The big club lost 6-0 to the Reds this evening. Starter Brian Duensing threw 3 shutout innings, and then hit a wall (his own words), giving up 4 runs in the 4th. The Twins accumulated only 3 hits all day. In the end, it was a recipe for yet another loss. All the affiliates were in action today, so let's take a look at all of the action.

ROCHESTER 12, CHARLOTTE 1

Steven Hirschfeld pitched well tonight. In 6 and 2/3 innings, he gave up 1 run (unearned) on 4 hits, striking out 4 and walking 1. Esmerling Vasquez threw 1 and 1/3 innings, and gave up a hit and a walk. Bobby Lanigan threw a scoreless 9th, allowing 2 hits.

The Red Wings compiled 15 hits tonight. Danny Valencia led the way, going 3-for-4 with 2 home runs, 3 RBIs and a walk. Sean Burroughs had 3 singles in 5 at-bats, and Ray Chang was 3-for-4 with a double and 2 RBIs. Clete Thomas was 2-for-5 with a double, and Brian Dinkelman, Matt Carson, Tsuyoshi Nishioka and Rene Rivera all singled. Valencia is batting .252 on the year; Nishioka is batting .232.

Here's the link to the box score.

NEW BRITAIN 6, RICHMOND 1

This was the Rock Cats' third consecutive win. Starter (but normally reliever) Blake Martin went 4 innings, allowing no runs on 3 hits. He struck out 3 and walked 1. Luis Perdomo picked up the win, throwing 5 innings. He gave up 1 run on 1 hit, striking out 6 and walking only 1. A great night for Perdomo.

New Britain had only 7 hits all night, but they made them count. First baseman Chris Colabello was 2-for-4 with a home run (11) and a double (11). Nathan Hanson also homered (2), and Evan "don't cut my playing time in favor of Oswaldo Arcia" Bigley doubled (15). Deibinson Romero, Oswaldo Arcia and Aaron Hicks also added singles. Additionally, Hicks stole his 16th base of the season, and Arcia had an outfield assist.

Here's the link to the box score.

FT. MYERS 3, ST. LUCIE 10

Starter Cole Nelson took the loss for the Miracle tonight, lasting only 2 and 2/3 innings, giving up 6 runs (3 earned) on 4 hits, striking out 1 and walking 4. Nelvin Fuentes tossed 2 and 1/3 innings and gave up 1 run on 1 hit. He struck out 1 and walked 3. Ricky Bowen threw 2 innings and gave up 3 runs on 4 hits, striking out 0 and walking 1. Finally, Matthew Hauser tossed a scoreless 8th, allowing no hits and striking out 2. Miracle pitchers walked 8 batters tonight.

The offense got 6 hits this evening, half coming from right fielder Daniel Ortiz, who had 3 singles and a run. Andy Leer was 1-for-2 with a double and 2 runs, and Kyle Knudson and Daniel Rams also singled. The Miracle walked twice and struck out 8 times.

Here's the link to the box score.

BELOIT 1, CEDAR RAPIDS 0

This was a pitchers' duel, to be sure. 3 Snappers pitchers turned in excellent performances tonight. Starter Tim Shibuya picked up the win. He threw 6 innings and gave up only 1 hit, striking out 1 and walking 1. Clint Dempster got the hold, throwing 2 and 2/3 innings, giving up 3 hits, striking out 3 and walking none. Corey Williams got the save, throwing 1/3 of an inning.

Right fielder JaDamion Williams had a double and drove in the only run of the game. Designated hitter Steven Liddle was 3-for-4, and Miguel Sano, Drew Leachman, Matthew Koch and Tyler Grimes all had singles for Beloit. Sano had his 25th error of the season, a fielding error.

Here's the link to the box score.

ELIZABETHTON 18, BURLINGTON 2

Starter Taylor Rogers earned his first win, throwing 5 strong innings. He allowed 3 hits and struck out 7. Hein Robb was good out of the bullpen, striking out 1 and allowing 3 hits in 2 innings of work. Steven Evans gave up the only Burlington runs of the game. He allowed 2 runs on 5 hits in 2 innings of work, striking out 1.

E-Town banged out 20 hits tonight! Left fielder Romy Jimenez had a triple and a home run, and drove in 3 runs. Max Kepler was 3-for-5 with a triple, Niko Goodrum was 2-for-4 with a triple, 2 RBIs and 3 walks, and Adam Walker was 2-for-7 with a triple, 4 RBIs and 4 strikeouts. That's right -- the E-Town Twins had 4 triples tonight! Candido Pimental had 2 singles, D.J. Hicks doubled and singled, Stephen Wickens had a single, Rory Rhodes singled twice in 5 at-bats, Travis Harrison was 3-for-4 with a double and 2 singles, and Michael Quesada had a double in 5 at-bats. E-Town also walked 11 times today.

Here's the link to the box score.

GCL TWINS 1, GCL RED SOX 9

Starter Austin Malinowski went 3 innings and gave up no runs, striking out 2 and walking 2. Trent Higginbotham took the loss, throwing 2 and 1/3 innings and allowing 3 runs on 2 hits, striking out 2 and walking 1. Melciades De La Cruz gave up 5 runs (2 earned) in 1 and 2/3 innings, striking out 1 and walking 1. Hung Yi Chen threw 2 innings and gave up 1 run, striking out 4.

The GCL Twins had only 1 hit today, a single off the bat of catcher Jorge Fernandez. Top prospect Byron Buxton was 0-for-4, but let's not count him out quite yet.

Here's the link to the box score.

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Players of the Day for Saturday, June 23

Pitcher(s) of the Day: Beloit Snappers trio of Shibuya, Dempster and Williams.

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Hitter of the Day: Danny Valencia

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Schedule for Sunday, June 24, 2012

Rochester vs. Charlotte -- RHP Cole De Vries

New Britain @ Richmond -- RHP Brett Jacobson

Ft. Myers vs. Tampa -- RHP Madison Boer

Beloit @ Kane County -- ???

Elizabethtown vs. Bristol -- ???

GCL Twins vs. GCL Orioles -- ???

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Please leave any questions or comments here, and either Seth or I will be happy to respond.

I really appreciate the writing team that faithfully keeps us informed of the minor league games. I look forward to reading this article every morning.

Great write-up, as usual. One note though... Beloit has one more game left in their series in Cedar Rapids on Sunday.

Great write-up, as usual. One note though... Beloit has one more game left in their series in Cedar Rapids on Sunday.

Thanks, JC. Fixed!