Cody Christie

Many of the Twins minor league affiliates celebrated Independence Day early with offensive explosions. The Red Wings and the Miracle had men up and down their line-ups knock in runs to help their clubs to come out victorious. There were a few minor league news and notes that took place on Wednesday afternoon. Catcher Danny Lehmann was released by the club after spending time on the disable list this season. He had only played 18 games this season and he was a career .229/.317/.301 hitter. It was also announced that Chris Colabello and Andrew Albers will represent the Red Wings at the Triple-A All-Star Game. Colabello was the overall leader in the online fan balloting and he will start at first base for the International League squad. Rochester Red Wings 11, Buffalo Bisons 1 Box Scores The Red Wings had some fireworks on the field on the day before the Fourth of July. Brian Dinkelman, Chris Colabello, and Deibinson Romero all hit home runs. Every batter in the Rochester line-up recorded a hit and some of the men had six chances at the plate. Doug Bernier had the most hits as he went 3-for-6. Chris Herrmann had a very good game by collecting two hits in four trips to the plate. He had his ninth double and his third triple. Colabello continued his remarkable season by knocking his 21st home run. In one of his best pitching performances of the year, Andrew Albers tossed seven strong frames. He allowed one solo home run but that was the only run scored on the night. The Bisons had five hits and Albers struck out six men. New Britain Rock Cats 1, New Hampshire Fisher Cats 6 Box Score Miguel Sano continued some of his struggles at the Double-A level. He went 0-for-4 on this night but he struck out three times. The defensive side of the ball wasn't much better as he committed his sixth error since his promotion. It wasn't only Sano that struggled on Wednesday night because the rest of the offense didn't help the team. Danny Santana was the lone Rock Cats with two hits. Nate Hanson hit his 14th double of the season and scored a run. Daniel Ortiz continued his powerful season by knocking his 22nd double. The team went 1-for-5 with runners in scoring position and there were nine runners left on base. Virgil Vasquez was making his second start at Double-A since being demoted from Rochester. He tossed six innings and gave up four earned runs. AJ Achter did a good job in relief by tossing a perfect ninth inning with a strikeout. Fort Myers Miracle 11, Bradenton Marauders 5 Box Score The Miracle pounded out 21 hits and the club had no problem coming out victorious. Fort Myers scored three runs in the sixth inning and they topped that in the seventh by scoring six runs. It's hard to know where to start with the offensive explosion. Byron Buxton went 3-for-5 with a double but he did strikeout two times. The three hit game raised his batting average to .400 since being promoted to Fort Myers. Every batter in the Miracle line-up had a double except for Kennys Vargas. Jhon Goncalves, Mike Kvasnicka, and Candido Pimentel all went 3-for-5 in the game. Taylor Rogers benefited from the offensive explosion on the mound. He pitched into the seventh inning and limited the Marauders to three runs on nine hits. He struck out three batters and only gave up one walk. Corey Williams recorded the final four outs of the game and collected three strikeouts. Cedar Rapids Kernels 2, Beloit Snappers 8 Box Score Beloit, the former Twins affiliate, has turned into a tough team for the current Twins affiliate to beat. Cedar Rapids fell again to the Snappers and there wasn't much offense for the Kernels. Beloit scored runs in five different innings to come out with an easy win. Max Kepler continued his hot start to the season by going 2-for-4 with an RBI. JD Williams had the only extra base hit with his 11th double of the year. Jorge Polanco scored a run and had two hits. The club went 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position so some offensive opportunities were missed. Christian Powell started the contest and pitched 5.2 innings. He gave up 10 hits and six earned runs. Allowing two home runs didn't help him on the way to his second loss of the year. Hudson Boyd and Caleb Brewer only gave up one earned run in the last 2.1 innings. They combined to strikeout three and gave up four hits. Elizabethton Twins --, Johnson City Cardinals -- Inclement weather might have been the only thing that could have stopped the E-Twins from winning. Their game with the Johnson City Cardinals got postponed due to some weather issues. The club has a 10-2 record and they will look to continue their winnings ways over the holiday weekend. GCL Twins 8, GCL Rays 2 (6 Innings-Rain) Box Score Nick Blackburn returned to the mound for the first time and got some decent results. He threw four innings and scattered seven hits. The Rays scored both of their runs off of Blackburn and he had one strikeout. Leonel Zazueta pitched the fifth inning and he struck out two batters. Joel Polanco lead the offense with a 2-for-3 day. He hit his first double of the season and knocked in two runs. Amaurys Minier knocked in three runs to help stretch the lead. Adonis Pacheco added his second double of the season.

Many of the Twins minor league affiliates celebrated Independence Day early with offensive explosions. The Red Wings and the Miracle had men up and down their line-ups knock in runs to help their clubs to come out victorious. There were a few minor league news and notes that took place on Wednesday afternoon. Catcher Danny Lehmann was released by the club after spending time on the disable list this season. He had only played 18 games this season and he was a career .229/.317/.301 hitter. It was also announced that Chris Colabello and Andrew Albers will represent the Red Wings at the Triple-A All-Star Game. Colabello was the overall leader in the online fan balloting and he will start at first base for the International League squad. Rochester Red Wings 11, Buffalo Bisons 1 Box Scores The Red Wings had some fireworks on the field on the day before the Fourth of July. Brian Dinkelman, Chris Colabello, and Deibinson Romero all hit home runs. Every batter in the Rochester line-up recorded a hit and some of the men had six chances at the plate. Doug Bernier had the most hits as he went 3-for-6. Chris Herrmann had a very good game by collecting two hits in four trips to the plate. He had his ninth double and his third triple. Colabello continued his remarkable season by knocking his 21st home run. In one of his best pitching performances of the year, Andrew Albers tossed seven strong frames. He allowed one solo home run but that was the only run scored on the night. The Bisons had five hits and Albers struck out six men. New Britain Rock Cats 1, New Hampshire Fisher Cats 6 Box Score Miguel Sano continued some of his struggles at the Double-A level. He went 0-for-4 on this night but he struck out three times. The defensive side of the ball wasn't much better as he committed his sixth error since his promotion. It wasn't only Sano that struggled on Wednesday night because the rest of the offense didn't help the team. Danny Santana was the lone Rock Cats with two hits. Nate Hanson hit his 14th double of the season and scored a run. Daniel Ortiz continued his powerful season by knocking his 22nd double. The team went 1-for-5 with runners in scoring position and there were nine runners left on base. Virgil Vasquez was making his second start at Double-A since being demoted from Rochester. He tossed six innings and gave up four earned runs. AJ Achter did a good job in relief by tossing a perfect ninth inning with a strikeout. Fort Myers Miracle 11, Bradenton Marauders 5 Box Score The Miracle pounded out 21 hits and the club had no problem coming out victorious. Fort Myers scored three runs in the sixth inning and they topped that in the seventh by scoring six runs. It's hard to know where to start with the offensive explosion. Byron Buxton went 3-for-5 with a double but he did strikeout two times. The three hit game raised his batting average to .400 since being promoted to Fort Myers. Every batter in the Miracle line-up had a double except for Kennys Vargas. Jhon Goncalves, Mike Kvasnicka, and Candido Pimentel all went 3-for-5 in the game. Taylor Rogers benefited from the offensive explosion on the mound. He pitched into the seventh inning and limited the Marauders to three runs on nine hits. He struck out three batters and only gave up one walk. Corey Williams recorded the final four outs of the game and collected three strikeouts. Cedar Rapids Kernels 2, Beloit Snappers 8 Box Score Beloit, the former Twins affiliate, has turned into a tough team for the current Twins affiliate to beat. Cedar Rapids fell again to the Snappers and there wasn't much offense for the Kernels. Beloit scored runs in five different innings to come out with an easy win. Max Kepler continued his hot start to the season by going 2-for-4 with an RBI. JD Williams had the only extra base hit with his 11th double of the year. Jorge Polanco scored a run and had two hits. The club went 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position so some offensive opportunities were missed. Christian Powell started the contest and pitched 5.2 innings. He gave up 10 hits and six earned runs. Allowing two home runs didn't help him on the way to his second loss of the year. Hudson Boyd and Caleb Brewer only gave up one earned run in the last 2.1 innings. They combined to strikeout three and gave up four hits. Elizabethton Twins --, Johnson City Cardinals -- Inclement weather might have been the only thing that could have stopped the E-Twins from winning. Their game with the Johnson City Cardinals got postponed due to some weather issues. The club has a 10-2 record and they will look to continue their winnings ways over the holiday weekend. GCL Twins 8, GCL Rays 2 (6 Innings-Rain) Box Score Nick Blackburn returned to the mound for the first time and got some decent results. He threw four innings and scattered seven hits. The Rays scored both of their runs off of Blackburn and he had one strikeout. Leonel Zazueta pitched the fifth inning and he struck out two batters. Joel Polanco lead the offense with a 2-for-3 day. He hit his first double of the season and knocked in two runs. Amaurys Minier knocked in three runs to help stretch the lead. Adonis Pacheco added his second double of the season.

