Twins Minor League Report (7/19): Friday Night Lights

Eddie Rosario has been on fire since his promotion to New Britain. In 33 games, he is hitting .318/380/.473 (.853) with ten doubles, two triples and two home runs. Meanwhile, the offensive adjustment to AA has been more of a challenge for Miguel Sano. In 32 games, he is hitting just .204 with 32 strikeouts. He is walking 10% of the time, and he has 13 extra base hits. Last night, the two of them led the Rock Cats to a 8-7 win. Meanwhile, the Cedar Rapids Kernels got a great start, and some major power production from a guy who has been overlooked much of the season.

For all that, and much more, check out what happened in the Twins' farm system on Friday:[PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]

Rochester 5, Syracuse 4 (5 innings)

Box Score

It was a rain-shortened game, but the Red Wings got another win. PJ Walters started and went just 2.2 innings. He gave up three runs on seven hits and a walk. He struck out four. Cody Eppley walked two over the next 1.1 innings, but no hits and no runs. Aaron Thompson gave up one run on three hits in his inning but gets credited with the save.

Brian Dinkelman led the offense. He was 2-2 with his second triple. Jeff Clement drove in two runs.

New Britain 8, Binghampton 7

Box Score

The Rock Cats got a lot of runs and they needed each one. Miguel Sano provided the big hit. He was 2-3 with two walks in the game and he drilled a grand slam, his seventh homer with the team. Eddie Rosario went 2-4 with a walk and his 10^th double. Danny Santana went 2-4 with a walk. He also stole his 17^th and 18^th bases. Evan Bigley went 3-4 with a walk and his second and third doubles.

Following his complete game, one-hitter, Virgil Vasquez gave up five runs on six hits in five innings. He walked two and struck out one. Dan Turpen gave up two hits and a walk in one inning. He struck out two. Dakota Watts gave up one run on three hits in his two innings, while he struck out four. Cole Johnson gave up one run on two hits and a walk in one inning.

Ft. Myers 3, Dunedin 6

Box Score

Manuel Soliman had a rough start. He gave up three runs (2 earned) on four hits and five walks in four innings. He struck out two. Matt Tomshaw was perfect over the next two innings, striking out one. Steven Gruver came on and gave up three runs on three hits and three walks and recorded just two outs. Tyler Jones gave up two hits but no runs over the next 1.1 innings. He struck out two.

Aderlin Mejia went 3-4 with his 14^th stolen base. JD Williams is now hitting .455 in his first three games at Ft. Myers after going 2-4 with an RBI in this game. Matt Koch hit his 16^th double.

Cedar Rapids 4, Lake County 1

Box Score

Great pitching and big hits help win ball games, right? That’s the formula that worked for the Kernels on this night.

It all starts with pitching though, and Brett Lee provided another spectacular start. Lee went nine innings and gave up one run on six hits; he walked one and struck out ten. It was his second straight complete game! He is now 7-4 with a 3.30 ERA.

Adam Walker provided the power. He went 2-5 with his 19^th and 20^th home runs and drove in three runs. Max Kepler went 3-4 with his second steal. Jonathan Murphy was 2-5 with his second stolen base. Niko Goodrum stole his 10^th and 11^th bases.

Elizabethton 6, Bristol 0 (8 innings)

Box Score

Another rain-shortened game, but the E-Twins are happy to get any games in lately. Yorman Landa was on the mound and he was good again. He threw five shutout innings and gave up just two hits. He did walk three and hit two other batters. He struck out three. Kuo Hua Lo gave up just a walk over the next two innings.

Ryan Walker was 3-4. Rory Rhodes went 2-3 with a walk. Mitch Garver was 2-4.

GCL Twins 2, GCL Red Sox 4

Box Score

Alex Swim led the offense by going 3-4 with his third double. Jorge Fernandez hit his fourth double.

Jared Wilson started. The fifth-year senior went just two innings and gave up three runs on one hit, two walks and two hit batters; he struck out three. Chih-Wei Hu gave up one run on three hits and a walk over the next three innings. Jose Abreu gave up just one hit over the final three innings. He struck out two.

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