Twins Minor League Report (5/11): Close Games All Day

On Saturday, four Twins minor league affiliates played a total of five games. Two of them involved walk-offs. Another was won on a big home run in the eighth inning. There were three very good starts. Sam Deduno made his second start of the year and no fewer than four WBC competitors had very good games in the Twins' minor leagues on Saturday.

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On Sunday, the Miracle will get a day off. Rochester will send PJ Walters to the mound. New Britain will have Logan Darnell start. JO Berrios will be starting for the Kernels in Beloit. Also, catcher Michael Quesada will be joining the Kernels very soon, returning from his 50-game suspension.

Game 1 - Rochester Red Wings 1, Columbus Clippers 3

Box Score

The Red Wings had to make up the game rained out on Friday night; they did so on Saturday. Game 1 was started by Sam Deduno. The right-hander gave up one run on four hits. In 5.1 innings, he walked four and struck out five. Caleb Thielbar came on and struck out four in 2.2 perfect innings. Luis Perdomo took the loss, giving up two unearned runs in the ninth frame.

Brian Dinkelman provided the Red Wings' scoring offense in this game. He hit his second homer of the season, a solo shot. Jeff Clement was 2-5 with his second double. Eric Farris went 1-1 with two walks and his fifth stolen base.

Game 2 - Rochester Red Wings 1, Columbus Clippers 3

Box Score

The Twins lost the second game by the exact same score. Andrew Albers started and was again pretty good. The lefty Canadian gave up two unearned runs on five hits in six innings to drop his ERA to 2.75. He walked one and struck out seven. Rafael Perez pitched the seventh frame. He gave up one run on two hits and a walk.

Chris Colabello went 2-3 with his tenth double. He drove in the lone Red Wings' run in this game. Joe Benson and Brian Dinkelman each had two hits.

New Britain Rock Cats 5, Portland Sea Dogs 4

Box Score

Alex Meyer made the start for the Rock Cats. The right-hander gave up four runs (3 earned) on seven hits and four walks in five innings. He struck out seven. Jose Gonzalez struck out two in two perfect innings. Bruce Pugh walked one and struck out one in a scoreless eighth inning. Aaron Thompson gave up a hit, but nothing more, in a scoreless ninth.

Curt Smith signed with the Twins after a strong showing in the WBC for Team Netherlands. His two-run homer with two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning gave the Rock Cats a lead that they were able to hold on to. It was Smith’s third homer of the year. Josmil Pinto hit his seventh homer of the year, as well. Dan Rohlfing went 2-2 with two walks. Antoan Richardson walked three times.

Ft. Myers Miracle 4, Jupiter Hammerheads 5

Box Score

DJ Baxendale was terrific again on this day, but the bullpen coughed up the lead in the ninth. Baxendale went the first seven innings and gave up only an unearned run, reducing his ERA to 1.25. He gave up three hits, walked one and struck out one. Dakota Watts pitched a scoreless eighth inning. However, in the ninth, he gave up four singles. He left with the bases loaded and a one run lead. Corey Williams came on and gave up a double that scored the two runs to give the Hammerheads the walk-off win.

Jairo Rodriguez went 3-4 with two RBI. Eddie Rosario was 2-5 with his ninth double and third triple. Stephen Wickens was 2-5.

Cedar Rapids Kernels 2, Beloit Snappers 3

Box Score

The Kernels have won several games this year in the late innings. On Saturday, they were the victims of a walk-off. Tyler Duffey was on the mound and again pitched quite well. The right-hander threw seven innings and yielded just one run. He gave up four hits, walked none and struck out seven. Manuel Soliman came on and pitched a scoreless eighth inning. He got the first out in the ninth inning before issuing a walk. That was followed by back-to-back doubles to end the game.

Travis Harrison went 2-4 with his 11^th and 12^th doubles. JD Williams went 2-3 and stole his seventh base. Byron Buxton added his eighth double.

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