When you’ve followed the Minnesota Twins farm system for as long as I have, you can’t help but root for the underdog. It’s easy to be a fan of Miguel Sano, Byron Buxton and other top prospects, no question about that. But the fun part of following the farm system, for me at least, is that there is no one way to the big leagues. There are many different paths. Andrew Albers is the newest example of a guy who didn’t exactly make a direct trip through the minors to the big leagues. What a story! He is the third player to debut with the Twins this season after spending time in independent baseball. It’s about the Doug Bernier’s, a 33-year-old who already had a cup of coffee, but he wants to keep playing. It’s about Tommy Watkins, who spent so many years in the Twins farm system, usually as his team’s 24^th or 25^th man, and eventually getting to the big leagues. Chris Heintz is another example.

That’s what these reports are about. It’s recognizing the players who are working every day in an attempt to get to the big leagues or to get back to the big leagues. It’s about the first round picks, the 40^th round picks, the undrafted, the sure-things and the long-shots.

Before we start with the updates from Tuesday’s game, check out this Get to Know ‘Em video by the Elizabethton Twins:

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Check out what else happened in the Twins Minor League system on Tuesday:

Rochester 6, Durham 4

Box Score

Scott Diamond reported to Rochester and made his first appearance since being optioned last week. The left gave up just three hits over six innings. However, he gave up four runs, thanks in large part to four walks, and the fact that one of those hits was a grand slam. He struck out three. Aaron Thompson came in and gave up two hits and a walk in 1.1 innings. Cody Eppley came on and got an out. Edgar Ibarra got the final out of the eighth, but not before walking two. He started the ninth inning too, but he walked the first two batters. AJ Achter came on and recorded his first AAA Save. He walked one and struck out two.

Jeff Clement was the team’s player of the week, and his streak continued on Tuesday. He went 3-5 with his 18^th double and 15^th home run. James Beresford was 2-4 with a double, his third with the Wings. Eduardo Escobar hit his first home run. Deibinson Romero went 2-4. Josh Willingham went 0-3 in his time. He was replaced by Eric Farris who went 2-2.

New Britain 13, Erie 6

Box Score

It’s always a fun day when you score 13 runs, but a lot of players contributed to that offense. Miguel Sano went 3-5 with his eighth double, his 11^th AA home run, and three RBI. It was his 27^th total home run of the season. Danny Santana went 2-5 with a walk, his 20^th double and his 23^rd stolen base. Eddie Rosario went 2-6 with his third triple. Reynaldo Rodriguez went 2-5 with his 25^th double. Dan Rohlfing was 2-5 with three RBI. Jordan Parraz was 2-5. Wilkin Ramirez went 3-3 with a walk and his first double.

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Matt Summers was the pitcher of the month for July. That earned him a promotion to the Rock Cats. He started and gave up two runs on four hits in six innings. He walked three and struck out three. Blake Martin came on and was charged with two unearned runs on two hits and a walk. He recorded just two outs before he was replaced by Daniel Turpen. He gave up two runs on two hits over the final 2.1 innings.

Ft. Myers Miracle

The Miracle played 20 straight days before getting on off day on Tuesday.

Cedar Rapids 2, Quad Cities 7

Box Score

The Kernels’ got Mark Appel’d on this night. They got Carlos Correa’d all weekend. Starting with the #1 overall pick of the 2012 draft, Correa went 12-18 in the four game series. Appel started on Tuesday night and grabbed his first professional win. He went five innings. He gave up two earned runs on two hits. He walked one and struck out two. He, and the River Bats bullpen, limited the Kernels to just four hits. Joel Licon drove in two runs with a single. Jorge Polanco doubled for the 27^th time.

Josue Montanez drew the short straw to pitch against Appel. The left-hander gave up five runs on five hits. He walked none and struck out five in seven innings. Consider that Quad Cities did not leave a runner on base the whole game. Dallas Gallant got the next five outs, but not before allowing two runs (1 Earned) on two hits. Brandon Bixler got the final out, but not before giving up two hits.

Game 1 - Elizabethton 2, Johnson City 4

Box Score

The E-Twins bats have been pretty poor in 2013. In game one, the team recorded just four hits. Tanner Vavra was 1-2 with a walk.

Josh Burris started. He gave up four runs on three hits in 5.1 innings. He walked five and struck out seven. Aaron Slegers came on and gave up two hits, but no runs, in 1.2 innings. He struck out three.

Game 2 - Elizabethton 1, Johnson City 4

Box Score

It was more of the same in game two. The E-Twins managed just three hits. Zach Granite went 1-2 with a walk.

Yorman Landa started and went jut four innings. He gave up three runs (1 earned) on four hits and three walks. He struck out three. Andrew Ferreira came on and gave up one run on one hits over two innings. He struck out two. Carson Goldsmith struck out two in a scoreless final inning.

GCL Twins 8, GCL Rays 2

Box Score

Lewis Thorpe has been as good, or better, than advertised. The lefty from Australia, who signed just a year ago, worked the first five innings. He gave up two unearned runs on four hits and a walk in five innings .He struck out eight. Thorpe this season has been tremendous. In 32.2 innings, he has walked three and struck out 46. He was replaced by Seth Wagner, the Twins 39^th round draft pick in June of out high school. He made his professional debut and struck out one in a scoreless inning. Luke Bard came on and gave up one hit and struck one out in his inning. Josh Guyer gave up a hit, but he struck out three in his inning. Reyson Zoquiel walked one and struck out one in his inning.

Lots of GCL Twins had one hit, but Adonis Pacheco was the only one that had two hits. The team had just six total hits. Engelb Vielma had the lone extra base hit, his second double. The team was helped by eight walks. Jason Kanzler did his job as the leadoff man. He got on with a single and also walked twice. Will Hurt and Brian Navarreto also walked twice. Hurt stole his fifth base while Zach Larson stole his ninth.

Thanks for checking out today’s Twins minor league report. Please feel free to discuss, comment or ask questions.