Category Archives: Keeping Track

Keeping Track

Venezuelan View

Zulia 4, Aragua 3 in Zulia.  The Aguilas scored three in the fourth to overcome a 3-1 Tigres lead.  Darin Mastroianni (Toronto) had three hits to lead Zulia, while Freddy Galvis (Philadelphia) drove in three.  Moises Melendez retired both men he faced to get the win and Arcenio Leon (Houston) gave up just a walk in the ninth to get the save.  Lastings Milledge doubled and singled to lead Aragua.  Joe Benson was 0-for-3.  Victor Moreno took the loss, allowing two runs on two hits and a walk in two-thirds of an inning.

In games not involving Twins players, Magallanes defeated Lara 4-1, La Guaira edged Caracas 7-6, and Margarita easily beat Anzoategui 11-3.

In other Twins news, we note that Rene Rivera has been playing for Licey in the Dominican League.  He is currently 5-for-12 (.417).

In the Venezuelan League tonight, La Guaira is at Lara, Caracas is at Aragua, and Margarita travels to Magallanes.

Keeping Track

Solar Sox Summary

For the second straight day, Mesa lost a game late, as the Desert Dogs scored four in the eighth to defeat the Solar Sox 11-8 in Phoenix.

Grant Green (Oakland) doubled, tripled, and homered, driving in three to lead the Desert Dogs.  Chad Huffman (Cleveland) singled, doubled, and hit a grand slam in the eighth, driving in five.  Brodie Greene (Cincinnati) had three hits.  Cory Burns (Cleveland) pitched a scoreless eighth to get the win, and Brad Boxberger (Cincinnati) worked a scoreless ninth for the save

For the Solar Sox, Brian Dozier, Brandon Short (White Sox), and Josh Vitters (Cubs) each singled and doubled.  For the game, Dozier was 2-for-5 with two runs.  Xavier Avery (Baltimore) also had two hits.  Chris Herrmann pinch-hit and was 0-for-1,  Bruce Pugh allowed two runs (one earned) on two hits and two walks with two strikeouts in 1.1 innings.  The loss went to Brandon Kloess (White Sox), who surrendered the eighth-inning grand slam, giving up three hits and a walk.

Mesa hosts Phoenix this afternoon.

Keeping Track

Venezuelan View

Zulia 5, Aragua 3 in Zulia.  The Aguilas built a 5-0 lead after six innings.  Darin Mastroianni singled and doubled for Zulia, scoring twice.  Dwayne Pollock gave up three runs on four hits and three walks in six innings to get the win.  Edgardo Alfonzo had two hits to lead the Tigres.  Joe Benson was 1-for-3 and drove in a run.  Cesar Ciurcina pitched 1.2 scoreless innings, giving up just one hit.  Darin Downs (Florida) took the loss, allowing four runs (three earned) on six hits and a walk in 4.2 innings.

In Venezuelan action not involving Twins players, Caracas overwhelmed La Guaira 14-4, Lara defeated Magallanes 5-3, and Anzoategui edged Margarita 1-0.

In other Caribbean action involving Twins players, Estarlin de los Santos made his debut for Cibao in the Dominican League.  He was used as a pinch-hitter and laid down a successful sacrifice bunt as Cibao lost to Escogido 3-2.  Gonzalo Sanudo made his debut for Culiacan in the Mexican League.  He pitched a scoreless ninth inning, giving up only a walk, as Culiacan lost to Mazatlan 10-4.

In today's Venezuelan League action, Aragua is at Zulia, Lara visits Magallanes, Caracas travels to La Guaira, and Caribes is at Margarita.

Keeping Track

Solar Sox Summary

Surprise scored two in the bottom of the ninth to knock off Mesa 7-5.

Kevin Mattison (Florida) and his awesome mustache hit a two-run homer to win the game.  Mattison also tripled and had three RBIs.  Christian Betancourt (Atlanta) had three hits including a home run, Tim Beckham (Tampa Bay) doubled and homered, and Joe Terdoslavich (Atlanta) also hit a home run.  Alejandro Ramos (Florida) worked 1.1 scoreless innings to get the win.

Robbie Grossman (Florida) led Mesa with three hits.  Joe Mahoney (Baltimore) singled and homered, and Xavier Avery (Baltimore) had two hits.  Chris Herrmann was 1-for-3 with a walk and a run.  Sean Gleason (Baltimore) allowed the two-run ninth-inning homer in his second inning of work.

Mesa is at Pheonix this afternoon.

