The two teams rematch on Friday, August 8 for a 6:30 PM start. Jamie Richmond (7-8, 4.52) gets the start for Kane County against the Snappers' David Bromberg (6-9, 5.25).

Box
Log
Cougars/OSC
KC Chronicles
Thursday:
BDN
Gazette Xtra

---

Bristol 1 at Elizabethton 3

W: B. Lanigan (5-3, 3.35); L: S. Buriff (3-1, 5.79); SV: M. Hamburger (9)
HR: ELI: M. Harrington (8).

Dominic De La Osa doubled in Angel Morales and Nathan Hanson in the bottom of the 7th inning, giving the Elizabethton Twins a win in a pitcher's duel between Bobby Lanigan and Brisol's Steve Upchurch.

Lanigan would work 8 innings scattering 4 hits and a walk while fanning five for the Twins. Upchurch allowed only one hit and 3 walks over the first five inning while fanning five before giving way to Shane Buriff.

Buriff would allow a home run to Michael Harrington in the bottom of the six. The 8th yard ball of Harrington's professional career went over the right field wall. Buriff would also give up the two runs in the seventh.

Jorge Castillo doubled in the top of the 7th inning, moved to 3rd on a Jorge Vargas sac bunt and came home on Kevin Dubler's single for Bristol's lone run.

Mark Harmburger worked one inning of relief for his ninth save of the of year.

With the win, the E-Twins maintain a 2.5 game lead over Bristol in the Appalachian League west division. They start a three game series against the Burlington Royals at Joe O'Brien Stadium Friday, with the first pitch due out at 7:00 PM.

Box
Log
Thursday:
E-Star

---

DSL Twins 17 at DSL Rockies 4

W: R. Doran (2-0, 2.45); L: J. Hernandez (0-1, 5.19); SV: L. Parra (2)
HR: DSL TWI: F. Caro (3).

I double there was any Rocky Mountain air for the balls to soar on Thursday, but the DSL Twins pounded out 17 runs on 17 hits, 6 walks and 7 Rockies errors to wallop the Colorado farm team 17-4.

Jairo Perez and Lesther Galvan were both 3-for-4 in the contest, Perez with a double, 4 runs and 1 runs scored, and Galvan with a pair of walks, a pair of runs and a RBI. Felix Caro was 4-for-6 at the plate with a double and a home run, two runs and 4 RBIs.

Caro's home run, in the fourth inning, brought in two for the DSL Twins.

Eliel Sierra finished up 2-for 3 with a walk, a pair of doubles, 3 runs and 1 RBI. Randy Pina was 2-for-5 at the plate with a walk, a run, and a RBI.

Oswaldo Arcia and Yorby Martinez finished up 1-for-5 each, Martinez with 1 run, Arcia with two. Each had a walk and a RBI as well. Wilfy Gil was 1-for-4 with a pair of runs.

Box
Log

The GCL Twins had Thursday off. They return to action Friday at Noon against the GCL Pirates.

Cats fall to Bowie; Wings upend Iron Pigs

New Britain 5 at Bowie 7

W: F. Romero (7-3, 3.04); L: J. Rainville (8-9, 6.50); SV: J. Manon (26)
HR: NBR: D. Martin (8). BOW: J. Tucker (5).

A three-run home run by Jonathan Tucker in the fifth inning helped lift the Bowie Baysox to a 7-2 win over the New Britain Rock Cats Thursday night.

Back-to-back doubles by Carlos Rojas and Nolan Reimold in the bottom of the first inning saw Sebastien Boucher, who'd led off with a single, and Rojas cross the plate to give the Orioles' affiliate an early 2-0 lead.

David Winfree singled his way onto the basepaths. Dustin Martin would strike out, but Felix Molina and Matt Moses hit back-to-back singles that plated Winfree. Drew Butera then doubled the pair of runners in to make it 3-2 Rock Cats in the top of the 2nd. Toby Gardenhire would take a walk, but Steve Tolleson went down on strikes and Brian Dinkelman ground into a force out to end the inning.

Brock Peterson doubled to lead off the top of the 3rd, then moved to 3rd on a wild pitch by Brad Bergesen. Winfree would strike out before Dustin Martin put his eighth home run of the season over the right field fence. That made it 5-2 Rock Cats and signaled a pitching change that brought Felix Romero out to the mound. The new hurler would get Felix Molina to ground out and Matt Moses to strike out to end the top of the set.

The bottom the fifth saw Rojas doubled and Reimold single. Matt Wieters' sac-fly plated Rojas. Ryan Finan took a walk before Jay Rainville got Steve Torrealba to fly out. Jeff Nettles then gave up a double that scored Reimold. Tucker would go yard at that point, bring in 3 for the game winning run, plus an insurance marker.

