Nats double up Twins, crush playoff hopes

GCL Twins 5 at GCL Nationals 10
W: P. Arnold (1-0, 3.18); L: M. Munoz (0-1, 67.50); SV: D. Gil (1)
HR: None.

While Miguel Munoz has shown an incredible capacity for the strike out, he has also demonstrated questionable control throughout the 2008 season. Thursday, Munoz was volatile.

After getting Chris Curran to fly out in the first inning, Munoz would give up singles to Esmailyn Gonzalez and Destin Hood. Ronnie Labrie then drew a walk off him to load the bases. Johnathan Ramirez singled to score two. Munoz then hit John Higley with a pitch, keeping the bags full. Stephen Lombardozzie's line drive to left brought in Labrie and Sandy Leon took a walk to force in Ramirez. A fielding error by Danny Rohlfing at first allowed Brett Newsome to reach and Higley to score. After batting around the order, Munoz would finally find the strike zone, taking Curran down swinging, but then turned around and gave up another walk, this time Gonzalez, forcing in Lombardozzie. Field Manager Jake Mauer finally got Munoz off the mound, going with Mauro Schiavoni, who got Hood to ground into a force out.

The Twins can swing some sticks but a six run hole is pretty big to come back from.

With two outs in the top of the 3rd, Juan Sanchez singled and Danny Ortiz doubled him in. Mike Gonzales snapped a line drive out to center to bring in Ortiz before Josmir Pinto popped out.

Lombardozzi singled out to center followed by a Leon pop out. Lombardozzie then stole 2nd and Newsome's line drive single brought him in to make it 7-2 Nats.

Shiavoni would work 4.1 innings allowing only 3 hits while fanning four, but National starter Patrick Arnold was reasonably stingy, scattering six hits over 5.2 innings while fanning five. Frederico Tanco would take over for him with two outs on the top of the sixth, getting Rohlfing to fly out to retire the Twins.

Mike Tonkin relieved Shiavoni in the bottom of the inning, walking Newsome and advancing him on a wild pitch, but then getting Curran to pop out, Gonazlez to line out and Hood to ground out.

The Twins would not really threaten until the top of the 8th when Gonzales took a walk and Pinto singled him to second. A wild pitch by Tanco advanced the pair. Anderson Hidalgo's ground out plated Gonzales, while Pinto move to 3rd on Rohlfing's ground out. Tyler Ladendorf would get plunked by a pitch. The Nationals made a pitching move then, inserting Danny Gil for Tanco. Jon Goncalves would come in to the Twins line up as a pinch hitter and took a walk. Aaron Hicks' single to right drove in Pinto and Ladendorf, but Reggie Williams flew out to end the rally too soon.

The Nationals took the runs back in the bottom of the inning.

Leon doubled of Tonkin and moved to 3rd on Newsome's sac bunt. Curran would reach on a fielder's choice, but the Twins could not get the play made at the plate, and Leon scored. Gonzalez doubled, putting runners on 2nd and 3rd. Mauer would call closer Kelvin Mota out of bullpen, but Mota gave up a double to Hood that drove in the two Nats runners. He'd be taken out at 3rd though as Labrie was allowed to reach on a fielder's choice. Ramirez then ground into a force out to end the inning.

Gil would get the job done for the Washington farm in the top of the 9th, getting Ortiz and Gonzales to hit into ground outs. He'd allow a single to Pinto, but Hidalgo ground into a force out, ending the Twins championship hopes early.

The Twins were not the only South Division team disappointed in their playoff quest as the GCL Pirates fell to the GCL Phillies, 7-4 in Bradenton.

The Phils and the Nationals now move on the final best of three series to determine the Rookie League Champions.

Box
Log

As always THANK YOU TWINS FOR A GREAT 2008 SEASON! Coming up next, Fall Instructional League here at the Lee County Sportsplex!

GCL Twins sweep twin bill

GCL Orioles 4 at GCL Twins 7

W: E. Ibarra (4-0, 3.12); L: J. Moore (1-4, 2.98)
HR: TWI: D. Rohlfing (1).

The Twins took an early lead despite a poor outing in the 7th by rehabbing pitcher Jay Sawatski.

Aaron Hicks singled. He'd then try to steal 2nd but would be caught out between bases. While they were playing pickle, Edinho Meyer threw the ball passed second and into the outfield, allowing Hicks to get to 2nd base. Anderson Hidalgo singled sending Hicks to 3rd. Rene Tosoni, who has been rehabbing a broken foot, would go down on strikes. Andres Diaz doubled in Hicks and a passed ball by Janensis Guerrero scored Hidalgo. Reggie Williams singled in Diaz to give the Twins a 3-0 lead. Williams would try to steal 2nd, but this time he was caught. Danny Rohlfing would go down on strikes to send the Orioles to the plate.

Tosoni singled his way onto base. Reggie Williams then tripled in Tosoni, although for Reggie, it was a very close call at 3rd. Danny Rohlfing then sent a ball out to right that cleared the fence, bringing Williams in, making it 6-0 Twins.

