Starter Matt Garza has been very impressive this season despite having a 1-3 record. He was really dealing last night. He gave up just 1 run over 7 innings but allowed 2 runs (1 was allowed by Pat Neshek, but charged to Garza). He gave up 9 hits and struck out just 2 batters, but he induced 3 double plays and 2 of the 3 came after the leadoff batter reached base. He relied more on his off speed pitches instead of his great fastball and it proved to be very effective.
Although Garza had a great performance, the real story of the game was the offense which scored 11 runs on 18 hits. Coming into the game, the Twins had scored 3 runs or fewer in 11 of the last 12 games and the team is 3-9 in those games.
Mike Redmond ignited the offense with a solid performance from the designated hitter spot. He went 2-5 with 2 RBI's. Both of his singles were hit to center or left center when the outfielders were shading him to right field. Jason Bartlett also had a good game in which he had 3 hits including his 4th home run of the season and his 31st RBI of the season. Rondell White even got in on the action with a 2 run double which then put the Twins up 6-1.
Alexi Casilla leadoff for the Twins and responded well with 3 base hits and 2 runs driven in. The 4-5-6 batters (Torii Hunter, Justin Morneau, Michael Cuddyer) combined to go 7-12 with 2 doubles, 7 runs scored and 3 runs batted in. Torii Hunter got the start at cleanup hitter for the 2nd straight game and responded well. Hopefully he can continue this and become the hitter we thought he should be (somewhere in the #3/4 spot with a good balance of average/power).
Game Ball
Profile: Torii Hunter, #48, Center Fielder
Game: 3-4, 2B, 3 R, SB
Next
The Twins will send Scott Baker (6-5, 4.76 ) to the mound as the Mariners will counter by sending Jarrod Washburn (8-9, 4.30). Both have been brilliant at times, and both have been struggled at times. Baker had a prety bad outing his last time out allowing 6 runs in 5 1/3 innings against the Angels. Washburn on the other hand hasn't picked up a win since the 4th of July. His last outing was also pretty bad giving up 5 runs in 6 2/3 innings.
Injury Updates
- Brian Buscher - He left for Buffalo, New York from the Twin Cities on Tuesday to meet with the Rochester Red Wings. He is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment now that his leg is clear of infection. Barring any setbacks, he'll likely be activated from the disabled list when he's eligable to come back on August 22nd.
- Jason Kubel - According to reports, he "continued to show improvements" while he did some drills including taking a few "light swings" off the tee prior to Tuesday's game. He's likely going to do regular batting practice on Friday. He may be ready to return sometime this weekend if his right oblique strain doesn't give him any fuss.
- Glen Perkins - He pitched just one inning last night for the GCL Twins. He gave up 1 run and struck out 2 before the game was suspended due to rain. I don't think the Twins have any time table for Perkins' return.
The Minnesota Twins signed 4th round pick, infielder/outfielder Reggie Williams on Monday. He will report to the Gulf Coast League Twins.
Definitely good news. Now if we can only sign Nathan Striz before the deadline to sign all draft picks which is midnight tonight.
There were reports that Mike Radcliff was going to have meetings with both Williams and Striz before Wednesday's signing deadline. Hopefully he met with Williams yesterday and will meet with Striz today. Striz is a nasty pitcher and has all the arm to become a top of the rotation ace.
Rochester Red Wings lost to the Buffalo Bison, 7-3.
Jerome Williams got his first start as a Red Wing, and it didn't go as well as he or the team hoped. The former first-round draft choice went just the 3 1/3 and gave up 5 runs on 9 hits. Brian Bass went the next 1.2 innings and only allowed a single. Brad Baker gave up 2 runs in his 1.2 innings of relief. And Jay Sawatski threw a scoreless 1 1/3 innings. Lew Ford went 1-4 with an RBI double. Matt Tolbert and Doug Deeds also drove in runs for the Red Wings.
New Britain Rock Cats beat the New Hampshire Fisher Cats, 12-5.
