Yankees Win and Lose Nightly

The Yankees had a huge 7-5 win Tuesday night over the Baltimore Orioles after stumbling over themselves in a loss on Monday. This is 2013 though and anything good or bad that the Yankees do seems to come at a price.

Three different Yankees had to leave the game with varying degrees of injury. The one that will have the biggest impact on the pennant race is the sore right triceps of Ivan Nova. The August pitcher of the month was as hot as any pitcher in baseball until he lasted just four innings against Boston nearly a week ago and left after six innings and a low pitch count last night due to the discomfort that visits his right arm now and then.

With a pitching staff already reeling due to a combination of ineffectiveness, injury, and fatigue, the Yankees cannot afford to lose Nova. His next scheduled start is against the Red Sox in Fenway Park Sunday night. He told reporters he wants to pitch, but his status will be unknown for the next two or three days.

The Yankees will most certainly need to add another catcher to the roster after Austin Romine left the game with an apparent concussion. The rookie took a foul ball off his mask and stayed in the game momentarily despite being dazed. Fellow rookie J.R. Murphy took his place in the game since Chris Stewart was removed earlier in the evening.

A logical choice for addition to the roster would be veteran Bobby Wilson, formerly of the Angeles organization, who played in 66 games for the Scranton RailRiders this season. (Scranton also has Jose Gil on their roster, but he has no Major League experience.) The Yankees would have to make room on their 40-man roster for any catcher, which could mean Romine gets put on the 60-day DL. They could also designate one of their lesser relievers for assignment.

Alex Rodriguez, whose been swinging a hot bat, ripped a double in the 8th and scored on Robinson Cano's single, but felt his left hamstring grab as he chugged home. Joe Girardi took him out as a precaution and the third baseman didn't think it was anything major.

With Boone Logan out indefinitely due to an achy elbow, the Yankees added journeyman Mike Zagurski before the game. The 30-year old left-hander had signed with the Yankees back in August, was granted free agency and signed with Oakland, and was granted free agency again on September 2nd. He threw six games for the Pittsburgh Pirates in May and June.

Zagurski threw 45 of his 88 big league games as a member of the Diamondbacks last season and has averaged a strikeout per inning. However, his career WHIP is in excess of 1.7.

After the game, the Yankees bolstered the shortstop position by picking up Brendan Ryan from Seattle for a player to be named later. Outfielder Zoilo Almonte was activated from the DL on Monday.

The current roster shows the Yankees carrying 18 pitchers, though the status of Nova, Logan, and David Robertson are currently up in the air. There are three catchers with Romine's status on hold, and eight infielders with Derek Jeter and A-Rod banged up.

Somehow the Yankees enter Wednesday's play two games behind Tampa Bay in the AL wild card race.

Shortstops and Catchers and Pitchers, Oh My

We're a week away from the Major League Baseball All-Star game, which means the Yankees need to get moving. If you have watched the majority of games this season you know that run support is not easy to come by for a team nicknamed the "Bronx Bombers". There's not a whole lot of punch in the lineup due to injuries, players that are much closer to the end of their careers than the beginning, and a lot of kids who are still wet behind the ears.

A huge boost may be on its way from Scranton this weekend, though it will be more likely as soon as the players regroup from their All-Star hiatus. Either way, Derek Jeter is getting closer to a return to the number one or two spot in the Yankees' batting order.

No one knows how he will hit, field, or run. You can only look at how he's currently moving and reacting on the baseball field, and how he feels the next day...which he will never honestly tell you. I can tell you that Jeter's return to the lineup will give a big morale boost to his teammates.

Jeter has the same pull as a prior Yankees captain, Don Mattingly. Players played harder for Mattingly and felt they were letting him down if they didn't contribute to the team's success. Mattingly only made one playoff appearance in his career, but still commanded respect throughout the clubhouse. Jeter commands that same respect and he has five World Series rings to back it up.

Jeter will primarily play shortstop and will DH on those days he needs a partial rest. Eduardo Nunez, if he can stay healthy, will back him up when needed.

Brian Cashman has to do some other things to strengthen this team, even if he doesn't want to spend much to do it. Austin Romine has always possessed the ability to play defense and control a pitching staff at the Major League level. However, his hitting is another matter.  Romine has had some decent minor league seasons, but his slash line in 68 at-bats with the big club is .132/.145/.176.  It's time for Romine to return to the minors and for Cashman to get another catcher to share time with Chris Stewart.

