Friday on the Farm

Day 2 in the Twins minor league system meant FIVE box scores to follow. In an unusual event, New Britain and Richmond had a scheduled double header. The Twins affiliates went 4-1 on the day. The Rochester Red Wings and New Britain Rock Cats are a combined 5-0 so far on the early season. As you will see every day throughout the season, here are the scores and highlights from the Twins minor league system.

ROCHESTER 3, SYRACUSE 1

Scott Diamond had a frustrating 2011 season with the Red Wings (and in several starts with the Twins). His 2012 got off to a terrific start. The lefty threw 6.1 scoreless innings. He gave up four hits, walked one and struckout three. Carlos Gutierrez finished the seventh inning and then struckout the first two batters of the 8^th inning. A triple, followed by a double, ended his night as the Red Wings clung to a 2-1 lead. Anthony Slama came in and got a strikeout to end the eighth. He gave up one hit in the 9^th frame, but he struckout pinch-hitter Mark Teahen to end the game and record his first save. [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]

Brian Dozier and Joe Benson each went 2-3 with a walk in the game. After a four-hit debut on Thursday, Matt Carson was 2-4 with his secod double in this game. Aaron Bates was 1-3 with a walk and a double.

NEW BRITAIN 6, RICHMOND 2 (GAME 1)

Steve Hirschfeld pitched well, but the story in this game was the bat of Evan Bigley. The right fielder went 2-3. He put the Rock Cats on the board with an RBI triple. A couple innings later, he broke things open with a grand slam to give him five RBI in the game. Like Bigley, Pedro Florimon was 2-3. He had a double. Hirschfeld went the first five innings and gave up two runs on five hits and two walks. He struck out four. Luis Perdomo came in and struckout four in two scoreless, hitless innings.

NEW BRITAIN 4, RICHMOND 1 (GAME 2)

Lefty Logan Darnell got the Game 2 start and pitched very well. In five innings, he gave up one run on just two hits. He walked one and struck out four. A couple of former starters made their bullpen debuts and did quite well. David Bromberg pitched a scoreless sixth inning, and Bobby Lanigan gets the save with a scoreless seventh. Chris Herrmann had the big hit in this game. He was 2-3 but his bases-clearing double gave the Rock Cats the lead they were able to hold on to. Deibinson Romero hit his second double of the day. Nate Hanson went 2-2 with a walk.

FT. MYERS MIRACLE 2, CHARLOTTE 6

2011 was a frustrating season for Pat Dean, but he came through with a terrific debut to his 2012 season. The lefty gave up two runs on six hits in six innings. He struck out four without walking a single batter. Bruce Pugh came in gave up four runs (3 earned) on four hits, including a home run, in the seventh inning. Caleb Thielbar threw two scoreless innings. He gave up no hits or walks, but he did hit two batters. Danny Santana now has six hits in the season’s first two games after going 3-5 in this game. He also stole hit first base. Angel Morales was 1-3 with a walk.

BELOIT 6, PEORIA 1

The Snappers got great pitching, but the story of this game came in the 7^th inning. The game was still tied at one a piece when Miguel Sano stepped to the plate with the bases loaded. He connected for his first Midwest League hit and his first Midwest League Home Run, a grand slam that gave the Snappers a lead they would hold on to. Tyler Grimes went 2-4 with a double. JD Williams was 1-3 with a walk and a double. Eddie Rosario was 1-2 with two walks. 2011 draft pick Steven Gruver started and gave up just one run on five hits in six innings. He struckout five without walking a batter. Michael Tonkin struckout four in two scoreless innings. Clinton Dempster struckout two in a scoreless ninth.

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Friday, April 6, 2012 Players of the Day

Hitter of the Day – Evan Bigley

Pitcher of the Day – Scott Diamond

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A Look Ahead – Saturday, April 7, 2012 Schedule

Rochester @ Syracuse – 3:05 (CST) – Daryl Thompson

Richmond @ New Britain (12:35 CST) – Jason Marquis

Charlotte @ Ft. Myers – 5:05 CST) – BJ Hermsen

Peoria @ Beloit – 2:00 – Tim Shibuya

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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!