Scott Diamond actually gave up a few runs on Friday night, but because the Twins hitters brought their big bats to Miller Park, Diamond becomes the Twins first three-game winner. Josh Willingham got the offense started in the first inning with a long two-run homer. The game was 2-2 going into the 5^th inning, but Joe Mauer’s two-run double gave the Twins a 4-2 lead. They scored two the following inning on a two-run Denard Span single. They added four runs in the top of the eighth inning to put the game out of reach. Span led the offense. He went 4-5 with a double, three runs and three RBI. Joe Mauer went 3-5 with two doubles and three RBI. Justin Morneau went 2-4 with three RBI. Four Brewers errors certainly helped the Twins cause as well.

Diamond gave up three runs on eight hits in 5.1 innings. Anthony Swarzak got five outs. Alex Burnett pitched a scoreless eighth innings. Francisco Liriano came in with an eight-run lead in the ninth inning. He loaded the bases but was able to hold on to the 11-3 lead. Three-game winning streak for the Twins!

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

ROCHESTER 5, LOUISVILLE 3

The Red Wings got a four-run third inning to take the lead from the cellar-dwelling Reds affiliate. It proved to be enough. In that inning, the Red Wings got RBI singles from Pedro Florimon, Danny Valencia, Chris Parmelee and Matt Carson. Eight of nine Twins starters had one hit. The lone exception was Clete Thomas. The Red Wings also worked for six walks. Wilkin Ramirez and Rene Rivera each hit a double.

Liam Hendriks made his third Red Wings start of the season and improved to 2-0. He gave up two runs on four hits in seven innings. He walked two and struck out two and now has a 1.93 ERA. Fellow Australian right-handers Brendan Wise gave up one run on two hits and a walk in his inning. Tyler Robertson pitched a 1-2-3 ninth inning to record his second save.

The Red Wings are now 17-24 after winning this series three games out of four.

NEW BRITAIN 5, READING 2

The Rock Cats got another tremendous start from BJ Hermsen, and the team brought out the power sticks in this game.

However, it all starts with pitching, so let’s start there. Hermsen improved to 2-1 by allowing two runs on six hits in 7.2 innings. He walked none and struck out three. Caleb Thielbar came in and got two outs. Daniel Turpen got the final two outs, one via the strikeout.

Matt Rizzotti had a terrific game against his former team. The former Phillies farmhand went 3-4 with his first home runs since his return to AA. Joe Benson did the same, connecting for his first AA home run of the year. Aaron Hicks hit his fifth home run, and Chris Colabello hit his sixth.

The win puts the Rock Cats record at 24-16. They are now 0.5 games ahead of these Reading Phillies atop the Eastern League’s Eastern Division. These two teams split a four-game series earlier in the month. This is the first game of a three game series in Reading.

FT. MYERS 2, BREVARD COUNTY 1

The strong starting pitching on Friday night continued as we look down to High-A Ft. Myers. Lefty Pat Dean went the first eight innings for the Miracle. He gave up just one run on seven hits and a walk. He also struck out a team, season-high eight batters. Ricky Bowen pitched a scoreless ninth frame to pick up his third save.

Levi Michael went 3-4 with his second double. It was Oswaldo Arcia who provided the big hit of the game, however. The powerful Venezuelan launched a two-run homer, his third of the year to provide all of the offense needed to record this win.

The Miracle improved to 16-25 on the season.

BELOIT 6, QUAD CITIES 7 (11 Innings)

The Snappers fell short in the final game of their home stand despite the efforts of Drew Leachman. The utility infielder/outfielder was batting third in the Snappers lineup, in place of Miguel Sano who was just getting a day off. Leachman went 4-5 in the game. His three-run homer in the fifth inning gave the Snappers a lead. Down by two runs in the bottom of the 11^th, he added another RBI single, but it wasn’t enough for the Snappers. Adam Bryant was 3-5. Eddie Rosario went 2-5 with a walk.

Lefty Matthew Tomshaw started and gave up four runs (3 earned) on eight hits and three walks in 5.2 innings. He struck out two and rainsed his ERA to 2.91 on the season. Michael Tonkin came in and gave up a run on four hits and two walk. Unfortunately, the game-tying run scored on a wild pitch. Clinton Dempster threw three scoreless innings and struck out four. Bart Carter threw the 11^th inning and gave up two runs on two hits and a walk.

The loss drops the Snappers to 26-16, yet they are still a game ahead of the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (Brewers affiliate).

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Players of the Day for Friday, May 18, 2012

Pitcher of the Day – Pat Dean

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Hitter of the Day – Drew Leachman

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A Look Ahead – Saturday, May 19, 2012 Schedule

Rochester vs Gwinnett – RHP Cole DeVries

New Britain @ Reading – LHP Andrew Albers

Ft. Myers @ Brevard County – RHP Miguel Munoz

Beloit @ Burlington – LHP Jason Wheeler

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Reminder: Listen to Thursday’s Twins Minor League Weekly. Tim Shibuya (RHP Beloit Snappers) was a guest of the show and that was followed by answering your Twitter questions.

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!