The only Twins wins came in short-season leagues.  Kyle Gibson takes a step forward on his comeback.  Max Kepler keeps bringing the power.

SYRACUSE 6, ROCHESTER 1 IN ROCHESTER

Batting star:  Brian Dinkelman was 2-for-3 with a double, a home run (his third), and a walk.

Pitching stars:  None.

Opposition stars:  Carlos Maldonado was 2-for-4.  Tanner Roark struck out nine in seven innings, giving up one run on four hits and two walks.

Key inning:  The fifth.  In a 1-1 tie, Josh Johnson delivered a two-out, two-run double to put the Chiefs in front for good.

Other:  Brendan Wise was placed on the disabled list.  Recently signed free agent Eric Hurley will replace him on the roster.

BINGHAMTON 4, NEW BRITAIN 3 IN NEW BRITAIN

Batting stars:  Aaron Hicks and Deibinson Romero were each 1-for-3 with a double and a walk.

Pitching star:  Marty Popham struck out two in 1.1 scoreless innings, allowing a hit and a walk.

Opposition stars:  Eric Campbell was 2-for-3 with a home run and a walk.

Key inning:  The eighth.  Leading 3-1, Campbell’s homer put the Mets up 4-1.  In the bottom of the inning, Shawn Roof singled, Hicks doubled, and Joe Benson delivered a two-run double to cut the lead to 4-3 with one out.  Oswaldo Arcia followed with another double, but Benson only advanced to third.  A strikeout and a fly out ended the threat.

Other:  Binghamton starter Mark Cohoon gave up only one hit through the first six innings.

CHARLOTTE 6, FORT MYERS 5 IN FORT MYERS (11 INNINGS)

Batting stars:  Kyle Knudson was 2-for-4 with a double.  Lance Ray was 2-for-4.  Anderson Hidalgo was 2-for-5.

Pitching star:  Nelvin Fuentes allowed a run on a hit and two walks in 2.2 innings, striking out two.

Opposition stars:  Lucas Bailey was 2-for-4 with two doubles.  Alex Koronis threw two scoreless innings.

Key inning:  The eleventh.  It was a 5-5 tie.  With one out, Cody Rogers reached on an error and scored on a double by Bailey to end the game.

Other:  According to the game report, Rogers fell down twice between third and home and still was able to score from first on the double.

ELIZABETHTON 12, KINGSPORT 5 IN KINGSPORT

Batting stars:  D. J. Hicks was 3-for-5 with a double and a home run (his third), scoring three times.  Jorge Polanco was 3-for-4 with a double.  Max Kepler hit a three-run homer, his fifth.

Pitching star:  Starter Corey Kimes worked three shutout innings, giving up two hits and a walk.

Opposition stars:  Tomas Nido was 2-for-4.  Miller Diaz struck out six and walked none in four innings, allowing a run on two hits.

Key inning:  The first.  Candido Pimentel led off the game with a walk and stole second.  With two out, he was still on second.  Rory Rhodes walked and Hicks followed with a three-run homer to give the Twins an early lead.

Other:  The Twins scored ten runs in the first three innings, leading 10-0.

GCL TWINS 5, ORIOLES 4 AT TWINS (GAME 1—SCHEDULED 7 INNINGS)

Batting stars:  Kelvin Ortiz was 3-for-3.  Bryan Haar and Javier Pimentel each hit their first homer of the season.

Pitching stars:  None.

Opposition stars:  Derrick Bleeker was 2-for-3 with a triple.  Adrian Marin was 2-for-3.

Key inning:  The fifth.  The score was tied at three.  With two out and none on, Haar walked and Pimentel hit a two-run homer to give the Twins the lead.

Other:  The Orioles got the tying run into scoring position with two out in the seventh before the threat was extinguished.

GCL TWINS 6, ORIOLES 1 AT ORIOLES (GAME 2—SCHEDULED 7 INNINGS)

Batting stars:  Zach Larson was 2-for-3 with a triple.  Joel Licon was 2-for-4.

Pitching stars:  Kyle Gibson worked two perfect innings, striking out two.  Hung Yi Chen gave up two hits in two shutout innings, striking out two.

Opposition stars:  Tommy Richards was 2-for-3 with a double.  Duke Porter threw three shutout innings, allowing only two walks.

Key inning:  The fourth.  The Twins led 2-0.  Logan Wade scored on Larson’s triple.  A sacrifice fly made it 4-0.  Byron Buxton then doubled, followed by singles by Aderlin Mejia and Licon which put the Twins in front 6-0.

DSL ORIOLES 8, TWINS 4 AT ORIOLES

Batting stars:  Rafael P. Valera and Luis Gonzalez were each 2-for-4.

Pitching star:  Argenis Silva threw three shutout innings despite giving up four hits and three walks.

Opposition stars:  Victor Medina was 2-for-4 with two doubles.  Ronarsy Ledesma was 2-for-4 with a double and a triple.  Rafael Moreno struck out seven in six innings, allowing two runs (one earned) on four hits and no walks.

Key inning:  The fourth.  Trailing 2-1, the Orioles put up a six-spot.  The runs were all charged to Reudis Reyes, who was brought in to start the inning.  The inning featured two hit batsmen, three walks, a wild pitch, three singles, a double, and a triple.

TODAY’S TILTS

9:30    DSL Cubs1 at Twins
11:00  GCL Twins at Rays
11:05  Binghamton at New Britain            Zach Wheeler v. B. J. Hermsen
5:30    Fort Myers at Charlotte                Matthew Hauser v. Enny Romero
6:05    Syracuse at Rochester                 TBA v. Esmerling Vasquez
6:30    Beloit at Burlington                      TBA v. Tanner Peters