Monday June 7, 2004
TWINS WEEKEND WRAP-UP
Howdy ya'll, and thanks, as always, for stopping by SethSpeaks. Today, we've got a pretty brief update of the Twins games from over the weekend, as well as game recaps of the Twins minor league affiliates. I was out of town again all weekend for a wedding (Congratulations Jason and Jen!). After some of the festivities, it is best for me to be brief!! But it was fun times!!! Although, I really need to work on my golf game (I know, I know, those of you that were there would probably also tell me to work on my dance moves... and my pick up lines... and ... and ...)
The baseball draft starts today as does inter-league play as the Twins will host the Mets and Phillies this week.
If you have any questions or comments on what you read, the Twins, or have any ideas for future topics, please feel free to e-mail me. So anyway, thanks again, and have a great week!
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Friday - Twins 3, Tigers 2 - I wish I could get those who were with me on Friday night to vouch for me, but I can't. But, you're just going to have to trust me that I called Torii Hunter's game-winning, walk-off homer homer off Jamie Walker.
Kyle Lohse gave up two early runs to the Tigers, but Corey Koskie's 10th homer of the season tied the game at 2 in the 6th. Lohse went six innings and gave up six hits and two walks. He struck out five batters. JC Romero, Juan Rincon and Joe Nathan each tossed a scoreless inning for the Twins, with Nathan picking up the win. Hunter and Koskie were the two Twins with two hits. Hunter's homer was his 8th of the year.
Saturday - Twins 0, Tigers 6 - The Twins have seemingly had a problem putting together back to back good performances, and that remained true as the Twins bats were non-existent. They did a great job of making Gary Knotts looking like a good big league pitcher. Knotts held the Twins to just three hits (and 4 walks) over 7 2/3 innings. Seth Greisinger did a good job of pitching like, well, Seth Greisinger as he gave up 4 runs on eight hits and a walk (and 2 homers) in 5 1/3 innings.
For the Twins offense, Matthew Lecroy went 2-3 with a walk. Lew Ford was 1-2 with a double and two walks.
Sunday - Twins 6, Tigers 5 -
It was Shannon Stewart bobblehead day, which means I'll have to spend more money on one of them!!!
The Twins tried something different with their lineup on Sunday in an attempt to score some runs. With hard-throwing lefty Nate Robertson on the mound for Detroit, Jacque Jones had the day off. Doug Mientkiewicz was slotted in as the leadoff hitter for the first time in his career. Ron Gardenhire then decided to move Lew Ford into the 3 hole. A lineup generally should place the team's best overall hitter in that spot, and it would be hard to argue that Ford has not been the team's best overall hitter in the season's first two months.
Well, the team did score 6 runs in the game, although half of them came with one swing of the bat in the 8th inning. Down 2-0, Lew Ford hit his seventh homer of the season to tie the game. Matthew Lecroy later gave the team a 3-2 lead with a homer of his own. Carlos Silva pitched 7 2/3 innings and left with a runner on second base. JC Romero came in and did what he has done best much of the season, allowed his inherited run to score to tie the game. In the 8th inning, with two runners on and the score knotted at 3, Joe Mauer drilled a 3-1 Esteban Yan pitch well over the baggy in right center to give the Twins the 6-3 lead. It was Mauer's first hit since coming back from the disabled list and the first homer of his career. The extra insurance proved to be important. Joe Nathan came in and the first batter, Jason Smith, hit a solo homer. Another runner got on base, but Nathan bore down and after a Pudge Rodriguez single scored another run, Nathan got the last outs and the Twins had won the game and the series..
The Twins now have an off day today before beginning a three game series against the New York Mets in Interleague play.
Any thoughts on the Twins? E-mail me.
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ROCHESTER REDWINGS
Henry Bonilla made his first start. Jason Kubel had a huge weekend. Beau Kemp was moved up from New Britain, and the Twins traded for former White Sox pitcher Gary Glover in a trade with the Cubs. He will be reporting to the Redwings today.
Friday - Redwings 8, Indianapolis 2 - Jason Kubel's impressive weekend began with a 3-5 outing that included two doubles and an RBI. Terry Tiffee was 2-4 with a triple and a homer. Willie Eyre started and went 6 innings. He gave up 6 hits and three walks and didn't strike out a batter, but the Indians were able to score just two runs off him. Joe Beimel and Brent Schoening finished the game combining for three scoreless innings.
