AAA: Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees
Kevin Russo hit a double into center field in the 13th inning, scoring Darnell McDonald and giving the Yankees a 5-4 victory over the Lehigh Valley IronPigs. Russo, the clear offensive hero on the night, reached base in five of six trips to the plate, which included two hits and three walks. The Yankees also saw home runs fly off the bats of Austin Romine – his second – and Melky Mesa – his seventh since his promotion less than a month ago. Lehigh Valley did all their damage early on, stringing together singles in the first inning and scoring four runs off Scranton/Wilkes-Barre starter Adam Warren. The Yankees’ starter allowed those four runs on eight hits in 6.2 innings, but did not factor into the decision. Instead, Preston Claiborne would improve his record to 4-0 by tossing two scoreless innings. Chase Whitley would follow Claiborne, tossing a perfect 13th inning and earning his first save of the season. The win now drops Scranton/Wilkes-Barre’s magic number to one game.
AA: Trenton Thunder
Trenton fell to New Britain by a score of 8-1 tonight, as Craig Heyer was bombed in a spot start. Heyer allowed seven runs on seven hits in 2.1 innings pitched as he saw his ERA balloon to 6.40 for the season. The loss was Heyer’s fifth of the season. After he left, Trenton’s bullpen would combine to allow just one run on four hits the rest of the way, but the Thunder couldn’t overcome the early deficit. Pedro Feliciano, who made his first rehab appearance with the Thunder tonight, tossed an inning out of the bullpen, allowing just a walk while striking out two batters. Offensively, they couldn’t get much going against New Britain pitcher Luke French, who tossed a complete game three-hitter. The only damage from the Thunder came in the fifth inning, when Kevin Mahoney took French deep to right field for his 11th home run of the season. Luke Murton and Adonis Garcia were the only other Trenton batters to get a hit on the night. Garcia has been hot lately at the plate, as he’s 7-for-19 in his last four games.
High-A: Tampa Yankees
Tampa’s game against Dunedin was cancelled on Monday due to Tropical Storm Issac.
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