It was a nice week away in sunny Florida, but now, it’s back to covering the Minor Leagues for a few days before shoulder surgery. While I was gone, the Yankees had a few things going on, including the promotion of standout reliever Kelvin Perez to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, the release of Russell Branyan, and seeing star prospect Manny Banuelos get shut down for the remainder of the season as a precaution.
AAA: Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre split a doubleheader with Syracuse today, losing 3-1 in the first game though winning 1-0 in the second. In the first game, Scranton scraped together just four hits, coming from Corban Joseph, Ronnier Mustelier, Fransisco Cervelli, and Darnell McDonald. The team’s lone run came on Joseph’s hit, a first inning home run. Adam Warren tossed a complete game in the loss, allowing three runs on six hits while striking out five. He fell to 6-8 on the season.
In the second game, Chase Whitley got the start in a “bullpen” game. Whitley went four shutout innings, allowing two hits and striking out four. After Whitley left, Manny Delcarmen and Juan Cedeno combined for three more shutout innings to secure the victory. The lone run of the game came from Corban Joseph, who hit his tenth home run of the season and second of the evening in the third inning. Despite Scranton/Wilkes-Barre going 2-for-4 with runners in scoring position, they would leave six men on base, limiting themselves to just the one run on the evening.
AA: Trenton Thunder
Zoilo Almonte contributed a 2-for-4 performance which included his 18th home run of the season and drove in all three of Trenton’s runs, but it wasn’t enough and the Thunder fell to Altoona 8-3. The loss marked the first time that Trenton has been swept this season. David Adams and J.R. Murphy both had multi-hit games in the loss. Dellin Betances’ struggles this season continued, as he was torched for eight runs on ten hits and three walks in just four-plus innings of work. With his latest poor performance, Betances saw his ERA since his demotion balloon to 5.36, and he no longer looks like an option to be considered a starting pitching prospect. After Betances was removed in the fifth, Trenton relievers allowed just two hits the rest of the way.
High-A: Tampa Yankees
Nik Turley struggled with his command tonight as the Yankees fell short, losing to Brevard County 3-2. Over five innings of work, Turley allowed three runs on just two hits, but the six walks he issued would make all the difference. Turley has struggled from time to time with his command this season, as this is the third time since the beginning of July that he has issued at least four walks. Turley’s control struggles, coupled with a lack of offense, ultimately did the Yankees in. Only 2B Jose Toussen was able to string together multiple hits on the night, and also had the team’s only extra-base hit. Slade Heathcott and Gary Sanchez, with one hit a piece, each had an RBI.