Down the stretch they come! Well, at least as far as voting goes for the 2013 MLB All-Star Game in New York City. There can be some debate over who should make the club. Some voters like to pick out the players that have had the best first half of a season in 2013. Others look at the last calendar year and try and pick out the rosters based on those performances. Today I break down the American League roster. There are some tough decisions at a couple positions but there are some ways to break the ties. Take a look at my picks and leave a comment with your roster. Catcher: Joe Mauer, Minnesota Twins Other Candidates: Carlos Santana, Cleveland Indians; Matt Wieters, Baltimore Orioles One of the easiest picks in the AL might be the man behind the plate. Mauer easily has the highest WAR among catchers this season and that also holds true for his WAR over the last calendar year. Santana might be the only other man that deserves a chance to start. He hits for a little bit more power than Mauer but the nod should still go to the Twins backstop. Matt Wieters has been a solid player on a good team in the last year but his batting average is pretty low. First Base: Chris Davis, Baltimore Orioles Other Candidates: Prince Fielder, Detroit Tigers; Edwin Encarnacion, Blue Jays It has been quite the first half of the year for Mr. Chris Davis. He is on pace to hit over 60 home runs and in the last calendar year he has the highest WAR among AL first basemen. Prince Fielder might be the better known name on the list and Albert Pujols could also be in consideration. Edwin Encarnacion might be a surprise person to consider but in the last 12 months he has a higher WAR than Fielder and he has hit 43 home runs. He is actually on the ballot as a DH but I will slide him into this spot since he has started 45 games there in 2013. Second Base: Robinson Cano, New York Yankees Other Candidates: Dustin Pedroia, Boston Red Sox; Jason Kipnis, Cleveland Indians This is a tough pick because Cano and Pedroia's value over the last calendar year has been almost identical. Cano hits for more power and Pedroia hits for a higher average. On the defensive side of the ball, Pedroia is probably the better defender so some people might consider him the front-runner. As Twins fans saw earlier this week, Cano can be a one-man wrecking crew in a sub-par Yankee line-up. With many of the other star hitters on the DL, Cano has compiled some great numbers in the first half and he should get the start in New York. Third Base: Miguel Cabrera, Detroit Tigers Other Candidates: Manny Machado, Baltimore Orioles; Evan Longoria, Tampa Bay Rays There has been a lot of hype around Machado and his tremendous first half. Unfortunately, he plays the same position as the defending AL MVP and Cabrera is having another tremendous season at the plate. He might be the best hitter in all of baseball and he could be fighting for another Triple Crown if Chris Davis ever slows down his home run total. Machado might be the wave of the future at third base in the AL but he will have to wait to make his first start at the hot corner. Shortstop: Jhonny Peralta, Detroit Tigers Other Candidates: JJ Hardy, Baltimore Orioles; Jed Lowrie, Oakland Athletics Out of all of the positions in the American League, this might be the weakest one for picking out a starter. Hardy will probably win the fan voting and end up the starter. The Orioles fans have been very good to some of their candidates this season. Peralta and Hardy have put together similar numbers over the last calendar year so it is a tough call. My vote goes to Peralta but it was another tough pick at a middle infield position. Designated Hitter: David Ortiz, Boston Red Sox Other Candidates: Billy Butler, Kansas City Royals; Mark Trumbo, Los Angeles Angels DH is such a weird position because fans don't get to pick out a DH from the National League. This can be a benefit to the NL because the manager can just slide a good hitter into the role. As far as the AL goes, Ortiz might be locked into this spot until he retires. Last season, Butler had a good story with the game being played in Kansas City but he won't have the hometown crowd to back him in NYC. After the famous speech in Boston by Ortiz, all of Red Sox nation has been out in force to vote for one of the leaders on their team. Outfielders: Mike Trout, Los Angeles Angels; Adam Jones, Baltimore Orioles; Yoenis Cespedes, Oakland Athletics Other Candidates: Jose Bautista, Toronto Blue Jays; Torii Hunter, Detroit Tigers; Jacoby Ellsbury, Boston Red Sox Mike Trout is probably one of the easiest picks for this team. He had a tremendous season last year and he continues to put up solid numbers in his sophomore campaign. The list gets a little dicey after that point. Adam Jones is going to get voted in by the fans and I am fine with that pick. He has become the face of the franchise for a Baltimore team that continues to surprise people in the AL East. Picking the last outfielder was the toughest spot for me on this AL squad. Bautista is having a bounce-back season, Hunter continues to play well with his aging body, and Ellsbury was an MVP candidate before some injuries last season. I picked Cespedes because he provides an interesting dynamic to the game. He appeals to the international audience even though his home country wouldn't be able to watch the game. Also, the A's have been near the top of their division and they deserve a starter. That wraps up my picks for the starting line-up. Who would make your team? Leave a COMMENT and start your discussion.

Down the stretch they come! Well, at least as far as voting goes for the 2013 MLB All-Star Game in New York City. There can be some debate over who should make the club. Some voters like to pick out the players that have had the best first half of a season in 2013. Others look at the last calendar year and try and pick out the rosters based on those performances. Today I break down the American League roster. There are some tough decisions at a couple positions but there are some ways to break the ties. Take a look at my picks and leave a comment with your roster. Catcher: Joe Mauer, Minnesota Twins Other Candidates: Carlos Santana, Cleveland Indians; Matt Wieters, Baltimore Orioles One of the easiest picks in the AL might be the man behind the plate. Mauer easily has the highest WAR among catchers this season and that also holds true for his WAR over the last calendar year. Santana might be the only other man that deserves a chance to start. He hits for a little bit more power than Mauer but the nod should still go to the Twins backstop. Matt Wieters has been a solid player on a good team in the last year but his batting average is pretty low. First Base: Chris Davis, Baltimore Orioles Other Candidates: Prince Fielder, Detroit Tigers; Edwin Encarnacion, Blue Jays It has been quite the first half of the year for Mr. Chris Davis. He is on pace to hit over 60 home runs and in the last calendar year he has the highest WAR among AL first basemen. Prince Fielder might be the better known name on the list and Albert Pujols could also be in consideration. Edwin Encarnacion might be a surprise person to consider but in the last 12 months he has a higher WAR than Fielder and he has hit 43 home runs. He is actually on the ballot as a DH but I will slide him into this spot since he has started 45 games there in 2013. Second Base: Robinson Cano, New York Yankees Other Candidates: Dustin Pedroia, Boston Red Sox; Jason Kipnis, Cleveland Indians This is a tough pick because Cano and Pedroia's value over the last calendar year has been almost identical. Cano hits for more power and Pedroia hits for a higher average. On the defensive side of the ball, Pedroia is probably the better defender so some people might consider him the front-runner. As Twins fans saw earlier this week, Cano can be a one-man wrecking crew in a sub-par Yankee line-up. With many of the other star hitters on the DL, Cano has compiled some great numbers in the first half and he should get the start in New York. Third Base: Miguel Cabrera, Detroit Tigers Other Candidates: Manny Machado, Baltimore Orioles; Evan Longoria, Tampa Bay Rays There has been a lot of hype around Machado and his tremendous first half. Unfortunately, he plays the same position as the defending AL MVP and Cabrera is having another tremendous season at the plate. He might be the best hitter in all of baseball and he could be fighting for another Triple Crown if Chris Davis ever slows down his home run total. Machado might be the wave of the future at third base in the AL but he will have to wait to make his first start at the hot corner. Shortstop: Jhonny Peralta, Detroit Tigers Other Candidates: JJ Hardy, Baltimore Orioles; Jed Lowrie, Oakland Athletics Out of all of the positions in the American League, this might be the weakest one for picking out a starter. Hardy will probably win the fan voting and end up the starter. The Orioles fans have been very good to some of their candidates this season. Peralta and Hardy have put together similar numbers over the last calendar year so it is a tough call. My vote goes to Peralta but it was another tough pick at a middle infield position. Designated Hitter: David Ortiz, Boston Red Sox Other Candidates: Billy Butler, Kansas City Royals; Mark Trumbo, Los Angeles Angels DH is such a weird position because fans don't get to pick out a DH from the National League. This can be a benefit to the NL because the manager can just slide a good hitter into the role. As far as the AL goes, Ortiz might be locked into this spot until he retires. Last season, Butler had a good story with the game being played in Kansas City but he won't have the hometown crowd to back him in NYC. After the famous speech in Boston by Ortiz, all of Red Sox nation has been out in force to vote for one of the leaders on their team. Outfielders: Mike Trout, Los Angeles Angels; Adam Jones, Baltimore Orioles; Yoenis Cespedes, Oakland Athletics Other Candidates: Jose Bautista, Toronto Blue Jays; Torii Hunter, Detroit Tigers; Jacoby Ellsbury, Boston Red Sox Mike Trout is probably one of the easiest picks for this team. He had a tremendous season last year and he continues to put up solid numbers in his sophomore campaign. The list gets a little dicey after that point. Adam Jones is going to get voted in by the fans and I am fine with that pick. He has become the face of the franchise for a Baltimore team that continues to surprise people in the AL East. Picking the last outfielder was the toughest spot for me on this AL squad. Bautista is having a bounce-back season, Hunter continues to play well with his aging body, and Ellsbury was an MVP candidate before some injuries last season. I picked Cespedes because he provides an interesting dynamic to the game. He appeals to the international audience even though his home country wouldn't be able to watch the game. Also, the A's have been near the top of their division and they deserve a starter. That wraps up my picks for the starting line-up. Who would make your team? Leave a COMMENT and start your discussion.