Jerome Hoes singled out to right, and Meyer took a walk. Twins starter Edgar Ibarra took Garabez Rosa and Omar Casamayor down on strikes. Grolman Gonzalez singled, sending Hoes across the plate to give the O's 1. Meyer would be taken out at second on the play, retiring the side.

Hoes singled then stole 2n in the top of the sixth. Meyer's ground out moved Hoes to 3rd and Rosa singled him in. Casamayor would single as well but Gonzalez flew out and Derek Gianakas ground out to send the Twins up to bat.

Robert Bundy would take over the mound from Orioles starter Justin Moore for the bottom half of the stanza. Danny Rohlfing tripled out to center and came home on Tyler Ladendorf's single. Two outs later, Aaron Hicks' single moved Ladendroft to 3nd, and a wild pitch by Bundy put Ladendorf on 3rd and Hicks on 2nd. Anderson Hidalgo would fly out however, ending the inning with two men left on base.

Janensis Guerrero tripled off Jay Sawatski in the top of the 7th. Xavier Avery singled him in. Francisco Mejia ground into a double play however. A missed catching error by Diaz at first allowed Hoes to reach and Sawatski would hit Meyer with a pitch. Javier Santana would go in to run for Meyer. Rosa singled to fill the bags, and a wild pitch by Sawatski allowed Hoes to score. Casamayor would go down on strikes however, to give the Twins a win.

Rohlfing, the game's yardbird, was 2-for-3 with a triple, a pair of runs and two RBIs. Williams was also 2-for-3 at the plate with a triple but only one run to go with his pair of runs scored. Hicks was 2-for-4 with a run, and Tosoni and Diaz were each 1-for-3 with a run, Diaz with a double and a RBI as well. Hidalgo was 1-for-4 with a run.

Ladendorf was 1-for-2 with a walk and a run while Lara was 1-for3, becoming the games one hit wonder.

Ibarra scattered six hits and a pair of walks over six innings, allowing 2 runs, both earned while fanning 4.

The teams would break for lunch before the start of game two.

Box
Log

GCL Twins 2 at GCL Orioles 1

W: K. Nanney (4-1, 1.65); L: J. De La Cruz (0-2, 3.15); SV: K. Mota (12)
HR: None.

Khol Nanney came back from lunch to announce he'd made a bagel. "Well, there were some bagels sitting there and some peanut butter, so I put some peanut butter on the bagel. That's alright, isn't it." And if it wasn't? Well...let's not go there.

The Twins bats cooled off considerable in this one, but they still achieved the goal, which was winning the game. We've already secured our playoff berth, but we want to win the division as no one wants to play the elimination game on the road.

Jon Goncalves took a walk in the top of the first. Juan Sanchez went down on strikes, as did Danny Ortiz. Orioles' starter Sam Taveras would unleash a wild pitch that sent Goncalves to 2nd. Mike Gonzales then spanked a ball out to center to score Goncalves.

Mike Tonkin took the start for the Twins and worked the first four innings, allowing only 3 hits and a walk while striking out only 1.

Nanney, the bagel thief, would come in for the fifth. Michael Gioioso singled a line drive out to center and Francisco Majia's sac-bunt moved him to 2nd. A passed ball by Jae-Hyung Jang advanced the runner to 3rd. Xavier Avery would draw a walk before Larry Rivera hit into a ground out, plating Gioioso to tie the game.

The top of the sixth would see a number of pitching changes for the O's. Jario De La Cruz started out and walked Juan Sanchez. Ortiz's bunt would pop out and be caught by Gioioso, coming in from 3rd in foul territory. Sanchez then stole 2nd base and Rohlfing, who had replaced Gonzales in the line up ad was playing at first, struck out. Brian Anderson came in to replace De La Cruz and walked Hyeong-rok Choi. They Orioles then gave the ball to Leonardo Madrigal who walked Reggie Williams, loading up the bases. Miguel Achil was summoned from the bullpen, and walked Jae-Hyung Jang to force in Sanchez for what was to prove the game winning run.

Brian Kirwan pitched the bottom of the sixth on a rehab assignment from Beloit. Getting Dennis Perez and Justin Martin to both fly out and striking out Jose Kianes. However, J.J. passed the ball on the third strike and Kianes went to first. Javier Santana would reach on Sanchez's fielding error before Kirwan could get Gioioso out on strikes.

Kelvin Mota allowed a single in the bottom of the 7th - the O's had home field advantage in this contest - but got Avery and Rivera to fly out and sat Garabez Rosa down on strikes, ending the contest.

Gonzales was 2-for-2 with a RBI before being replaced by Danny Rohlfing in the top of the fourth. He "tweaked" something, and was on the bench by the end of the game, but it appeared to be minor. Williams was 1-for-2 with a double and a RBI. Goncalves and Sanchez, both 0-for-3 with walks, had a run each.

The Pirates were idle, so the Twins are again one game back from their division rival with three left to play.

