It was an off-day on a hot day for the Minnesota Twins. For season ticket holders and others, you may have spent the evening listening to fans grill Trevor Plouffe and Scott Diamond. Some highlights from the 6^th Fan Forum:

Scott Diamond:

The best thing about being Canadian? It’s being Canadian!

On differences between Atlanta and Minnesota: “The atmosphere… feeling welcome.”

Trevor Plouffe:

On his hair – “I probably will (grow my hair out).”

On how he stays hydrated: “I’ve been crushing (the coconut water).”

On other sports: “I definitely could have gone pro in hacky-sac.”

On who will lead the team in home runs: “I hope we all hit 70 home runs.”

Be sure to read Cody's blog on the conference call here) It was not a great day for Twins starters on the farm. A spin around a busy Monday:

ROCHESTER 1, LEHIGH VALLEY 10

Box score

According to the Red Wings game notes, Cole De Vries is Saturday’s scheduled starter (though he’s likely to be recalled for the doubleheader). P.J. Walters will be making a rehab start on Sunday.

Tsuyoshi Nishioka and Clete Thomas both had multiple hits. Matt Carson and Rene Rivera added doubles as well.

Thomas scored the lone run for the Red Wings after doubling, advancing on a wild pitch and scoring on an error.

Kyle Hirschfeld had a rough start. He exited with two outs in the third, after allowing nine hits and seven runs. He walked one and struck out one.

Deolis Guerra’s night started off better, but certainly didn’t end much better. He got through 2 1/3 innings, allowing three runs on three hits and two walks. He struck out one.

Esmerling Vasquez struck one out in two hitless innings. Bobby Lanigan walked one in an inning.

NEW BRITAIN 5, TRENTON 4

Box score

The Rockcats entered the bottom of the 9^th down 4-1 with only two hits to their name. At that point they were given the gift of “opposing pitcher wildness.”

Deibinson Romero started off the inning with a walk. Nate Hanson followed with a single. Romero advanced to third on an error. Dan Rohlfing, who represented the tying run, was hit and replaced by Estarlin DeLosSantos. Chris Herrmann, pinch-hitting, struck out swinging. After James Beresford and Aaron Hicks both drew walks to make it a 4-3 game, Oswaldo Arcia stepped to the plate.

Arcia ended the game in walk-off fashion with a two-run line-drive single to right field. He continues to raise his prospect status.

Blake Martin got his second straight spot-star. In 4 2/3 innings, he gave up four hits and three wins (all earned). He struck out four.

Dakota Watts relieved Martin with two guys on and allowed them both to score (credited to Martin). Watts ended up going 2 1/3 innings, allowing four hits and a run. He also walked and struck out one.

Bruce Pugh earned his first AA win this season after giving up three hits in two innings. He also walked two and struck out two.

FT. MYERS 5, CHARLOTTE 7

Box score

This comeback fell short.

The Miracle started off hot, jumping to a 3-0 lead after half of an inning. And then Cole Nelson got chased early. He made it only 2 1/3 innings allowing eight hits and six runs. He walked two and struck out two.

Miguel Munoz got the final two outs in the third, stranding an inherited runner. He went two more innings, allowing only one hit and striking out two. Nelvin Fuentes scattered five hits (and an unearned run) over 2 1/3 innings. He struck out three. Ricky Bowen got two outs in the eighth.

Danny Ortiz had a quiet, awesome night at the plate. He went 1-for-1, a home run in the 9^th, with three walks. Lance Ray had double hits (one double) and drove two runs in. Levi Michael stole a base. Daniel Santana accounted for three of the teams 11 strikeouts.

BELOIT x, CLINTON x

Box score

This comeback fell short too. The Snappers left the tying runner standing on third to end the eighth inning.

Miguel Sano got on it early smashing a double to drive in a run in the first inning. Drew Leachman followed it up with a triple to score Sano.

Later in the game, Sano blasted his 16th home run of the year over the centerfield fence. And though his bat wasn't enough to get the win, getting on base three out of four times (one walk, one strikeout) is an improvement over what we've seen over the past couple of months. (Except for getting picked off first... but at least he was on base, right?)

