MiLB Notes 8-18-08

Talk about an easy writing night for me. The Twins top two Minor League affiliates had the night off while High A Fort Myers was rained out at Sarasota. But the Snappers did manage to play their game against Cedar Rapids, falling for the second time in as many nights. Twenty four year old righty Esmerlin Jimenez got the start for the Kernels and pitched seven good innings allowing just one run while scattering seven hits and five walks. He was followed for an inning by twenty three year old reliever Tim Keily who pitched one inning allowing no hits or walks while striking out one. He's having a strong year for them out of the pen. Twenety one year old first baseman Gabriel Jacobo is also putting together a fine season and he went 2-4 with a triple. New Britain ran out Dave Bromberg who actually pitched a pretty solid game, allowing just two runs (one earned) in six innings of work while allowing just four hits and four walks while wiffing seven. Things fell apart for the Snappers however when Chris Anderson took over in relief as he yielded six runs (five earned) in just 1.1 innings of work on eight hits and a walk. Not a good night. Offensively the Snappers were again paced by Ben Revere and catcher Greg Yersich for a second straight evening. Each had a pair of singes.

The E-Twins had yet another dominant offensive performance, shelling the Princeton [Devil] Rays for 16 runs. had this game been played during the Little League World Series, the game would've been done after four innings due to the 10-run rule. It's going to take awhile, but I'm going to try and run down all of the noteworthy offensive performances... Leading off the second baseman Dominic De La Osa went 2-5 with a double and a walk. One spot behind him in the order Nathan Hanson went 2-5 as well with a walk. Hitting third and fourth in the order were first baseman Jonathan Waltenbury, and left fielder Evan Bigley who went 3-6 and 2-5 respectively. Waltenbury doubled while Bigley hit a pair of homeruns and drew a walk. Nineteen year old catcher Daniel Rams then went 2-5 with a walk to carry the back half of the lineup. Everyone in the lineup not named Angel Morales however, had at least one hit. On the mound 21 year old righty Bobby Lanigan pitched a great game, tossing six scoreless innings with just three hits allowed, no walks, and seven strikeouts.

Down in the GCL Aaron Hicks hit his fourth homerun of the season while going 1-3 with a walk. Right fielder Daniel Ortiz, designated hitter Michael Gonzalez, and shortstop Juan Sanchez each had two hits apiece. On the mound twenty year old southpaw Jean Mijares pitched six solid innings, allowing just two runs on five hits and a walk. He struck out eight.

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