Box
Log
Herald Tribune

Jose Marzan was at the game and confirmed that the DSL playoff format was best of 3, best of 3 and best of 5 for the upcoming playoffs. The DSL Twins host the DSL Mariners in round one starting on Monday at 10:30 AM.

I imposed upon Ian Mopas to take the rest of the pictures into the clubhouse for me, and hand them out. All of the boys thanked me except, predictably enough, Danny Ortiz who has never said two words to me, and Josmir Pinto, who I did not see. I felt bad because Angelo Sanchez was the odd pitcher out this year and I didn't get to see him throw. Is seems like I get one every year and I feel bad that I don't have shots. I can only say that I'll try to make it up to him in Spring Training.

I did pretty good autographing wise, getting Xavier Avery, Larry Rivera, Jerome Hoes, Luis Ramirez and Justin Martin from the Orioles. I was looking for Edwin Cintron and Vito Frabizio as well, but they were not with the team on this trip. Rivera, especially liked his layout which left me fielding questions from about half the rest of the team who wanted to know when I was going to one for them. I will, but as I won't bet likely to get any more autographs until Fall Instruction League, it won't be until after the this next weekend when the Miracle's six game homestand concludes.

For the Twins I got Pat Neshek (x4) on rehab, Deibinson Romero (x2), Brian Kirwan (x2), Miguel Munoz, Andres Diaz, Mike Gonzales, Juan Sanchez, Herbert Lara, Reggie Williams, and Anderson Hidalgo who had just a heck of a time with the pen. That new click technology really baffles some of the boys. Ian finally got him through the sharpie experience. "Do they not have click pens in South America?" I ask Ian. It's not like he's the first to have problems. And yes, I've actually seen some Americans at the FSL level puzzled on how to get the "cap" off the click sharpies.

If you haven't done so yet, please check out the new Photo center on Shutterfly. While I am still less than thrilled with the new power uploader, the new photo center is just rockin'!

Twins beat storm, Pirates in Bradenton

GCL Pirates 2 at GCL Twins 8

W: J. Mijares (1-2, 3.93); L: G. Alvarado (4-2, 3.43); SV: M. Mopas (1)
HR: TWI: A. Hicks (4), D. Ortiz (2), H. Lara (1).

The GCL Twins used home field advantage at the Pirates complex and 10 hits to win 8-2 against their South Division rival. The game was moved to Bradenton due to the stormy conditions in Fort Myers as the Lee County Sportsplex and the surrounding area prepared for the arrival of Tropical Storm Fay.

The Pirates came out of the gate like a baby hurricane with Adenson Chourio singling off starter Jean Mijares. Ben Gonzalez would strike out, but Chourio stole 2nd and Jarek Cunningham doubled him in. Edward Garcia's ground out advanced the runner and Carlos Silva's ground ball single to center brought him in.

Aaron Hicks homered in the bottom of the inning to cut the Pirates lead in half. Danny Ortiz would follow suite in the bottom of the 4th, to tie up the game. Both balls went over the right field fence, helped by storm brought winds.

Josmir Pinto singled and then moved ot 2nd on Jakub Hajtmar's sac bunt. Juan Sanchez doubled him in. Herbert Lara made use to the wind to put his first home run of the year over the right field fence, scoring two. The Pirates were starting to hate that fence. Following a bunt out to Hicks and a single to Anderson Hidalgo, the Pirates would switch pitchers bringing in Ivan Herrera-Rusova to temporarily quell the Twins' fun.

The top of the seventh would see Sanchez double and Lara reach on Cunningham's throwing error. Hicks would take a walk, loading the bags. Hidalgo flew out and Ortiz struck out, but Mike Gonazales tripled to clean off the bases making it 8-2 Twins.

Mijares would work six inning allowing 2 runs, earned on five hits and a walk. Ian Mopas finished off, allowing just one hit and a pair of walks while fanning two over three innings.

Sanchez would finish off 2-for-3 with a walk, a pair of doubles, two runs and a RBI. Ortiz and Gonzales went 2-for-4 at th plate, Ortiz with a run and a RBI as one of the game's three yard birds, and Gonzales with a triple and 3 RBIs. Hicks was 1-for-3 with a walk, a pair of runs, and a RBI. Hidalgo, Pinto and Lara were each 1-for-4, Pinto with a run, Lara with 2 runs and 2 RBI, leaving Hidalgo to be the one hit wonder of the game.

Tuesday's game against the GCL Orioles has been postponed due to Tropical Storm Fay. Wednesday's game again the Reds will be a game day decision based on the condition of the fields following the storm.

Box
Log

---

DSL Twins 5 at DSL Yankees2

W: J. Garcia (3-0, 2.79); L: J. Arias (5-4, 3.12); SV: E. Alvarez (13)
HR: None.

After three days off, the DSL Twins were a little slow coming out the gate, but finished up strong, pulling out a 5-3 win over the DSL Yankees2 on the road.

