Congratulations to the Ft. Myers Miracle. They have had a remarkable first half of this season and on Saturday, the clinched their first playoff spot since 2009 with their win over Bradenton. Tyler Duffey made his Miracle debut. Tom Stuifbergen made his AA debut in game one of the Rock Cats double header.

With that, check out what happened in the Twins minor league system on Saturday:

Rochester Red Wings 1, Toledo Mudhens 8

Box Score

Pedro Hernandez was scheduled to start this game but his back flared up on him. Virgil Vasquez made the start in his place. The right-hander gave up five runs on six hits (3 home runs) and a walk in just four innings. He struck out two. Luis Perdomo came on and gave up two runs (1 earned) on two hits and a walk in 1.2 innings. Blake Martin came on and got the four batters out that he faced. Shairon Martis threw a scoreless inning. Anthony Slama came on and gave up a run on two hits and a walk in his inning.

The Red Wings managed just one run despite six hits and five walks. They had no extra base hits. On defense, the team committed three errors.

Game 1 - New Britain Rock Cats 11, Bowie Baysox 8

Box Score

Tom Stuifbergen was on the mound in game one for the Rock Cats, making his Eastern League debut. To say it didn’t start out well might be an understatement. He gave up seven runs on five hits and two walks… and that was with just one out in the first inning. He got the final two outs of that inning and got six of the next seven that he faced in his three inning debut. He was replaced by BJ Hermsen who gave up three hits but no runs in 1.2 innings. Edgar Ibarra gave up one hit in 1.1 innings. He struck out two. Dan Turpen gave up a run on two hits and a walk in his inning, though he struckout two. Matt Hauser came on and worked two scoreless innings.

Kyle Knudson led the way. The Minnesota native went 3-5 with four RBI. Danny Ortiz went 2-4 with a walk and his 18^th double. Josmil Pinto hit his 11^th home run and drove in two.

Game 2 - New Britain Rock Cats 4, Bowie Baysox 6

Box Score

Ortiz continued to hit well in the 2^nd game. He went 2-3 with his seventh home run and three RBI. Josmil Pinto (13), Reynaldo Rodriguez (17) and Danny Santana (11) each hit a double.

Logan Darnell started and went 5.2 innings. He was charged with six runs (3 earned) on eight hits and a walk. He struck out five. Bobby Lanigan gave up an inherited run but got the final out.

Ft. Myers Miracle 5, Bradenton Marauders 4

Box Score

Congratulations to the Ft. Myers Miracle. They have clinched a playoff spot by virtue of capturing the first-half championship with a 5-4 win on Saturday. The Miracle will be in the playoffs for the first time since 2009.

Tyler Duffey started, his Florida State League debut. He threw five shutout innings before giving up two, two-run homers in the 6^th inning. He went 5.2 innings and gave up those four runs (3 earned) on eight hits and a walk. He struck out two. Nelvin Fuentes went 1.1 innings and gave up one hit and one walk. Ryan O’Rourke got his first save. He struck out two in the final two innings.

Matt Koch went 2-4 with his seventh double, third home run and two RBI. Kennys Vargas was 2-3 with a walk and his 19^th double.

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Cedar Rapids Kernels 1, Kane County Cougars 15

Box Score

It may be fair to say that this is a game that the Kernels would prefer to forget. Byron Buxton went 3-5. Tyler Grimes was 3-4. But the rest of the Kernels roster managed just two hits.

Brett Lee started and went the first four innings. He gave up eight runs on 11 hits (3 homers) and two walks. Kaleb Merck came on for his MWL debut. He gave up four runs on four hits and a walk in two innings. Josue Montanez gave up a hit and a walk in a scoreless inning. Alex Muren gave up a hit in a scoreless inning. Catcher Jhonatan Arias came on for the ninth. He gave up three runs on one hit, and three walks, in the inning.

The Kernels are now just 1.5 games ahead of Beloit atop the Western Division of the Midwest League. The top two teams advance to the playoffs. They have a three game lead over Quad Cities for that second spot with eight to play.

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