The Twins had a back and forth game on a beautiful afternoon at Target Field. Unfortunately, the club came out on the losing side of their match-up with the Royals. There were home runs from Justin Morneau, Trevor Plouffe, and Clete Thomas but it still wasn't enough. The bullpen gave up four runs in the last four frames for a tough loss. In minor league news, RHP AJ Achter was transferred to Rochester from New Britain. It will be his first trip to Triple-A. Achter had appeared in 24 games as a relief pitcher. He has a 2.27 ERA with 35 strikeouts and 19 walks in 35.2 innings. In a corresponding move, C/OF Dan Rohlfing was sent to New Britain from Rochester. There were some close games and some hard fought victories in the Twins system today. Check out all of the action from down on the pond. Rochester Red Wings 0, Syracuse Chiefs 2 Box Score Liam Hendriks pitched a complete game but the offense didn't give him any support. He struck out four and walked one while limiting the Chiefs to two runs. The loss dropped his record to 1-6 and he hasn't won a game since the beginning of May. The Red Wings had a tough time getting the offense going. Drew Butera was the lone Rochester hitter to collect more than one hit. Jeff Clement knocked his 10th double but he was the only person in the top five of the batting order to collect a hit. The bottom four batters in the order all had at least one hit. Today's loss marked the first three game losing streak for the Red Wings since May 13-15. Rochester still ended the month of June with a 17-13 record. This was the second game of a 24 game stretch against opponents in the International League North Division. New Britain Rock Cats 2, Reading Phillies 8 Box Score The Rock Cats wouldn't score a run until the late innings and the Phillies were well in control by that point in the game. Two New Britain errors from Miguel Sano and Eddie Rosario resulted in some extra work for the pitching staff and the Rock Cats lost their series to Reading. It was their third loss in four games to end the month of June. Matthew Summers was making his second start since being called up from Fort Myers. He pitched four innings and gave up five runs on seven hits. His control was a little all over the place as he walked four and struck out three. Out of his 87 pitches, 55 of them were for strikes. Dakota Watts and Edgar Ibarra did a good job to keep the game close in the middle innings. They combined to pitch four innings and they limited Reading to two base runners. Matt Hauser pitched the ninth and he gave up three earned runs in the final frame. Josmil Pinto didn't start at catcher but he still went 2-for-3 with a run scored from the DH slot. Daniel Ortiz went 2-or-4 with his 21st double of the season. Rosario tried to make up for his error with a double and a run scored but it still wasn't enough for New Britain. Fort Myers Miracle 4, St. Lucie Mets 1 (Rain Shortened- 6 Innings) Box Score Fort Myers scored runs in four of the six innings to come out victorious in this rain shortened game. Bryon Buxton seems to be finding his swing at High-A. He went 3-for-3 in this game with his first double and first stolen base at this level. Every time he was on base, he scored a run and his average is up to .333 since being promoted. Kennys Vargas went 2-for-3 with a double and two RBI to get his RBI total up to 61 for the year. With Buxton at the top of the order, Vargas could continue to add to this total in the coming weeks. Jhon Goncalves and Mike Kvasnicka each had a hit. Jason Wheeler pitched 5.1 innings for his seventh win of the season. He scattered four hits and allowed one earned run. Ryan O'Rourke earned his third save by recording the last couple of outs before the rains came tumbling down. He struck out both of the batters he faced. After losing four straight games at the beginning of the week, the Miracle have won two straight games. The team will close out the series with St. Lucie on Monday evening. Cedar Rapids Kernels 6, Peoria Chiefs 5 Box Score The Kernels had won nine straight games coming into Sunday's contest with the Chiefs and it looked like their winning streak was going to come to an end. It took a little bit of magic from the Kernels in the bottom of the ninth to pull out their 10th straight wins. Max Kepler's RBI single was the only hit of the inning and it made the team walk-off winners. Tim Atherton made his first start for the Kernels after appearing in 20 games as a relief pitcher. He pitched into the fourth inning and allowed three runs even though one of them was earned. He walked three batters and struck out two. Alex Muren and Tyler Jones pitched the last three innings and one unearned run was scored against them. Jones picked up his fourth win of the season. The offense was lead by Jorge Polanco with two hits and two runs scored. Travis Harrison hit his 24th double and knocked in a couple of runs. In the game, Harrison did have his 17 error of the season at third base. Niko Goodrum got a start at first base and he added his 17th double while scoring a run. Mike Pelfrey will make a rehab start for the Kernels on Monday night. It will be the final game of the series against the Chiefs and the club will be going for win number 11 in a row. Elizabethton Twins 5, Kingsport Mets 1 Box Score The E-Twins kept up their winning ways in the early portion of their season. Randy Rosario won his second decision after he threw five innings by striking out seven and allowing one earned run. The Mets only managed three hits against him and he didn't walk a batter. Austin Malinowski and Brandon Peterson each pitched two frames and combined to give up two hits. Peterson struck out four batters and he has yet to let a run cross the plate. Malinowski had a good bounce back performance after allowing three runs in his last appearance. Dereck Rodriguez went 3-for-4 with two doubles and a run scored. He also stole third base for his fourth steal of 2013. Bryan Haar hit his third home run of the season. Mitch Garver and Romy Jimenez also hit long balls and for each of them it was their first home run.