Orlando Villaroel took the start for the Twins and saw Eduardo Sosa reach on a fielding error by shortstop Carlos Vasquez. Jhorge Liccien then singled to advance Sosa to 3rd. Kelvin De Leon would fly out before Reymond Nunez reached on a fielder's choice that took Sosa out at home. Henry Pena followed that up with a double however, that plated Liccien, giving the Yankees2 one run. Villaroel would then take Jose Toussen down on strikes to end the innings.

Liccien doubled in the bottom of the 3rd and came home on De Leon's follow up single, which game the home team a two run lead.

Villaroel worked five, allowing the 2 runs, only one earned on 7 hits while striking out 3. Johnny Garcia would take over the mound in the sixth inning.

In the bottom of the 7th Juan Rijo singled then moved to 2nd on Keny Rodriguez's ground out. A wild pitch by Garcia put him on 3rd. Sosa would strike out, but Liccien doubled to drive him in, giving the Yankees2 a 3-0 lead.

Elvin Orozco would take over the mound for the Yankees2 in the top of the 8th. With two outs on the board, Felix Caro and Jhonatan Arias hit back-to-back singles for the Twins. Wilfy Gil's fly ball single then plated Caro, to give the Twins 1 and spoil the Yankees2 shut out bid.

It would be spoiled even further in the top of the 9th, when Oswaldo Arcia doubled and advanced to 3rd on a fielding error by Sosa in center. Jairo Perez would go down on strikes but Eliel Sierra singled, driving in Arcia. This triggered a pitching change with Justo Arias taking the Yankees2 mound. He'd issue a walk to Rafael Sanchez to start. The Twins would insert a couple of pinch runners, with Yancarlo Franco taking over for Sierra and Juan Blanco taking Sanchez's place on the base paths. Jean Carlos Mercedes lined out, but Danny Santana, coming in as a pinch hitter for Caro tripled to drive in two, giving the Twins the lead. Arias's single plated Santana to finish off the scoring.

Edison Alvarez blanked the Yankees2 in the bottom of the inning to pick up his 13th save of the season.

Arias was 2-for-4 at the plate with a RBI, Gil was 2-for-5 with a RBI. Arica, Perez and Sierra were all 1-for-4, Arcia with a double and a run, Perez with a double and Sierra with a RBI.

The DSL Twins host the DSL Rockies on Tuesday for a 10:30 am Dominican time contest. They are tied for 2nd in the North Division, trailing the DSL Yankees2 by one game with five left to play.

Box
Log

Twins top O's on wild pitch

GCL Orioles 6 at GCL Twins 7

W: K. Mota (2-0, 1.21); L: J. Reyes (0-3, 3.32)
HR: None.

The GCL Twins scored in the bottom of the 10th inning to pick up a 7-6 win over the GCL Orioles on Thursday at the Lee County Sportsplex.

The Orioles jumped on Jean Mijares early when Garabez Rosa doubling with one out on the board. Luis Ramirez flew out, but Jerome Hoes and Edinho Meyer both took walks to load the bags. Omar Casamayor doubled to clean them off. Casamayor would try to stretch it for a triple however and was taken out at 3rd on the throw, letting the Twins have a turn at the plate.

Anderson Hidalgo took a walk then stole 2nd base. A throwing error by catcher Janensis Guerrero advanced him to 3rd. Danny Ortiz would take a walk before Mike Gonzalez doubled to plate Hidalgo. Jae-Hyung Jang struck out and Reggie Wiliams popped out to end the inning.

Hyun-wook Choi singled out to right, then stole second. Wang-Wei Lin, newly reactivated off the DL, took a walk. Juan Sanchez singled to fill the bases. Hicks would pop out before Hidalgo sacrificed in Wook to make it 3-2 O's.

The Twins would tie it up in the 3rd with Mike Gonzales singling. J.J. would reach on a force attempt and Williams single again saw three men on. Wook sacrificed Gonzales in this time for the equalizer.

Miguel Achil replaced Donis De La Cruz for the bottom of the 4th, and got Hicks and Hidalgo to ground out before allowing a line drive single to center. Ortiz then stole 2nd, and would be doubled in by Gonzales to put the Twins on top. Jakub Hajtmar would replace Gonzales as a pitch runner, and J.J. singled Hajtmar in. A wild pitch ty Achil moved J.J. to 3rd, but Williams would ground out to end the inning.

Mijares would hit Xavier Avery with a pitch in the top of the 5th. After Rosa flew out and Ramirez popped out, Avery stole 2nd. Hoes then singled to drive Avery in, to put the Orioles down by only one.

Marcus Moore replaced Achil in the bottom of the sixth, and Hicks singled. Hidalgo doubled to drive in Hicks restoring the two run lead.

The top of the eighth saw Ramirez and Hoes hit back-to-back singles. Meyers' sac-bunt moved the pair and a single to Casamayor scored Ramierz. Grolman Gonzalez sacrificed in Hoes to tie up the game.

