"Big Country" rocks Tampa

Fort Myers 6 at Tampa 1

W: T. Robertson (4-2, 2.76); L: C. Garcia (2-2, 4.12)
HR: TAM: J. Calzado (4).

One of the best pitchers currently in the Florida State League didn't make it to the FSL All-star game. Southpaw Tyler Robertson worked all nine innings against the Tampa Yankees, allowing 1 run on 5 hits and 1 walk while striking out 5.

Brian Dinkelman and Edward Ovalle opened up the game with back-to-back singles. Danny Valencia drew a walk to load the bases. Whit Robbins would sacrifice in Dinkelman before Wilson Ramos hit a double that brought in Ovalle and Valencia. Following a ground out to Eli Tintor, Danny Santiesteban doubled to plate Ramos, giving the Miracle an early 4 run lead.

Ramos, Tintor and Santiesteban all took singles off Tampa starter Chris Garcia to add another run to the total. A wild pitch moved the pair left on base, and Rocky Palacios took a walk to load the bags. Yancarlos Ortiz ground into a force out that scored Tintor, to make it 6-0 Miracle.

Josue Calzado homered - his fourth of the season - off Robinson in the bottom of the fifth for the lone Yankees run.

Santiesteban was 3-for-5 with a pair of RBIs, Ramos was 2-for-4 with 2 runs and 2 RBIs, and Dinkelman and Ovalle were both 2-for-5 with a run each.

The Miracle return home for a 3-game set against the Dunedin Blue Jays on Monday. Cole Devries (4-4, 3.70) will handle the pitching chores for the Miracle, while Dunedin is expected to counter with Rob Ray (4-2, 4.66).

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Trenton 9 at New Britain 3

W: J. Jones (8-1, 2.28); L: O. Sosa (2-5, 6.88)
HR: NBR: T. Plouffe (3).

It was a different story at New Britain Stadium as Oswaldo Sosa allowed 6 runs on 5 hits and 7 walks while striking out 5 over 5 innings. The lefty got little run support form the Cats, who only manged 3 runs on 9 hits and 5 walks.

Dustin Martin took a walk in the 5th. Trevor Plouffe followed that up with a double. Following a Jeff Christy ground out, Luke Hughes would also hit into a ground out but managed to plate Martin in the process.

The Cats picked up two more in the 7th - one on a solo shot home run by Plouffe and the other coming off back-to-back walks to Christy and Hughes. A Steve Tolleson single would bring in Christy for the 3rd Rock Cats run.

Matt Moses and David Winfree were both 2-for-4 but did not factor into the scoring. Plouffe was 2-for-3 with a run and a run scored.

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Scranton/WB 7 at Rochester 8

W: P. Humber (3-5, 5.53); L: S. White (4-3, 4.55); SV: B. Korecky (6)
HR: SWB: E. Duncan (6). ROC: C. Basak (4).

The 3-way battle of the farm systems concluded with the Rochester Red Wings picking up a 8-7 win from the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees.

Phillip Humber allowed 5 runs on 6 hits and 2 walks while striking out 4 over six inning for his 3rd win of the season. While those numbers are not great, for once, the Red Wings bats were up to the task.

Rochester started out a six-run third inning with Chris Basek homering, his fourth of the year, over the left field wall. Ryan Jorgenson would get plunked by a pitch. Tommy Watkins singled and Jason Pridie walked to load the bags. Darnell McDonald would sacrifice in Jorgenson and Garrett Jones would single to again fill up the bases. Brian Buscher then walked to force in a run. Sergio Santos doubled in three more before the Yankees could find the third out.

Jogensen would single in the bottom of the 4th, move to second on a Watkins Sac-bunt, and to 3rd on a fielding error by Ben Broussard. Darrell McDonald's ground out served to plate him, adding another run to the Red Wings total.

Buscher and Randy Ruiz would hit singles in the bottom of the fifth. Two outs later, they paid dividends when Jorgensen singled in Buscher.

Jorgenson was an unlikely hero, going 2-for-3 with 2 runs a run scored. Watkins was 2-for-4 with a run. Buscher was 1-for-2 with a pair of walks, 2 runs and a RBI.

The Wings are the only team not quite done with the Yankees farm, as they play one more against Scranton Monday at 7:05 PM.

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Beloit Snappers (Midwest League, Single-A) lefthanded pitcher Michael Tarsi is the Twins Minor League Player of the Week for May 24-May 30. The 21-year-old allowed just one run on eight hits in two starts. He went 2-0 and struck out 15 batters in 12.0 innings while walking just one.