The Twins had a back and forth game on a beautiful afternoon at Target Field. Unfortunately, the club came out on the losing side of their match-up with the Royals. There were home runs from Justin Morneau, Trevor Plouffe, and Clete Thomas but it still wasn't enough. The bullpen gave up four runs in the last four frames for a tough loss. In minor league news, RHP AJ Achter was transferred to Rochester from New Britain. It will be his first trip to Triple-A. Achter had appeared in 24 games as a relief pitcher. He has a 2.27 ERA with 35 strikeouts and 19 walks in 35.2 innings. In a corresponding move, C/OF Dan Rohlfing was sent to New Britain from Rochester. There were some close games and some hard fought victories in the Twins system today. Check out all of the action from down on the pond. Rochester Red Wings 0, Syracuse Chiefs 2 Box Score Liam Hendriks pitched a complete game but the offense didn't give him any support. He struck out four and walked one while limiting the Chiefs to two runs. The loss dropped his record to 1-6 and he hasn't won a game since the beginning of May. The Red Wings had a tough time getting the offense going. Drew Butera was the lone Rochester hitter to collect more than one hit. Jeff Clement knocked his 10th double but he was the only person in the top five of the batting order to collect a hit. The bottom four batters in the order all had at least one hit. Today's loss marked the first three game losing streak for the Red Wings since May 13-15. Rochester still ended the month of June with a 17-13 record. This was the second game of a 24 game stretch against opponents in the International League North Division. New Britain Rock Cats 2, Reading Phillies 8 Box Score The Rock Cats wouldn't score a run until the late innings and the Phillies were well in control by that point in the game. Two New Britain errors from Miguel Sano and Eddie Rosario resulted in some extra work for the pitching staff and the Rock Cats lost their series to Reading. It was their third loss in four games to end the month of June. Matthew Summers was making his second start since being called up from Fort Myers. He pitched four innings and gave up five runs on seven hits. His control was a little all over the place as he walked four and struck out three. Out of his 87 pitches, 55 of them were for strikes. Dakota Watts and Edgar Ibarra did a good job to keep the game close in the middle innings. They combined to pitch four innings and they limited Reading to two base runners. Matt Hauser pitched the ninth and he gave up three earned runs in the final frame. Josmil Pinto didn't start at catcher but he still went 2-for-3 with a run scored from the DH slot. Daniel Ortiz went 2-or-4 with his 21st double of the season. Rosario tried to make up for his error with a double and a run scored but it still wasn't enough for New Britain. Fort Myers Miracle 4, St. Lucie Mets 1 (Rain Shortened- 6 Innings) Box Score Fort Myers scored runs in four of the six innings to come out victorious in this rain shortened game. Bryon Buxton seems to be finding his swing at High-A. He went 3-for-3 in this game with his first double and first stolen base at this level. Every time he was on base, he scored a run and his average is up to .333 since being promoted. Kennys Vargas went 2-for-3 with a double and two RBI to get his RBI total up to 61 for the year. With Buxton at the top of the order, Vargas could continue to add to this total in the coming weeks. Jhon Goncalves and Mike Kvasnicka each had a hit. Jason Wheeler pitched 5.1 innings for his seventh win of the season. He scattered four hits and allowed one earned run. Ryan O'Rourke earned his third save by recording the last couple of outs before the rains came tumbling down. He struck out both of the batters he faced. After losing four straight games at the beginning of the week, the Miracle have won two straight games. The team will close out the series with St. Lucie on Monday evening. Cedar Rapids Kernels 6, Peoria Chiefs 5 Box Score The Kernels had won nine straight games coming into Sunday's contest with the Chiefs and it looked like their winning streak was going to come to an end. It took a little bit of magic from the Kernels in the bottom of the ninth to pull out their 10th straight wins. Max Kepler's RBI single was the only hit of the inning and it made the team walk-off winners. Tim Atherton made his first start for the Kernels after appearing in 20 games as a relief pitcher. He pitched into the fourth inning and allowed three runs even though one of them was earned. He walked three batters and struck out two. Alex Muren and Tyler Jones pitched the last three innings and one unearned run was scored against them. Jones picked up his fourth win of the season. The offense was lead by Jorge Polanco with two hits and two runs scored. Travis Harrison hit his 24th double and knocked in a couple of runs. In the game, Harrison did have his 17 error of the season at third base. Niko Goodrum got a start at first base and he added his 17th double while scoring a run. Mike Pelfrey will make a rehab start for the Kernels on Monday night. It will be the final game of the series against the Chiefs and the club will be going for win number 11 in a row. Elizabethton Twins 5, Kingsport Mets 1 Box Score The E-Twins kept up their winning ways in the early portion of their season. Randy Rosario won his second decision after he threw five innings by striking out seven and allowing one earned run. The Mets only managed three hits against him and he didn't walk a batter. Austin Malinowski and Brandon Peterson each pitched two frames and combined to give up two hits. Peterson struck out four batters and he has yet to let a run cross the plate. Malinowski had a good bounce back performance after allowing three runs in his last appearance. Dereck Rodriguez went 3-for-4 with two doubles and a run scored. He also stole third base for his fourth steal of 2013. Bryan Haar hit his third home run of the season. Mitch Garver and Romy Jimenez also hit long balls and for each of them it was their first home run.

Another week of baseball's regular season has come and gone. For the Twins there was plenty of news this week. The Marlins turned out to be pesky but they have been surprising more than one team in the National League so far this season. Kyle Gibson will be making his big league debut on Saturday and this is a moment to get a little bit excited about. Twins fans have heard his name for multiple seasons. Ryan Doumit had a cool slide, Byron Buxton is good at baseball, and the trade deadline is approaching. All these things and more in the latest edition of "Links-N-Thinks.” Stuart Turner, a 2013 Twins draft pick, was honored with the Johnny Bench Award. This award is given to the nation's best division one catcher. Here's a look at how Kyle Gibson did in each game this season for AAA-Rochester. Now that Gibson will be part of the rotation, one pitcher is going to have to lose his job. Clete Thomas has changed his swing and this has helped him to be more productive. The traded deadline is a little over a month away and it's tough to know if there is a trade market for Morneau. Logan Darnell is one step away from the big leagues after a very good season thus far. If you want to geek out a little, check out this article that looks at OPS minus batting average. Who should be blamed for the struggles the Twins have incurred against the Yankees? The back story of Max Kepler is one of the best in baseball. Kernels fans can't watch Byron Buxton any more but a German-born player could be the next to take that team by storm. Speaking of Buxton... It can be fun to examine the tools he has as a player. Buxton and Miguel Sano will represent the Twins in MLB's Futures Game. The Twins minor league system might be ahead of the curve in this new type of training. Are the Twins a fascinating team? Maybe when Buxton and Sano get here. Joe Mauer is chasing Mickey Vernon. Scientists may have unlocked the mystery in the evolution of pitchers. Is there a way to improve umpiring in MLB without increasing replay? Michael Cuddyer has been having quite the season for the Rockies. In this clip, Nick Punto has to fight some fans for a foul ball. You could also listen to it just to hear Vin Scully's voice. Matt Garza could be the best pitcher available at this year's trade deadline. I love collecting ticket stubs so this is one of the saddest trends in baseball right now. Cleveland has sure been making some noise in the AL Central. Kerry Wood made a scary discovery while paddling around in a boat. There is more than one reason why Bull Durham is a good movie. I know you want to see Hawk Harrelson in an outfit that is strangely similar to the Hamburglar. My Weekly Rundown Talk to Contact: Episode 42 Monday: 2013 Minnesota Twins Trade Candidates Wednesday: Twins Minor League Report (6/26): Sano's Big Day Thursday: A Checklist for Kyle Gibson Video of the Week: Ryan Doumit had to get a little creative on this play at the plate. He missed the plate on his first pass and he had to sneak back behind the catcher to score a run. I'm sure Oswaldo Arcia was happy since it added to his RBI total but it was still a funny play to watch unfold. Watch it again and enjoy your weekend!

Another week of baseball's regular season has come and gone. For the Twins there was plenty of news this week. The Marlins turned out to be pesky but they have been surprising more than one team in the National League so far this season. Kyle Gibson will be making his big league debut on Saturday and this is a moment to get a little bit excited about. Twins fans have heard his name for multiple seasons. Ryan Doumit had a cool slide, Byron Buxton is good at baseball, and the trade deadline is approaching. All these things and more in the latest edition of "Links-N-Thinks.” Stuart Turner, a 2013 Twins draft pick, was honored with the Johnny Bench Award. This award is given to the nation's best division one catcher. Here's a look at how Kyle Gibson did in each game this season for AAA-Rochester. Now that Gibson will be part of the rotation, one pitcher is going to have to lose his job. Clete Thomas has changed his swing and this has helped him to be more productive. The traded deadline is a little over a month away and it's tough to know if there is a trade market for Morneau. Logan Darnell is one step away from the big leagues after a very good season thus far. If you want to geek out a little, check out this article that looks at OPS minus batting average. Who should be blamed for the struggles the Twins have incurred against the Yankees? The back story of Max Kepler is one of the best in baseball. Kernels fans can't watch Byron Buxton any more but a German-born player could be the next to take that team by storm. Speaking of Buxton... It can be fun to examine the tools he has as a player. Buxton and Miguel Sano will represent the Twins in MLB's Futures Game. The Twins minor league system might be ahead of the curve in this new type of training. Are the Twins a fascinating team? Maybe when Buxton and Sano get here. Joe Mauer is chasing Mickey Vernon. Scientists may have unlocked the mystery in the evolution of pitchers. Is there a way to improve umpiring in MLB without increasing replay? Michael Cuddyer has been having quite the season for the Rockies. In this clip, Nick Punto has to fight some fans for a foul ball. You could also listen to it just to hear Vin Scully's voice. Matt Garza could be the best pitcher available at this year's trade deadline. I love collecting ticket stubs so this is one of the saddest trends in baseball right now. Cleveland has sure been making some noise in the AL Central. Kerry Wood made a scary discovery while paddling around in a boat. There is more than one reason why Bull Durham is a good movie. I know you want to see Hawk Harrelson in an outfit that is strangely similar to the Hamburglar. My Weekly Rundown Talk to Contact: Episode 42 Monday: 2013 Minnesota Twins Trade Candidates Wednesday: Twins Minor League Report (6/26): Sano's Big Day Thursday: A Checklist for Kyle Gibson Video of the Week: Ryan Doumit had to get a little creative on this play at the plate. He missed the plate on his first pass and he had to sneak back behind the catcher to score a run. I'm sure Oswaldo Arcia was happy since it added to his RBI total but it was still a funny play to watch unfold. Watch it again and enjoy your weekend!

