Twins Minor League Report (7/12): Lee Lifts Kernels

After eight Minnesota Twins minor league games to report on Thursday night, it was nice that all six Twins' affiliates played just one game on Friday night. There were a couple of one-run losses, and a walk-off win. Two teams had little offense, and the one team that seemingly gets big offense every day did so again. Brett Lee was easily the pitcher of the day with a complete game when his team needed it the most. With the extreme struggles and frustrations surrounding the Twins' big league team, it’s nice to have some good teams and terrific prospects to follow throughout the minor leagues.

Here is a look at what happened in the Twins farm system Friday:[PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]

Rochester 7, Pawtucket 8

Box Score

PJ Walters returned to the Red Wings rotation Friday night. He started with three scoreless innings before giving up one in the fourth and three in the fifth. He allowed those four runs on five hits in 4.1 innings. He walked four and struck out three. Luis Perdomo gave up two runs on a hit and two walks over 1.2 innings. He struck out three. Blake Martin gave up two runs on two hits and two walks (while striking out two) in one inning. AJ Achter threw a 1-2-3 inning.

Antoan Richardson provided much of the offense on this night. The speedster went 4-5 with three doubles (12 on the year). Chris Colabello went 1-3 with two walks. Doug Bernier hit his fifth triple.

New Britain 1, Trenton 4

Box Score

The offense was pretty much non-existent for the Rock Cats in this game. They managed just six hits. Miguel Sano and Josmil Pinto were both 1-2 with two walks.

DJ Baxendale took the mound. The righty gave up three runs (2 earned) on nine hits and a walk in 4.2 innings. He struck out two. After that point, the bullpen got some usage. Cole Johnson came on and struck out two over the next four outs. BJ Hermsen gave up a hit and recorded a strikeout in his scoreless inning. Dan Turpen entered and gave up a run on a hit and recorded just one out. Tom Stuifbergen came on and got the final two outs of that inning. Matt Hauser worked a scoreless inning.

Ft. Myers 0, Lakeland 5

Box Score

Speaking of little offense, the Miracle were shut out Friday night. Jhon Goncalves went 2-3 with a walk and his 18^th double. Byron Buxton went 1-3 with a walk. Levi Michael went 1-2 with two walks.

Manuel Soliman started and went 4.1 innings. He was charged with four runs on seven hits. He walked three and struck out two. Chad Rodgers came on and gave up one run on two hits in 2.2 innings. He walked one and struck out two. Zack Jones pitched the final two innings. He gave up two hits and no runs; he struck out four.

Cedar Rapids 7, Dayton 1

Box Score

On Thursday night, Kernels pitchers gave up 13 runs on 11 hits and ten walks. Manager Jake Mauer was none too happy about it, and he told the Metro Sports Report after the game, “We’ve just got to get better. These guys have to find a way to throw the ball over the plate.”

Later, he added, “You’ve got to go out there and you’ve got to compete. It’s your day. You just have to do it one day a week. That’s all we ask.”

On Friday night, Brett Lee competed, giving Mauer and his Kernels teammates exactly what they needed. The left-hander went nine innings for his team. He gave up one run on five hits. He threw strikes, walked one and he struck out three. He improved to 6-4 with a 3.54 ERA on the season.

Adam Walker led the offense. He gave the Kernels an early lead with a long, three-run home run, his fifteenth of the season. He was 2-4 and added another RBI. Dalton Hicks went 1-3 with a walk and his 29^th double.

Elizabethton 6, Bristol 5

Box Score

The E-Twins came from behind to win this game. Down a run in the 8^th frame, Stuart Turner doubled in the tying run. Then, with two on and two out in the bottom of the ninth, Mitch Garver singled in Bryan Haar with the winning run. Haar was 3-4 with a walk and his second double in the game. Garver was 3-5. Turner was 2-5 and the double was his first of the year. Rory Rhodes and Ryan Walker each added two hits.

Yorman Landa started and was charged with three runs (2 earned) on five hits in five innings. He walked four and struck out six. Brandon Peterson gave up two hits in a scoreless inning. Andrew Ferreira gave up two runs on one hit and three walks in his inning. Brandon Bixler struck out four over two scoreless innings.

GCL Twins 7, GCL Red Sox 8

Box Score

The GCL Twins fell behind early in this one, tried to claw its way back and fell just short. Sam Gibbons started. He was charged with seven runs (3 earned) on seven hits; he walked one and struck out none. Lewis Thorpe came on and worked the next 3.2 innings. He gave up only an unearned run on three hits. He walked none and struck out five. Dan Sattler pitched another scoreless inning. Miguel Gonzalez gave up one hit and struck out three over two scoreless innings.

Amaurys Minier went 2-5 with his fourth home run. Jason Kanzler was 2-4 with a triple, three RBI and his fifth stolen base. Brian Navarreto and Jonatan Hinojosa each went 2-5. Adonis Pacheco was 1-2 with two walks and his fourth double.

Thanks for checking out today’s Twins minor league report. Please feel free to discuss, comment or ask questions.