The Twins needed a couple of extra innings to earn a 2-1 win in Kansas City against the Royals. It was a terrific game for Darin Mastroianni who hit a solo homer and a triple. Josh Willingham drove in Joe Mauer in the 11^th inning with what proved to be the winning run. The two teams will play at 6:00 central time on Saturday.

It was a good day for the organization. The teams went 5-2 on the day. Oswaldo Arcia had a huge game, yet it was very difficult to decide who should be the hitter of the day because there were a lot of strong offensive performances.

Here is a look at the Twins minor league scores and highlights from the Friday games in the minor leagues.

ROCHESTER 4, DURHAM 7

The Red Wings had some players with some good games, but it wasn’t enough and the team lost the first game of a series in Durham. Danny Valencia went 3-5 with his 14^th and 15^th doubles. Rene Rivera was 3-5 with his eighth double. Tsuyoshi Nishioka was 3-3 with a walk and his 11^th double. Clete Thomas went 2-5 with his ninth homer. Brian Dinkelman and Chris Parmelee each doubled.

Esmerling Vasquez started and gave up four runs on five hits in five innings. He walked none and struck out seven. Caleb Thielbar came in and threw a scoreless sixth inning. He gave up hits to the first two batters of the seventh inning and was replaced by Kyle Waldrop who allowed both inherited runners to score but nothing more. Brendan Wise game up a run on three hits and a walk in the final inning.

NEW BRITAIN 13, HARRISBURG 2 (completion of suspended game)

On Thursday nights, but teams scored no runs in the first two innings. The Rock Cats scored four runs in the top of the third, but then the rains came and the game was suspended until Friday. The Rock Cats bats continued from that point on in the game and came away with a decisive victory. Oswaldo Arcia led the way. He was 3-5 with his sixth double, his fourth and fifth Rock Cat home runs and six RBI. Rene Tosoni was 2-5 with his second homer. Chris Herrmann went 1-2 with four walks and his 21^st double. Aaron Hicks was 2-4 with two walks and his sixth triple. James Beresford went 2-5.

Blake Martin started on Thursday and worked two scoreless frames. When play resumed on Friday, Marty Popham took the mound. The right-hander gave up one run on four hits and a walk in three innings. He struck out four times. Bruce Pugh then gave up one run on one hit over two innings in which he struck out two batters. Edgar Ibarra threw two scoreless innings to end the game.

NEW BRITAIN 5, HARRISBURG 4 (regularly scheduled game)

The regular game became a seven inning game. BJ Hermsen was on the bump to start. The right-hander gave up four runs (3 earned) on eight hits in six innings. He walked none and struck out three. Dakota Watts came in for the 7^th inning and recorded his first save.

Dan Rohlfing went 2-3 and scored two runs, one of them in the top of the ninth that proved to be the winning run. Aaron Hicks was 1-4 but drove in three runs. He had a two-run single, and then he drove in Rohlfing with the game-winner. Shawn Roof was 2-3 with his fifth stolen base. Oswaldo Arcia and Joe Benson were each 1-3 with a walk. Benson drove in two runs.

FT. MYERS 9, LAKELAND 7

The offense was certainly out in this game. Josmil Pinto led the way. He was 4-5 with his second third base. Lance Ray was 2-5 and hit his 10^th homer. Danny Rams went 2-4 with a walk and his fifth double. Kyle Knudson was 2-5 with his seventh double. Angel Morales added a two-run triple, his third three-bagger.

Matt Hauser started and gave up four runs on five hits in 5.1 innings. He walked two and struck out four. Nelvin Fuentes gave up a run on three hits in 1.2 innings. AJ Achter was charged with two unearned run on three hits in two innings, but he struck out two and delivered his fourth save.

BELOIT 0, LANSING 2

The bats didn’t show up on this night, but David Hurlbut sure did. The left-hander gave up two runs (just one earned) on five hits in eight innings. He walked none and struck out seven. 2012 draftee Zach Jones made his Snappers debut and struck out the side.

Drew Leachman had two hits again, the third straight game he has done that. But the Snappers had just five total hits. Nate Roberts walked twice.

ELIZABETHTON 8, JOHNSON CITY 6

Down 5-1 going through five innings, the E-Twins bats fought back. They scored three in the six, tied the game at six with two in the seventh and took the lead with two more in the eighth. Adam Walker was 3-4 with his fourth homer and three RBI. DJ Hicks went 3-5. Travis Harrison and Candido Pimentel were each 2-5. Niko Goodrum was 2-5 with his sixth double.

Ricardo Arevalo gave up three runs (2 earned) on three hits in four innings. He walked none and struck out six. Josh Burris pitched the fifth inning and gave up two unearned runs. He didn’t give up a hit but walked three and struck out two. Travis Huber made his Twins debut in the sixth frame. The 2012 pick from Nebraska gave up a run on two hits. Andrew Ferreira then made his Twins debut in the seventh frame. He gave up just one hit. Tyler Duffey came in and got the save. He gave up no runs on one hit and one walk which striking out three in two innings.

GCL TWINS 10, GCL RED SOX 4

The Twins bats broke out in a big way in this game. John Murphy led the way. The outfielder went 3-4 with his fourth and fifth doubles, three RBI and his 10^th stolen base. Jorge Fernandez went 3-4. Logan Wade was 2-4 with his third double. Javier Pimentel was 2-5 with his sixth double. Aderlin Mejia was also 2-5. Bryan Santy was 1-3 with two walks and his first double.

Randy Rosario started and gave up one run on two hits in four innings. He walked one and struck out four. Then the Twins second supplemental first round pick this year, Luke Bard, made his professional debut. He gave up two runs on one hit and three walks in one inning. He struck out one. (It will be interesting to see where he goes when he is deemed 100% The Twins could keep him in Ft. Myers, pitching for the Miracle, or he could help the Snappers in their playoff run.) Hung-Yi Chen struck out four over the next two innings. He gave up just one hit. Trent Higginbotham gave up a run on a hit and a walk in two innings. He struck out two.

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Players of the Day for Friday, July 20, 2012

Hitter of the Day – Oswaldo Arcia

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Pitcher of the Day – David Hurlbut

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A Look Ahead – Saturday, July 21, 2012 Schedule

Rochester @ Durham – LHP Luke French

New Britain @ Harrisburg – TBD

Ft. Myers @ Lakeland – RHP Tom Stuifbergen

Beloit vs Great Lakes – LHP Steven Gruver

Elizabethton @ Johnson City – TBD

GCL Twins vs GCL Red Sox – TBD

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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!