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No one expected a slugfest when the Mariners and Twins got together to play in Target Field. Felix Hernandez was on the mound for the Mariners, but Liam Hendriks was on the mound for the Twins. It looked like a mismatch, but it turned into one of the best pitcher’s duals of the year! Liam Hendriks remains winless in the big leagues despite throwing a tremendous, tough-loss, complete game. The one mistake he made was giving up an 8^th inning, opposite field home run by Eric Thames. The length of that home run was less than that of a fly ball by Trevor Plouffe caught at the wall by Franklin Gutierrez or a triple off the right-center field wall by Justin Morneau. Location! Location! Location. Hendriks was every bit as good as Hernandez on this night, giving up just three hits in the game. Hernandez gave up five hits, but when runners got on base, both really pitched well.

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

ROCHESTER 6, BUFFALO 1

Nick Blackburn put together a nice start again for the Red Wings. He gave up one run on seven hits and two walks in six innings. He struckout just one batter. Jeff Manship went the next two innings. He gave up no runs despite three hits and two walks. Daniel Turpen worked a 1-2-3 ninth inning. Blackburn improved to 3-1 with a 2.12 ERA.

Wilkin Ramirez remains on fire. In this game, he had a bases-clearing triple and his 13^th home run, driving in four for the Red Wings. In his last 15 games, he is 23-54 (.426) with six doubles, two homes and 17 RBI. Matt Carson was 1-2 with two walks. Eduardo Escobar and Brian Dozier each hit a triple

NEW BRITAIN 8, TRENTON 1

Luke French did what he did in April for the Rock Cats. He dominated AA hitters. The soft-tossing left-hander threw a complete game. He gave up just one run on three hits. He walked two and struck out two.

The Rock Cat bats showed up right away, scoring six runs in the first inning. Rene Tosoni doubled in two runs, and that was followed by Nate Hanson’s sixth home run of the season, a three-run blast. Oswaldo Arcia went 2-4 with a walk and his 20^th double. Chris Colabello was 2-4 with a walk. Chris Herrmann went 2-5. Aaron Hicks walked twice. Josmil Pinto hit his first triple.

FT. MYERS, BRADENTON

To no surprise, the winds and rain in the Gulf region postponed the games in the Florida State League.

BELOIT 11, CEDAR RAPIDS 8

The Snappers bats were out in full force again on Monday. Drew Leachman went 4-5 with his 12^th double and his fifth home run. AJ Pettersen went 4-5 with his 12^th double. Eddie Rosario was a double from the cycle. He was 3-6 with his fourth triple and 12^th home run. Kennys Vargas was 3-5 with his seventh double. Wang-Wei Lin hit his third home run and stole his tenth base. Nate Roberts got on base twice and stole his 26^th base.

Tyler Jones started and pitched a career-high eight innings. He was charged with seven runs, but just two of them were earned. He gave up ten hits, but most important, he walked none. He struck out seven. DJ Baxendale came on for the 9^th inning. He gave up an unearned run on one hit and one walk. He struck out two.

ELIZABETHTON 3, PRINCETON 4

Eight hitters for the E-Twins had one hit in this game. The only player without a hit, Candido Pimentel, walked twice. Byron Buxton and Romy Jimenez each doubled.

Angel Mata started and went just one inning. He gave up one run on not hits. He walked two and struckout one. Luis Nunez came on and gave up one hit and two walks in 2.2 innings. He struck out two. Travis Huber went the next 2.2 innings. He gave up one run on two hits and two walks. Kaleb Merck went the final 2.2 innings. He gave up an unearned run on two hits. He walked none and struckout two.

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Players of the Day for Monday, August 27, 2012

Hitter of the Day – Drew Leachman

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Pitcher of the Day – Luke French

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A Look Ahead – Tuesday, August 29, 2012 Schedule

Rochester @ Buffalo – RHP Shairon Martis

New Britain @ Trenton – RHP Steve Hirschfeld

Ft. Myers @ Bradenton (DH) – RHP Matt Summers, TBD

Beloit @ Cedar Rapids – LHP Matt Tomshaw

Elizabethton vs Princeton – LHP Hein Robb

GCL Twins – Season Over

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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!