Minor League Recap - 4/23

We normally start our recap from Triple 'A' and work our way down. But today we start from the bottom, because the Charleston River Dogs are tops.

The River Dogs are tearing up the Class 'A' South Atlantic League with a 16-3 record. They picked up that 16th win yesterday with a 6-3 win over the Savannah Sand Gnats.

Jesus Montero is still just 18 years old, but there's plenty of buzz about the catcher that the Yankees signed as a 16-year old free agent. It remains to be seen if Montero will continue to be a catcher as he grows, he's already 6'4", 225 lbs, but the kid's bat is alive. After a 3-hit day in yesterday's win, he's batting .373/.566/.972. He also belted his 3rd home run in the game and has 16 RBI and 17 runs scored. He's also six multiple hit games in his last 10 games.

Montero is splitting time at catcher with Austin Romine, who the Yankees took in the 2nd round of the 2007 amateur draft. Though he went for the collar on Tuesday, Romine is hitting .351. And even though he's right-handed, he's hitting .472 against right-handed pitching.

Along with the P.J. Pilittere, Francisco Cervelli, and Kyle Anson, the Yankees finally have some future catchers to look forward too.

The Clearwater Threshers scored the tying run off Mark Melancon in the 8th, but the Tampa Yankees scored 2 runs in the 11th and held off another Threshers rally to take a 4-3 win in 11 innings. Damon Sublett got the rally going with a 1-out triple. Edwar Gonzalez hit a pair of home runs in the game for the Yankees.

The Thunder blew a 9th inning 1-run lead, but scored 5 times in the 13th inning for an 8-3 win over the Binghamton Mets. Austin Jackson was 3-7 and delivered a big 2-run single in the 13th. Jose Tabata has been dropped from 3rd to 6th in the batting order. Jason Jones allowed 2 runs in 7 innings in a fine start for the Trenton.

Scranton was the only Yankees team, major or minor, that couldn't pull out a win yesterday. Jeff Marquez pitched well, but the Buffalo Bisons pulled out a 4-2 win. Nick Green homered, and Juan Miranda and Eric Duncan had 2 hits each. Duncan, who also had 2 walks, has gone 5-11 to get his average back up to .262.

And if you're in the Charleston area this evening, it's Karaoke night at the ball park. ;)