Twins Minor League Report (8/21): Seasons drawing to a close

On Monday night, Twins fans with Fox Sports North had the opportunity to watch the New Britain Rock Cats on television. In the game, fans were able to see good and bad, and most important, that even at the Double-A level, there is still a lot of development left, even for the best prospects. On Wednesday night, Twins fans saw a terrific pitcher’s duel in Detroit between Kevin Correia and Anibal Sanchez. However, in the 7^th inning, we saw that even the big leaguers make the types of mistakes you expect to see in the minor leagues.[PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]

That’s why I encourage Twins fans to go to minor league games if you have a chance. It’s enjoyable to see the play improve as players move up the system. Yes, there will be errors. Physical errors are a part of the game, and although players should be expected to improve and minimize the errors over time. What you hope to see improve as players move up through the farm system is a decrease in the number of mental errors. There should be less situations where a player throws to the wrong base or forgets the number of outs.

The seasons are winding down. Labor Day is the final day of the minor league regular seasons. Cedar Rapids will be at home from August 24-30. They will then begin a Best of Three playoff series the following week. The Ft. Myers Miracle will be home from August 23 through September 1 with the exception of games in Bradenton on the 29^th and 31^st. They too will be in the playoffs that next week. New Britain has four more games at home, August 30 through September 2. Rochester will have some home cooking the rest of the season. Starting August 22, the Red Wings will play at home through their season finale on Labor Day with the exception of two games in Buffalo. Elizabethton goes on a six-game road trip before ending their season with three home games August 28-30. The GCL Twins are at home on the 22^nd, 24^th, 27^th and 29^th. Get out to a game if you have a chance.

See what else happened in the Twins farm system on Wednesday.

Rochester Red Wings

No Game Scheduled.

New Britain Rock Cats 1, Trenton Thunder 3

Box Score

Cole De Vries made another start for the Rock Cats and was very good. In six innings, he gave up only an unearned run. He allowed five hits, didn’t walk a batter and struck out two. Ryan O’Rourke pitched a scoreless seventh inning, but he gave up a base runner to lead off the eighth. He was replaced by Dan Sattler who gave up the inherited run and one of his own. Matt Hauser pitched a scoreless ninth frame.

Danny Santana led off the first inning with his 10^th triple and was driven in by Brad Boyer (who was playing 3B and giving Miguel Sano a night off). Eddie Rosario and Dan Rohlfing were each 2-4.

Game 1 - Ft. Myers Miracle 1, Charlotte Stone Crabs 2

Box Score

It was a quiet day for the Miracle bats, and it started in game one when they managed just four hits. Byron Buxton went 2-3 with a walk. He also stole two bases.

Matt Tomshaw was terrific on the mound. The lefty gave up one run on six hits in eight innings. He walked one and struck out five. Chad Rodgers came into a tie game in the 9^th. He got two outs, but gave up two hits and an unearned run to end the game.

Game 2 - Ft. Myers Miracle 0, Charlotte Stone Crabs 6

Box Score

The bats did even less in game two. They managed just two hits off of Jared Mortenson. The two hits were doubles. Dalton Hicks hit his seventh Miracle double and Jairo Rodriguez hit his third.

Manuel Soliman got another start. He was charged with four runs (3 earned) on seven this. He walked one and struck out two in five innings. Corey Williams pitched one inning and gave up two runs on three hits and a walk, while striking out two.

Cedar Rapids Kernels 6, Quad Cities River Bandits 1

Box Score

Miguel Sulbaran made his second Kernels’ start, and it was a good one. He gave up only an unearned run (on a passed ball) in five innings. He gave up five hits, walked none and struck out six. Alex Muren threw three shutout innings. He gave up just two hits, walked none and struck out two. Mason Melotakis finished the game off with a scoreless ninth inning.

The Kernels got plenty of offense to back Sulbaran. Bo Altobelli was 2-4 with his first double and two RBI. Michael Gonzales went 2-4 and added a two-run double. Joel Licon’s second homer of the season drove in two more. Adam Walker went 2-5.

The win was the Kernels eighth in a row, and their 80^th of the season. That is nine wins better than the Miracle.

Elizabethton Twins

No Game Scheduled.

GCL Twins 3, GCL Orioles 0

Box Score

It took five pitchers, but the GCL Twins threw a shutout against the O’s. Fernando Romero started and threw five shutout innings. He gave up four hits, walked none and struck out five. Zach Hayden came on and gave up one hit and one walk and recorded two outs. Miguel Gonzalez came on and gave up one hit, but got four outs. Leonel Zazueta walked two in a scoreless eighth inning. Derrick Penilla recorded his third save. He struck out two in the ninth, though he also gave up one hit and one walk.

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