The Cats would only manage six hits in the contest, all limited to the first 2.1 innings, with Peterson, Winfree, Martin, Molina and Moses, all going 1-for-4 with a run. Peterson would add a double, Martin a pair of runs scored and Moses an RBI. Butera finished up 1-for-3 with a pair of RBIs.

It was Rainville's ninth loss of the season. Jason Miller would work the last three inning, giving up a pair of hits while fanning one.

The two teams rematch Friday at Prince George's Stadium for a 7:05 PM contest. RHP David Hernandez (6-4, 2.60 ERA) throws out the first pitch for Bowie against Rock Cats LHP Ryan Mullins (7-8, 4.56 ERA).

Box
Log
Baysox
Wednesday:
NB Herald
Gazette
Tuesday:
NB Herald
NB Herald: Meja



Lehigh Valley 7 at Rochester 11

W: J. DePaula (2-5, 6.33); L: T. Blackley (5-9, 5.47); SV: B. Korecky (19)
HR: LHV: J. Knott (18), A. Tracy (18). ROC: G. Jones (16), L. Hughes (1).

Garrett Jones and Luke Hughes each hit 2-run homers in the 3rd inning to help propel the Rochester Red Wings over the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs Thursday at Frontier Field.

Andy Tracy doubled in Jason Jaramillo in the top of the first to give the Iron Pigs one run early. Hughes, Matt Macri and Trevor Plouffe all hit singles in the bottom of the 2nd to tie up the contest.

Jason Pridie would lead off the bottom of the 3rd with a triple and Alejandro Machado would single him in. Michael Cuddyer double to plate Machado before Jones went yard to make it 5-1 Wings. Howie Clark singled and Luke Hughes put his first AAA home run over the center field wall to make it 7-1 Cats.

Tracy and Jon Knott hit back-to-back solo shot home runs off Phillip Humber. It was the 18th of the year for both players. Oscar Robles and Joey Hammond both singled before Humber got Rouse to pop out. T.J. Bohn singled to plate Robles, which finished up Humber's tenur on the hill. Julio DePaula would replace him getting Brandon Watson to pop out before walking Rich Thompson to load the bags. Jaramillo would ground out however to leave the runners stranded.

For some reason, the Iron Pigs left Travis Blackley on the mound for the bottom of the fourth. Machado would single and Cuddyer double. Jones grounder to center scored the pair. Clark's single moved Jones to 3rd and, following a strike out to Hughes, Macri would sacrifice him in. Plouffe would take a walk before the Pigs finally trotted Jason Anderson out to the mound to get Jeff Christy to strike out and end the inning.

Hughes singled in the bottom of the 6th and one out later, Trevor Plouffe doubled him to 3rd. A sac fly by Christy got the Aussie across the plate for the final Wings run.

The Pigs would take 3 off of Carmen Cali in the top of the 9th, with Bohn tripling and Watson doubling him in. Thomspon singled. Jaramillo hit into a ground out, but Tracy singled to bring in Watson. Knott's grounder scored Jaramillo before Bobby Korecky came in to replace Cali, getting Robles to fly out and Hammond to strike out to end the contest.

Hughes would finish off 3-for-4 with a walk, 3 runs and a pair of RBIs. Machado was 4-for-4 in the designated hitter roll with pair of walks, a pair of runs and a run scored. Pride, Jones and Clark were all 2-for-5, each with a run except for Jones, who had two. Pridie added a walk and a triple, and Jones recorded 4 RBIs. Plouffe was a modest 2-for-4 with a walk, a double and a RBI, while Macri and Christy were both 1-for-4, missing out on the one hit wonder title by picking up a RBI each.

The Indy Indians come to Frontier Field on Friday, August 8, for a 7:05 PM contest. RHP Kevin Mulvey (4-8, 3.85 ERA) gets the start for the Twins against Indians RHP Ross Ohlendorf (1-1, 4.61).

Box
Log
Red Wings
Iron Pigs
RD&C
RD&C
Morning Call

Alejandro Machado now has a 16-game hitting streak, batting .426 (26-for-61) during the streak. It's the second longest streak by a Red Wing this season (Randy Ruiz, 24-game hitting streak).

Jason Pridie hit his league-leading 15th triple.

The Wings won their eighth straight home game.

Luke Hughes had three hits, three runs scored and two RBI, and is now hitting .323 at Triple-A.

Despite the Red Wings' 58-63 record they’ve outscored their opponents 577-559.

Twins OF Michael Cuddyer continued his rehab assignment with the Wings; Cuddyer had a pair of doubles and a walk in five plate appearances.