Kelvin Mota would replace Tonkin for the top of the ninth. Despite allowing singles to Avery and Rosa, he'd manged to keep the O's off the board. Neither could the Twins capitalize on Hidalgo's walk in the bottom half of the stanza, so the game went into extra innings.

Edinho Meyer singled in the top of the 10th, but Mota took Casamayor out on strikes and got Gonzalez and Guerro to ground out to send the Twins to the plate.

Jean Carlos Reyes took over the pitching for the Orioles and allowed a lead off single to Williams. Wook's sac-bunt moved him to 2nd and a wild pitch by Reyes got him to 3rd. Reyes then unleashed a second wild pitch, putting Williams over the plate and handing the Twins the win.

Gonzales finished up 3-for-3 with a pair of doubles, a run and a pair of RBIs. Williams was 2-for-5 with a run. Wook and Sanchez were both 1-for-3, Wook with a run and a RBI and Sanchez with a walk.

Hidalgo was 1-for-2 with a pair of walks, a double, a run and two runs scored. Ortiz was 1-for-4 with a walk and a run and J.J. and Hicks were each 1-for-5, J.J. with a RBI, Hicks with a run.

The Twins face the Reds on Friday at the Lee County Sportsplex for a noon game; they travel to the City of Palms complex on Saturday for a 10:00 AM contest.

Box
Log

---

DSL Twins 6 at DSL Diamondbacks/Reds 1

W: A. Salcedo (4-4, 1.42); L: T. Gutierrez (1-8, 4.19)
HR: None.

The DSL Twins knocked out six run on 10 hits to down the DSL Diamondbacks/Reds on the road Thursday morning.

Henry Rodriguez tripled in the bottom of the first for the Dia-Reds, and came home one out later on a Angel Logrono single for the only host run.

Randy Pina doubled, then moved to 3rd on a Carlos Vasquez sac-bunt in the top of the 3rd. Danny Santana singled him in, then stole 2nd base. Yorby Martinez would reach on fielding error, plating Santana for the second Twins run.

Vasquez singled in the top of the fifth, then advanced on back-to-back ground outs by Santana and Martinez. Mercedes would single him in, for the insurance run.

Gustavo Delgado would replace Dia-Reds starter Teo Gutierrez for the top of the six. Felix Caro flew out before Yancarlo Franco singled and advanced to 2nd on Delgado's throwing error. Juan Blanco took a walk and Pina would be hit by a pitch to load the bags. Franco would try to steal home but would be caught. He should have stayed where he was as Vasquez was then walked. Mario Lujan was brought in to replace Delgado, and Danny Santana doubled off him to clean off the plates, scoring three.

Blanco and Pina were both 2-for-3, Blanco with a triple and a run and Pina with a double and a pair of runs to lead the attack. Danny Santana was 2-for-5 with a double, a run and 4 RBIs. Vasquez was 1-for-2 with a walk and 2 runs.

Mercedes and Franco finished up 1-for-4 each at the plate, Mercedes with a walk and a RBI, while Franco shared the one his wonder title with Jairo Rodriguez, who ended the game 1-for-5.

Adrian Salcedo picked up his 4th win of the season, allowing 1 earned run on 3 hits and a pair of walks while striking out 8 over 5.2 innings.

The Twins host the DSL Cubs1 on Friday for a 10:30 AM Dominican time game. The two teams are tied at 40-24 each for third place in the DSL B.C. North Division, 2 games behind the division leading DSL Yankees2.

Box
Log

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.

Twins split with Red Sox

GCL Twins 4 at GCL Red Sox 10

W: M. Lennox (1-2, 5.00); L: A. Sanchez (2-2, 3.38)
HR: RSX: R. Feliz (7).

A 5-run sixth inning broke open a close game and gave the GCL Red Sox a huge win the in the completion of the game that was suspended on Sunday, July 27.

Angelo Sanchez had taken the start and would be back on the mound when the game resumed.

Juan Sanchez would reach in the top of the 3rd on a play that took Jon Goncalves out at home. Aaron Hicks, who had singled his way on to base, would move to 3rd on the play. Sanchez advanced to 2nd when short stop Derrik Gibson missed the throw on a caught stealing attempt. Danny Ortiz would ground out, moving Sanchez to 3rd and Hicks would score on the play. A Mike Gonzales single then sent Sanchez home to give the Twins a two run lead early.

Joantoni Garcia walked in the bottom of the 3rd and Kenneth Roque singled to move him to second. A walk to Christian Vazquez loaded the bags but Angelo would get Wilfred Pichardo out on strikes. Derrik Gibson ground into a force out that put Garcia over the plate and took Vazquez out at 3nd. Bryan Peterson went down on strikes to end the inning.

Tyler Ladendorf singled and stole second. Danny Rohlfing would be called out on strikes before Javier Brown singled to move Ladendorf to 3rd. Goncalves would ground into a force out that took Brown out at 2nd, but allowed Ladendorf to score. Hicks would triple Goncalves in to make it 4-1 Twins.

