Twins Minor League Report (5/17): Streaks and Walkoffs

One Minnesota Twins' affiliate won 4-3, in 12 innings. Another lost 4-3 on an unearned run in the 9^th inning. The Twins' top minor league pitcher this season was back on the mound and didn’t disappoint. Chris Colabello and Andrew Albers are two players who came to the Twins organization via the Can-Am League. They both have pretty impressive streaks with the Red Wings right now. So much happened in the Twins farm system on Friday that I haven't even mentioned Miguel Sano hitting another ball a long way!

See what else happened on Friday night in the Twins minor leagues:[PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]

Rochester Red Wings 11, Durham Bulls 6

Box Score

There is no question that the best pitcher this year for the Rochester Red Wings has been Canadian left-hander Andrew Albers. On Friday night, he threw 6.2 scoreless innings. He gave up five hits, walked three and struck out six. He extended his scoreless innings streak to 20.2 innings. He also recorded his first win of the year and reduced his ERA to 2.34.

Luis Perdomo came on and gave up six runs (5 earned) on five hits and two walks in 1.1 innings. Shairon Martis pitched the final 1.1 innings and gave up two hits, but no more runs while striking out two.

Catcher Eric Fryer had the big hit to give the Red Wings the early lead. Fryer was 1-2 with two walks; that one hit was a grand slam in the second inning. Antoan Richardson went 3-5 with his first two AAA doubles of the season and is now hitting .381 for the Wings. Chris Colabello was 2-4 with a walk and his 14^th and 15^th doubles. Doug Bernier was 2-5. Joe Benson walked three times and scored three runs.

Colabello extended his hitting streak to nine games. In that span, he is hitting .485 with seven doubles and three home runs.

In other news, Rafael Perez was released.

New Britain Rock Cats 3, Bowie Baysox 4

Box Score

This game went to the 9^th inning tied at three. Michael Tonkin came on to pitch. He gave up an unearned run on a Danny Santana error and two hits. He struck out two, but unfortunately, the Rock Cats were unable to score in the ninth.

Alex Meyer made the start. He gave up two runs on five hits in 5.1 innings. He walked none and struck out four. Edgar Ibarra came on and gave up one run on two hits and a walk in 1.2 innings. AJ Achter walked and struck out one in a scoreless eighth frame before Tonkin came in for the ninth.

Josmil Pinto went 3-4 with a walk and his ninth double. Danny Santana went 2-5 with his sixth double. James Beresford came off of the disabled list and went 2-5.

Ft. Myers Miracle 8, Charlotte Stone Crabs 0

Box Score

DJ Baxendale was the minor league pitcher of the month for the Twins in April. He was the Florida State League Pitcher of the week in the first full week of May. On Saturday night, he improved to 6-0 while reducing his ERA to 1.07. The right-hander gave the Miracle seven innings of shutout ball. He yielded three hits, walked two and struck out three. Matt Hauser came in for his first appearance of the 2013 season and worked two perfect innings.

Angel Morales drove in three runs, going 3-4 with his third and fourth triples. Kennys Vargas was 2-3 with his seventh homer of the year and Miguel Sano launched his 11^th.

Cedar Rapids Kernels 4, Kane County Cougars 3 (12 innings)

Box Score

It took 12 full innings to decide, but the Kernels got a walk-off win for the second straight night. This time, it was third baseman Travis Harrison who played hero. In the 12^th, Jorge Polanco worked a leadoff walk. Clean-up hitter Dalton Hicks laid down a perfect bunt. Harrison came up and on a 0-1 pitch, lined a single down the third base line to score Polanco for the win.

Polanco and JD Williams accounted for six of the Kernels’ nine hits in the game. Polanco was 3-5 with a walk and his 11^th and 12^th doubles. Williams went 3-4 with his seventh double and his first two triples of the season. Along with his sacrifice bunt, Dalton Hicks also added his 13^th double.

Tyler Duffey made the start for Cedar Rapids. He gave up three runs (2 earned) on six hits in 7.2 innings. He walked none and struck out five. David Hurlbut came on in the 8^th and got the team through the 11^th inning. He gave up three hits in his 3.1 scoreless frames. He walked none and struck out one. Manuel Soliman is credited with the W, pitching a scoreless top of the 12^th.

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