Tarsi was the Twins 12th round selection in the 2007 First-Year Player draft out of University of Connecticut. He made his professional debut last season going 5-2 with a 2.22 ERA for Elizabethton.

Roger's Minor League Report is now online and he names Juan Portes as his player of the week.

Clinton battles - literally - past Beloit

Sure he can hit, but how's his right hook?

Beloit 6 at Clinton 8

W: C. Dennis (2-1, 0.54); L: S. Steedley (2-2, 2.35); SV: J. Quintero (1)
HR: CLI: M. Moreland (5).

The Clinton Lumber Kings used a 3-run 8th inning to rally past the Beloit Snappers and win, 8-6

Beloit had taken the lead early, with a 5-fun second inning. Steve Singleton would lead off with walk and Joe Benson's bunt moved him to second. Following a strike out to Chris Parmelee, Danny Lehmann hit into a force out that left runners at the corners. Ramon Santana then walked to load the bags. Ben Revere would double to dive in the lot, putting 3 runs on the board. Venice, Florida, native Chris Cates hit is own double, trading places with Revere. In what seemed like a 2-for-Tuesday double fest, Garrett Olson then hit for an extra base, bringing in Cates. Ozzie Lewis would fly out to end the inning, leaving the Snappers with a five run lead.

Mike McCardell worked four scoreless inning for the Snappers. Following a ground out to Jose Felix in the bottom of the fifth, Matt Lawson bunt his way onto first. Miguel Alfanzo would be called out on strikes, but Engel Beltre hit a fly ball single to center and Renny Osuna took a walk to load up the bags for Clinton. Mitchell Morland then hit a grand slam, his fith of the year, to put the Lumber Kings back in the game.

McCardell would finish up with 4 runs on 5 hits and 3 walks while striking out 2 over five innings. Loek Van Mil would take over for the sixth inning.

In the top of the 7th, Santana and Revere hit back to back singles. Cates moved the pair on a sac-bunt. Following a pitching change, Garrett Olson would reach on a fielder's choice that took Santana out at the plate. Ozzie Lewis then singled to bring in Revere giving the Snappers another run.

It would not last long however as Beltre and Osuna hit back-to-back singles. Nelson Prada would call for Spencer Steedley from the bullpen to try to stop the Lumber Kings, but he would give up a single to Moreland to load the bags. Ian Gac struck out swinging before Timonthy Smith ground into a force out that scored Beltre. That's all that Clinton would get though, despite a walk to Jonathan Green and a wild pitch by Steedley.

Lawson would draw a walk to start the 8th inning. Alfonzo and Beltre both singled to load the bags before Renny Osuna ground into a force out that caught Lawson at home, saving the run. Steve Hirschfield would come in to replace Steedley. And Ian Gac singled out left, an interference call to Cates, and a throwing error by Lewis brought in three runs. At which point all hell broke loose.

A brawl started out on the field and a number of players received ejections including Lewis, pitcher Charles Nolte, catcher Greg Yersich, Singleton, and Lehmann. Four Clinton players also saw themselves tossed from the field. The Midwest League will like impose further sanctions after the incident is reviewed.

Benson would end up catching the rest of the game and pitcher Matt Williams would be pressing into service as a right fielder to finish out the contest.

Revere was 3-for-5 at the plate with a pair of runs and 3 RBIs, while Cates was 2-for-3 with a walk, a run and a run scored.

The Snappers begin a four-game series against the Quad City River Bandits at home starting at 4:00 PM On Sunday.

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Wings drop pair to Yankees

I was hoping after picking up a sweep against Charlotte that they Rochester Red Wings would have picked up their game as well, but with the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees in town, that seems not to be the case.

Friday: Scranton/WB 6 at Rochester 3

W: J. Marquez (4-6, 5.55); L: C. Daigle (0-3, 2.67); SV: S. Patterson (3)
HR: SWB: E. Duncan (5). ROC: D. McDonald (6).

One would like to believe that the Wings have been seriously hurt by call ups to the bigs, but prior to that, they were not winning the way they should have been.

Friday night they took the early lead when Darnell McDonald homered. McDonald has been a key part of the Wings offense - in some cases the only part of the Wings offense. Brian Buscher would fallow that up with a double, but Garrett Jones could not keep up his end of the bargain, flying out to end the inning.

Randy Ruiz singled and Jose Morales double in the bottom of the 2nd. Serigo Santos would reach on a fielders choice. Yankees 3rd baseman Nick Green would field the ball and throw to home in an attempt to save the run, but catcher Chris Stewart could not get a handle on the ball, and Ruiz added one to the Red Wings total. Chris Basak's sac-bunt moved Morales to 3rd, and he'd come home on a Tommy Watkins ground out to make it 3-0 Red Wings.