Brian Duensing is blogging about Beijing and the Olympics. You can read his exploits on MLB Blogs.

Miracle take two from Tampa

Fort Myers 2 at Tampa 1

W: M. Fox (6-6, 3.84); L: Z. McAllister (6-6, 2.17); SV: A. Slama (23)
HR: FTM: W. Robbins (4).

The Fort Myers Miracle two-run lead would stand through nine innings as they hung on in the completion of the suspended game to defeat the Tampa Yankees, 2-1.

Edward Ovalle would single in the top of the first with one out on the board. He'd be caught stealing however, so there'd be no one on base when Whit Robbins launched his 4th home run of the year over the short porch in right field to give the Miracle one. Wilson Ramos then drew a walk and Johnny Woodard was hit by a pitch. Eli Tintor's line drive plated Ramos for the Miracle's 2nd run.

Spencer Steedley worked the first three innings, giving up only 1 hit and fanning a pair. Matt Fox would take over in the fourth. After a fly out to Eduardo Nunez, Fox allowed a single to Kevin Smith. Josh Kreuzer would fly out before Seth Fortenberry doubled to drive in Smith.

Fox would allow only one more hit, a single to Fortenberry in the bottom of the 7th. He'd strike out 4 over the next five innings before Anthony Slama came in to collect his 23rd save of the season.

Aside from the singles to Ovalle and Tintor, and the home run to Robbins, Steve Singleton would finish up 1-for-4 for the only other Miracle hit.

Box
Log



Fort Myers 1 at Tampa 0

W: C. Devries (9-8, 2.85); L: E. Soto (2-3, 4.91); SV: B. Erickson (1)
HR: None.

The Miracle would also prevail in the second game, which was shortened to seven innings. Cole Devries would scatter 4 hitts and 4 walks over five innings, striking out only 1. Jose Lugo worked the next 1.1, with Blair Erickson picking up his first save of the season on by fanning 2 in .2 innings worth of work.

Edward Ovalle would walk and one out later, Juan Portes was hit by a pitch. The pair then stole 3rd and 2nd respectively. Johnny Woodard would reach on a fielder's choice that took Ovalle out at home. Grant Duff would head out to the mound to replace Tampa starter Edgar Soto, and Danny Berg would reach on a force attempt then Eduardo Nunez bobbled the ball at short. Portes would score on the play for the lone Miracle run before Eli Tintor went down on strikes.

Portes finished up 2-for-2 at the plate with the run. Tintor and Woodard were both 1-for-3, Tint with a double, and Brandon Roberts rounded out the hitting, going 1-for-2.

Next up, the Miracle head over to Sarasota for three against the Reds. Friday's 7:00 PM contest will feature Alex Burnett (7-5, 3.74) on the mound for the Miracle, while the Reds will let Rafael Gonzalez (5-8, 6.42) handle their pitching. The Miracle return home on Monday to start a 3 game set against the Dunedin Blue Jays.

Box
Log
Miracle
Breeze
Breeze 2
NDN
Pending Pinstripes Blog

Shoulder Injury Sidelines Eastern League's Doubles Leader

New Britain Rock Cats Press Release

New Britain, CT - The New Britain Rock Cats announced today that Erik Lis, their hard-hitting 24-year-old Outfielder who currently leads the Double-A, Eastern League in Doubles (36), has been placed on the Disabled List with a shoulder injury. The Evansville University product, selected by the Minnesota Twins in the 9th Round of the 2005 Draft, suffered a season-ending dislocated shoulder in pre-game warm-ups yesterday afternoon.

The 6'1"/220-pound Lis had appeared in 105 games for the 2008 Rock Cats. A strong left-handed hitter, the Oak Lawn, IL resident - in addition to topping the League in Doubles with 36 - was also among New Britain's 2008 team leaders with 112 total Hits, which included 11 Home Runs and 3 Triples. His total of 51 Extra Base Hits placed him 2nd in the circuit in that category as well. The versatile Lis played both 1B and corner Outfield positions in his first year in New Britain, and concluded the campaign with a solid .277 Batting Average.

Twins defeat Red Sox, cling to first place

GCL Twins 9 at GCL Red Sox 3

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Box
Log

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

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

Power Outage suspends Miracle

Fort Myers 2 at Tampa 0 - Suspended (Power)

Did someone forget to pay the electric bill at Casa de Steinbrenner?

Light failure at the home of the Tampa Yankees on Wednesday night forced the Fort Myers Miracle and Tampa Yankees into a suspended ball game with the Miracle ahead 2-0. The stadium lights were on pre-game but suddenly went dark just before first pitch. The stadium fire alarm went off immediately after the lights and forced the contest to halt heading into the fourth inning.