Roberto Feliz homered in the bottom of the 4th, a solo shot to cut the lead in half.

Michael Lennoz would replace Wang-Yi Lin in the top of the 5th. Despite a double to Gonzales and a wild pitch, the Twins could not convert. In the bottom of the stanza Pichardo tripled and came home on a Gibson single to make it 4-3 Twins.

Then came the bottom of the sixth. Chih-Hsiang Huang and Andrew Frezza both took singles off Sanchez to start. Garcia would move the pair on a sac-bunt, and Roque singled to score Huang. Vazquez ground into a force out that plated Frezza but took Roque out at 2nd. Pichardo would steal second and Gibson walked. Peterson then singled, which - combined with a missing catch error by Ladendorf at short and a throwing error by Hicks in center - cleaned off the bags, to make it 8-4 Red Sox.

Sloppy play boys! Sloppy play!

The Red Sox iced their cake in the bottom of the eighth with Roque singling. After Vazquez flew out, Pichardo singled. The two runners then orchestrated a double steal. Gibson would double out to left to bring in the pair.

Angelo Sanchez would take the loss, giving up 8 runs, six earned on 10 hits and 3 walks. He would fan 9 over six innings however.

Gonzales was 4-for-5 at the plate with a double and a RBI. Hicks was 2-for-4 with a triple, a run and RBI. Juan Sanchez, Ladendorf and Goncalves were all 1-for-4 with a run, Goncalves with a run scored as well. Brown, 1-for-3 would share the one hit wonder title with pinch hitters Hyeong-rok Choi and Jakub Hajtmar, both of which singled in the top of the ninth. A wild pitch would move the pair but Gonzales would strike out, ending the contest.

Box
Log

GCL Red Sox 1 at GCL Twins 4

W: K. Nanney (2-0, 1.50); L: C. Cabral (1-3, 6.03)
HR: None.

The Twins got a bit of revenge in the regularly scheduled game, which was shortened to 7 innings. A pair of errors by Red Sox pitcher Cesar Cabral would lead to a 3-run sixth inning to give the GCL Twins a 4-1 win.

Mike Gonzales and Hyeong-rok Choi hit back-to-back doubles off Cabral in the bottom of the 2nd to open the scoring.

The Red Sox would tie it right back up however, with Wilfred Pichardo singling then stealing 2nd. Gibson would steal 3rd, and a throwing error by Josmil Pinto would allow Pichardo to score.

It would stay that way though until the bottom of the sixth. Danny Ortiz singled and moved to second on a Tyler Ladendorf sac-bunt. A fielding error by Cabral allowed Ladendorf to reach 1st. Gonzales singled to drive in the speedy Ortiz and. Ladendorf would go to second, but Gonzales evidently though he was going to 3rd and kept running. He'd be taken out in between first and second by second baseman Kenneth Roque. A throwing error on a pick off attempt moved Ladendorf to 3rd. Rok would reach on a fielder's choice that took Ladendorf out at home. Pinto then tripled in Rok and a fielding error by Chih-Hsiang Huang allowed Jakub Hajtmar to reach and Pinto to score.

Gonzales was 2-for-3 with a run and a run scored in the designated hitter role. Ortiz, Rok and Pinto were all 1-for-3 with a run, Rok with a double and a run scored and Pinto with a RBI as well. Herbert Lara was 1-for-4 with a double. Hajtmar would end up as the one hit wonder, going 1-for-3.

Box
Log
Herald Tribune
Sox and Dawgs Blog

---

DSL Indians 2 at DSL Twins 4

W: E. Cardenas (5-1, 1.47); L: E. Araujo (3-2, 1.96); SV: L. Parra (1)
HR: None.

The DSL Twins doubled up the DSL Indians at home on Friday. Oswaldo Arcia would have two of the Twins four runs.

Danny Santana would lead off the bottom of the fourth with a line drive to left, then steal 2nd base. Jean Carlos Mercedes' sac bunt moved him to 3rd and Arcia singled to drive him in. Eliel Sierra singled, moving Arcia to 3rd. A wild pitch by Indian's starter Elvis Araujo plated Arcia and sent Sierra to 2nd. Manuel Soliman would pop out, but Jhonatan Arias singled to scored Sierra before Felix Caro ground out to end the inning.

Twins starter Eliecer Cardenas allowed only 2 hits over five innings, striking out 2. The tribe would score on him when Darling Read tripled, then came home on a Roman Vinicio ground out.

Leonardo Parra replaced Cardenas on the mound in the top of the sixth, and after getting Joly Fermin and Agustin Avila to strike out, allowed a triple to Argenis Martinez. Jesus Brito singled out to center to plate Martinez before Rolando Petit popped out to send the Twins back up to bat.

Arcia tripled off Indians' reliever Ramon Cespedes and one out later, came home on Soliman's line drive single to left.

The win was Cardenas' fifth of the season, Parra would record his first save, allowing 1 run on four hits while fanning 5 over four innings worth of work.

