On the Pond Daily (7/9): Positive Signs from Gibson

On July 9th, 2013 only five of the eight teams in the Twins system were in action and of those, only Fort Myers managed a victory. If you’re looking for a silver lining … three of the four losses came in games decided by a single run.

Mauer hit his 27th double of the season on Monday. (Photo Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports)

Minnesota Twins (37-50): 4-1 loss to Tampa Bay (51-40)

Making his third start since being called up, RHP Kyle Gibson (6.0 IP, 4 H, 4 ER, 4 BB, 3 SO) allowed fewer hits than innings pitched for the first time. Of course that was offset by the four walks he issued after walking just one batter in his previous 11.1 innings. Six of the eight batters that reached base did so in the 4th inning and it was in that same inning that the Rays scored all their runs. Gibson sent Tampa down 1-2-3 in the first three innings of the game and did so again in his 6th and final inning. In the 5th he faced just four batters. While the stat line doesn’t reflect it, this was in many ways Gibson’s best start since being called up and there were plenty of positives for him to build on moving forward.

The bats weren’t able to support their rookie starter. Joe Mauer had two of the team’s five hits in the game and his 27th double of the season was the only on that went for extra bases. Nary a walk was to be found though Aaron Hicks and Brian Dozier did reach after each got hit by a pitch.

Rochester Red Wings (47-47): 8-7 loss to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (46-46)

LHP Pedro Hernandez (6.0 IP, 10 H, 7 ER, 2 HR, 1 BB, 5 SO) had his worst Triple-A start of the season on Monday.

1B Chris Colabello (3-4, R, HR, 2 RBI, BB, SO) and 2B James Beresford (3-4, 2 R, SB) had 3-hit days. SS Ray Olmedo (2-4, SO) hit a three run homer in the 2nd inning – his first of the season – and also added his 10th double.

New Britain Rock Cats (44-45): Eastern League All-Star Break

Fort Myers Miracle (55-29): 5-2 win over Jupiter (43-43)

RHP Tyler Duffey (6.0 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 5 SO) followed up his best start since advancing to the FSL with a solid effort on Monday. Now six starts into his time with Fort Myers it appears he’s adapting to the level with a 1.38 ERA and 0.85 WHIP in the month of July (13.0 IP).

Seven members of the Miracle lineup had a hit in the game. DH Lance Ray went 2-3 with a 2-run HR while CF Byron Buxton (1-3, 2 SO) hit his first FSL triple, drew a walk and stole a base.

Cedar Rapids Kernels (53-33): Scheduled Off Day

Elizabethton Twins (12-6): 5-4 loss to Burlington (11-7)

2013 17th round pick RHP Tanner Mendonca‘s (4.0 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 4 BB, 2 SO) third start was the worst of his brief career.

2013 2nd round selection RHP Ryan Eades (1.0, 2 H, o ER, 0 BB, 1 SO) made his professional debut with his team trailing 5-2.

RF Dereck Rodriguez hit his first Appy League home run – a solo shot – in the 4th inning while SS Ryan Walker and Rory Rhodes each hit a double and single.

GCL Twins (9-7): 3-2 loss to the GCL Rays (6-9)

RHP Fernando Romero (4.0 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 3 SO)

CF Jason Kanzler (1-2, 2 R, HR, RBI, 3 BB, SO, SB)

LF Zach Larson (2-2, 2B, RBI, 2 BB, SB)

DSL Twins (16-16): Scheduled Off Day

Transactions:

Released by Elizabethton: LHP Luis Nunez (21) – had pitched 5.0 innings of shutout baseball for the E-Twins with an 8-3 SO-to-BB this season. Since making his debut with the DSL Twins as a 17-year old in 2009, he had logged 135.2 innings with a 2.99 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 55 BB and 149 SO.

Activated from the 7-day DL by Elizabethton: RHP Charles Irby (21) – pitched a scoreless inning of relief (with a walk and two strikeouts) in his professional debut the other day. Irby was the team’s 10th round pick out of Samford University.

Released by Cedar Rapids: RHP Kaleb Merck (23) – Minnesota’s 33rd round selection in the 2012 draft, he had a 7.50 ERA and 1.58 WHIP in 12.0 innings for the Kernels. He pitched for Elizabethton last season after signing and in 24.1 innings of relief allowed 24 hits, 11 earned runs and six walks while striking out 28.