The new guys continued to impress in their second games with the Twins, and Scott Diamond put in another quality start, but on this night, there wasn’t enough offense and the team lost in walk-off fashion in the ninth.

Scott Diamond started and gave up two runs on nine hits over 6.2 innings to keep his ERA below 3 (2.95). Alex Burnett got him out of the 7^th, and Jared Burton worked a scoreless eighth frame. Tyler Robertson came out to start the ninth inning. He gave up two hits and a walk to load the bases. Casey Fien came in to try to get out of it, but John Jaso hit a sacrifice fly to end the game.

The two new guys provided most of the Twins offense. Pedro Florimon went 2-3 with a triple and a sacrifice bunt. Matt Carson was 3-4 in the game, and he also threw out a runner trying to advance from first to third.

Here is a look at the Twins minor league scores and highlights from Saturday night:

ROCHESTER 3, EMPIRE STATE 10

It was a rough start for the Red Wings. Shairon Martis went just 2.1 innings and gave up six runs on seven hits and a walk. He struck out two. Bobby Lanigan’s consecutive scoreless innings streak (9.1 innings coming into the game) came to an end. He gave up two runs (1 earned) on five hits and a walk (and a hit batter) in 1.1 innings. Daniel Turpen gave up two hits over two scoreless innings. Caleb Thielbar’s consecutive scoreless innings streak (9.2 innings coming in to the game) came to a conclusion as well. He gave up two runs on four hits over 1.1 innings. Deolis Guerra went the final 1.2 innings and gave up two hits and a walk, but no runs.

Wilkin Ramirez led the offense. He went 3-4 with his 12^th double. Chris Parmelee went 2-5. Brian Dinkelman had three walks and was hit by a pitch. Tsuyoshi Nishioka hit his second home run of the season.

NEW BRITAIN 2, PORTLAND 9 (completion of suspended game)

The Rock Cats were in Portland. On Friday night, the two teams completed three-and-a-half innings before the rains came. The game was suspended with the game tied at 0. The Rock Cats still did not have a hit, and the lone base runner was a Chris Herrmann walk. Luke French made his first start since his return to the Rock Cats. The lefty gave up two runs in three scoreless innings. He walked none and struck out one. Of the 28 pitches he threw, 20 of them were strikes. The game will resume on Saturday.

David Bromberg took the mound for the Rock Cats when the game resumed. He went 3.1 innings and gave up seven hits and no walks. When he left the game, he had given up just two runs, but the bases were loaded and in came lefty Jose Gonzalez who promptly allowed all three inherited runners to score, charged to Bromberg. Gonzalez gave up two more runs of his own before getting out of the inning. Edgar Ibarra walked one in a scoreless inning.

Aaron Hicks went 2-4 with his eighth triple. Rene Tosoni was 2-4. James Beresford hit his 10^th double.

NEW BRITAIN 4, PORTLAND 2 (regularly scheduled game)

Steve Hirschfeld made the start for the Rock Cats and did quite well. He went seven innings and gave up just two runs on six hits. He walked none and struck out four to record his eighth win. Bruce Pugh picked up Save #7 with a scoreless inning. He gave up a hit, walked one and struck out two.

Oswaldo Arcia went 2-4 with his third triple. Chris Colabello was 2-4 with his 35^th double. Deibinson Romero hit his 20^th double and stole his second base.

FT. MYERS 6, PALM BEACH 1

Pat Dean returned from the Disabled List to make this start. He gave up one run on three hits and a walk in five innings. He struck out four. Ryan O’Rourke gave up a hit and a walk but no runs in his inning. Ricky Bowen threw two scoreless innings. Michael Tonkin pitched a scoreless ninth frame.

Danny Rams went 3-5. Danny Santana went 2-5 with a walk and his sixth home run. Levi Michael was 1-3 with two walks and his 11^th double. Josmil Pinto went 2-4 with two walks.

BELOIT 4, QUAD CITIES 6

For the first time in a month, Matt Tomshaw had a rough start. The lefty, who had given up just one run over his previous three starts, gave up six runs (4 earned) on eight hits. In 5.1 innings, he walked three and struckout five. Tim Atherton struck out five over the final 2.2 innings. He allowed two hits and walked two batters.

Kennys Vargas went 2-3 with a walk. Nate Roberts went 2-5. Matt Koch was 1-3 with a walk and his second triple. JD Williams walked twice. Eddie Rosario hit his tenth home run of the season. Miguel Sano was 0-4 with four strikeouts and his 41^st error.

ELIZABETHTON 4, KINGSPORT 8

DJ Hicks had a terrific game at the plate for the E-Twins but it wasn’t enough on this night. The powerful first baseman went 2-3 with two walks, his fifth double and his third home run. Jorge Polanco went 2-4.

Lefty Hein Robb started and gave up five runs (4 earned) on six hits and two walks. The South African struck out two in his 3.1 innings. Josh Burris worked the next 2.2 innings and gave up only one hit. He struckout three. Tyler Herr gave up two hits over two scoreless innings. Christian Powell pitched the ninth and gave up three runs on three hits and a walk.

GCL TWINS 2, GCL RED SOX 1

Austin Malinowski started and threw four shutout innings. He gave up three hits, walked none and struck out five. Gerardo Ramirez worked the next two innings. He walked two and struck out one but didn’t allow a run. Hung-yi Chen then gave up one run on two hits over 1.2 innings of work. Alex Muren got the final four outs.

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Players of the Day for Saturday, August 18, 2012

Hitter of the Day – DJ Hicks

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Photo from University of Central Florida

Pitcher of the Day – Austin Malinowski

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A Look Ahead – Sunday, August 19, 2012 Schedule

Rochester vs Empire State – TBD

New Britain @ Portland – LHP Logan Darnell

Ft. Myers @ Palm Beach – RHP Kyle Gibson

Beloit @ Quad Cities – LHP David Hulbut

Elizabethton vs Kingsport – LHP Brett Lee

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!