In the top of the 3rd Eric Duncan hit his fifth home run of the year to put the Yankees on the board. A Bernie Castro single and a Brett Gardner double lead to another run in the top of the 5th when Alberto Gonzalez sacrificed in Castro.

In the top of the 6h, Casey Daigle would replace former Miracle pitcher Brian Duensing on the mound. He'd allow a double to Greg Porter and one out later, a Double to Duncan to tie up the score. Castro would then reach on a fielding error by Jason Pridie, putting the Yankees on top.

Tim Lahey took over for Daigle in the top of the 8th, allowing a single to Porter. Chris Stewart would move him on a a sac-bunt, and a wild pitch would get Porter to 3rd. Duncan's single brough Porter home. A second single to Castro put 2 men in scoring position when a throwing error by Basak put the ball in the first base dugout. Lahey then walked Gardner intentionally. He got Gonzalez out on strikes, but a walk to Jason Lee forced in the final run of the contest.

Basak was 2-for-3 in the contest but did not figure into the scoring Randy Ruiz and Jose Morales were both 2-for-4 with a run each. Buscher was 3-for-4 with a double.

Garrett Jones went 0-for-3 with a walk, snapping his seven-game hitting streak. Jones has hit safely in 11 of his last 12 games.

The Red Wings had won nine of their last 10 games (includes the 2006 playoff games) vs. Scranton at Frontier Field before Friday.

The paid attendance was 10,566, the largest of the season for the Wings so far.

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RHP Bobby Korecky was optioned to Rochester from Minnesota Friday. Korecky appeared in nine games for the Twins, going 1-0 with a 3.48 ERA. Prior to his promotion to Minnesota, Korecky was 2-1 with five saves and a 0.68 ERA in 10 games for Rochester. Korecky was optioned to Rochester to make room for LHP Craig Breslow, who was claimed off waivers from the Cleveland Indians. Breslow was 0-0 with a 3.24 ERA in seven appearances for Cleveland. Korecky was in uniform for Friday's game.

Saturday: Scranton/WB 5 at Rochester 2 (10 Innings)

W: D. Robertson (2-0, 2.25); L: J. DePaula (1-2, 5.76)
HR: SWB: J. Lane (11). ROC: D. McDonald (7).

The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees pulled out a win in extra innings Saturday at Frontier Field. Chris Steward doubled off former Miracle Julio DePaula. He would be replaced by pinch-runner Bernie Castro. Brett Gardner lay down a sac bunt that moved him to 3rd, and then a wild pitch by DePaula allowed Castro to cross the plate scoring the game winning run.

Alberto Gonzalez's follow up single, and Jason Lane's home run, were just icing on the cake for the Yankees.

The game had been tight up until that point. Francisco Lirino took the start for the Rochester Red Wings. He'd allow a walk to Lane in the first and hit Ben Broussard with a pitch while he struggled with his control, but was able to get Cody Ransom to ground into a force out to end the first inning.

Much like the previous night's game, Darnell McDonald opened up the scoring with a home run to left field in the bottom of the first. S/WB took the run right back however when Justin Christian singled and moved to second on Nick Green's ground out. Eric Duncan then singled out to left to score Christian.

After a scoreless third inning, the Wings would get offensively minded again in the bottom of the 4th when Randy Ruiz and Jose Morales hit back-to-back singles with one out on the board. They moved on a wild pitch by Yankee starter Jeff Karstens. Chris Basak would sacrifice in Ruiz, but the other two would be stranded with Tommy Watkins ground out.

It would take until the bottom of the seventh for the Yankees to tie it up. Bobby Korecky would replace Liriano who'd hit his pitch count after he struck out Christian. Green doubled to greet Korecky, and a Duncan single moved him to 3rd. A wild pitch put Green over the plate for the equalizing run.

Brian Buscher would lead off the bottom of the 10th with a double, but pair of ground outs and a strike out ended the contest.

Morales lead the team at the plate going 3-for-5. McDonald was 2-for-4 with a walk, a run and a run scored. Sergio Santos was 0-for-3 with three strike outs and a walk, and Ruiz was 1-for-5 with a run and a pair of strike outs.

Liriano gave up 1 run on 3 hits and walk while striking out 7 over 6.1 innings for a excellent outing.

The two teams rematch Sunday at 1:35 PM. Phillip Humber (2-5, 5.19) will be on the mound for the Wings against SWB's Dan Giese (4-2, 2.02).

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The Red Wings pitching staff has allowed seven home runs in their last six games prior to Saturday (54 innings). Despite this trend Rochester is currently 2nd in fewest home runs allowed (37) in the International League (only Richmond has allowed less, 25). Rochester has not led the IL in fewest home runs allowed in a season since 1976, when they allowed a league low 77 runs.