Keeping Track

Happy Birthday–November 2

Dutch Zwilling (1888)
Travis Jackson (1903)
Chief Hogsett (1903)
Johnny Vander Meer (1914)
Al Campanis (1916)
Ron Reed (1942)
Tom Paciorek (1946)
Scott Boras (1952)
Paul Hartzell (1953)
Greg Harris (1955)
Willie McGee (1958)
Sam Horn (1963)
Orlando Merced (1966)
Travis Miller (1972)
Orlando Cabrera (1974)
Sidney Ponson (1976)

Dutch Zwilling holds the record for last major leaguer in alphabetical order.

Continue reading Happy Birthday–November 2 →

Keeping Track

Weekly Winterball Whiparound

Who's hot:  Andrew Baldwin (Anzoategui) is 2-0, 2.41, 0.86 WHIP in 18.2 innings (3 starts).  Pedro Guerra (Magallanes) is 0-0, 2.57, 0.71 WHIP with 1 walk and 7 strikeouts in 7 innings (3 appearances, 1 start).

Who's in the middle:  Joe Benson (Aragua) is hitting .238/.396/.429 in 42 at-bats.  Deolis Guerra (Magallanes) is 1-0, 3.38, 1.69 WHIP with 7 strikeouts in 5.2 innings (4 appearances). 

Who's cold:  Jairo Perez (Lara) is hitting .231/.375/.269 in 26 at-bats.  Rene Tosoni (Lara) is hitting .195/.283/.195 in 41 at-bats.

Who's barely played:  Oswaldo Arcia (Aragua) is 0-for-2.  Josmil Pinto (Aragua) has appeared in two games, walked once, and has yet to get an official at-bat.  Cesar Ciurcina (Aragua) is 0-0, 0.00, 0.30 WHIP in 3.1 innings (2 appearances).  Manuel Soliman (Escogido, Dominican League) is 0-0, 0.00, 2.00 WHIP in 1 inning.  Junior Subero (Caracas) is 0-0, 9.00, 3.00 WHIP in 1 inning.

Venezuelan standings:  Magallanes leads Caribes and La Guaira by a game and a half.  Aragua and Caracas are tied for fourth, two and a half back.  Zulia and Lara are tied for sixth, six and a half out.  Margarita is last, seven games behind.

Schedule:  Today Aragua is at Zulia, La Guaira is at Caracas, Magallanes is at Lara, and Anzoategui is at Margarita.

Keeping Track

Solar Sox Summary

Mesa scored two in the eighth to defeat Phoenix 3-1 in Phoenix.

Joe Mahoney (Baltimore) had two of the five Solar Sox hits.  Brian Dozier was 1-for-4 with a double, driving in two.  Aaron Hicks was 0-for-4.  Brett Jacobson got the win, working a scoreless seventh despite giving up a hit and two walks.  Dakota Watts got a two-inning save, allowing no baserunners.

The only Desert Dogs run came on a homer by Runnier Mustelier (Yankees).  The loss went to Dan Burawa (Yankees), who allowed two runs on two hits and a walk.

Mesa travels to Surprise this afternoon.

Keeping Track

Happy Birthday–November 1

9 Comments

Joe Battin (1852)
Bid McPhee (1859)
Larry French (1907)
Pat Mullin (1917)
Vic Power (1927)
Jim Kennedy (1946)
Miguel Dilone (1954)
Gary Redus (1956)
Fernando Valenzuela (1960)
Eddie Williams (1964)
Bob Wells (1966)
Ryan Glynn (1974)
Cleatus Davidson (1976)
Coco Crisp (1979)
Steven Tolleson (1983)

This is also the birthday of Twins’ farmhand Alex Wimmers (1988).

Continue reading Happy Birthday–November 1 →

Keeping Track

Venezuelan View

Aragua 4, La Guaira 0 in La Guaira.  The Tigres scored single runs in four innings.  Alex Romero (Florida) led the offense with a triple and a home run.  Joe Benson was 1-for-4 with a triple, scoring once.  Deunte Heath (White Sox) worked five shutout innings, giving up three hits and four walks, to get the win.  Victor Moreno got the save with 1.1 scoreless innings despite giving up two hits and a walk.

No other Twins played yesterday.  Anzoategui shutout Lara 2-0, Caracas blanked Magallanes 5-0, and Zulia defeated Margarita 4-1.

The VWL takes Monday off.  In Tuesday's action, Aragua is at Zulia, La Guaira is at Caracas, Magallanes travels to Lara, and Anzoategui is at Margarita.