The Yankees and Miracle won’t take a chance on the lights being fixed for Thursday night. Instead, the two teams will pick up the action at 1:00 p.m. Thursday afternoon. The regularly scheduled game will be seven-innings and follow approximately 30 minutes after the suspended game (a full 9-inning game) from Wednesday concludes.

Box
Log
Miracle
Breeze
NDN
Let's go Miracle Blog
Pending Pinstripes Blog

Former Miracle and current Minnesota Twins pitcher Pat Neshek has arrived in Florida and is expected to be here at least a month, and most likely until the end of the season, depending upon how his elbow responds. (Pat Neshek's Baseball Page Blog)

Another former Miracle, Denard Span, drove in a career-high four runs and robbed Adrian Beltre of a go-head homer in the seventh inning, leading the Minnesota Twins to a 7-3 win over the Seattle Mariners Wednesday. Nick Blackburn (9-6), another member of the 2005 Miracle squad, allowed three runs in six innings to tie Detroit's Armando Galarraga for most wins by an American league Rookie.



When Jeff Manship received his promotion to AA New Britain following the Florida State League All-star game, it really came as no surprise when Cole Devries stepped in to take over the roll of ace on the Miracle pitching staff.

The 23-year old right hander was 5-6 at the half season mark with a 2.99 era. He'd struck out 54 in 78.1 innings pitch and walked only 18 while giving up just 3 home runs in 11 games.

After an excellent season in 2007 with Low A Beloit, Devries was certainly making a name for himself in the Florida State League as well. Which lead to a very interesting question.

"How did you not get drafted?"

"Oh, that's a story," said Devries. "I get asked that a lot."

Sitting in the stands during a recent Fort Myers Miracle game, Devries relates "the story".

"I had one interview with a scout," said the University of Minnesota product. "I didn't know much about the draft process at the time, so I was bouncing some things off of him, some numbers, to see how he would react. And I told him I thought I would go somewhere in the fifth to eighth round, most likely the fifth.

"He took this to mean I wanted high fifth round money, when home and wrote up this report that way. And you know, that goes out to EVERYONE."

After that, despite being named All-State and Class 3A Player of the Year in his senior season in high school and leading the Golden Gophers in strike outs (72) and ERA (2.42) in his Junior year, he didn't even get a sniff.

The Minnesota Twins however become interested in the Eden Prairie native during the 2006 Cape Cod Summer League, a wooden bat league that compiles the best college players from across the country each summer. Devries finished with a 3.31 ERA in 49 innings, fanning 50 while walking just five.

He was talked to by several teams at the time, but it was his hometown Twins that really pursued him. "If I played well out there, I had a chance to get signed by a team," he said. "Coming towards the end of summer, I was planning on going back to school for my senior year, but the Twins and I started talking and we came up with a deal we both liked and here I am," Devries was reported as saying the Beloit Daily News during a 2007 interview.

"Since I'm a hometown guy and I really love the state of Minnesota, it was awesome. I'm really happy I'm here right now."

For now "here" is the Sunshine State of Florida, a stop that marks the halfway point to the major league. Virtually all of the pitchers agree on one big difference between the Low-A Midwest League, and the High-A Florida State League. "The batters are a lot more disciplined," teammate Alex Burnett explains. "You can't throw (junk) at them and expect them to go after it."

For Devries, that has meant making some adjustments on the mound. "You really need three pitches here, so I've been working my change up in more. In Beloit you could pretty much get away with your fastball and your curve, but here you really need the change up."

Many so called experts have questioned Devries status as a prospect, in part because he wasn't drafted and in part because he doesn't have a so called "money pitch". But he doesn't see that as a lack, but rather as a strength.

"You don't want to rely too much on one pitch." By mixing his pitches, he finds he can keep the batters from getting to comfortable at the plate.

As the Miracle make their way into the playoffs, they'll be looking for Devries to come on strong on the mound, and provide the leadership for the team as they try for their first Florida State League Championship since the team relocated to Fort Myers. The franchise has won 5 championship since its inception in 1927, the last one was landed in 1978 when they were known as the Miami Orioles, holding a Baltimore Affiliation while playing at the old Miami Stadium.

Playoff tickets are currently on sale. The Miracle host game two and if necessary, game three of the West Division Series on September 3rd and 4th. Ticket prices are the same as for a regular season game: $7 for a box seat, $5 for reserved seats. Season ticket holders have until Sept. 2 to reserve "their" regular season seat for the playoffs. The Miracle are still awaiting their partner for the the West Division Championship round.

