The Twins got some great pitching on Saturday and won both games of a split double-header against the Kansas City Royals. In the first game, the Twins won 7-2 and Scott Diamond worked eight innings for the Win. In the second game, it was Cole DeVries who was promoted and who recorded his second big league win with a terrific performance. Of course, he was immediately optioned back to Rochester following the game.

There was a lot going on in the Twins system on Saturday. I had the opportunity to go to Newman Outdoor Field in Fargo, ND, to watch the Fargo-Moorhead Redhawks take on the St. Paul Saints. Former Twins minor leaguer Tony Davis made his Redhawks debut with a scoreless inning in relief. Other former Twins farmhands, Kyle Carr and Matt Schuld pitch for the Saints. The night was great. The atmosphere for baseball in Fargo is incredible, and I will write more soon.

But this is a report on the Twins minor leagues, so see below to see what Danny Valencia did for the second time in a week. Just how far did Miguel Sano hit one? Did the Rock Cats double their pleasure with a win against Bowie? Three players had four-hit games on Saturday, and one of them completed the cycle. For all this and more, here is a look at the Twins minor league scores and highlights from Saturday:

ROCHESTER 4, EMPIRE STATE 6

Things were looking good for the Red Wings through the first four innings. They held a 2-0 lead thanks to two solo home runs off the bat of Danny Valencia. Also, Jeff Manship had thrown four shutout innings. Unfortunately, Brendan Wise came in to start the fifth and the floodgates opened. Wise was charged with six runs on six hits and a walk. He struck out three. Esmerling Vasquez they struck out six in 2.2, one-hit innings. Bobby Lanigan pitched a scoreless inning.

Valencia ended the game 3-4 with the two homers, his fifth and sixth on the season. They were the Red Wings first in seven days. It was Valencia’s fourth multi-homer game. His most recent was one week earlier against Charlotte. Matt Carson was 2-4 with his sixth home run.

Despite the loss, the Red Wings finished June with a 15-14 record, the first time they had a winning record during a calendar month since August of 2009.

NEW BRITAIN 8, BOWIE 9

New Britain scored three in the bottom of the ninth but fell one short, losing 9-8. Dan Rohlfing led the offense by going 4-5 with his third double. He drove in three runs. Evan Bigley was 2-5 with his 17^th double. Chris Herrmann was 2-5 with his 19^th double and first triple. In all, the Rock Cats managed six doubles. Deibinson Romero hit his 10^th home run.

Brett Jacobson made a start I am certain he will already be second-guess himself. The right-hander gave up eight runs (7 earned) on four hits and NINE walks (with no strike outs). Edgar Ibarra came out of the bullpen and gave up just one run on three hits and a walk in four innings. Dan Sattler went the final 2.2 innings without alloqing a run.

1B Matt Rizzotti has been released by the Twins.

FT. MYERS 7, CHARLOTTE 2

Tom Stuifbergen picked up his first win of the season, and he needed it. The right-hander gave up two runs on six hits in five innings. He worked quickly, walked none and struck out two. Jose Gonzalez struck out two over the next two innings. Finally, Marty Popham came on and struck out two in two perfect innings.

Jairo Perez went 2-4 with two RBI and his fourth stolen base. Danny Rams went 2-4 with his first triple. Lance Ray entered the game early and went 2-3 with a walk and his 14^th double. Angel Morales went 1-3 with a walk and his fourth home run.

BELOIT 3, CLINTON 6

This was not a great night for the Snappers. They managed just three hits in the game although two of them traveled well. Jairo Rodriguz hit a solo home run, his second of the season. Miguel Sano then connected for his 17^th home run. An on-site report from K-Bro Baseball tells us that Sano’s home run was a moonshot and towered over the scoreboard in left center field.

Jason Wheeler struggled again on this night. The lefty gave up seven runs on eight hits and a walk in three innings. Cole Johnson came in and struck out five in three scoreless innings. Bart Carter pitched two frames and gave up three runs on six hits and a walk. He struck out three. Clinton Dempster pitched the final inning without allowing a run.

The loss meant that the Snappers were swept by Clinton in this three-game series. A record-high number of fans (2,564) crawled in to Pohlmann Stadium to watch the Snappers.

ELIZABETHTON 6, PULASKI 4

It may be just a statistical anomaly, but hitting for the cycle is still a very cool, very rare occurrence in baseball. On this night, Niko Goodrum did just that. In five at bats, he had a single, hit his second double, his sixth triple and his second home run. He also drove in four runs. Travis Harrison continues to rake. He was 3-3 with a walk. Stephen Wickens went 2-4 with his second triple.

Ricardo Arevalo started and gave up three runs (2 earned) on five hits and three walks in just 2.2 innings. Brett Lee came in and gave up a run on three hits in 2.1 innings. Tyler Herr struckout two in two scoreless innings. Mason Melotakis pitched a scoreless eighth frame. Dallas Gallant struck out two in a scoreless ninth to lock down his first save of the season.

GCL TWINS 4, GCL RED SOX 3

Lefty Austin Malinowski, the lefty from Minnesota, came in after a couple of rehabbing righties and recorded his first professional win. David Bromberg started and threw the first two frames. He gave up two runs on two hits and a walk. He struck out two. Next, Adrian Salcedo struck out two in a perfect inning. Malinowski came in and gave up an unearned run on three hits and a walk in three innings. Hung-yi Chen and Gerardo Ramirez each threw a scoreless inning. Gonzalo Sanudo struck out five in two scoreless innings.

Aderlin Mejia led the offense by going 4-5 with his fifth double. Dereck Rodriguez was 3-5 with two RBI.

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Players of the Day for Saturday, June 30, 2012

Hitter of the Day – Niko Goodrum

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Pitcher of the Day – Jeff Manship

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A Look Ahead – Sunday, July 1, 2012 Schedule

Rochester vs Empire Island – RHP PJ Walters

New Britain vs Bowie – LHP Aaron Thompson

Ft. Myers vs St. Lucie – TBD

Beloit vs Cedar Rapids – RHP Matt Summers

Elizabethton vs Pulaski – LHP Corey Kimes

GCL Twins – No Game Scheduled

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