The 2009 MLB Draft has to feel like eons ago to Mr. Kyle Gibson. He was supposed to be a high first round pick but some injury concerns caused him to drop to the Twins with the 22nd pick. In 2010, he went on a tear through the Twins farm system as he started in High-A and finished the year at Triple-A. The club named him the minor league pitcher of the year and he looked to be one step away from the big leagues. Tommy John surgery would halt his progress in 2011 and he has been slowly working his way back to get ready for a special moment this weekend. On Saturday afternoon at Target Field, Gibson will get to walk out onto a big league mound for the first time. A life-long dream will be realized and there can be plenty of pressure when a person is making their MLB debut. Here are some important tips for Gibson to keep in mind as he prepares for Saturday. 1. Don't shoot for a perfect game Only 23 pitchers in major league history have accomplished this feat so it might not be the easiest mark to shoot for in your debut outing. There have been even fewer rookies to throw no-hitters (20) so this might also not be a realistic goal. The only pitcher to toss a no-hitter in his first major league start was Bobo Holloman in 1953. He only pitched one season and accumulated a 5.23 ERA. The last American League rookie starter to have a no-hitter was Clay Buchholz in 2007 and he did it in his second major league start. 2. Don't try to strike everyone out There can be some worries surrounding pitchers as they come back from Tommy John surgery. Will they be able to regain their old form? Are they still going to be consistent on the mound? In his first full season back from Tommy John, Gibson has averaged 7.6 strikeouts per nine innings. During April, that number was close to 8.7 but he wasn't able to pitch further into games and his other numbers suffered. In 2010, his last full season before Tommy John surgery, Gibson averaged 7.4 strikeouts per nine innings. He spent the first two months of the season dominating High-A so those numbers can be a little skewed. 3. There are going to be some rookie moments Bert Blyleven gave up a home run to the first batter he faced and he still went on to have a Hall-of-Fame career. At some point, Gibson will give up a long ball and runs are going to get scored against him. For the most part, he had done a good job of keeping the ball in the park this season by limiting opponents to four home runs in 92.2 innings. In his minor league career, he had a 1.22 WHIP and he average 8.5 hits per nine innings. There will be some base runners but it's important how he reacts when those runners are on base. 4. This season is about development While the Twins are still in the vicinity of the .500 mark, this season is all about preparing players for the future. The key for Gibson is to be able to control his fastball. From there, his other pitches can be more effective. One of his biggest weaknesses this spring was some of his off-speed offerings. He's had almost 100 innings this season to get back his comfort level with his breaking pitches. Big league hitters can tee off on badly placed fastballs especially if there isn't a threat of a breaking pitch being anywhere near the plate. He needs to use all of his pitches and find some consistency. 5. Success can come in a variety of forms Some Twins fans might consider this the team motto for the last couple of seasons. Gibson isn't going to be Matt Harvey or Gerrit Cole. Fans might think Gibson is that level of prospect because his name has been around in the Twins organization for a few years. Let's make something clear... he isn't an elite pitching prospect. In this Twins rotation, he could turn into the ace of the staff but that's not saying much. If he reaches his full potential, he should be in the Twins rotation for the better part of the next decade. He can be a solid number two or number three starter if he gets everything right. There will be flashes of brilliance and some rough outings along the way. He's the first of some high level pitching prospects to reach the majors and there will be plenty of pressure on him to succeed.

The 2009 MLB Draft has to feel like eons ago to Mr. Kyle Gibson. He was supposed to be a high first round pick but some injury concerns caused him to drop to the Twins with the 22nd pick. In 2010, he went on a tear through the Twins farm system as he started in High-A and finished the year at Triple-A. The club named him the minor league pitcher of the year and he looked to be one step away from the big leagues. Tommy John surgery would halt his progress in 2011 and he has been slowly working his way back to get ready for a special moment this weekend. On Saturday afternoon at Target Field, Gibson will get to walk out onto a big league mound for the first time. A life-long dream will be realized and there can be plenty of pressure when a person is making their MLB debut. Here are some important tips for Gibson to keep in mind as he prepares for Saturday. 1. Don't shoot for a perfect game Only 23 pitchers in major league history have accomplished this feat so it might not be the easiest mark to shoot for in your debut outing. There have been even fewer rookies to throw no-hitters (20) so this might also not be a realistic goal. The only pitcher to toss a no-hitter in his first major league start was Bobo Holloman in 1953. He only pitched one season and accumulated a 5.23 ERA. The last American League rookie starter to have a no-hitter was Clay Buchholz in 2007 and he did it in his second major league start. 2. Don't try to strike everyone out There can be some worries surrounding pitchers as they come back from Tommy John surgery. Will they be able to regain their old form? Are they still going to be consistent on the mound? In his first full season back from Tommy John, Gibson has averaged 7.6 strikeouts per nine innings. During April, that number was close to 8.7 but he wasn't able to pitch further into games and his other numbers suffered. In 2010, his last full season before Tommy John surgery, Gibson averaged 7.4 strikeouts per nine innings. He spent the first two months of the season dominating High-A so those numbers can be a little skewed. 3. There are going to be some rookie moments Bert Blyleven gave up a home run to the first batter he faced and he still went on to have a Hall-of-Fame career. At some point, Gibson will give up a long ball and runs are going to get scored against him. For the most part, he had done a good job of keeping the ball in the park this season by limiting opponents to four home runs in 92.2 innings. In his minor league career, he had a 1.22 WHIP and he average 8.5 hits per nine innings. There will be some base runners but it's important how he reacts when those runners are on base. 4. This season is about development While the Twins are still in the vicinity of the .500 mark, this season is all about preparing players for the future. The key for Gibson is to be able to control his fastball. From there, his other pitches can be more effective. One of his biggest weaknesses this spring was some of his off-speed offerings. He's had almost 100 innings this season to get back his comfort level with his breaking pitches. Big league hitters can tee off on badly placed fastballs especially if there isn't a threat of a breaking pitch being anywhere near the plate. He needs to use all of his pitches and find some consistency. 5. Success can come in a variety of forms Some Twins fans might consider this the team motto for the last couple of seasons. Gibson isn't going to be Matt Harvey or Gerrit Cole. Fans might think Gibson is that level of prospect because his name has been around in the Twins organization for a few years. Let's make something clear... he isn't an elite pitching prospect. In this Twins rotation, he could turn into the ace of the staff but that's not saying much. If he reaches his full potential, he should be in the Twins rotation for the better part of the next decade. He can be a solid number two or number three starter if he gets everything right. There will be flashes of brilliance and some rough outings along the way. He's the first of some high level pitching prospects to reach the majors and there will be plenty of pressure on him to succeed.

It's his first couple games at a new level. There can be an adjustment period.