Around the System: The AAA Red Wings took both games of a double header from the Lehigh Valley Iron pigs. They won the first game 3-2 (Box/Log). Former Miracle Trevor Plouffe knocked his fifth AAA home run over the wall in that one. In the second game, the Wings shut out the Iron Pigs 5-0. (Box/Log). Former Miracle first baseman Garrett Jones hit a 2-run home run in the 3rd inning for Rochester. Zach Ward picked up the win in New Britain as the AA Rock Cats defeated the Blue Jays affiliated New Hampshire Fisher Cats 11-7. (Box/Log) Brian Dinkelman's second home run in a Rock Cat's unform brought in 2 runs for New Britain in the 8th inning. Shooter Hunt recored his second loss as a Beloit Snapper, allowing 6 runs, 5 earned on four hits and 5 walks while striking out only 3 in 3.1 innings as the Twins low-A affiliate fell 8-1 to the Kane County Cougars (Box/Log). Former Miracle Yangervis Solarte was 1-for-3 at the plate, driving in former first round draft pick Ben Revere for the only Beloit run.

Twins down Reds, 6-2

GCL Reds 2 at GCL Twins 6

W: M. Mopas (2-1, 4.15); L: L. Machuca (0-1, 6.75); SV: K. Nanney (2)
HR: TWI: A. Diaz (3), M. Gonzales (3).

The two big guys on the team, Andres Diaz and Mike Gonzales, each clobbered their 3rd home run of the year to help lead the Twins to 6-2 pasting of the GCL Reds at the Lee County Sportsplex on Tuesday.

Diaz took a singled off Reds starter Luis Machuca with one out in the top of the second inning. A wild pitch moved Diaz to 2nd, and Reggie Williams singled advanced him to 3rd. Jae-Hyung Jang doubled to bring in Diaz and while Hyun-wook Choi's singled plated Williams. Jon Goncalves then sacrificed in J.J. to give the Twins a big lead early.

The top of the fourth saw Samuel Vasquez single for the Sarasota based squad and following a fly out to Brodie Pullen, Theodis Bowe singled as well. A wild pitch by Twins starter Miguel Munoz advanced the runners. Mauricio Pimentel singled in Vasquez while Alexis Oliveras' ground out plated Bowe to give the Reds their two runs.

Gonzalez hit a solo shot homer run over the right field fence to start out the bottom of the 6th. Diaz followed that up with a double and advanced to 3rd on Vasquez's fielding error. Williams would ground out before J.J. singled to drive in Diaz, to make it 5-2 Twins.

Diaz went yard off David Torcise, putting a fly ball over the left field fence in the bottom of the 8th to finish off the scoring.

Diaz was 3-for-4 at the plate with 3 runs, falling a double short of the cycle, with a run batted in. J.J. was also 3-for-4 but with 1 run and 2 RBIs. Goncalves was 2-for-3 with a RBI while Juan Sanchez, Gonzalez, Williams and Wook were all 1-for-4, Gonzales with the home run, Williams with a run, and Wook with a RBI to leave the one hit wonder title to Sanchez.

Munoz worked four innings, allowing 2 runs, earned on six hits and 3 walks while fanning 5. Mike Tonkin worked a scoreless fifth and Ian Mopas picked up the win, his second of the year, while fanning 4 over 2 innings. Khol Nanney picked up his 2nd save for the GCL Twins, allowing 3 hits and fanning a pair over two innings.

Box
Log
Herald Tribune
Arlington Heights JournaL
Red Leg Nation Blog

The Elizabethton Twins defeated the Bristol White Sox in the Appalachian League action. Evan Bigley and Jon Waltenbury both put a pair of home runs each over the wall in the game. Former GCLer Thom Wright picked up the win in 2.2 innings of relief, allowing 1 run, earned on five hits while striking out one. Mark Hamburger earned his 8th save of the season for the E-Twins (Box/Log).

The DSL Twins fell to the DSL Cubs1, 6-1 Tusday, Yorby Martinez walked and was plated when Jhonatan Arais ground into a double play. Danny Santana was 2-for-4 at the plate but did not factor into the scoring. Orlando Villaroel took the loss, allowing 4 runs, 2 earned, on 5 hits while striking out 3 in three innings worth of work (Box/Log.

Tampa blasts past Sosa, Miracle

Fort Myers 1 at Tampa 7

W: I. Nova (7-11, 4.24); L: O. Sosa (2-1, 4.59)
HR: FTM: D. Santiesteban (5).

It seems like not too long ago, it was the Fort Myers Miracle who were beating up on the Tampa Yankees. Tuesday night, in a game shortened to 8 innings by rain and lightning, it was the Miracle who were victimized.

Danny Santiesteban's solo shot home run in the top of the fifth would be the only tally for First Half West Division Champs. His fifth of the season, Santiesteban's blast went over the left field wall to prevent the Miracle from being shut out.