With Francisco Cervelli sidelined indefinitely with a "stress reaction" to an old elbow injury and the lineup's failure to produce runs, getting another Major League level catcher with some life in his bat is an imperative. Cashman will have to look outside the Yankees organization for an upgrade. (Scranton presently has three catchers- 23-year old John Murphy, who has only 20 games experience at the Triple-A level, veteran Bobby Wilson and his .199 batting average, and unknown Jeff Farnham, who has a meager .585 OPS in 14 games after a .504 OPS in 10 games at Trenton.)

So who might be available? (Please stop calling in to radio shows and saying John Buck.)

Ramon Hernandez: The 37-year old's better days are behind him and was released earlier this year by the LA Dodgers. He was signed to a minor league contract by the Toronto Blue Jays at the end of June and has just two hits in 19 at-bats at Triple-A. However, he had a .728 OPS with the Dodgers before he was shown the door.

Miguel Olivo: Made news in mid-June when he blasted his employers, the Florida Marlins, for not sending him elsewhere. The team placed him on the restricted list after he complained about his lack of playing time for the nth time. He's a week away from his 35th birthday, but Olivo averaged 17 home runs over the last four seasons.

Dioner Navarro: Yes, the one and same catcher who appeared in five games for the Yankees as a 20-year old. The now 29-year old Navarro has had a bit of a resurgence with the Chicago Cubs after a number of poor years. Signed as a free agent by the Yankees in 2000, Navarro has an .886 OPS in 44 games with the Cubbies.

Carlos Ruiz: "Chooch" is a free agent after the season and is coming off a season in which he had career highs in HR (16) and RBI (68). Was any of it due to using banned amphetamines? Good question, since Ruiz sat out 25 games earlier this year after getting busted for use of the aforementioned substance. The 35-year old also missed time this season with an injured foot and has struggled all season with his bat. His availability will be based on whether or not the Phils can't grab a wild card spot.

Max Ramirez: The 28-year old was once thought to be a middle-plus prospect, but has only gotten cups of coffee in the Major Leagues with Texas in 2008 and 2010. He's been with five organizations since then and his current address is with the KC Royals' Triple-A squad in Omaha. Ramirez has good power (he averaged 15 home run the past two seasons) and has a career .769 OPS in over 400 Triple-A games.

Tomorrow - A look at getting some infield and pitching help.

Everybody Hurts...All the Time

"Can someone untie my shoes?"

If REM had been singing about the Yankees the lyric would not have been "Everybody hurts sometimes." The Yankees not only lost a game to Seattle last night 3-2, which caused mental anguish from losing two of three to the Mariners, but Andy Pettitte and Chris Stewart both had to leave the game early.

Pettitte felt spasms in his upper back that wouldn't go away no matter how much he stretched between batters and pitches. He left the game after 4.2 innings pitched and saw his record fall to 4-3. He's already missed one start due to a balky back so there is a definite reason for concern.

His battery mate, Stewart, left the game after he felt pain in his groin running the bases. He went for an MRI and could land on the DL, which presents a problem. There are only three catchers on the 40-man roster - Stewart, Francisco Cervelli already on the DL, and Austine Romine, who has served as Stewart's back up.

Scranton has two catchers- veteran Bobby Wilson (decent glove/no bat, 191 games with the Angels) and Jeff Farnham, a 25-year old that has played just seven games at the Triple-A level. If Wilson were added, someone on the 40-man roster would have to be designated for assignment. It likely would be the end of the line for Ben Francisco, who has just five hits in 40 at-bats.

Pettitte is the bigger concern right now. The Yankees need a healthy, consistent Pettitte taking the mound every five days if they are to compete. The Texan has become much more of an injury risk the last few years. He missed chunks of time with a groin injury in 2010 and a broken ankle last season. It would be no surprise if, at the very least, Pettitte missed his next start.  It's possible Ivan Nova will be ready to rejoin the team by then.

The Mariners also had to deal with an injury last night when Pettitte's opponent, Aaron Harang, was scratched from his start due to a stiff back. Former Yankee Hector Noesi, a piece of the puzzle in the Jesus Montero-Michael Pineda deal, stepped in and stepped up. Though he didn't figure in the decision, Noesi limited the Yankees to one unearned run and three hits in 4.1 innings pitched.