For the home boys, Santana and Arcia were both 2-for-4, Arcia with a RBI to go with his pair of runs, Santana with a run. Soliman, Arias and Yorby Martinez were all 1-for-3, the first two with RBIs, leaving Martinez to become the one hit wonder of the game. Sierra finished up 1-for-4 with a run.

Box
Log

Twins double up Reds

GCL REds 3 at GCL Twins 6

W: J. Testa (1-0, 0.00); L: R. Ceballos (3-1, 8.18); SV: M. Schiavoni (1)
HR: TWI: D. Ortiz (1).

Joe Testa picked up his first professional win and Danny Ortiz went yard as the GCL Twins downed the GCL Reds in a game that saw the Reds use a plethora of pitchers.

One assumes it was a bull pen start and they were trying to use the whole bullpen.

The Reds got on the board first with Mauricio Pimentel singling off of Martire Garcia. Samuel Vasquez would fly out, but Yen-Wen Kuo took a walk, moving Pimentel to 2nd. Efrain Contreras' single scored Pimentel and Donald Lutz's follow up single plated Kuo. Frank Pfister would ground into a force out that took down Contreras. Eli Rimes walked to load the bags, but Garcia got Todd Waller to strike out swinging to strand the Reds runners.

After a fly out to Aaron Hicks and a ground out to Anderson Hidalgo, Danny Ortiz singled, then moved to 2nd on a wild pitch. Andres Diaz drew a walk. Efrain Rodriguez would be called for a balk moving the pair, and then unleashed a wild pitch that scored Ortiz. Mike Gonzales then singled in Diaz to tie up the game. Hyeong-rok Choi also singled, moving Gonzales to second. That marked the first pitching change as Matteo Pizziconi, one of two Italian pitchers on the Reds staff, replaced Rodriguez on the mound. Pizziconi would get Josmir Pinto out on strikes to end the inning.

(Oh, no wonder I'm confused. The Twins roster has him listed as Josmir, while MiLB has him down as Josmil. Poor kid!)

Garcia would walk Vasquez, but otherwise kept the top of the 2nd a short affair.

After a pair of ground outs, Aaron Hicks took a walk, then stole 2nd. Pizziconi would try to pick him off but put the ball into the outfield instead, moving Hicks to 3rd. Hidalgo took a walk, but Pizziconi got Ortiz to ground out, leaving Hicks stranded. This would become on ongoing theme through out the game, as Hicks simply could not get past 3rd.

Lutz singled off Garcia with one out on the board in the top of the 3rd, then stole 2nd base. Rimes doubled him in, putting the Reds back on top.

Luca Panerati, the other Italian on the Reds staff, replaced his countryman for the 3rd inning, getting Diaz to ground out and Gonzales and Rok to fly out.

Joe Testa would replace Garcia in the top of the 4th, and would work the next three innings, fanning 3.

Justin Walker showed up on the hill for the bottom of the fourth. Pinto Singled and Juan Sanchez took a walk. Herbert Lara would advance the pair on a sac-bunt. Following a pop out to Hicks, Hidalgo singled to plate Pinto. Sanchez would try to come home as well, but was called out at home, ending the inning with the game knotted up again.

The bottom of the fifth got Rafael Ceballos out to the hill. Ortiz greeted him with his first home run of the season, putting the ball over the right field fence. Funny, for a little guy, he sure has a lot of power. Diaz ground out but Gonzales singled. Rok would be hit by a pitch. Pinto would go down on strikes before Sanchez singled out to left to drive in Gonzales. A fielding error by Theodis Bowe in left advanced the runners. That did it for Ceballos as the Reds got David Torcise out of the bullpen. He'd get Lara to pop out to end the inning.

Torcise got to come back out for the bottom of the sixth. Hicks would reach on a throwing error and Hidalgo would move him on a sac-bunt. After Ortiz went down on strikes, Torcise unleashed a wild pitch that moved Hicks to 3rd. Sadly Diaz flew out, leaving Hicks stranded again.

The Twins put Ian Mopas on the mound for the top of the 7th. Ian has been complaining of a sore shoulder, but he got Bowe and Pimentel to ground out before allowing a single to Vasquez. Kuo would then pop out to end send the Twins out to bat again. "That went rather well," Mopas said after the game. Yes, it did.

Raul Rodriguez was the lucky recipient of a trip to the mound for the Reds in the bottom of the 7th. He'd allow walks to Gonzales and Rok but would get Pinto to line into a double play. Sanchez singled in Gonzales. I have to say, at 6'6" and 245 lbs, watching the former Diablo Valley Viking bear down on you the plate is a pretty daunting image for any catcher. I was sitting just to the right of the plate and got to see it twice. Glad he's on our team!

Mauro Schiavoni worked both the top of the 8th and the 9th for the Twins and did a fine job keeping the Reds hitless over the two, earning his first professional save.

Hector Santana would be the last of the Reds pitchers we'd have the pleasure of seeing, and he'd give up a triple to Aaron Hicks. Hicks was again left on base though as Hidalgo went down on strikes and Ortiz and Diaz then popped out.

