On the Pond Daily (7/6): Baxendale and Landa
By Wally Fish
On July 6th, 2013 the Twins system went 7-2 with a good mix of quality pitching and hitting.
On Saturday, Pelfrey returned and turned aside the losing that has plagued the Twins in recent weeks. (Photo Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports)
Minnesota Twins (37-47): 6-0 win over Toronto (42-45)
RHP Mike Pelfrey returned from the DL and gave the Twins a much needed boost with 6.0 innings of 3-hit, shutout baseball. He walked three and struck out two while dropping his ERA nearly half a run (from 6.11 to 5.63).
2B Brian Dozier had a big day at the plate. He led off the game with a single, then drove in Aaron Hicks on a ground out in the 3rd and capped things off with a 3-run home run (8) in the 7th. Now 9-25 in his last six games he’s pushed his average up from 0.228 to 0.241 in the past week.
RF Chris Parmelee (2-3, BB) hit his 11th and 12th doubles of the season.
Rochester Red Wings (46-45): 3-2 win over Pawtucket (52-36)
Most of the Twins pitchers have struggled to adapt after a promotion but LHP Logan Darnell (7.0 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 4 SO) has fared reasonably well in 9.2 Triple-A innings.
The Red Wings managed just five hits off PawSox pitching but augmented that with seven walks. LF/C Chris Herrmann was 0-2 but coaxed three of those walks.
New Britain Rock Cats (43-44): 9-4 win over Portland (44-41)
RHP D.J. Baxendale (5.0 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 SO) returned from the disabled list to turn in his best Double-A start of the year.
The first four hitters in the lineup churned out eight hits, scored seven runs and drove in eight. They also had four of the team’s six doubles and both home runs. 2B Eddie Rosario (2-4, 3 R, 2B, HR, 2 RBI, BB) had the best day of the bunch but DH Josmil Pinto (2-5, R, 2B, HR, 3 RBI) wasn’t far behind.
Fort Myers Miracle (53-28): 6-3 loss to St. Lucie (44-38)
RHP Manuel Soliman (4.1 IP, 9 H, 5 ER, 2 HR, 3 BB, 0 SO) continues to struggle. His FSL ERA is now 7.94 in 17.0 IP and his ERA on the season is at 6.26 in 46.0 IP.
The middle infield led the way for the Miracle at the plate. SS Aderlin Mejia was 2-5 with a double and a run while 2B Levi Michael was 2-3 with a walk and a solo home run (3).
Cedar Rapids Kernels (52-32): 6-5 loss to Clinton (41-44)
RHP Tim Atherton (5.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 SO) made his second start of the season after 20 relief appearances. He’s allowed 6 runs in his last 20.1 innings of work (2.66 ERA).
LF J.D. Williams (2-6, R, RBI) and 1B Dalton Hicks (2-5, 2 RBI, 2 SO) had two hits each while 2B Joel Licon went 3-5 and scored a pair of runs.
RF Jonathan Murphy was held hitless but drew three walks in five plate appearances, scored twice and stole his first base with the Kernels. His four walks (8 G) with Cedar Rapids equals the number of free passes he drew in 37 games with Fort Myers.
Elizabethton Twins (12-3): 3-0 win over Bluefield (10-5)
RHP Yorman Landa allowed just one hit in 5.0 innings of shutout baseball while walking two and striking out three. It was the second straight 1-hit outing for the 19-year old who now has a 0.60 ERA, 0.73 WHIP and 18-4 SO-to-BB in 15.0 IP.
The E-Twins “O” just keeps rolling along. Collectively they went 13-38 (0.342) and everyone reached base with a hit or a walk. CF Zack Granite (2-5, R), RF Romy Jimenez (2-4, R) and 3B Javier Pimentel (2-4, 2B, RBI, SO) all had two-hit games while LF Kelvin Ortiz (3-5, 2B) did them one better.
GCL Twins (8-6): 6-5 win and 8-2 win over the GCL Red Sox (6-6)
Game 1: 2013 4th round pick LHP Stephen Gonsalves (2.0 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 3 SO) made his professional debut.
Game 2: LHP Lewis Thorpe (3.0 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 6 SO) now has a 20-2 SO-to-BB in 13.0 IP.
CF Adonis Pacheco had multi-hit effort in both games on the day (3-5 and 2-4) and wound up with 4 R, 3B, HR and 4 RBI.
DSL Twins (15-15): 6-5 win over the DSL White Sox (16-14)
RHP Ramses Herrera (3.0 IP, 3 H, 4 ER, 2 BB, 5 SO)
RHP Alexis Tapia (4.0 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 4 SO) continued what has been an exceptional first season in the organization. He now has a 1.21 ERA, 0.58 WHIP and 16-2 SO-to-BB in 22.1 innings.
2B Manuel Guzman (3-4, R, RBI, BB, SB)
LF Frank Encarnacion (2-3, R, 2 2B, RBI, BB) followed up his 3-3, 2 BB game on July 5th by reaching base three more times.
Transactions:
Promoted to Rochester: RHP A.J. Achter returns to the Red Wings for the second time in seven days. He was originally moved to Triple-A on June 30th then back down to New Britain on June 3rd.