Tampa, on the other hand, did not have to worry about such things. Luis Nunez lead off the bottom of the first with a single to Edward Ovalle, then stole 2nd base. Eduardo Nunez reached on a fielder's choice as Yancarlos Ortiz fired the ball to Juan Portes at 3rd to take Luis out. Eduardo then stole 2nd. Kevin Smith would take a walk and the pair would steal 3rd and 2nd. Following a line out to Josh Kreuzer, Seth Fortenberry's ground ball to right allowed Nunes and Smith. Fortenberry decided he could run for second, but was caught out just past first base and was taken down on the throw.

In the bottom of the 2nd, Andres Perez doubled. A throwing error by Fort Myers starter Oswaldo Sosa moved Perez to 3rd. After a ground out by Mitch Hillgoss, Jose Gil sacrificed Perez in, giving the Yankees a 3-0 lead.

They would double that in bottom of the third, with the Nunez boys taking a walk off Sosa. The pair then stole 2nd and 3rd before Smith and Kreuzer were called out on strikes. A single to Fortenberry scored the pair, while Fortenberry moved to 2nd on the throw in from right. Perez then singled to plate Fortenberry. Matthew Williams would replace Sosa at the point, allowing a single to Hillgoss, but Perez was taken out at 3rd to end the inning.

Sosa, who had filled Tyler Robertson's rotation space effectively, would allow 6 runs, 5 earned, on five hits and 3 walks while striking out 3 over 2.2 innings. Williams would go for the next 4.1 innings.

"The Professor" would hit Perez with a pitch in the bottom of the sixth, and Hilligoss would double him in to give the Yankees their seventh run.

Santiesteban would pitch the final out before the game was called for lightning in the area. I still entertain visions of Santiesteban getting a grand slam to put the Miracle on top in the bottom of the eighth inning during the FSL championship game, then coming in to pitch to close out the game in the ninth. Ah...but playoffs are still 28 days way.

For the time present, Santiesteban went 1-for-1 with a walk and a hit by pitch, plus a run and a RBI on the yarder. Garrett Olson would finish up 2-for-3, and Brandon Roberts was 2-for-4. Ortiz would lock up the one hit wonder title, going 1-for-4 at the plate.

Fort Myers will try to get something going Wednesday night at Casa de Steinbreener. The Miracle is reporting that Cole Devries (8-8, 2.97), not Matt Fox, will take the 7:00 PM start against Tampa's Zach McAllister (6-5, 2.01), weather permitting.

Box
Log
Miracle
News Press
Breeze
NDN
Pending Pinstripes Blog

My computer's power supply blew out last night. I expect to be back online later tonight unless things are worse than I feared. I have a mini-feature on Cole Devries in the works that I had hoped to run today as well, but that's being put off for at least another day.

Cats acquire southpaw from Fort Myers

New Britain Rock Cats Press Release

New Britain, CT - The New Britain Rock Cats announced this afternoon that they have received a 24-year-old reliever - LHP Jose Mijares - from Ft. Myers in the Single-A Florida State League.

The 6'0"/235-pound Mijares is a promising southpaw who was a 2007 Eastern League All-Star when he performed in New Britain last season. The Caracas, Venezuela native's career was temporarily put on hold while he recovered from the effects of an automobile accident that occurred during the 2007 off-season. He is now fully recovered and, prior to this promotion, appeared in 5 games out of the Single-A, Ft. Myers bullpen, allowing 7 Hits and 3 Earned Runs over 10.1 total innings of work.

Signed by the Minnesota Twins as a Free Agent in March of 2002, Mijares made 46 bullpen appearances for the 2007 Rock Cats, compiling a 5-3 W-L record. He also posted 9 Saves, 75 Strike Outs, and a 3.54 ERA over 61 total innings of Double-A work.

Mijares has arrived in New Britain and will be available for service tonight.

The New Britain Rock Cats are the Double-A, Eastern League affiliate of the American League's Minnesota Twins.

E-Twins take series from K-Mets

Saturday: Elizabethton 5 at Kingsport 3

W: B. Lanigan (4-3, 3.74); L: G. Leduc (2-3, 5.27); SV: M. Hamburger (7)
HR: ELI: E. Bigley (9). KNG: J. Garber (1).

Bobby Lanigan worked 7 innings allowing 3 runs on 8 hits while fanning four to help the Elizabethton Twins to a 5-3 win over the Kingsport Mets.

The Twins took a liking to Mets starter Oscar Melendez. Nick Romero singled to lead off the Twins attack in the top of the 1st. Jon Waltenbury would reach on a fielding error by Kyle Suire and Evan Bigley singled out to left to score Romero for an early Twins lead.