MLB made it official on Wednesday afternoon. Miguel Sano and Byron Buxton are the "future" and they will both be participants in this year's MLB Futures Game. This game features some of the best talent in the minor leagues from each organization. The teams are broken up into a World Team and a US Team so Sano and Buxton will be on opposite squads. Because of some rainouts on Tuesday, there were a ton of games in the Twins system on Wednesday. Let's see who else is part of the Twins future. Rochester Red Wings 9, Indianapolis Indians 7 Box Score It took a whole lot of offense and some nail biting in the late innings but the Red Wings were still able to pick up their 40th win of the season. The win also assured the team of their first winning month of the year and their first winning month since last July. Chris Colabello continues to destroy the International League. He went 2-for-4 with his team leading 18th home run. So far this season, he is hitting .369/.437/.663 with Rochester. Jeff Clement added two hits and his seventh double. Doug Bernier and James Beresford had two hits apiece. Colabello, Clement, and Beresford each had two RBI. After going 3-for-4 with a double and an RBI in his first Triple-A game, Aaron Hicks wasn't as lucky in game two. He played in center field for the first time on his rehab assignment. He went 0-for-2 with an RBI and a walk. He was pulled early from the game. Rochester's starter Cole De Vries pitched through five innings and kept the team in the game. He allowed four runs on eight hits including a home run. Cody Eppley ran into some trouble in the late innings as he gave up three earned runs in a little over an inning of work. Shairon Martis had to pitch the last 1.2 innings for his fourth save. New Britain Rock Cats 9, Altoona Curve 2 (Completion of 6/25) Box Score The transition to Double-A hasn't been the easiest for Miguel Sano and the hits have been few and far between. After going 1-for-3 with a home run, maybe it was a sign of some good things to come. He has been hitting the ball hard but pitchers have been careful with him. Curt Smith had a fantastic day at the plate by going 3-for-4 with a home run and four RBI. Nate Hanson only had one hit but he made it count with a triple and two RBI. Josmil Pinto punched his 17th double and he came around to score. Matthew Summers had been the starter on Tuesday before the rains came. Bobby Lanigan picked up the game on Wednesday and he would earn his third win. He threw three innings and gave up three hits. Dakota Watts and Matt Hauser didn't allow an earned run in the last four innings. New Britain Rock Cats 6, Altoona Curve 3 (7 innings) Box Score With his home run earlier in the day, something must have clicked for Sano. He went 2-for-4 in the second game of the day with a double and a triple. Out of his nine hits at Double-A, six of them have been for extra bases. Between the two games, he went 3-for-7 with three extra-base hits. Tom Stuifbergen earned his second win with the Rock Cats. Over five innings, he spread out eight hits and limited Altoona to three earned runs. He struck out two batters and walked one. Edgar Ibarra finished off the last two innings while allowing one hit and securing his second save. Daniel Ortiz went 2-for-4 with his third triple. Jordan Parraz hit a two-run home run to cap off a six-run first inning for New Britain. This huge first inning would be all the runs the Rock Cats would need. The club went 4-for-8 with runners in scoring position and the win brought the team back to within two games of the .500 mark. Fort Myers Miracle 3, Jupiter Hammerheads 5 Box Score The Byron Buxton era in Fort Myers isn't off to the best start. The club hasn't won in his first two games since his promotion. He got his first RBI at the High-A level in this contest. Buxton went 1-for-4 and he's had at least one hit in each game. Tyler Duffy was making his fourth start since being called up from Cedar Rapids. He made it through six innings but he got knocked around for 12 hits and five earned runs. He struck out two batters and he didn't issue any walks. It was his third loss and he given up five runs in his last two starts. Corey Williams threw two innings in relief and he struck out four. Candido Pimentel was the lone Fort Myers hitter with more than one hit. He went 2-for-3 with a double and a run scored. Mike Kvasnicka hit his fourth home run and it was only his 14th game. The Miracle will finish up their road trip with a three-game series against Jupiter. Cedar Rapids Kernels 5, Burlington Bees 2 Box Score In the month of May, Jose Berrios had yet to earn a victory but that streak came to an end on Wednesday. Last year's supplemental first round pick tossed seven outstanding innings. He struck out nine batters and didn't allow a walk. The Bees scored two runs off of him on five hits. In his last ten starts, it was the first time Berrios made it through seven innings of work. Max Kepler continues to do his best to replace the offense lost with Buxton's promotion. Kepler hit his second home run in as many nights. Dalton Hicks went 2-for-4 with a double and two RBI. Niko Goodrum and Jorge Polanco each added a double to their impressive numbers this season. The Kernels improved to 46-28 with the win. Since the All-Star Break at the beginning of last week, the club is a perfect 6-0. They will look to continue that streak in the second game of the series against Burlington. Elizabethton Twins 5, Princeton Rays 4 Box Score The E-Twins pounded out 15 hits and the club needed everyone of them to improve their record to 6-1. Bryan Haar went 1-for-4 with his first home run of the season. With three hits in the game, Bryan Santy had his first multi-hit game. Dereck Rodriguez, Javier Pimentel, and Ryan Walker all had two hits. Felix Jorge pitched 5.2 strong innings by allowing one hit. He struck out six, walked three, and earned his first win. Austin Malinowski had a tough time finding the plate with three walks and his three runs allowed helped to keep the Rays in the game. Dallas Gallant and Brandon Peterson finished off the last 2.1 innings. They limited the Rays to three hits and no runs. Each of these players struck out a batter and they have yet to allow a run this season. GCL Twins 5, GCL Orioles 4 Box Score Scoring two runs in each of the first two innings put the GCL Twins ahead but the GCL Orioles would claw their way back into the game with a three-run eighth inning. The Twins turned out to have just enough offense to win their third game of the year and the club is now one game over .500. Mexican pitcher Leonel Zazueta made his second appearance of the year and his first start. He threw four shutout innings by scattering three hits and striking out two. He didn't walk a batter but he wouldn't figure into the decision. Bruce Pugh got hit around a little in his inning of work. He was charged with all three runs but he did strike out three batters. German born pitcher Markus Solbach earned his first professional victory with two scoreless innings of relief. Zach Larson hit a two-run home run to help the Twins to their early lead. Adonis Pacheco went 2-for-3 with a triple and a run scored. Alex Swim added two hits of his own. Overall, the team left six runners on base and they went 2-for-11 with runners in scoring position.

