The Twins bats started off hot today and the team got another excellent performance from Scott Diamond. Gardenhire curiously gave the 8^th inning to Alex Burnett, who allowed a hit and a walk before being relieved by Tyler Robertson who promptly served up a 3-run meatball to Prince Fielder. Anthony Swarzak, who also made an appearance despite being the only possible weekend starter on the active roster, gave up a home run to Delmon Young.

After the game it was announced that Chris Parmelee would be heading back to Rochester to make room for P Sam Deduno, who would be having his contract purchased and starting Saturday’s tilt against the Texas Rangers. Deduno missed a month and half earlier this season with shoulder tendinitis.

Deduno last pitched for the Red Wings on Monday. The Twins have known since sending Nick Blackburn down that they would be short a starter for the weekend. Many of those in the Twittersphere speculated that Deduno would be the guy getting the call for one of this weekend’s games.

The other news out of Rochester was that RP Deolis Guerra, the last wheel of the Johan Santana trade, was placed on the 7-day D.L. He will be replaced in the pen by RP Dan Sattler. Sattler was signed from the independent St. Paul Saints on May 29^th. Sattler will join LRP Caleb Thielbar in the Red Wings bullpen. They are the only two players the Twins have ever signed from the Saints.

If you missed the report of yesterday’s action, you can find it here.

Before we take a spin around the farm, let me warn you that it appears those at MiLB.com are still on holiday vacation. The box scores aren’t updating nearly as quickly as you’d expect, and when they are, they’re not always accurate. So if something that you read tonight is totally not true, well… you’ve read my disclaimer.

ROCHESTER 6, PAWTUCKET 4

Box score

This report is going to start with a non-Twins player, only because it’s that bad. Red Sox pitcher Daniel Bard entered the game and managed to do the following in only 20 pitches:

Hit batter, double, hit batter, wild pitch, wild pitch, single, hook.

I mention that also because his little brother and recent Twins-draftee, Luke, was probably on hand to watch big brother fall apart. Let’s hope that the two don’t share all the same DNA, if you know what I mean.

With the win, the Wings improve to 40-47 and 26-24 since May 15.

Matt Carson led the offense with two hits (one double) and with his two RBI, he has a team-leading 32 on the season. IL All-Star Pedro Florimon, who has struggled recently, added two hits as did Wilkin Ramirez who also added two walks. Danny Valencia snapped an 0-for-14 skid with his single off of Bard.

Jeff Manship labored through four innings before turning the game over to Luis Perdomo. Perdomo struck out three in two innings to earn the win. Perdomo can also grow the best beard in the system, but that’s neither here nor there. Brendan Wise did all he could to make the game interesting again (2 2/3 IP, 7 H, 3 BB, 3 ER, K) before Caleb Thielbar ended it with one out, walking the first batter he faced on four pitches, before striking out the next batter on three pitches to earn his first AAA save.

NEW BRITAIN 7, TRENTON 1

Box score

The Rockcats were led by the bat of the best hitter in the system, Oswaldo Arcia. Arcia went 3-for-5 to raise his average to .303. Chris Collabello went 3-for-4 with two doubles. Five of the team’s runs came in the fifth inning.

B.J. Hermsen, who will eventually join the pitching carousel if he keeps it up, went seven innings on 90 pitches. He allowed an unearned run on five hits and two walks. He struck out five. David Bromberg, who’s bounced around levels and roles, pitched two innings, allowing a hit.

The win brings the Rockcats within a half game of Trenton in the Eastern Division of the Eastern League. That in itself, should be encouraging for Twins fans.

FT. MYERS 8, CHARLOTTE 5

Box score

The game of Dannys.

Daniel Santana hit a 3-run blast in the fourth inning. It was his only hit, but he made it count. He also stole a base.

Danny Ortiz was 3-for-5. He also added a home run and has his average up to .289.

Danny Rams, who was once a decent prospect, continues his fall. After going 0-for-3 tonight, he’s batting .198. Though he did homer yesterday, the most powerful prep bat in the 2007 class is slugging only .339. He was much better – in the same league – in 2010.

Tom Stuifbergen was much better than the box score suggests (only because the box score is actually wrong). He scattered six hits (not nine) over 5 1/3 innings. He allowed three runs (only one earned) and struck out two. The big-bodied Dutchman is working his way back from a variety of injuries. Stuif should move up to New Britain before long.

BELOIT 3, CLINTON 5

Box score

The Snappes were the last of the affiliates to finish their game and they were the first to lose.

Tyler Jones is ready for the next step. He struck out seven in five innings, allowing two hits, a run and a walk. His ERA is now 2.51. He lowered his WHIP to 0.96 and raised his K/9 to 11.98. I really wonder why his season began in EST and not Beloit.

Ryan O’Rourke had a rough couple of innings before giving way to Corey Williams, who couldn’t complete the 8^th without giving up the go-ahead run and an insurance run. Clint Dempster got the final out of the inning before the bats came up short in the top half of the ninth.

Drew Leachman had three singles (and an error). J.D. Williams had two hits (and a stolen base). Jon Goncalves added two hits as well. Tyler Grimes contributed two hits – a double and a home run.

ELIZABETHTON vs KINGSPORT - postponed

GCL TWINS 5, GCL ORIOLES 0

Box score

It seems a lot longer than the eleven games it took, but Byron Buxton collected his first professional extra base hit (a double) as well as his first professional run batted in. His batting average is up to .143, but over the last two days (three games), he’s batting .333 (4-for-12).

Joe Benson made his second rehab start – his first since a forgetful 0-for-2, 2 K night – and went 2-for-3 with a walk and a run. He was also aggressive on the base paths, stealing a base and getting caught stealing. I’m not sure what the timetable is on Benson’s return to the upper levels, but it wouldn’t surprise me to see him get a few games in with the Miracle before heading back to New Britain (and eventually, hopefully, Rochester). Considering he is DH’ing, but not fielding, it would suggest he may have to stay around the GCL for a while yet.

John Murphy stole two bases, including swiping home.

Sam Gibbons pitched five innings of three hit, three strikeout ball. 2012 draftee Alex Muren made his second appearance, pitching two innings and striking out one. Melciades DeLaCruz finished off the shutout with two scoreless innings.

---

Players of the Day for Thursday, July 5, 2012

Pitcher of the Day – B. J. Hermsen

[ATTACH=CONFIG]1481[/ATTACH]

www.mlbdirt.com

Hitters of the Day – Chris Collabello

[ATTACH=CONFIG]1482[/ATTACH]

www.boston.com

---

A Look Ahead – Friday, July 6, 2012 Schedule

Rochester vs Pawtucket – RHP P.J. Walters (rehab)

New Britain at Trenton – LHP Aaron Thompson (3-2, 5.23)

Ft. Myers at Charlotte – RHP Madison Boer (4-6, 7.69)

Beloit at Clinton – RHP Matt Summers (7-4, 3.75)

Elizabethton vs Kingsport (Game 1) – RHP Ricardo Arevalo (1-0, 1.50)

Elizabethton vs Kingsport (Game 2) – NO STARTER ANNOUNCED

GCL Twins at GCL Orioles – NO STARTER ANNOUNCED

---

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! Any other comments also welcome.