Twins Minor League Report (5/31): Friday Night Lights

[Seth Stohs]

A night after the Twins and the Twins' minor league affiliates went 6-0, the organization went 1-4 on the final night in May. The two upper affiliates both played one-run games.

On Saturday, the Twins' Dominican Summer League team will open its season. We may have to do a game report or two this weekend. Also coming will be the Twins' minor league hitter, starting pitcher and relief pitcher of the month reports.

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The Twins did make some transactions in the minor leagues. Matt Hauser was promoted to New Britain while Jose Gonzalez was sent back to Ft. Myers. Each pitched for his new team on this night.

Check out what happened in the Twins minor league system on Friday:

Rochester Red Wings 2, Charlotte Knights 3

Box Score

Cole De Vries struggled, but found a way to get through five innings and give up just two runs. He yielded nine hits and intentionally walked a batter. His night ended with a nice 1, 2, 3 fifth frame. Virgil Vasquez came on and threw three shutout innings. However, he gave up a leadoff single to start the bottom of the 9^th. After a sacrifice bunt, the next batter was intentionally walked. Michael Tonkin was brought in. He is a ground ball pitcher, so they were hoping for an inning-ending double play. However, as he had done a night earlier in his Red Wings debut, Tonkin gave up a run-scoring single. Tonight, the single he yielded was to Gordon Beckham and it ended the game.

The offense was pretty quiet. Doug Bernier went 2-4. Both Red Wings runs came on home runs. Oswaldo Arcia’s fifth home run put them on the scoreboard. With two outs, down by a run in the top of the 9^th, Brian Dinkelman pinch hit for Danny Lehmann and hit a game-tying home run. It was his third homer of the season.

New Britain Rock Cats 6, Bowie Baysox 7

Box Score

Trevor May had one rough inning again. In total, he gave up four runs on eight hits and three walks in five innings, striking out five. The four runs came in the second inning before he settled in.

The Rock Cats were able to tie it in the third inning. Chris Pettit had a two-run double. It was followed by a two-run homer by Reynaldo Rodriguez.

Edgar Ibarra came on and gave up two runs on three hits in his two innings. After Dan Turpen and Matt Hauser each threw a scoreless inning, the game went to the bottom of the ninth. Nate Hanson crushed a double off of the wall with two outs to tie the game. Cole Johnson came on for the bottom of the ninth. Unfortunately, he gave up the first run he’s allowed in all May, and the Rock Cats dropped the game.

Curt Smith went 3-5. Nate Hanson was 2-5 with his second double. Reynaldo Rodriguez went 2-5 with his fifth home run.

Ft. Myers Miracle 1, Palm Beach Cardinals 4

Box Score

Matt Summers was excellent through five, but the Miracle bats just couldn’t muster enough offense tonight. Summers started the game with five shutout innings. He got two outs in the 6^th inning, then gave up a run before being replaced by Jose Gonzalez who got the inning’s final out. Gonzalez then gave up a run in the 7^th. Corey Williams pitched the 8^th frame and gave up two runs on a hit and two walks.

Eddie Rosario was 2-4. He had two of the team’s five hits. Jhon Goncalves hit his sixth double. Following up on yesterday’s story, Miguel Sano was in the starting lineup and was 1-3 with a sacrifice fly.

Cedar Rapids Kernels 5, Kane County 2

Box Score

The Kernels jumped out to a quick lead with two runs in the first inning. JO Berrios started slow. He gave up a run in the first inning on a hit and an uncharacteristic two walks. However, he settled down nicely. Berrios gave up one run on three hits and two walks in 5.2 innings. He struck out four. He was replaced by Alex Muren who went the next 2.1 innings without allowing a run. He gave up two hits, walked one and struck out one. Tim Atherton got one out in the ninth inning, before giving up one run on two hits and a walk. David Hurlbut came on and got the final two outs for his fifth save. Berrios improved to 4-2.

Dalton Hicks wen 3-4 with his 16^th double. Michael Quesada went 2-4 with his second double. Adam Walker went 2-4 with his 11^th double. Byron Buxton stole his 26^th base.

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Rinaldi Photos

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