Category Archives: Keeping Track

Solar Sox Summary

Mesa scored two in the fifth to put away a 4-1 victory over Scottsdale in Mesa.  The Solar Sox scored in the first and led all the way.

Robbie Grossman (Pittsburgh) singled and homered, driving in three to lead Mesa.  Aaron Hicks was 1-for-3 with a double and scored a run.  Brian Dozier had a rough day, going 0-for-4 and striking out three times.  Gerrit Cole (Pittsburgh) got the win with three shutout innings, giving up two hits and a walk.  Two Twins pitchers closed out the game, with Brett Jacobson allowing a hit and a walk in a scoreless eighth and Bruce Pugh working a perfect ninth to get the save.

The Scorpions had only four hits.  Tyson Gillies (Philadelphia--he's Gillies of the Phillies) hit a home run for the lone Scottsdale run.  Starter Daryl Maday (San Francisco) took the loss, giving up two runs on four hits in four innings.

The Solar Sox host Phoenix this afternoon.

Tigres Tales

Margarita scored four in the fifth, turning a 3-2 Aragua lead into a 6-3 Bravos victory in Margarita.

Alberto Gonzalez (San Diego) singled and homered to lead the Bravos.  Max Ramirez (San Francisco) singled and doubled, and Collin Cowgill (Arizona) had two hits.  Marcel Prado worked three innings of shutout relief, allowing only two walks, to get the win.  Ronald Belisario struck out two in a perfect ninth to get the save.

The Tigres were led by Edgardo Alfonzo, who had two hits.  Yorman Bazardo surrendered four runs on six hits in just one inning to take the loss.

Around the league, Jairo Perez was 1-for-3 with a run scored and Rene Tosoni was 0-for-4 with a run scored as Lara defeated Zulia 7-3.  In games in which no Twins appeared, Magallanes defeated La Guaira 13-4 and Caracas beat Anzoategui 12-3.

Aragua hosts La Guaira tonight.

Solar Sox Summary

Mesa scored four in the seventh to tie the game at four, then tallied twice in the ninth to defeat Scottsdale 6-5.

Michael Blanke and Aaron Hicks each hit a two run homer in the seventh inning.  Each also contributed a double and went 2-for-4, with Hicks scoring twice.  Junior Lake (Cubs) singled and tripled and Tyler Saladino (White Sox) had two hits.  Chris Carpenter (Cubs) got the win in relief, allowing a run on a hit in one inning.  Brandon Kloess (White Sox) struck out two in a perfect ninth for the save.  Bruce Pugh gave up a hit and a walk, but no runs, in 1.1 innings, striking out two.

Scottsdale was led by Derek Norris (Washington), who had two singles and a home run.  Starter Chris Scholl (Angels) struck out five in five shutout innings, giving up four hits and a walk.  The loss went to B. J. Rosenberg (Philadelphia), who allowed two runs on four hits and a walk in two innings.

Mesa hosts Scottsdale this afternoon.

Happy Birthday–October 20

Jigger Statz (1897)
Judy Johnson (1900)
Bruce Campbell (1909)
Mickey Mantle (1931)
Juan Marichal (1937)
Dave Collins (1952)
Keith Hernandez (1953)
Jerry Meals (1961)
Rudy Seanez (1968)
Juan Gonzalez (1969)

It appears that no players associated with the Twins were born on this day. However, that list contains some pretty good ones.

We also want to wish a very happy birthday to Greek House.

We would also like to wish a very happy birthday to freealonzo’s mother.

Tigres Tales

Aragua scored two in the sixth to take a 2-1 win over Margarita in Margarita.

Lastings Milledge and Luis Hernandez each had two hits.  Sergio Perez (Houston) went five innings, giving up a run on two hits and a walk to get the win.  Jose Rada (St. Louis) struck out five in 2.1 perfect innings.  The save went to Victor Moreno, who retired the only man he faced.

The Bravos were led by Frank Diaz, who had two hits.  Yusmeiro Petit took the loss, giving up two unearned runs on six hits and a walk in 5.1 innings.

Around the league, Rene Tosoni was 1-for-4 and Jairo Perez was 0-for-3 with a walk and a run as Lara defeated Zulia 5-0.  Deolis Guerra pitched 1.2 innings for Magallanes, giving up a run on three hits and a walk while striking out two in 1.2 innings as Magallanes lost to La Guaira 6-5 in 11 innings.

