Twins lose 5th in a row

The Twins continue to struggle and not take advantage of the poor play by both the Tigers and Indians. The team is still 7 games back, after the Tigers lost to the Angels last night.

This game, was not as bad as the previous games where they have wasted very good pitching. Johan Santana gave up 2 runs in the first inning on a double by Richie Sexson, but he settled down and gave up just 1 more in 7 innings of work. He struck out 4 and walked none. Matt Guerrier came in to pitch the 9th, even though Joe Nathan was seen warming up in the top of the inning, and gave up a walk-off home run to Richie Sexson. It was Guerrier's 4th loss of the season.

The offense came back to tie the score at 3 each in the 7th inning, so just that, shows that the offense wasn't as bad as they've been for the last week. Joe Mauer drove in 2 runs while he went 3-4 with his 22nd double of the season. Jason Tyner went 2-3 with a walk and a run scored. Even Nick Punto got on base 3 times with 2 walks an a hit. Of course there were weak links with Alexi Casilla, Jason Bartlett, Rondell White, and Michael Cuddyer all going scoreless.

Next The Twins will send Matt Garza to the mound to hopefully give the Twins what they've had for the most part since the All-Star break, and that is a good game pitched. He will face up against Horacio Ramirez who is 7-3 with a 7.12 ERA. That means that if Carlos Silva was a Mariner this season, he'd probably be up there with Josh Beckett with 15 wins. That's unbelievable.

Game Ball

Profile: Joe Mauer, #7, Catcher

Game: 3-4, 1 2B, 2 RBI, 1 SB

Rochester Red Wings beat the Ottawa Lynx, 4-1.
Nick Blackburn was very good for the Red Wings, the right hander threw 7 shutout innings and struck out 3 while he lowered his ERA to 2.14. Julio DePaula threw a scoreless 8th, and Bobby Korecky gave up a run on 2 hits in his only inning of work. Gil Velazquez drove in 2 runs for the Red Wings. Darnell McDonal drove in the other. Matt Tolbert went 2-3 with his 6th triple of the season and his 4th stolen base.

New Britain Rock Cats
No Game Scheduled.

Ft. Myers Miracle
No Game Scheduled.

Beloit Snappers lost to the Lansing Lugnuts, 9-4.
Matt Fox gave up 6 runs in his 4.1 innings pitched. Jesus Carnevales gave up 3 more in his 3 1/3 innings pitched. Anthony Slama stopped the bleeding with 1 1/3 of scoreless baseball, but it was too late. Chris Parmelee, Chris Cates, and Garrett Olsen drove in all the runs for the Snappers. Wilson Ramos contributed with 2 hits.

GCL Twins
No Game Scheduled

Elizabethton Twins crushed the Greeneville Astros, 22-3.
Jose Castillo went the first 6 innings and allowed just 2 hits and struck out 4. Mike Rogers came in and blew the shutout, but picked up his 1st save of the season by pitching the final 3 innings. The score was 20-0 when Mike Rogers came in to pitch, so I'm not sure how he got the save, but none-the-less, it's in the books.

Offensively there was so much that happened, that I don't want to miss anyone, so here is what happened:

1. SS Estarlin De Los Santos: 2-4, 4 runs, 1 RBI, 1 BB
2. RF Rene Tosoni: 1-5, 2 runs, 1 RBI, 1 BB
3. 3B DJ Romero: 4-5, 4 runs, 1 2, 1 HR, 6 RBI, 2 BB
4. 1B Rene Leveret: 4-6, 2 runs, 1 2B, 3 RBI, 1 BB
5. LF Ozzie Lewis: 2-6, 2 runs, 1 2B, 2 RBI, 1 BB
6. DH Greg Yersich: 3-5, 3 runs, 1 2B, 1 RBI
7. C Danny Lehman: 3-4, 2 runs, 1 2B, 1 HR, 5 RBI
8. CF Mark Dolenc: 0-4, 2 runs, 1 RBI, 2 BB
9. 2B Eric Santiago: 1-6, 1 run, 1 RBI

Wow, the Twins just unloaded against the Astros. Ozzie Lewis is now 2nd in the Apply League with a .341 average. Unfortunately, the leader has a .361 average. But if he can keep having impressive games like he did last night, I don't think it will matter. Rene Leveret (53), Ozzie Lewis (43) and DJ Romero (39) rank 1-2-3 in RBI's for the Appalachian League. The Twins offense has been very impressive this season, and hopefully this group can continue to progress throughout the system in the future.