Danny Rams would strike out, but would make it to first anyway on a wild pitch by Melendez. After Severino ground out, moving Rams to 2nd, Angel Morales would be plunked with a pitch. James Beresford then doubled in the pair of runners to make it 3-0 Twins.

The bottom of the 3rd would see Justin Garber go yard off Lanigan over the center field fence to give the K-Mets a run.

Waltenbury would double in the top of the fifth and Evan Bigley would take a walk, before Jorge Rodriguez came in to replace Melendez. Michael Harrington singled out to right to load up the bags, but Rams and Adan Severino would both go down on strikes to strand the runners.

Rodriguez would be replaced by Guillaume Leduc in the top of the sixth, but despite a Beresford single and a Dominic De La Osa double, the Twins would still come up empty.

With one out on the board in the bottom of the sixth, Doug McNulty would triple off Lanigan. Singles to Stefan Welch, Pedro Zapata and Michael Moras would score both McNulty and Welch to tie up the game before Jean Luc Blaquiere and Justin Garber would get called out on strikes.

It would not stay tied long however as Evan Bigly put a solo-shot home run over the left field fence in the top of the seventh to put the E-Twins on top again.

In the top of the ninth, Nick Romero singled and moved to second on a wild pitch. Waltenbury's fly out saw him to 3rd, and Bigley would sacrifice him in for the insurance run.

Mark Hamburger would allow a single to Moras in the bottom of the ninth, but got Blaquiere out on strikes, took Garber down on a line out and finished the game on a Rafael Fernandez fly out.

Bigley would end up 2-for-2 with a pair of walks, a run and 3 RBIs. Beresford was 2-for-3 with a double and a RBI, while Romero was 2-for-2 with a pair of runs. De La Osa (1-for-5) and Waltenbury (1-for-4) both added doubles, while Harrington chipped in a single to become the one hit wonder of the game.

Despite being O-fer at the plate, Rams (0-for-4) and Morales (0-for-3) both had runs in the contest.

Box
Log



Sunday: Elizabethton 14 at Kingsport 9

W: D. Berlind (2-2, 11.83); L: M. Alvarez (0-4, 8.82)
HR: KNG: K. Suire (5).

It was only a matter of time, but Danny Berlind was finally moved back to the bullpen. He would pick up the win Sunday in 1.1 innings of relief however, allowing only 2 hits and striking out 2 as the Elizabethton Twins won a slug fest against the Kingsport Mets.

Elizabethton opened the scoring with Nick Romero taking a single off K-Mets starter Colin McHugh. Jon Waltenbury's fly ball single moved him to 2nd and following a fly out to Evan Bigley, Jeff Lanning doubled the pair in.

Kingsport answered back however when Brad Tippett plunked Kyle Suire with a pitch. Suire would move to 2nd on Wilmer Flores line drive and score on a fielding error by Elizabethton's Dominic De La Osa at second.

Adan Severino singled in the top of the 2nd, then stole second base. Angel Morales singled, but James Beresford hit into a force out that took Morales down at second. With men at the corners, De La Osa would knock a line drive to right to plate Severnio. Romero's grounder to right drove in Beresford before Waltenbury took a walk to load the bags. Bigley singled in De La Osa, but Lanning would line out and Alex Soto ground out to strand the remaining runners.

A fielding error by Romero allowed Michael Moras to reach and Tippett would walk Gabriel Zavala. After Imbewer Alvarez was called out on strikes, Justin Garber would reach on a throwing error by Romero that scored Moras, and Rafael Fernandez singled in Zavala. Suire then put this fifth home run of the season over the right field wall to add 3 more to the K-Mets total, making the score 6-5 Kingsport after two.

The Twins tied it up in the top of the fourth. De La Osa and Romero hit back-to-back singles. After Waltenbury and Bigley went down on the strikes, Lanning's line drive plated De La Osa. That would signal a pitching change for the Mets, who sent Manuel Alvarez out to the hill to replace McHugh.

Severino would triple in the top of the 5th and Morales would get hit by a pitch. Beresford reached on a fielder's choice that took Severino out at home, saving the run. Morales would advance to 3rd on a throwing error by Moras, but would be left stranded when De La Osa popped out and Romero flew out to send the K-Mets to the plate.

Kyle Carr replaced Tippett in the bottom of the stanza and worked a quick 1-2-3 inning taking out McNulty, Welch and Rogelio Del Campo, who as brought in to replace Moras. The K-Mets pitcher was injured in a fifth inning wreck at home plate when he was run over by Severino.

