On the Pond Daily (7/2): Shutouts by Duffey and Stuifbergen

The Minnesota Twins organization played to a 0.500 record (4-4) on Tuesday, July 2nd. Elizabethton had a scheduled off day while Rochester played a double header.

Arcia was reunited with fellow rookie outfielder Hicks on Tuesday. (Photo Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports)

Minnesota Twins (36-44): lost 7-3 to New York (44-39)

Following in the footsteps of Scott Diamond, RHP Sam Deduno (6.0 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 1 SO) pitched well enough to pick up a win on Tuesday, but the bullpen continues to take on water and give up runs in bunches.

On Monday it was Brian Duensing and Jared Burton that got touched up for seven runs. Tuesday it was RHP Anthony Swarzak (1.0 IP, 4 H, 4 ER, 0 BB, 1 SO) that got tagged. His ERA was 2.77 on June 22nd but it has since ballooned to 3.69 after allowing seven earned runs in his last two appearances (5.0 IP).

The team’s rookie relievers, RHP Ryan Pressly and LHP Caleb Thielbar continue to impress as each pitched a scoreless inning in the game. For Pressly the outing dropped his ERA to 2.56 in 38.2 innings of work. Thielbar has been even better pushing his scoreless innings streak to 16.2. Not only has he not allowed a run this season, he’s only given up five hits.

Aaron Hicks returned to the lineup after a stint on the DL and went 2-4 with two runs scored and a double. Oswaldo Arcia (2-3, R, 2B, BB) and Ryan Doumit (2-5) also had multi-hit games.

Rochester Red Wings (42-45): split the doubleheader against Syracuse (34-49) with a 5-2 loss and 6-5 win

Game 1
RHP Cole De Vries (5.1 IP, 8 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 3 SO) dropped his ERA to 8.16 on the season with his start on Tuesday. In 43.0 IP he’s allowed 75 hits with a 19-12 SO-to-BB.

The Red Wings had six hits in the game and 3B Ray Olmedo (2-3, R, SO) accounted for a third of them. CF Antoan Richardson (1-3, RBI) had the team’s only extra-base hit with his 8th double of the year. SS Doug Bernier (1-2, RBI, SB) is hitting 0.333/.371/.400 in his last ten games.

Game 2
RHP Vance Worley (5.1 IP, 6 H, 4 ER, HR, 5 BB, 2 SO) gave up four runs for the second straight start in a row. Most of his starts generate a “meh” reaction from me and his latest was no different, but the five walks were clearly out of character. Prior to yesterday’s start he had only issued nine free passes in 46.2 IP.

Offensively the team fared much better in the second game of the double-dip going 10-26 with 3 walks and 3 doubles. Everyone who recorded an at bat for the Red Wings had a hit with the exception of Olmedo (0-2) who reached base with a walk. 2B James Beresford (2-3, R, 2B, SO) and RF Eric Farris (2-4, 2 R, SO, SB) were the only two with multiple hits in the contest.

New Britain Rock Cats (40-43): 3-1 win over New Hampshire (39-44)

RHP Tom Stuifbergen threw 6.1 innings of 4-hit, shutout baseball on Tuesday while walking one and striking out three. After giving up 11 runs and 16 hits in his previous 8.1 innings, his latest start was a wonderful change of pace. Despite the strong outing he still has a 7.23 ERA and 1.48 WHIP in 23.2 innings since joining the Rock Cats.

New Britain batters struck out 14 times. 13 of them thanks to the Blue Jays #5 prospect, RHP Marcus Stroman. DH Josmil Pinto‘s (1-3, RBI, 2 SO) 19th double of the season was the team’s only extra-base hit. 2B Eddie Rosario was the only Rock Cat that didn’t strike out and he had the best day at the plate with two walks and a single in four trips to the plate.

Fort Myers Miracle (51-27): 5-2 win over Bradenton (31-49)

RHP Tyler Duffey (7.0 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 0 SO) picked up his first Florida State League win while turning in his best start since being promoted from Cedar Rapids at the beginning of June. Despite the positive results, his inability to get FSL hitters to swing and miss (13 SO in 28.2 IP) is cause for concern.

CF Byron Buxton was 2-13 with his first three games with Fort Myers, but he’s quickly adapted. Thanks to a 2-4, 2 RBI effort yesterday, he’s 7-12 in his last three and is hitting 0.360/.385/.400 since the promotion.

LF Jhon Goncalves (2-3, 2B, BB, SO, SB, CS) has also picked up his production lately and is now hitting 0.394/.459/.636 with 8 2B in his last ten games.

Cedar Rapids Kernels (51-29): 5-4 loss to Beloit (53-29)

RHP Jose Berrios (4.1 IP, 7 H, 5 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 6 SO) has been up and down in his last four starts but is still having a terrific season for the Kernels. Even when he’s struggled, he has continued to strike out at least a batter per inning and yesterday was no exception to that. It’s easy to forget that Berrios just turned 19 years old at the end of May and that context makes his 3.32 ERA and 71-16 SO-to-BB in 59.2 IP look even better.

3B Travis Harrison (1-4, R, RBI, SO) hit his 14th home run of the year and Jonathan Murphy (3-4, 2 R, 2B) notched his first hits in his second game as a member of the Kernels.

Elizabethton Twins (10-2): scheduled off day

GCL Twins (4-5): 3-2 loss to the GCL Orioles (5-4)

RHP Sam Gibbons (3.0 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 SO)
3B Amaurys Minier (3-3, R, 2 2B, RBI)

DSL Twins (14-11): 2-1 win over the DSL Giants (13-12)

RHP Johan Quezada (2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 SO)
RHP Williams Ramirez (3.0 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 SO)
LF Frank Encarnacion (2-3, R, 2B, SB)

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RHP Daniel Sattler and LF Evan Bigley were sent to the GCL Twins on rehab assignments from Rochester.