MLB made it official on Wednesday afternoon. Miguel Sano and Byron Buxton are the "future" and they will both be participants in this year's MLB Futures Game. This game features some of the best talent in the minor leagues from each organization. The teams are broken up into a World Team and a US Team so Sano and Buxton will be on opposite squads. Because of some rainouts on Tuesday, there were a ton of games in the Twins system on Wednesday. Let's see who else is part of the Twins future. Rochester Red Wings 9, Indianapolis Indians 7 Box Score It took a whole lot of offense and some nail biting in the late innings but the Red Wings were still able to pick up their 40th win of the season. The win also assured the team of their first winning month of the year and their first winning month since last July. Chris Colabello continues to destroy the International League. He went 2-for-4 with his team leading 18th home run. So far this season, he is hitting .369/.437/.663 with Rochester. Jeff Clement added two hits and his seventh double. Doug Bernier and James Beresford had two hits apiece. Colabello, Clement, and Beresford each had two RBI. After going 3-for-4 with a double and an RBI in his first Triple-A game, Aaron Hicks wasn't as lucky in game two. He played in center field for the first time on his rehab assignment. He went 0-for-2 with an RBI and a walk. He was pulled early from the game. Rochester's starter Cole De Vries pitched through five innings and kept the team in the game. He allowed four runs on eight hits including a home run. Cody Eppley ran into some trouble in the late innings as he gave up three earned runs in a little over an inning of work. Shairon Martis had to pitch the last 1.2 innings for his fourth save. New Britain Rock Cats 9, Altoona Curve 2 (Completion of 6/25) Box Score The transition to Double-A hasn't been the easiest for Miguel Sano and the hits have been few and far between. After going 1-for-3 with a home run, maybe it was a sign of some good things to come. He has been hitting the ball hard but pitchers have been careful with him. Curt Smith had a fantastic day at the plate by going 3-for-4 with a home run and four RBI. Nate Hanson only had one hit but he made it count with a triple and two RBI. Josmil Pinto punched his 17th double and he came around to score. Matthew Summers had been the starter on Tuesday before the rains came. Bobby Lanigan picked up the game on Wednesday and he would earn his third win. He threw three innings and gave up three hits. Dakota Watts and Matt Hauser didn't allow an earned run in the last four innings. New Britain Rock Cats 6, Altoona Curve 3 (7 innings) Box Score With his home run earlier in the day, something must have clicked for Sano. He went 2-for-4 in the second game of the day with a double and a triple. Out of his nine hits at Double-A, six of them have been for extra bases. Between the two games, he went 3-for-7 with three extra-base hits. Tom Stuifbergen earned his second win with the Rock Cats. Over five innings, he spread out eight hits and limited Altoona to three earned runs. He struck out two batters and walked one. Edgar Ibarra finished off the last two innings while allowing one hit and securing his second save. Daniel Ortiz went 2-for-4 with his third triple. Jordan Parraz hit a two-run home run to cap off a six-run first inning for New Britain. This huge first inning would be all the runs the Rock Cats would need. The club went 4-for-8 with runners in scoring position and the win brought the team back to within two games of the .500 mark. Fort Myers Miracle 3, Jupiter Hammerheads 5 Box Score The Byron Buxton era in Fort Myers isn't off to the best start. The club hasn't won in his first two games since his promotion. He got his first RBI at the High-A level in this contest. Buxton went 1-for-4 and he's had at least one hit in each game. Tyler Duffy was making his fourth start since being called up from Cedar Rapids. He made it through six innings but he got knocked around for 12 hits and five earned runs. He struck out two batters and he didn't issue any walks. It was his third loss and he given up five runs in his last two starts. Corey Williams threw two innings in relief and he struck out four. Candido Pimentel was the lone Fort Myers hitter with more than one hit. He went 2-for-3 with a double and a run scored. Mike Kvasnicka hit his fourth home run and it was only his 14th game. The Miracle will finish up their road trip with a three-game series against Jupiter. Cedar Rapids Kernels 5, Burlington Bees 2 Box Score In the month of May, Jose Berrios had yet to earn a victory but that streak came to an end on Wednesday. Last year's supplemental first round pick tossed seven outstanding innings. He struck out nine batters and didn't allow a walk. The Bees scored two runs off of him on five hits. In his last ten starts, it was the first time Berrios made it through seven innings of work. Max Kepler continues to do his best to replace the offense lost with Buxton's promotion. Kepler hit his second home run in as many nights. Dalton Hicks went 2-for-4 with a double and two RBI. Niko Goodrum and Jorge Polanco each added a double to their impressive numbers this season. The Kernels improved to 46-28 with the win. Since the All-Star Break at the beginning of last week, the club is a perfect 6-0. They will look to continue that streak in the second game of the series against Burlington. Elizabethton Twins 5, Princeton Rays 4 Box Score The E-Twins pounded out 15 hits and the club needed everyone of them to improve their record to 6-1. Bryan Haar went 1-for-4 with his first home run of the season. With three hits in the game, Bryan Santy had his first multi-hit game. Dereck Rodriguez, Javier Pimentel, and Ryan Walker all had two hits. Felix Jorge pitched 5.2 strong innings by allowing one hit. He struck out six, walked three, and earned his first win. Austin Malinowski had a tough time finding the plate with three walks and his three runs allowed helped to keep the Rays in the game. Dallas Gallant and Brandon Peterson finished off the last 2.1 innings. They limited the Rays to three hits and no runs. Each of these players struck out a batter and they have yet to allow a run this season. GCL Twins 5, GCL Orioles 4 Box Score Scoring two runs in each of the first two innings put the GCL Twins ahead but the GCL Orioles would claw their way back into the game with a three-run eighth inning. The Twins turned out to have just enough offense to win their third game of the year and the club is now one game over .500. Mexican pitcher Leonel Zazueta made his second appearance of the year and his first start. He threw four shutout innings by scattering three hits and striking out two. He didn't walk a batter but he wouldn't figure into the decision. Bruce Pugh got hit around a little in his inning of work. He was charged with all three runs but he did strike out three batters. German born pitcher Markus Solbach earned his first professional victory with two scoreless innings of relief. Zach Larson hit a two-run home run to help the Twins to their early lead. Adonis Pacheco went 2-for-3 with a triple and a run scored. Alex Swim added two hits of his own. Overall, the team left six runners on base and they went 2-for-11 with runners in scoring position.

The end of June is quickly approaching and this means it is a little over a month away from the July 31st trade deadline. Things have started to look a little better for the Twins but the club is still in the bottom half of the AL Central. This should mean the club will be sellers at this year's trade deadline. As I have stated previously, the Twins focus should be on contending again by 2015. Joe Mauer will be the veteran bat in the middle of the line-up surrounded by other young players like Oswaldo Arcia, Miguel Sano, and Eddie Rosario. Even last year's number one pick Byron Buxton could be ready for the big leagues at some point in 2015. Minnesota has one of the best minor league systems in baseball and the organization has the opportunity to improve their depth by trading away some pieces this July. Power hitters and members of the pitching staff can be valuable commodities at this time of year. Let's look at a few of the names that could be floating around as baseball's hot stove starts to heat up. Position Players Justin Morneau, 1B The former MVP is in the final year of his contract and it doesn't seem likely for him to be part of the next winnings baseball team in Minnesota. His ability to play first base and hit for power might be intriguing to more than one contending team. Morneau might be even more desirable for a team that has suffered an injury to their first baseman. That being said, there are some recent injury concerns for Morneau and his power has been almost nonexistent in 2013. A team trading for him wouldn't be making a long-term commitment so this could help to strengthen his market. Josh Willingham, LF/DH There were a few trade rumors swirling around last season when Willingham was in the midst the best season of his career. Things haven't gone as smoothly in 2013 but that still doesn't mean other teams won't be interested in adding him for the stretch run. Willingham is under contract for all of 2014 at a reasonable amount and this could also help to add to his trade value. He will turn 35-years old before next season and some teams might be scared away by his aging body especially teams in the National League where there isn’t a DH. Dark Horse: Trevor Plouffe, 3B Minnesota has seen some flashes of good signs from Plouffe and this could make some other clubs interested in him. The former first round pick didn't work out as a middle infielder but he continues to improve at the plate and on the defensive side of the ball. Miguel Sano is working his way through the Twins system and he looks to be the Twins third baseman of the future. Deibinson Romero has also compiled some solid numbers in the minor leagues and it might be worth giving him a look at third base. This makes Plouffe expendable if the Twins want to move him. Pitchers Kevin Correia, RHP There isn't going to be a ton of starting pitchers available at the deadline and this could be a positive for the Twins. So far this year, Correia has put together the numbers that the front office thought he would produce when they signed him to an offseason free agent deal. The Twins gave Correia a two-year deal so he is still under contract for 2014 at a rate of $5 million. It would be nice to dump that salary on a team looking to add a back of the rotation starter for their playoff push. He might not net a big haul but he could be worth a mid-range prospect or two if the market continues to be weak for starting pitching. Jared Burton, RHP Things have been a little rough on the mound in the last couple weeks for Mr. Burton. After last season's outstanding job as the team's set-up man, the Twins gave Burton an extension. Something isn't quite right with Burton and this might be a reason for the organization to ship him out of town. Contending teams can usually use another relief arm especially a veteran arm like Burton. He even got the opportunity to close a few games and some teams value this "skill." In the month of July, he will need to show some flashes of the pitcher he was last season or other teams aren't even going to consider him an option. Dark Horse: Glen Perkins, LHP Reports were out last week that Twins general manager Terry Ryan is going to want a haul in return for Perkins. The team's closer is under contract through 2015 with a team option for 2016. It's a very team friendly deal and that's a good thing for the Twins and their fans. If Perkins stays with the Twins, he could be the closer on Minnesota's next winning team. Ryan could also get an offer that is too good to pass up and this could mean Perkins is in another uniform by the end of July. It seems like a long shot at this point but anything can happen around the deadline.