Waltenbury would single to open up the top of the sixth, and moved to send on a wild pitch by Alvarez. Bigley would walk, and Lanning would single to load the bags. Following a pop out to Alex Soto, Severino doubled to bring in Walt and Bigley. Morales would go down on strikes, but a Beresford ground ball single drove in Lanning and Severino, to make it 10-6 Twins.

Zavala singled and moved to 3rd on a wild pitch by Carr. Alvarez would go down on strikes and Garber walk before Frenandez's ground out brought in Zavala. Suire would take a walk which prompted Ray Smith to walk out to the mound, removing Carr and bring in Berlind. A wild pitch by the new reliever advanced the runners, and Berlind would give up a double to bring in Garber and Suire before McNulty popped out to end the inning.

Travis Babin would allow a double to Romero in the 7th, and a Waltenbury single plated the Twins 3rd baseman to give Elizabethton an insurance run.

Welch would double in the bottom of the inning, but a fly out and a pair of strike out by Berlind left him on second with no further damage done.

Soto would single, Severino would be hit by a pitch and Morales would walk to load the bags in the top of the 8th. Beresford drew a walk to force in a run, and De La Osa would get hit by a pitch to bring in another one. Romero sacrificed in Morales, which concluded the scoring in the game.

Romero was 4-for-5 with a double a pair of runs and a pair of runs scored. Waltenbury was 3-for-5 with a walk, a pair of runs and a RBI. Severino would go 3-for-4 falling a home run shy of the cycle with 3 runs and 2 RBIs. Lanning was 3-for-6 with a double, a run and 3 RBIs. Bigley and Soto were both 1-for-5 with a run each; Morales and Beresford were 1-for-4 with a walk and a run each. Beresford had 3 RBIs to boot. Mike Harrington, coming in as a pinch hitter, went 1-for-1 to become the one hit wonder of the game.

Box
Log
E-Star/MiLB
Mets Minor League Blog



Monday: Elizabethton 5 at Kingsport 6

W: M. Powers (2-0, 1.06); L: S. Blevins (0-2, 8.22)
HR: ELI: A. Morales 2 (9). KNG: J. Blaquiere (3), S. Welch (2).

The Elizabethton Twins would go into Monday night's contest looking for a sweep in the series, but home field advantage would work to Kingsport's favor in extra innings and the Twins would have to settle for a 2-1 split.

Raul Batis took the start for the K-Mets. He'd work 3 scoreless innings before Michael Harrington took a double from him. Angel Morales then put his 8th home run of the short season over the left field wall to give Elizabethton 2.

Stefan Welch would return the same in the bottom of the stanza, with his second of the year for the K-Mets going over the right field wall. Pedro Zapata would follow that up with a single, steal 2nd and then attempt to steal 3rd, but Danny Rams rifled a ball to Nat Hanson to take him down at third.

Justin Garber singled off Dan Osterbrock in the bottom of the 5th and Rafael Fernandez singled to move him to second. Kyle Suire's ground out put runners on 2nd and 3rd. Following a pop out to Wilmer Flores, Douglas McNulty reached on a throwing error by Hanson that also allowed Garber and Fernandez to score.

Kingsport would add another run each of the 7th and the 8th innings off Twins reliever Lee Martin.

With the K-Mets up by three, Evan Bigley took a walk in the top of the 9th. Harrington singled and following a Rams' strike out, Morales would go yard for the second time in the game, his 9th of the season clearing the right field wall to tie up the contest.

Steve Blevins would take over from Martin in the 10th inning and would strand Zapata after he reached on throwing error. Wilmer Flores double in the bottom of the 11th saw him taken out at 3rd on a fielder's choice.

Sadly, the E-Twins were not making much noise offensivly during this time. Romero would strike out in the 12th and Lanning and Bigley would both ground out bringing the K-Mets up to bat in the bottom half.

Blevins would get Zapata to ground out, but Jean Luc Blaquiere would go yard, his 3rd of the year going over the left field fence to make the K-Mets winners.

Harrington and Morales were both 3-for-5 with a pair of runs, Morales with 5 runs scored as well. Bigley was 2-for-5 with a walk and a run. Beresford (1-for-4), Waltenbury (1-for-5) and De La Osa (1-for-6) all chipped in singles to share the one hit wonder title.

Osterbrock would finish up allowing 3 runs, only 1 earned, on 7 hits and a walk while fanning 8 over six innings. Blevins' loss would be his second of the season, coming on 3 hits over 2.1 innings worth of work.

Box
Log

With a 27-18 record, the E-Twins remain n first in the West Division, 1.5 games in front of Bristol. The White Sox come in to Joe O'Brien Stadium starting Tuesday for a 3-game series. The first pitch gets tossed at 7:00 PM to get the battle for the West Division underway. The Bri-sox have won their last seven.

Tricities.com