Simonitsch donates money for strikeouts

La Velle E. Neal III
Star Tribune

Class AA New Britain lefthander Errol Simonitsch held Portland to one run over seven innings while walking one and striking out seven Thursday.

The strikeouts are particularly noteworthy -- not because Simonitsch has suddenly become a power pitcher, but because it provided $70 for Strikeouts for Troops.

Simonitsch will donate $10 for every strikeout this season to the program, which provides funds for soldiers who are wounded in Iraq, Afghanistan and other locations. It also helps families visit soldiers who are being treated at military hospitals and provides clothing, food and entertainment to soldiers as they recover.

"It's nice to be able to be involved in something that's going to help the troops and help their families see them," Simonitsch, 22, said. "I couldn't ask for a better foundation to help."

Oakland pitcher Barry Zito hatched the project and has a few major leaguers -- including several teammates, Cleveland's C.C. Sabathia and Boston's Curt Schilling -- on board. Zito donates $100 per strikeout.

Simonitsch, who has the same agent as Zito, has struck out 103 batters this season for a total of $1,030 for the program. Simonitsch said he has three friends from high school serving abroad, one in Afghanistan and two who recently returned from Iraq but have to go back.

Simonitsch, a control pitcher, is 4-3 with a 4.03 ERA for New Britain after starting the season at Class A Fort Myers. He's not as highly touted as other Twins pitching prospects but is still considered to have a good chance to reach the majors.

"I can't leave the ball over the plate like at Fort Myers," he said.

Liriano impressive

This is why the Twins want to hold on to Class AAA lefthander Francisco Liriano:

On Thursday, he dominated Buffalo as Rochester won 4-1. Liriano held Buffalo to one hit and one walk over seven innings while striking out 13. He retired 14 consecutive batters at one point, nine by strikeouts.

In nine starts at Rochester, Liriano is 6-1 with a 1.62 ERA. In 61 innings, he has walked 17 and struck out 73. Include the 13 starts he made at New Britain this season, and he has 43 walks and 165 strikeouts in 137 2/3 innings.

Jim Rantz, the Twins' director of minor leagues, was asked what Liriano, 21, needs to work on.

"That's a good question," Rantz said. "He'd be a guy we would not be afraid to call on. He and [Scott] Baker have shown they are ready for the next level. But you have to have room at the inn."

Etc.

Infielder Brent Abernathy, who helped the Twins for a while before injuring his shoulder, is sidelined because of a sore heel. The organization expected to learn over the weekend whether he has a spur in the heel. Abernathy is batting .323 with six homers and 21 RBI at Rochester.

A few Twins officials, including Rantz, assistant GM Wayne Krivsky and former player Paul Molitor, are in New Britain to check on prospects.