Gonzales and Sanchez were both 2-for-3, Gonzales with a pair of runs and a RBI, and Sanchez with walk and 2 runs scored. Ortiz was 2-for-5 with 2 runs and a RBI, courtesy of the homer. Hicks and Pinto were each 1-for-4, hicks with a triple and walk and Pinto with a run. Hidalgo was 1-for-3 with a walk and a RBI. Rok was 1-for-2 with a walk, while Diaz, who finish up 0-for-4 with walk, chipped in a run as well.

The Twins face the Red Sox Sunday at the City of Palms Complex for a noon game. They rest on Monday.

Box
Log

GCL Red Sox edge GCL Twins, 3-2

GCL Red Sox 3 at GCL Twins 2

W: P. Ruiz (1-1, 8.68); L: M. Garcia (0-1, 4.44); SV: P. Perez (1)
HR: None.e

The GCL Red Sox edged out the GCL Twins Saturday during a morning game at the Lee County Sportsplex, picking up 2 runs in the six inning for a 3-2 win.

Kyle Snyder took the start on the mound for the Red Sox on a rehab assignment working 3 innings. Juan Sanchez singled off Snyder to lead off the bottom of the third, and moved to second on Bert Lara's ground out. Jon Goncalves flew out before a wild pitch by Snyder put Sanchez on 3rd. Aaron Hick's line drive to right drove in Sanchez to put the Twins on the board. T.J. was just mentioning earlier how Hicks never uses his speed to steal. Well, guess what T.J.? That's right, Hicks stole 2nd. Too bad you missed it. Sadly it would do the Twins little good as Danny Ortiz ground out, to end the inning.

Martire Garcia, who I've now decided to call Marty because I can't pronounce his name right otherwise, took the start for the Twins, working 5.1 innings. He'd walk Jeff Natale in the top of the 5th, and Natale would advance on a balk. Moko Moanaroa would ground out on what appeared to be a full count, although Red Sox fielding manager Dave Tomlin had some other ideas on the matter after the Umpire seemed to lose track of the balls and strikes. After some fussing about, Chih-Hsiang Huang would reach on a fielding error by Sanchez that allowed Natale to score, tying up the game.

Wilfred Pichardo singled on a ground bunt to get on board in the top of the sixth, but would be caught stealing 2nd. Andrew Frezza and Michael Almanzar then took singles off Garcia, and Roberto Feliz would be hit by a pitch. That would end it for Garcia, as Joe Testa came into the game to replace him. A wild pitch by Testa scored Frezza, and a sac-fly by Jeff Natale drove in Almanzar to put the Sox on top.

Garcia finished up allowing the 3 runs, 2 earned, on 4 hits and a pair of walks while striking out 2.

Peter Ruiz relieved Snyder, starting at the top of the 4th. He'd get Tyler Ladendorf out on strikes before Mike Gonzales smacked a line drive out to center. Josmil Pinto would reach on force attempt that failed due to a fielding error by Kenneth Roque. A wild pitch by Ruiz moved the pair and Javier Brown - who finally got to play after getting hit the face with a ball in the first game while sitting on the bench - ground out to score Gonzales. Sanchez would ground out however to end the inning leaving the tying run on base.

Testa would work 1.2 innings before giving way to Bruce Pugh who finished off the contest.

Gonzales and Brown were both 2-for-4, Gonzales with a run and Brown with a run scored. Hicks, Ortiz and Sachez all had singles, Hicks with a walk and a run scored, and Sanchez with a run, leaving Ortiz to become the one hit wonder of the game.

The boys take Sunday off. They will travel up to Bradenton on Monday for a visit to Pirate City. Game time is Noon.

Box
Log

DSL Twins 1 at DSL Yankees2 6

W: W. Eusebio (3-4, 6.92); L: C. Carrillo (0-2, 8.66)
HR: DSL TWI: J. Mercedes (2).

The DSL Twins fell on the road to the DSL Yankees2, getting only 1 run on 2 hits.

Orlando Villaroel worked the first 4 innings for the Twins, allowing only 1 hit and a pair of walks to the Yankees while striking out 3 before giving way to Carlos Carrillo. The Venezuelan righty would allow six runs on 8 hits and walk while striking out 3 in the fifth and sixth innings.

The Twins would not get onto the board until the top of the 7th when Jean Carlos Mercedes hit his second home run of the season over the center field fence.

Jhonatan Arias had the only other hit for the Twins, a single making his the one hit wonder of the game. Five different Twins players walked with Xavier Gonzalez getting a pair of free passes, but the walks didn't help much without some hits to go along with it.

Much like the GCL counterparts, the DSL Twins will rest on Sunday. They host the DSL Diamondback/Reds for a game on Monday at 10:30 AM Dominican time.

Box
Box

Seen around the ball park:



Wang-Yi Lin with his Twin brother Wang-Wei Lin



6'9" Swen Huijer with fellow Dutchman Tom Stuifbergen