Article: Twins Minor League Report (5/8): Hurlbut Goes The Distance

[Eric R Pleiss]

The Minnesota Twins dropped a day game to the Tribe on Thursday afternoon, losing the four-game series three games to one. The Twins fell behind early and while they managed to pull within one run after the top of the seventh, the Indians pulled away for a 9-4 victory.

 

Every team in the Twins system was on the road today, and the road was not a friendly place.

 

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The Twins announced that they called up Matt Guerrier. To make room for Guerrier on the 40-man roster, the Twins DFAd Brooks Raley, and he was claimed by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. To make room for Guerrier on the 25-man roster, the Twins optioned lefty Logan Darnell back to AAA.

 

Before Thursday's game, Sam Fuld was put on the 7-day concussion list, and Eduardo Nunez was called up. After Thursday's game the Twins also optioned SS Pedro Florimon and C/OF Chris Herrmann to AAA Rochester. Aaron Hicks could be joining the Twins Friday in Detroit, coming off the concussion list. Could Oswaldo Arcia be the second, or who else could join the Twins? How about Eric Fryer? He would allow Josmil Pinto to remain the DH.

 

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Photo from Bryan,

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Red Wings Report

Rochester 1, Columbus 5

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Columbus completed a four-game sweep of Rochester, and Scott Diamond was tagged with the loss. Diamond pitched all eight innings for the Red Wings. He gave up five earned runs, walked three and struck out four. Diamond was surprisingly efficient, despite the walks and earned runs, throwing just 108 pitches, and shutting down the final ten batters he faced. Trevor Bauer, one of the prized jewels in the Cleveland Indians system, was the story of the night. He went 7.2 innings, gave up just three hits, two walks, and struck out nine.

 

The Red Wings mustered just three hits, one each from Eric Farris, Deibinson Romero, and Eric Fryer. The best thing for Rochester is getting out of Columbus. They scored just eight runs over the four game series.

 

Rock Cats Review

New Britain 5, Bowie 6

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New Britain battled on Thursday night, and took a two-run lead in the top of the eighth inning. Sean Gilmartin turned in a quality start for the Rock Cats, going six innings and giving up three earned runs. Cole Johnson pitched a scoreless inning of relief, and Lester Oliveros was tagged with a Blown Save and the Loss, giving up three runs (one earned) in the bottom of the eighth as Bowie stole a win from the Rock Cats.

 

The Rock Cats had eleven hits, and six of them came from their corner outfielders, Reynaldo Rodriguez (RF) and Daniel Ortiz (LF). Both were 3-4, but Rodriguez benefited from men on base in front of him and Ortiz hitting behind him as Rodriguez picked up two RBIs (including a solo home run) and scored three times.

 

Miracle Matters

Fort Myers 3, Jupiter 2

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The Miracle's David Hurlbut pitched nine innings of six-hit baseball, throwing just 99 pitches and led Fort Myers to fourth consecutive victory. From the fifth inning through the eighth, Hurlbut did not allow a single batter to reach base. His final line was nine innings, six hits, two runs (one earned), NO WALKS, and he struck out three. His ERA now sits at an impressive 1.69.

 

Levi Michael, now hitting .322 in his third year in the Florida State League and finally looking like the player the Twins expected when they drafted him, led off the game. He left before his at bat was over after fouling a ball off of his foot. Byron Buxton was just 1-5, but he hit a double and scored a run. He still appears to be adjusting to playing full speed, and had a couple more strike outs tonight. This was really a team effort tonight as the Miracle spread their eight hits around to seven different batters, and four different players scored runs. The Miracle also stole three bases, one each for Niko Goodrum, Jorge Polanco, and Adam Brett Walker II.

 

Kernels Nuggets

Cedar Rapids 7, Wisconsin 11

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Felix Jorge pitched into just the fourth inning (3.2), giving up eight earned runs, throwing 80 pitches and taking the loss for the Kernels. Alex Muren replaced Jorge but did not fare much better, pitching just 2.1 innings, giving up three earned runs. Both Jorge and Muren gave up two home runs. Brandon Bixler, who has been excellent this season for the Kernels, entered in the seventh and gave the Kernels two scoreless innings, lowering his ERA to 0.47.

 

The Kernels scored plenty of runs, but when the pitching staff gives up eleven runs, there is not much hope of pulling out a win. Jason Kanzler led the way on Thursday with a 3-5 night, two RBIs, a home run, three runs scored and no strike outs. J.D. Williams and Engelb Vielma each picked up two hits of their own and five different Kernels picked up RBIs, but the seven runs they scored just could not overcome Jorge's poor start.

 

TWINS DAILY PLAYERS OF THE DAY

HITTER: Jason Kanzler, Cedar Rapids Kernels

PITCHER: David Hurlbut, Fort Myers Miracle

 

FRIDAY'S PROBABLES:

Rochester @ Toledo (6:00 PM Central) – Yohan Pino (Listen)

New Britain @ Bowie (5:35 PM Central) – Pat Dean (Listen)

Jupiter @ Fort Myers (6:05 PM Central) – Alex Wimmers (Listen)

Cedar Rapids @ Wisconsin (6:35 PM Central) – Aaron Slegers (Listen)

 

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