TMLN: Rochester Wins In Extra Innings

The Twins Minor League system went 1-2 on Sunday, as Rochester won, but New Britain and Beloit lost. All three teams played great offensively, but the pitching just was not there, which is strange for a day in the Twins organization. Here is a recap of all the action.

Rochester Red Wings
The Wings won a close game on Sunday, topping the Charlotte Knights 7-6 at home. Francisco Liriano got the start for the Wings, but was ineffective once again. He allowed six earned runs in 6.2 innings of work, giving up seven hits, while striking out four. The effort boosted his earned run average to 4.62, as he tries to get back to Minnesota. The bullpen held down the fort though, as Mariano Gomez and Tim Lahey combined for 3.1 innings of shutout relief. Lahey picked up his third win of the season, striking out four in 2.1 innings of work.

Rochester got plenty of help from the top of their lineup, as Tommy Watkins, Jason Pridie, and Darnell McDonald all posted multi-hit games. Garrett Jones picked up three hits in the game, including his fourth home run, and Randy Ruiz and Jose Morales both picked up two-hit games. McDonald drove in three runs, while Jones drove in two, and Felix Molina scored the game-winning run.

New Britain Rock Cats
Down 13-4, New Britain battled back on Sunday, but could not erase the deficit in their 15-11 loss to Portland. Former top prospect Errol Simonitsch was touched for ten earned runs in the contest, as he continues to battle back from injury problems that have plagued his career. Jay Sawatski and Jason Miller were also both ineffective coming out of the bullpen, as only Armando Gabino was the only Rock Cats pitcher to not allow an earned run.

Erik Lis continues to swing a hot bat, as his three hits in the game boosted his batting average to .293. Shortstop Trevor Plouffe also had two hits, as did Steven Tolleson, while Drew Butera drove in three in the game. Lis and Butera each had home runs in the game, while David Winfree ran his RBI total to 38 foor the season. Matt Moses also drove in two runs, and Toby Gardenhire scored twice.

Fort Myers Miracle
DNP

Beloit Snappers
The Snappers pitching staff was hit early and often on Sunday, leading to a 12-8 Beloit loss to the hands of Burlington. Brian Kirwan got the start in this game, but did not last long, as he allowed six earned runs in only four innings of work. Matthew Williams had one of his worst outings of the season, as he allowed three earned in only two innings of work. Still, Williams has pitched well this season, as he has a 2.13 earned run average. Loek Van Mil and Bradley Tippett finished off the game, combining for two earned runs in three innings of work.

The Snappers offense pounded out 15 hits on Sunday, as leadoff hitter Ben Revere continues to terrorize Midwest League pitching. His two hits on Sunday ran his season batting average to .405, and he stole his 15th base of the season. Jair Fernandez and Ramon Santana each had three-hit games on Sunday, as the Snappers got great production from their seven and eight hitters. Top prospect Joe Benson hit his 13th and 14th doubles of the season, and Chris Parmelee scored twice.