Saturday - Redwings 12, Indianapolis 1 - Henry Bonilla made his Rochester debut and picked up his first win as well. He went 6 innings and gave up 6 hits and walked none. He struck out four and gave up just one earned run. Jeromy Palki, Beau Kemp and Jesse Crain each pitched a scoreless inning. Luis Rivas played and went 1-5. With Rivas taking over at 2B, Luis Rodriguez moved to SS and went 2-5 with a double and 2 RBI. Michael Restovich went 3-4, including his 13th home run of the season. Brandon Marsters went 3-4 with two doubles. Josh Rabe hit another homer. And how did Jason Kubel do? How's 4-5? Not bad!
Sunday - Redwings 5, Indianapolis 13 - Luis Rivas went 2-5. Luis Rodriguez, playing 3B this game, went 2-5 with a triple. Michael Restovich went 2-4 with his 14th home and 3 RBI. Jason Kubel went 3-4. Matt Guerrier gave up 5 runs (3 earned) in 6 1/3 innings. He gave up 7 hits, walked none and struck out five. Beau Kemp's second AAA outing was not so good. He gave up two hits and two walks to the four batters he faced, and they all came around to score. Adam Johnson wasn't great either. He went 1 2/3 innings and gave up four hits and four runs.
NEW BRITAIN ROCK CATS
Friday - Rockcats 13, Binghamton 7 - BJ Garbe led the Twins going 3-5 with two doubles (he is now hitting .234). Luis Maza went 2-5 wit ha triple and two RBI. Kevin West continues to mash. He went 2-4 with a walk and his 12th homer of the season, and three RBI. Garrett Jones went 2-5 wit ha double and his 5th homer. Jake Mauer went 2-4 with 2 RBI. Jim Abbott got the win for the Twins. He went 5 innings and gave up four hits and a walk (3 strikeouts) for 3 earned runs. Jon Pridie pitched two scoreless innings in relief.
Saturday - Rockcats 5, Binghampton 3 - Garrett Jones went 3-3 with a walk. James Tomlin went 2-3 with a double. Luis Maza hit his 5th homer. Kevin West hit his 13th home run for the season. Ronnie Corona made his first AA start of the season after being in extended training camp. He gave up two runs on five hits and two walks in three innings. Jon Pridie came in and pitched four innings. He gave up just two hits. Bobby Korecky picked up his 8th save with 1 1/3 innings.
Sunday - Rockcats 3, Binghamton 4 (11 innings) - Seven Rockcats had exactly one hit. Only Jake Mauer's was an extra-base hit, a double. Victor Moreno went 4 innings and gave up no runs on 2 hits and 4 walks. He struck out 5. Jason Richardson gave up 3 runs in 1.1 innings, but Travis Bowyer stretched out and went 3 1/3 innings of hitless, run less baseball, striking out seven.
FORT MYERS MIRACLE
Friday - Miracle 2, Vero Beach 3 - Fort Myers had just two hits, a single by Danny Matienzo and a double by Michael Sandoval. Jeff Randazzo started and gave up three runs on six hits and two walks (he struck out 4). Kevin Cameron pitched the final two innings without giving up a hit.
Saturday - Miracle 7, Vero Beach 3 - The Miracle had eight his, but none went for extra bases. Jesus Merchan went 2-3. Manny Tejada recorded the win going six innings. He gave up just two hits and walked two for no runs.
Sunday - Miracle 1, Sarasota 5 - Francisco Liriano has been very good of late. Just not yesterday. In 5 innings, he gave up 8 his for five runs. On a positive note though, he walked none while striking out seven. Josh Gray, John Thomas and Justin Olson pitched the final four innings without giving up any further runs. Brett Tamburrino went 2-3. Kaulana Kuhaulua went 1-4 wit ha double.
THE SWING OF THE QUAD CITIES
Friday - Swing 1, Peoria 6 - The Swing swung, but got just two hits on the day. Ryan Spataro was 1-3. Omar Burgos was 1-4 with an RBI double. Following this game, Burgos was hitting over .330. No one else in the Swing lineup had an average above .258. Ricky Barrett went 6 2/3 innings and gave up just three runs (two earned) on 10 hits and 3 walks. Peter Tautor struck out three without a baserunner in 1 1/3 innings.
Saturday - Swing 3, Wisconsin 2 - Dusty Gomon went 2-4. Scott Whitrock went 2-4 including his 7th homer of the year. Justin Arneson went 2-3 with a walk, a double and his first homer. Nick Blackburn got the win with a six inning, five hit, one walk, two run, four strikeout performance. Julio DePaula went 2 hitless innings. Levale Speigner picked up his 8th save with a 1-2-3 ninth.
Sunday - The Swing had the day off.
Any questions or comments on the Twins minor league system, e-mail me.
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That is it for me for today. Have yourself a wonderful Monday and a great week!! As always, if you have any questions or comments on anything, please e-mail me.