The end of June is quickly approaching and this means it is a little over a month away from the July 31st trade deadline. Things have started to look a little better for the Twins but the club is still in the bottom half of the AL Central. This should mean the club will be sellers at this year's trade deadline. As I have stated previously, the Twins focus should be on contending again by 2015. Joe Mauer will be the veteran bat in the middle of the line-up surrounded by other young players like Oswaldo Arcia, Miguel Sano, and Eddie Rosario. Even last year's number one pick Byron Buxton could be ready for the big leagues at some point in 2015. Minnesota has one of the best minor league systems in baseball and the organization has the opportunity to improve their depth by trading away some pieces this July. Power hitters and members of the pitching staff can be valuable commodities at this time of year. Let's look at a few of the names that could be floating around as baseball's hot stove starts to heat up. Position Players Justin Morneau, 1B The former MVP is in the final year of his contract and it doesn't seem likely for him to be part of the next winnings baseball team in Minnesota. His ability to play first base and hit for power might be intriguing to more than one contending team. Morneau might be even more desirable for a team that has suffered an injury to their first baseman. That being said, there are some recent injury concerns for Morneau and his power has been almost nonexistent in 2013. A team trading for him wouldn't be making a long-term commitment so this could help to strengthen his market. Josh Willingham, LF/DH There were a few trade rumors swirling around last season when Willingham was in the midst the best season of his career. Things haven't gone as smoothly in 2013 but that still doesn't mean other teams won't be interested in adding him for the stretch run. Willingham is under contract for all of 2014 at a reasonable amount and this could also help to add to his trade value. He will turn 35-years old before next season and some teams might be scared away by his aging body especially teams in the National League where there isn’t a DH. Dark Horse: Trevor Plouffe, 3B Minnesota has seen some flashes of good signs from Plouffe and this could make some other clubs interested in him. The former first round pick didn't work out as a middle infielder but he continues to improve at the plate and on the defensive side of the ball. Miguel Sano is working his way through the Twins system and he looks to be the Twins third baseman of the future. Deibinson Romero has also compiled some solid numbers in the minor leagues and it might be worth giving him a look at third base. This makes Plouffe expendable if the Twins want to move him. Pitchers Kevin Correia, RHP There isn't going to be a ton of starting pitchers available at the deadline and this could be a positive for the Twins. So far this year, Correia has put together the numbers that the front office thought he would produce when they signed him to an offseason free agent deal. The Twins gave Correia a two-year deal so he is still under contract for 2014 at a rate of $5 million. It would be nice to dump that salary on a team looking to add a back of the rotation starter for their playoff push. He might not net a big haul but he could be worth a mid-range prospect or two if the market continues to be weak for starting pitching. Jared Burton, RHP Things have been a little rough on the mound in the last couple weeks for Mr. Burton. After last season's outstanding job as the team's set-up man, the Twins gave Burton an extension. Something isn't quite right with Burton and this might be a reason for the organization to ship him out of town. Contending teams can usually use another relief arm especially a veteran arm like Burton. He even got the opportunity to close a few games and some teams value this "skill." In the month of July, he will need to show some flashes of the pitcher he was last season or other teams aren't even going to consider him an option. Dark Horse: Glen Perkins, LHP Reports were out last week that Twins general manager Terry Ryan is going to want a haul in return for Perkins. The team's closer is under contract through 2015 with a team option for 2016. It's a very team friendly deal and that's a good thing for the Twins and their fans. If Perkins stays with the Twins, he could be the closer on Minnesota's next winning team. Ryan could also get an offer that is too good to pass up and this could mean Perkins is in another uniform by the end of July. It seems like a long shot at this point but anything can happen around the deadline.

The Twins put together a solid series against the White Sox to earn a three-game sweep. The rival Sox are plummeting in the AL Central but it is still nice to beat a hated foe. Powerful offensive performances and some decent pitching helped to club in the series. Now it will be time to see what the team can do when they head out on the road for a couple of series. Some of the other Twins headlines from this week included: Justin Morneau finally ended the longest home run drought of his career, Kevin Corriea put together a couple of solid starts, and Sam Deduno continues to impress. Everything seems to be going good in Twins Territory but this has been a streaky team this season and it's going to take more than a few wins to impress the fan base. Here are some of the most enjoyable stories from around the web in the last week. Make sure to check them all out before you head out for the weekend. Byron Buxton has mastered the art of being good. Buxton is also putting up better numbers in Cedar Rapids than Mike Trout did when he played for the club. Two roommates on the Cedar Rapids Kernels continue to impress with their performances so far this year. Antoan Richardson has put together a great season in the minors and this interview will help you to learn a little bit more about him. It's interesting to see how pitchers are approaching Miguel Sano since he transitioned to the Eastern League. One of my favorite prospects, Max Kepler, is going to need to try and reestablish himself. Mike Pelfrey has endured a few struggles this season but there are a few keys for him to find success. In the history of the Yankees and Twins, this play has to be one of the most frustrating in recent memory. According to the most recent numbers for Twins on Twitter, my followers have gone up 3.6% in the last six weeks. I think we can improve that number for the next update. This might be the most entertaing article I read this week because it includes two thing I love, trading cards and the Minnesota Twins. Plus there's a Duck Tales reference so that's awesome. Kevin Correia might be one of a few starting pitchers available at the trade deadline. When it comes to fantasy baseball, Brian Dozier shouldn't be on your team. Aaron Hicks and Chris Parmelee are near the top of the list for most Web Gems this season. Pat Neshek's brother works for the Twins and he made a fantastic grab as the ball boy earlier this week. The Fort Myers Miracle are always creative with their promotions and this one for Miami Heat fans that exited Game 6 early is pretty good. What happened to the ball from Kirk Gibson's famous 1988 World Series home run? I've seen the sausage race in person and now it's celebrating 20 years in the big leagues. The story of the Black Sox scandal is one of the best known in baseball and now you can own a unique piece of memorabilia from that famous series. A complete replica of Wrigley Field was built but this one is unique because it is made of almost 58,000 Legos. Torii Hunter hit his 300th home run and it just had to come against the Twins. They have all-time great players but are the Tigers an all-time great team? My Weekly Rundown Sunday: Talk to Contact: Episode 41 Monday: The Future of Trevor Plouffe The Curious Case of Kyle Gibson Wednesday: Those Damn Yankees: Chuck Knoblach Twins Minor League Report (6/19): Sano's 1st AA Blast Video of the Week: After ending the longest home run drought of his career, the Twins had a little fun with their Canadian first baseman. Justin Morneau came into the dugout and he had to give high-fives to his invisible teammates. His real teammates were told by the manager to give Morneau the silent treatment. It was a funny moment especially since it had to be a big weight off of his shoulders to finally hit one out.

The Twins put together a solid series against the White Sox to earn a three-game sweep. The rival Sox are plummeting in the AL Central but it is still nice to beat a hated foe. Powerful offensive performances and some decent pitching helped to club in the series. Now it will be time to see what the team can do when they head out on the road for a couple of series. Some of the other Twins headlines from this week included: Justin Morneau finally ended the longest home run drought of his career, Kevin Corriea put together a couple of solid starts, and Sam Deduno continues to impress. Everything seems to be going good in Twins Territory but this has been a streaky team this season and it's going to take more than a few wins to impress the fan base. Here are some of the most enjoyable stories from around the web in the last week. Make sure to check them all out before you head out for the weekend. Byron Buxton has mastered the art of being good. Buxton is also putting up better numbers in Cedar Rapids than Mike Trout did when he played for the club. Two roommates on the Cedar Rapids Kernels continue to impress with their performances so far this year. Antoan Richardson has put together a great season in the minors and this interview will help you to learn a little bit more about him. It's interesting to see how pitchers are approaching Miguel Sano since he transitioned to the Eastern League. One of my favorite prospects, Max Kepler, is going to need to try and reestablish himself. Mike Pelfrey has endured a few struggles this season but there are a few keys for him to find success. In the history of the Yankees and Twins, this play has to be one of the most frustrating in recent memory. According to the most recent numbers for Twins on Twitter, my followers have gone up 3.6% in the last six weeks. I think we can improve that number for the next update. This might be the most entertaing article I read this week because it includes two thing I love, trading cards and the Minnesota Twins. Plus there's a Duck Tales reference so that's awesome. Kevin Correia might be one of a few starting pitchers available at the trade deadline. When it comes to fantasy baseball, Brian Dozier shouldn't be on your team. Aaron Hicks and Chris Parmelee are near the top of the list for most Web Gems this season. Pat Neshek's brother works for the Twins and he made a fantastic grab as the ball boy earlier this week. The Fort Myers Miracle are always creative with their promotions and this one for Miami Heat fans that exited Game 6 early is pretty good. What happened to the ball from Kirk Gibson's famous 1988 World Series home run? I've seen the sausage race in person and now it's celebrating 20 years in the big leagues. The story of the Black Sox scandal is one of the best known in baseball and now you can own a unique piece of memorabilia from that famous series. A complete replica of Wrigley Field was built but this one is unique because it is made of almost 58,000 Legos. Torii Hunter hit his 300th home run and it just had to come against the Twins. They have all-time great players but are the Tigers an all-time great team? My Weekly Rundown Sunday: Talk to Contact: Episode 41 Monday: The Future of Trevor Plouffe The Curious Case of Kyle Gibson Wednesday: Those Damn Yankees: Chuck Knoblach Twins Minor League Report (6/19): Sano's 1st AA Blast Video of the Week: After ending the longest home run drought of his career, the Twins had a little fun with their Canadian first baseman. Justin Morneau came into the dugout and he had to give high-fives to his invisible teammates. His real teammates were told by the manager to give Morneau the silent treatment. It was a funny moment especially since it had to be a big weight off of his shoulders to finally hit one out.