Aragua travels to Margarita tonight.

Solar Sox Summary

Mesa led 7-3 after six, but surrendered five in the seventh and four in the eighth, falling to Salt River 12-9 in Salt River.

Salt River was led by Nolar Arenado (Colorado), who had four hits including a home run and drove in four.  Adam Eaton (Arizona) had a pair of doubles and scored three times.  Rob Brantly (Detroit) singled and doubled.  Hernan Perez (Detroit) had two hits to drive in three runs, and Jake Goebbert (Houston) hit a home run.  Josh Wall (Dodgers) got the win despite allowing a run on two hits and a walk in one inning.

Aaron Hicks led the way for the Solar Sox, going 3-for-5 with a single, a triple, and a home run, scoring twice and driving in two.  Xavier Avery (Baltimore) had two singles and a triple.  Robbie Grossman (Pittsburgh) and Jarek Cunningham (Pittsburgh) each had two hits.  Chris Herrmann was 1-for-4 with a walk, scoring once, and Brian Dozier was 0-for-3 but walked twice, scored a run, and drove in a run.  The loss went to Marcus Hatley (Cubs, who yielded five runs on six hits in one inning.  Dakota Watts gave up a hit and a walk, but no runs, in two-thirds of an inning.

Mesa travels to Scottsdale this afternoon.

Happy Birthday–October 19

Mordecai Brown (1876)
Fred Snodgrass (1887)
Bob O'Farrell (1896)
Al Brazle (1913)
Walt Bond (1937)
Sandy Alomar (1943)
Al Gallagher (1945)
David Palmer (1957)
Mark Davis (1960)
Tim Belcher (1961)
Dave Veres (1966)
Keith Foulke (1972)
Horacio Estrada (1975)
Michael Young (1976)
Randy Ruiz (1977)

The Twins chose Tim Belcher with the first pick of the 1983 draft, but he did not sign.

Continue reading Happy Birthday–October 19

Venezuelan View

We started this season following Aragua, which is the team we've followed the last few years.  Upon further review, however, it appears that there are several Twins players on other teams in the Venezuelan league as well.  We'll continue to follow the Tigres, simply because it's fun to have a team to follow, but we'll try to make the reports a little more comprehensive in the days to come.

Where they stand:  Aragua is 3-2, tied for third with Caracas in the VWL, a game behind Magallanes and La Guaira.

Who's hot:  Jairo Perez is 4-for-6 with a double and a walk for Lara, giving him numbers of .667/.714/.833.  Many observers do not expect him to keep up this pace for a full season.  Rene Tosoni, also playing for Lara, is 4-for-13, giving him numbers of .308/.438/.308.  Andrew Baldwin, playing for Anzoategui, is 1-0, 3.18, 0.53 WHIP in 5.2 innings (1 start).  Cesar Ciurcina is 0-0, 0.00, 0.43 in 2.1 innings (1 appearance). 

Who's cold:  Joe Benson is 2-for-16, giving him numbers of .125/.300/.188.  Junior Subero, playing for Caracas, is 0-0, 9.00, 3.00 WHIP in 1 inning (1 appearance).

Who's in the middle:  Deolis Guerra is 0-0, 4.50, 1.00 WHIP in 2 innings (1 appearance) for Magallanes.  Pedro Guerra, also playing for Magallanes, is 0-0, 4.50, 1.25 WHIP in 4 innings (1 start).

Solar Sox Summary

Mesa scored four in the third and five in the fifth, building a 12-1 lead on the way to a 13-7 victory.

Jarek Cunningham (Pittsburgh) led the Solar Sox with two home runs and a triple, scoring three times and driving in five.  Joe Mahoney (Baltimore) had two doubles and a home run, driving in three.  Robbie Grossman (Pittsburgh) singled and homered, and Brian Dozier had two hits.  Terry Doyle (White Sox) got the win, going five innings and giving up a run on a hit and a walk.  Brett Jacobson worked 1.1 scoreless innings, walking two and striking out two.

The Rafters were led by Nolan Aranado (Colorado), who had two singles and a homer and drove in three.  Dixon Machado (Detroit) singled and tripled.  Stephen Fife (Dodgers) surrendered seven runs on seven hits and two walks in only three innings to take the loss.

Mesa travels to Salt River this afternoon.