Friday's crowd of 10,566 was not only the largest crowd of the 2008 season so far, but also the largest May crowd in Frontier Field history. Since Frontier Field opened in 1997, the Red Wings have drawn just five crowds of over 10,000 for a May date..

The Minnesota Twins reinstated infielder Nick Punto from the 15-day disabled list Saturday. To make room for Punto on the 25-man roster, the Twins have designated infielder Howie Clark for release or assignment.

New Britain struck by Thunder, 10-3

Trenton 13 at New Britain 3

W: M. Melancon (2-0, 1.84); L: E. Simonitsch (0-3, 12.18)
HR: NBR: L. Hughes (12), B. Peterson (5).

Not surprisingly, the Trenton Thunder demolished the New Britain Rock Cats 13-3. Errol Simonitsch is clearly not himself and well my initial suggestion would be to put in Kyle Aselton instead, it seems that Mr. Aselton gave up his fair share of runs as well.

Simo would give up 6 earned runs on 8 hits over 2.2 innings, while striking out 2.

Luke Hughes hit is 12th home run of the season for the Cats to start out the bottom of the first. Simonitsch had managed to get through the first inning unscathed, but the second, well...

Kevin Russo doubled with one out on the board, followed by back-to-back singles by Jose Tabata and P.J. Pilittere, which plated Trenton's right fielder. Chris Malec then double to drive in the pair. Reegie Corona's single would move Malac to 3rd and Ramiro Pena would sacrifice him in for 4 runs.

That Simo went back out to the mound in the 3rd in is surprising.

Colin Curtis singled. Edwar Gonzalez ground out which moved Curtis to 2nd. A wild pitch moved Curtis to 3rd and he was doubled in by Russo. Tabata struck out swinging. Pilittere singled to bring in Russo and Jason Miller - for the Rock Cats, of course. Sarasota's native son gave up a single to Malec, who tried to stretch it for a double and was taken out at 2nd.

Brock Peterson in the bottom of the 4th would homer to give the Cats another run, in what seemed a lesson in futility.

Russo would reach on a throwing error by third baseman Toby Gardenhire. Tabata and P.J. Pilittere both singled before Malec ground into a force out that plated Russo and took Pilittere out at 2nd. Corona would reach on a fielding error by Miller before the lefty got Pena and Jackson out on strikes.

Gardenhire would single in the bottom of the fifth, move to 2nd on a Jeff Christy ground out and to came home on Hughes line drive to right. Unfortunately, this failed to spark the Rock Cats at all.

Aselton would replace Miller in the top of the 7th, and got through the inning despite a single to Malec and second fielding error by Gardenhire that saw Corona reach. Jackson and Curtis would both single in the 8th. Gonazalez hit into a force out, but Jackson scored on the play. A throwing error by Hughes allowed Gonzalez to progress to 2nd, but Russo and Tabata where taken out on strikes.

Trevor Plouffe would walk in the bottom of the 8th and Eric Lis would double but both would be left stranded.

Pilittere and Malec both hit singles to start out the top of the 9th. Corona ground into a force out, and Pena was walked to load the bags. Jackson reached on a force attempt that allowed Pilittere to score. Curtis singled to bring in Corona and Pena, and Gonazalez singled to bring in Jackson. Armando Gabino was brought in as well, to the mound, to replace Aselton. He'd get Russo to fly out and Tabata to ground out to end the Thunder's attack.

Down by 10 runs, Dustin Martin would single off Eric Wordekemper to start off the inning. 2 outs later, Luke Hughes would walk, but Plouffe flew out to center to end the game.

Steve Tolleson was 2-for-3 with a walk, while Hughes was 2-for-4 with a walk and a run and 2 RBIs. The Cats managed only 8 hits to Trenton's 21 and five errors hurt them as well.

Much as they dislike the idea, the two teams face off today for a 1:35 PM game. Jason Jones (7-1, 2.36) will start for Trenton, while Oswaldo Sosa (2-4, 6.46) will handle the pitching for New Britain.

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Who writes these things? According to the Rock Cats.com farm report "David Bromberg also starred in May (2-0, 3.03, 38 K, 29.2 IP) for the Miracle." I wonder if he knows this?

Baker picks up win in rehab start

Fort Myers 8 at Tampa 6

W: S. Baker (1-0, 5.40); L: Z. McAllister (0-1, 9.00); SV: R. Delaney (12)
HR: FTM: W. Ramos (8).

