Tuesday Turn Through the Minors

The Twins had a rough going in the early innings on Tuesday night. In the minor leagues, the Red Wings got a big, late-inning home run that led to a win. The Rock Cats scored nine runs for the second straight game yet they played a game that was close until the ninth. The Miracle won a 1-0 game thanks to great pitching and a big home run from a big prospect. Cedar Rapids’ game was postponed due to rain, but be sure to check out the rest of the Organizational Report.

The Twins fell 7-4 to the Royals on Tuesday night, their first two-game losing streak of the season. Mike Pelfrey could only get through two innings for the Twins, but Anthony Swarzak saved the bullpen with four solid innings in relief. Ryan Pressly then pitched two scoreless innings. Eduardo Escobar, batting ninth, led the offense by going 3-4 including his first Major League home run. Josh Willingham was 2-3 with his second homer. Joe Mauer hit his first homer of the season in the first inning.

Rochester Red Wings 2, Scranton/WB RailRiders 1

Box Score

A day after being named the first International League Player of the Week of 2013, Chris Colabello gave the Twins a 2-1 lead in the top of the ninth with a home run against Mark Montgomery. Anthony Slama came on and needed just nine pitches to close out his first save of the season, the 101^st of his minor league career.

PJ Walters made his second start of the early season. In this game, he gave up just one run on three hits in 5.1 innings. He walked four and struckout seven. He left the game with a runner on second and one out. Caleb Thielbar came on and struckout the next two batters. In the 7^th, Thielbar gave up a hit, but he faced just three batters. With the score still tied, Bruce Pugh got the first two outs of the eighth inning before giving up two singles. Tyler Robertson came on and struckout the batter he faced to end that threat. Slama struckout one in his perfect ninth frame.

There was not much offense from either side, but the Red Wings managed just five hits. Brandon Boggs had two of them, including his first double and a sixth-inning home run that tied the game at the time.

Kyle Gibson will take the mound for the Red Wings on Wednesday to face right-hander Dellin Betances in a 5:35 central time start.

New Britain Rock Cats 9, Harrisburg Senators 7

Box Score

The score was tied 5-5 heading into the ninth inning. With two outs and one runner on base, the Rock Cats got singles from Josmil Pinto and Danny Ortiz. They were followed by a two-run triple from Evan Bigley. Bigley then scored the fourth run of the inning on a bunt single by Harold Garcia. It’s fortunate the got some insurance that inning because Harrisburg scored two runs in the bottom of the ninth, but Michael Tonkin was able to end the game before the lead was lost.

Logan Darnell started and the lefty gave up just one run in five innings. He gave up five hits and three walks, but he found a way to limit the runs despite zero strikeouts. AJ Achter came in and threw a scoreless innings. He got the first two batters of the 7^th inning out, but then a walk was followed by two singles. Jose Gonzalez came in and walked the bases loaded before giving up a bases-clearing triple to Destin Hood. He walked another before getting the final out, but the game was now tied. Bobby Lanigan struckout two in a perfect eighth frame. Michael Tonkin gave up two runs on three hits and two walks in the ninth before getting the third out.

There were many contributors on the offensive side of the game as the team scored nine runs for the second straight game. Josmil Pinto went 3-5 with his second double. Danny Santana was 3-5 with a triple. Dan Rohlfing was 2-4 with a double. Nate Hanson and Danny Ortiz each had two hits. Evan Bigley contributed with a big three-run triple.

Trevor May will take the mound for the Rock Cats at Harrisburg on Wednesday.

Ft. Myers Miracle 1, Jupiter Hammerheads 0

Box Score

D.J. Baxendale made his first professional start on Tuesday night and pitched well. The 2012 tenth round pick who pitched in last year's College World Series threw 5.1 scoreless innings. He gave up two hits, walked one and struckout eight. Cole Johnson came on and struckout two and walked one in 1.2 scoreless innings. Zack Jones came in and threw 99 for two scoreless innings for his second save.

The Miracle improve to 5-0 on the season for manager Doug Mientkiewicz despite just four hits. Fortunately, one of those hits was a blast off the bat of Miguel Sano for his first home run of the year.

Tom Stuifbergen will start for the Miracle on Wednesday, at home against Jupiter. The game will begin at 6:05 central time.

Cedar Rapids Kernels, Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

Rained out on Tuesday night. Doubleheader on Wednesday, starting at 5:05. Brett Lee will start the first game before the six-man rotation rolls over and Taylor Rogers gets his second start.

If you have any questions, please feel free to ask.