Happy Memorial Day!

Jason Marquis was not claimed on release waivers – and both Marquis and the Twins declined sending him to Rochester – thus making him a free agent. The Twins will continue to pay the remainder of the $3 million owed to Marquis. If another team signs him to the minimum, the Twins bill will go down that much (probably $480,000).

His – and Erik Komatsu’s – removal from the 40-man leaves the roster at 38 men. Gardenhire also said he didn’t expect the Twins to work out a trade for Komatsu’s rights.

The Twins – after a come-from-behind-win – are still tied with the Cubs in the race for the first pick in the 2013 MLB Draft. This year’s draft takes place a week from today.

Let’s take a spin around the farm:

ROCHESTER 1, CHARLOTTE 4

Box score

David Bromberg made his return to AAA and was charged with four earned runs over 5 1/3 innings. He struck out four, walked two and allowed seven hits. Lester Oliveros got the next five outs, four by strikeouts and allowed two hits. Anthony Slama did Oliveros one better by striking out all the batters (three) that he faced while allowing no hits. The story of Slama this year has been well-documented on this site and others.

The biggest story of today’s game was the returned presence of Terry Doyle (the Twins Rule V draft pick this year). Doyle’s no-hit bid was broke up with one out in the eighth (on a Matt Carson double). Pedro Florimon added a two-out home run in the ninth. Danny Valencia followed that up with a single before Sean Burroughs ended the game with a groundout to the second baseman.

It’s worth noting that Danny Valencia is batting .325 over his last ten games. Also, before Sean Burroughs went 0-for-4 today, he went 8-for-his-last-15. I wouldn’t be surprised at all if either of these guys got the call to come play third base for the Big Club within the next week.

NEW BRITAIN 3, PORTLAND 0

Box score

The arms were the story for the RockCats.

Brett Jacobson, all the Twins still have to show for J.J. Hardy, made a spot start in place of David Bromberg. He allowed only two hits, walking and striking out one in four shutout innings (therefore, not qualifying for the win). He was a little wild – as has been the hard-thrower’s problem in the past – hitting one, picking up an error on a pickoff attempt and throwing two wild pitches as well.

Blake Martin struck out three in two innings of shutout ball (getting the win). Daniel Turpen allowed two hits in one inning of work, but struck out two and allowed no runs. Caleb Thielbar collected his second save by striking out two in two innings of no-hit baseball.

The bats didn’t do much – but didn’t have to either. All three runs were scored in the third inning. Rene Tosoni hit a two-out double. Aaron Hicks (who also singled in the first) knocked Tosoni in with a single. Chris Colabello followed with a two-run blast.

FT. MYERS IDLE

The Miracle had a scheduled day off. They will face 2011 first-overall pick Gerrit Cole tomorrow.

BELOIT 15, KANE COUNTY 9

Box score

Matt Summers – who has had a fantastic May (9 ER, 31 IP) – went five innings, striking out eight while giving up seven hits, four runs (one earned) and a walk. The bullpen trio of Ryan O’Rourke, Michael Tonkin and Clint Dempster were not nearly as solid. Collectively, they went five innings. They allowed 11 hits, five runs (all earned) and a walk. They struck out six. Corey Williams got the win, but had some trouble of his own, allowing three hits to start the bottom of the 12th. He did strike out two and got an unassisted double play from A.J. Pettersen to end the game.

Miguel Sano started the game 0-for-6, with two strikeouts and his 19^th error of the season. He turned it around in the top of the 12^th hitting a 3-run homerun to blow open the game big time. This came after a Matt Koch double that scored Jonathan Goncalves to give the Snappers the lead and Tyler Grimes, J.D. Williams and Pettersen added singles. Eddie Rosario plated a run with a sacrifice fly. And then there was Sano…

The rest of the offense was even better than Sano. Williams, Pettersen, Koch and Grimes all had three hits. Rosario, Goncalves and Drew Leachman all hit two-hits. Rosario had five RBI. It’s loaded from top to bottom, so seriously consider checking out the box score linked above.

Last year’s 11^th round pick and Wisconsin-native Tyler Jones will be making his Snapper starting debut tomorrow. Milwaukee and Beloit are only about forty minutes apart, so hopefully any family that Jones has in Milwaukee will be able to make the trip. Jones has pitched four scoreless innings in relief since being brought up from extended spring training earlier this week. He had a rough professional start last year, giving up 10 earned runs in seven innings pitched in four games after signing last summer.

---

Players of the Day for Monday, May 28, 2012

Hitters of the Day – Snappers offense (see above)

[ATTACH=CONFIG]1065[/ATTACH]

Pitcher of the Day – Brett Jacobson

[ATTACH=CONFIG]1064[/ATTACH]

(Kevin Pataky/MiLB.com)

---

A Look Ahead – Tuesday, May 29, 2012 Schedule

Rochester vs Gwinnett – RHP Nick Blackburn (Rehab)

New Britain vs Binghamton – RHP B.J. Hermsen (2-1, 1.83)

Ft. Myers vs Clearwater – RHP Madison Boer (0-5, 11.76)

Beloit at Kane County – RHP Tyler Jones (0-0, 0.00)

---

If you have any questions on the Twins minor league system, players, teams, etc., leave them in the Comments and we’ll try to answer them! Comments also welcome.