Ryan Mullins gave up 5 runs on 9 hits in 4 1/3 innings. But Armando Gabino, Joshua Hill, Tristan Crawford and Jesse Flloyd went the final 4 2/3 and gave up just 3 combined hits. It was Gabino's 1st win in his first appearance for New Britain. Brock Peterson went 3-3 with 3 runs scored and 3 RBI's including his 12th home run of the season. Garrett Guzman went 3-5 with 2 RBI's and his 18th double. Felix Molina went deep for the 7th time this season. The 1-4 batters in the order combined for 9 of the 12 runs scored for the Rock Cats.
Ft. Myers Miracle beat the Tampa Yankees, 8-6.
Errol Simonitsch continued to struggle as he gave up 4 runs in 4.2 innins. David Shinskie gave up 2 runs in his relief appearance, but he picked up his 7th win in the process. Danny Powers pitched a scoreless 8th before Rob Delaney picked up save number 5 with a scoreless 9th. Erik Lis continued his offensive surge with 2 hits which both were home runs, he now has 14 on the year, and 5 RBI's to bring his season total to 81 runs driven in. Danny Valencia, Steven Tolleson, and Dustin Martin both had 2 hits each including Valencia's 7th double. Tolleson, Ed Ovalle, and Jeff Christy drove in the other runs for the Miracle.
Beloit Snappers beat the Lansing Lugnuts, 8-7.
Danny Leatherman pitched the first 4 innings but gave up 5 runs on 4 hits including a 3 run home run. Danny Vais pitched a solid 3 innings of relief and gave up just 1 run which was a solo home run. Jose Lugo blew the potential save in the 8th by giving up a solo home run, but the Snappers scored in the 9th to give him his 4th win of the season. Eli Tintor had two hits, as did Joe Benson who hit his 7th triple. Chris Pamelee had 2 hits (both doubles) and 2 RBI's. Daniel Berg also had 2 hits and 2 RBI's, including the walk-off RBI single to win the game.
GCL Twins vs. GCL Pirates
Game suspended due to rain. The Pirates are winning 1-0 from an RBI single off of the rehabbing, Glen Perkins. The only Twin to have a hit is Yangervis Solarte.
Elizabethton Twins beat the Kingsport Mets, 1-0. (Game 1)
Elizabethton Twins beat the Kingsport Mets, 3-2. (Game 2)
Game 1: Southpaw Henry Reyes one-hit the Mets for 6.1 innings in the first game of the day. He lost the no-hitter bid in the top of the 6th but he still struck out 7 batters and walked just 1. Bradley Tippett pitched a perfect remainder to the 7th inning for his 2nd save of the season. Rene Leveret drove in the only run for the Twins. Danny Lehmann and Rene Tosoni had the only other hits for the Twins.
Game 2: Michael McDonald pitched a gem in game two giving up just 1 run on 3 hits while he struck out 10 batters in his 6 innings of work. Blair Erickson gave up a 7th inning run but still managed to get his 8th save of the season. The Twins scored all 3 runs in the 1st inning. Rene Leveret went 1-3 with 2 RBI's. Rene Tosoni drove in the other run while on an RBI double and finished the game 2-3. Estarlin De Los Santos went 1-3 with the his 55th run scored in 54 games.
Have a great day!
2 comments:
What makes you think Striz could be a ace? I know very little about him.
From all the reports I've seen, he's been said to have the best stuff out of any of our rookie pitchers.
He fell to the 5th round because of he has a scholarship offer to North Carolina and he was going to demand a lot of money to get out of that offer.
He's been known for throwing between 87-94 MPH as an 18 year old. He'll likely improve that in a few years in the minors (if he were to sign). He throws a hard sinker, slider, and fastball but will likely have to develope another pitch as he progresses.
All the reports that I have seen is that he's a very talented pitcher and a steal for the 5th round. A lot of reports had him going much higher (2nd round I saw).
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