Leachman added two hits.

Tim Shibuya’s second start since re-entering the rotation didn’t go as well as his first one (6 IP, H). He got roughed up, but "battled his tail off" to finish seven innings. He gave up 11 hits, six earned runs, walked one and struck out five.

Bart Carter gave up a hit in an inning. Clint Dempster struck out one in a hitless ninth.

ELIZABETHTON 14, PULASKI 1

Box score

Much like Plouffe crushes coconut water, the E-Twins were crushing the ball today (14 runs on 18 hits). Rory Rhodes led the charge with four hits, including a double and home run, two runs and four RBI. Romy Jimenez had a similarly great night with three hits – a double and two home runs – three runs and three RBI. Jorge Polanco had three hits (double), three runs and an RBI. Niko Goodrum was a HR short of the cycle (he now has five triples), driving in three and scoring twice. Candido Pimentel had two hits including a triple. Travis Harrison had two hits including a double. Max Kepler 0-for-2, three walks and Jhonathan Arias 0-for-4 were the only starters to not get a hit.

Jimenez (formerly Trinidad) is going to enter into the prospect discussion much the way Oswaldo Arcia did a couple of years ago. He didn’t play much last year, but in his minor league career he has been getting on base a lot, not striking out and now hitting for a lot of power. Keep en eye on him.

Taylor Rogers had a very good start on a night where the ball appeared to be flying. He went four innings, striking out seven. He did allow a run on three hits and a walk. He’s made two starts so far as has struck out 14 in nine innings, only allowing one run.

Josh Burris was really good again, striking out three in three scoreless innings. He gave up two hits.

Tyler Herr struck out two and walked two in an inning. Dallas Gallant struck out one in a perfect 9^th.

GCL TWINS 3, GCL RAYS 4 (Game 1)

Box score

Finally back on the field in the GCL.

The headline coming into the game was the rehab appearances by Joe Benson (struck out twice) and David Bromberg (4 H, 2 ER, K, 1 IP). It wasn’t a memorable game for either of them.

The guy that everyone else is wondering about, Byron Buxton, went 0-for-3 with a groundout and two pop outs.

Kelly Cross and Javier Pimentel both contributed multi-hit games and accounted for all three of the team’s RBI. Dereck Rodriguez added a double.

The staff besides Bromberg pitched really well. Kuo Hua Lo allowed two hit and struck one out in three innings. Yorman Landa allowed a hit and run, walking three and striking one out in two innings. Trent Higginbotham struck out one in a perfect inning.

GCL TWINS 2, GCL RAYS 1 (Game 2)

Box score

Byron Buxton picked up his first professional hit – a single. He also drew a walk and scored a run. He flew out in his only other at-bat. Fellow draftee Jorge Fernandez, who DH’d, went 2-for-3 with an RBI.

Josue Montanez walked three and struck out three in three innings. He allowed only two hits and one run. Sam Gibbons picked up a win with two innings of two walk, two strikeout ball. He also had a wild pitch. Melciades DeLaCruz picked up a two-innings save, giving up a walk and two hits. He also struck out one.

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Players of the Day for Thursday, June 28, 2012

Hitters of the Day – Romy Jimenez (over a number of other E-Twins hitters), for the 2nd straight day *photo from Thrylos98

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Pitcher of the Day – Taylor Rogers

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A Look Ahead – Friday, June 29, 2012 Schedule

Rochester at Lehigh Valley – LHP Luke French (1-3, 5.84)

New Britain vs Trenton – LHP Logan Darnell (6-6, 4.39)

Ft. Myers vs Charlotte – RHP Matt Hauser (1-1, 2.57)

Beloit vs Clinton – LHP Steven Gruver (5-6, 3.46)

Elizabethton vs Bristol – RHP Hudson Boyd (0-2, 4.32)

GCL Twins at GCL Orioles – NO STARTER ANNOUNCED

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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.