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The Melk-man delivers in the 11th inning with a game-winning home run (Photo Credit: SWB Yankees)

Minors Wrap-Up: Mesa Blasts Game-Winning Home Run in 11th

The Melk-man delivers in the 11th inning with a game-winning home run (Photo Credit: SWB Yankees)

AAA: Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees
Melky Mesa led off the 11th inning with a blast to right-center field, giving the Yankees a 4-3 lead, and a few minutes later, a victory for the eighth straight time as they hit their longest winning streak since August of 2010. This comes after Buffalo had jumped out to an early 1-0 lead before Corban Joseph brought home Chris Dickerson on a third-inning single. Joseph and Dickerson were arguably the other two stars at the plate, with each recording two hits. Joseph brought home most of the team’s runs, with three RBIs on the night. For Dickerson, it was two doubles and two runs scored which contributed to his big night. On the mound, Mike O’Connor turned in a quality start, going six innings while allowing just three runs. After he left, Manny Delcarmen and Cory Wade combined to shut Buffalo out for the last five innings, with Wade earning the victory.

AA: Trenton Thunder
Vidal Nuno combined with Mark Montgomery and Ryan Pope on a shutout Thursday night, which allowed Nuno to improve to 8-5 on the year. Nuno allowed just four hits while striking out three Akron hitters. Montgomery, promoted in July from Tampa, continued his dominant run through the Eastern League by striking out three in two hitless innings. At the plate, Zoilo Almonte had a huge night for the Thunder, going 3-for-4 with a double and a pair of runs scored. J.R. Murphy also continued his recent hot streak with a 2-for-4 evening. He’s now hitting .294 in his past ten games.

High-A: Tampa Yankees
Tampa jumped out to an early lead on Thursday, but a five-run 4th inning by Dunedin would be enough to saddle the Yankees with a 9-5 loss. Matt Tracy, who has struggled of late for Tampa, took the loss after allowing seven runs (two earned) in 3 2/3 innings as he exhibited control problems again. Jeremy Bleich continued his solid return from shoulder surgery as a reliever with another 2 1/3 shutout innings. Offensively, leadoff man Ramon Flores was the catalyst for Tampa’s offense, reaching base all five times he came to the plate, including a pair of doubles and a pair of runs scored. Slade Heathcott and Kyle Roller also had multiple hits on the day, with each contributing an RBI as well. Roller is now fourth in the Florida State League with 81 RBIs.

Low-A: Charleston RiverDogs
Rob Refsnyder was unquestionably the star of the game for the RiverDogs, with a game-tying home run in the 9th inning and the eventual game-winner in the 11th, as he boosted Charleston to a 10-9 victory. Refsnyder, 3-for-5 with a steal on the day, came around to score four times. The heart of the order had a big day as well, with Ben Gamel going 3-for-6 with an RBI, Saxon Butler going 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBIs, and Dante Bichette going 3-for-6 with a pair of RBIs for the RiverDogs. Brett Gerritse had started for Charleston, allowing three runs over five innings of work before the bullpen disaster began. After two shutout innings by Dan Mahoney, Fred Lewis proceeded to allow five runs (three earned) while recording just one out. Fortunately for the RiverDogs, the Refsnyder home runs would allow them to overcome Lewis’ performance.