Despite a somewhat troubling performance by the bullpen, the Fort Myers Miracle hung on to win 8-6 over the Tampa Yankees. The victory extended the win streak to six games.

Twins hurler Scott Baker made the second of two scheduled minor league rehab starts, and the Miracle were quick to give him some offensive help. Danny Saniesteban doubled, and singles by Yangervis Solarte and Yancarlos Ortiz (a.k.a. "the Yans") plated him. Brian Dinkelman would fly out to right before an Edward Ovalle single would bring in Solarte. A line drive by Danny Valencia brought in Ortiz. Tampa starter Zach McAllister then got Whit Robbins and Wilson Ramos out on strikes to end the inning.

It was just in time too, as Kevin Smith would hit a ground rule double for the home team with one out on the board. A wild pitch by Baker moved him to 3rd. and Brian Chaevez would reach on a fielder's choice. Unfortunately, the play at the plate could not get done in time, and Smith put a run on the board for Tampa.

In the top of the fourth Juan Portes would single. Following a pop up to Santieseban, Portes would steal 2nd, and move to 3rd on a wild pitch by McAllister. Solarte would reach on a fielding error by Tampa 3rd baseman Mitch Hilligoss, and Ortiz would double to bring in Portes. McAllister would then issue an intentional walk to Dinkelman. Ovalle sacrificed in Solarte to add another run to the Miracle total before Valencia would ground into a force out.

With one out on the board, Andres Perez singled, and Hilligoss doubled him in. Hilligoss then stole 3rd. Josue Calzado would triple him in to make the score 5-3 Miracle.

Robins would single off Wilkins Arias who replaced McAllister at the top of the 5th. Ramos then went yard to increase the Miracle lead by two.

Baker would end up allowing the 3 runs on seven hits while striking out 4 over five innings. He'd be replaced by Jose Lugo for the sixth who allowed 1 hit and struck out 2.

Blair Erickson finally made his long awaited debut for the Miracle, allowing a double in the bottom of the 7th before setting down three Yankee batters to end the inning.

With one out on the board in the 8th, Hilligoss would take a walk, then move to 2nd on a wild pitch by Erickson. Calzado then doubled to score Hilligoss. Anthony Slama would come in at that point. The Miracle All-star allowed a single to Smith that plated Calzado. After getting Ben Blumenthal to swing into a strike out, Luis Nunez singled putting runners at the corners. A single by James Cooper plated Smith. Jose Gil would be plunked by a pitch before Slama finally got Kyle Anson to ground out.

The offense never rests for the Miracle. With Stephen Antz on the mound for Tampa, Ovalle singled then stoled 2nd. Following a fly out to Valencia, Ovalle would make his way to 3rd on a Robbins single. Jose Valdez then stepped in to try to stop the Miracle, but Ramos greeted him with a single that plated Ovalle. Valdez would get the next two batters out on strikes. The Miracle would call in Rob Delaney to end the game and end it he did, retiring 3 Tampa batters to preserve the Miracle win.

Ortiz was 3-for-4 with 1 run and 2 RBI for the Miracle. Ovalle was 2-for-4 with a run and 2 runs scored, plus a pair of strike outs. Robbins, Ramos and Santiesteban were all 2-for-5 with a run, Ramos with 3 RBIs. Valencia, Juan Portes and Solarte all collected single hits for Fort Myers. Dinkelman had a bad night, striking out 3 times. Portes and Ramos, like Ovalle, would record 2 strike outs in the game.

The teams finish up tomorrow with a 1:00 start time as Fort Myers looks for a sweep. Miracle southpaw Tyler Robertson (3-2, 3.04) will get the start against Tampa righty Christian Garcia (2-1, 1.72).

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Where are they now? Luis Maza and Terry Tiffee each have been called up to the Dodgers. Maza is hitting .360 with 1 home run and 2 RBIs through 11 games (25 AB). Tiffee is batting .500 through 2 games (2 AB)

Alex Romero earned the last roster spot out of spring training for the Arizona Diamond Backs and is hitting .250 through only 14 games.

Josh Rabe is tearing it up in the independent Atlantic League, hitting .370 in 25 games (92 AB), with 4 home runs and 18 runs batted in. He is playing for the Camden Riversharks.

Kyle Geiger signed with the Ottawa Rapidz of the independent CanAm league, and is hitting .375 through 5 games (16 AB) with 1 home run and 2 RBIs. That is the same league that the Goldkang owned Brockton Rox participate in.

Catcher Korey Feiner is currently playing in the Seattle System.

Josh Hill was picked up the Pittsburgh Pirates and is currently pitching for the AA Altoona Curve where he has a 3-5 record with a 4.12 ERA in 9 games.