Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Tuesday Game Notes
The Twins again lost to the Yankees in a big way, 8-2. The game was actually very good until the bottom of the 6th when Kevin Slowey, pitching with a lead, served up a fastball right down the middle to Bobby Abreu. Abreu, as you recall, went from being one of the most underrated players in baseball to one of the most overrated, and now he is back to being greatly underrated again. Like 98% of big leaguers, he is fully capable of hitting a fastball right down the middle. Like many of those, Abreu has the ability to hit the ball out of the park. In 5.1 innings, Slowey gave up four runs on five hits and two walks. Dennys Reyes didn't help. He came in and got one out but gave up a walk and a hit in between. Jesse Crain came in to get the Twins out of the sixth, but then in the seventh inning, he gave up four runs (3 earned). Brian Bass then threw two shutout innings.
The move finally happened. Gardy finally put Denard Span in the leadoff spot in the order, and he moved Carlos Gomez down to the 9-hole. Both came through. Span went 2-3 with a walk. Gomez hit a double down the left field line then scored the Twins first run. Hopefully this stays like that for awhile!
Teams continue to pitch around Justin Morneau. To this point, Jason Kubel hasn't given them reason not to. In this game, Morneau went 0-1 with three walks. Kubel went 0-4.
I think that was a disappointing game only because it was such a good game for 5 1/2 innings. Then the flood waters opened. Any other thoughts on the Twins?
Other Notes -
Best wishes to former Twin Torii Hunter who was put on the bereavement list by the Angels.
How's this for fair... Former Twin Johan Santana threw eight innings against the potent Phillies lineup and gave up just two runs. He came out of the game with a 5-2 lead only to see the Mets bullpen give up six runs in the top of the ninth. Santana went 1-2 with a walk as well.
I read this somewhere yesterday, maybe one of the Strib blog comments sections... why is it that Kent Hrbek has a big banner at the Metrodome with his retired #14 and yet, Bert Blyleven and Jim Kaat don't. Must be the hometown thing, huh?
Did you see that the Orioles actually gave up a prospect for Juan Castro?? Crazy!
Sad to see that Luis Maza was designated for assignment by the Dodgers.
Former Twin Terry Tiffee will be on Team USA in the Olympics, along with Brian Duensing, next month.
Tuesday GAME NOTES
Twins Minor League Updates
Tuesday SethSpeaks Player of the Day – Howie Clark, Rochester Red Wings
Tuesday SethSpeaks Pitcher of the Day – Francisco Liriano, Rochester Red Wings
ROCHESTER REPORT
Tuesday –
Rochester
13, Toledo 0 – As I wrote during
the game, the story was Francisco Liriano... again! The lefty went seven
innings of shutout ball. He gave up two hits, walked two and struck out ten.
Carmen Cali threw two scoreless innings despite allowing two hits and two
walks. The offense showed up in this one too. Howie Clark went 3-5 with
his 11th double and third home run. Trevor Plouffe went 3-4 with his
ninth and tenth doubles and three RBI. Jason Pridie was 2-6 with his 13th
double and 13th triple. Matt Macri hit his 18th and 19th doubles in four
at bats, and added a walk. Ryan Jorgenson went 2-4 with a walk and his
eighth double. Darnell McDonald went 2-5.
NEW BRITAIN NEWS
Tuesday –
New Britain
7, Reading 6
– Felix Molina hit a two run homer in the 7th to give
the Rockcats a nice win. It was his second homer of the year. Drew Butera
hit his sixth homer. Brock Peterson went 2-3 with a walk and his 28th
double. Erik Lis was 2-4 with his 34th double. Danny Valencia went
1-2 with two walks. Jay Rainville started and went just 3.2 innings. He
gave up four runs on six hits and four walks while striking out three.
Armando Gabino gave up just one run over the next 3.1 innings to get his
fifth win. He struck out four. Frank Mata threw a scoreless inning.
Ben Julianel gave up a run on two hits and a walk but still recorded his
21st save.
FT MYERS MEMOS
Tuesday -
Miracle
3, St. Lucie 4
– Cole DeVries had another good start. In seven innings, he gave up
two runs (1 earned) on seven hits and a walk. He struck out eight. Spencer
Steedley gave up two runs on three hits in his inning. Blair Erickson
walked one in a scoreless inning. The Miracle had just six hits. Eli Tintor
went 2-4. Wilson Ramos was 1-2 with a walk and was hit by a pitch once.
BELOIT BITS
Tuesday –
Beloit
– No Game Scheduled.
ELIZABETHTON EXTRAS
Tuesday -
E-Twins/Johnson City – Game Suspended by Rain.
GCL TWINS TALK
Tuesday -
GCL
Twins 2, GCL Red Sox 3 –
Angelo Sanchez started and gave up two runs on three hits and three walks in
four innings. He struck out six. Mauro Schiavoni then threw three
scoreless relief innings. Jean Mijares then gave up a run over the final
two innings to take the loss. Adam Everett went 2-4 with his first stolen
base. Juan Sanchez went 2-4. Aaron Hicks was 1-2 with a walk, his
third double and fifth stolen base.