Twins Minor League Report (8/5): Dean Dazzles

Today's baseball news was focused primarily on 12 players who received 50-game PED suspensions and one other who received a 211-game suspension and has decided to appeal. I haven't turned on ESPN, but I'm sure you could get a more in-depth run-down on these 13 players within 30 seconds on turning it on.

Fortunately, no Twins were involved. Former Twin Danny Valencia was investigated and cleared. It turns out he had higher-than-normal amount of "swag", but nothing illegal from Biogenesis.

Let's take a spin around today's farm action:[PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]

ROCHESTER RED WINGS 4, DURHAM BULLS 2

Box Score

While the obvious headline coming into the game was the fact that every member of the Twins Opening Day starting outfield (Willingham, Hicks, Parmelee) is in the Red Wings lineup, it was a pitcher who stole the show.

Pat Dean, who made his AAA debut after struggling in New Britain - he leads the Eastern League in hits allowed- had a fantastic showing. After allowing two two-out walks in the first inning, Dean sailed through five innings of hitless baseball. He exited after pitching seven innings of two-hit, three-walk shutout baseball. Striking out four, Dean has probably assured himself of another week in AAA, this coming not more than a few weeks after I speculated about his grip on a spot in the AA rotation. Great for Pat and great for the Red Wings, who continue their pursuit of an International League playoff spot.

www.mycitizensnews.com

The bullpen made the game interesting. Michael Tonkin retired the side in the eighth before running into trouble in the ninth. He left two on for Edgar Ibarra, who allowed them both to score before turning the game over to Shairon Martis with two on and one out. Martis allowed a runner to reach after failing to make a catch. With the bases loaded, he struck out a batter on a full count before recording the third out on a fielder's choice.

Josh Willingham was 0-for-3 with a walk and strikeout in his rehab debut. He DH'ed. Aaron Hicks was 0-for-4 with two Ks.

Chris Parmelee had two doubles.

Both Jeff Clement and Josmil Pinto had three hits. After going 0-for-4 in his AAA debut, Pinto has transitioned well, batting 8-for-14 (.571) since.

Scott Diamond makes his first start for Rochester this season tomorrow night at 7:05 pm.

The Red Wings are currently two games up in the IL North and 2.5 games up in the Wild Card race.

NEW BRITAIN ROCKCATS - Off Day

D.J. Baxendale takes the ball at Akron tomorrow at 7:05 ET.

FORT MYERS MIRACLE 5, TAMPA YANKEES 6

Box Score

The Miracle did nearly everything they could to get a win tonight, but blew a save in the bottom of the 9th to lose to the Tampa Yankees.

Darrin Mastroianni playing well in his rehab, reached base twice tonight by walk and, despite going 0-for-3, stole a base too. Mastroianni played right field along- side Byron Buxton and J.D. Williams. Easily the fastest outfield collection in the Twins minor league system, you might be hard pressed to find a faster outfield anywhere in baseball.

Buxton had a hit, a walk and stole his 8th High-A base. Willams also stole a base following a walk. Stephen Wickens had two hits and a stolen base. Dougie Baseball apparently likes to give the green light on the basepaths.

Matt Koch and Levi Michael both doubled.

Jason Wheeler struck out three over five innings. Steven Gruver and Corey Williams bridged the gap to Adrian Salcedo, who gave up a two-run walk-off home run in the 9th inning. Why Salcedo you ask? Excellent question.

The Miracle have a day off tomorrow.

CEDAR RAPIDS KERNELS 2, QUAD CITIES RIVER BANDITS 6

Box Score

Not a lot to write about tonight.

Adam Brett Walker doubled and homered to drive in both runs Kernels runs.

Christian Powell allowed five runs (four earned) over five innings while striking out four. Hudson Boyd (2 IP) and Alex Muren (1 IP) each struck out one over three combined scoreless innings.

Brian Gilbert allowed a run in his inning of work.

If you're looking at making a weekday trip to Cedar Rapids, tomorrow is the day. Josue Montanez will face off with #1 pick Mark Appel at 6:35 CT.

ELIZABETHTON TWINS - Off Day

Josh Burris and Yorman Landa will start tomorrow in a doubleheader that begins at 6 ET.

GCL TWINS 2, GCL RAYS 0

Box Score

Rehabbing Cole De Vries pitched three perfect innings, striking out four.

Sam Gibbons struck out four over the next four innings. He allowed two hits. Zach Hayden struck out two in one inning.

Lester Oliveros, also rehabbing, allowed two hits in his inning of work.

Zach Larson (RBI) and Brian Navaretto (double) both had two-hit games. Engelb Vielma drove in a run and stole his sixth base of the season.

At 20-19, the GCL team has pulled within one game of the lead in a tight GCL South race.

Tomorrow will be a rematch of the same two teams and Noon ET.