Oliver Perez, the former Met, picked up the win after he struck out three batters in 1.1 innings pitched. Mike Morse hit his 10th home run if the season (off of Shawn Kelley) and scored twice. Yankees rookie David Adams picked up his Major League RBI when he doubled home Curtis Granderson in the 2nd inning to tie the game at one apiece.

Robinson Cano singled in a run in the 7th, but couldn't come through in the clutch in the 9th inning against closer Tom Wilhelmsen. Brett Gardner reached first on a single and stole second and third. But with one out and the tying run 90 ft away from home plate, Wilhelmsen struck out Jayson Nix and retired Cano on a game ending ground out.

The Kids Are Hot Tonight: Nuno, Warren Earn Split

When you've got Derek Jeter, Mark Teixeira, Alex Rodriguez, Curtis Granderson, and Kevin Youkilis missing from your everyday lineup, people need to step up their game. It's not just the seasoned veterans, but the youngsters as well. Pitchers Vidal Nuno and Adam Warren did just that Monday afternoon to lead the Yankees to a 7-0 win and a split of a "true" doubleheader with Cleveland Indians.

Another youngster, David Phelps, was outstanding in Game 1,but lost 1-0 to Justin Masteron. A Jason Kipnis first inning home run was the only damage done to the Yankees pitching. Nuno and Warren topped that performance by combining on a shutout that gave Nuno his first Major League win and Warren his first Major League save.

Nuno was outstanding in Spring Training and there was talk that he could make the team as a lefty reliever out of the bullpen. Having not pitched above Double-A, the Yankees felt it was better to have Nuno start every fifth day at Triple-A Scranton. Last month I spoke with Scranton RailRiders beat writer Donnie Collins who had this to say about Nuno: "He started tonight. I think he's a starter. Doesn't have great reliever splits."

Nuno threw 14.2 innings in the exhibition season and allowed just one earned run, 12 hits and four walks, while he struck out 13. He had made four starts for Scranton this season and was equally good. 23.1 innings pitched,  four earned runs, 13 hits, two walks, and 26 strikeouts. That translated to a 1.54 ERA, a league batting average of .157 against him, and a 0.64 WHIP.

The California native threw five innings in frigid Cleveland today and left with a 1-0 lead. He allowed three hits, three walks, and struck out three. Warren came on in the 6th and continued his impressive first month-plus in the big leagues. In a post last week I talked about how he has turned a lot of heads, including my own, after being so solid in the wake of a horrible Spring Training and a poor showing when he got called up for a cup of coffee last year.

Warren's allowed three runs in 18.2 innings, 14 hits, six walks, and has struck out 15. Today's outing lowered his ERA to 1.45 and his WHIP to 1.07. It was his third appearance of three innings or more innings as he continues to give the bullpen a break.

Nuno and Warren had to be spot on due to the Yankees lack of offense. After being shut out in the opener the Yankees managed to score just a single run (on Vernon Wells' RBI ground out) through the first six innings. Then the kiddie corps got it going again in the 7th inning. Corban Joseph, called up only because teams can add a 26th player for a doubleheader, reached on a lead off double. It was Joseph's first Major League hit. Austin Romine followed with a double of his own off start Trevor Bauer to pick up his first Major League RBI. You catching the theme here?

Jayson Nix, Wells, and Lyle Overbay each contributed RBI hits against to break things open against the Indians pen.

It was an especially big win after the Yankees had their four game winning streak snapped in the first game and with the prospect of having to face Felix Hernandez and the Seattle Mariners at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday.

Notes

Wells is 10-26 (.385) over his last seven games with 3 HR and 9 RBI.

Cerving Notice

Francisco Cervelli has his smile back

A year ago Francisco Cervelli was not a happy man. He had nailed down the backup job to starting catcher Russell Martin and was ready to travel north with the team for the 2012 season. At least Cervelli thought he had nailed down the job. Two days before the start of the regular season the Yankees acquired catcher Chris Stewart from the San Francisco Giants for minor league reliever George Kontos.

In a matter of hours Cervelli had gone from riding high to riding throughout the International League...literally. The home field of the Scranton-Wilkes Barres Yankees was being renovated, every game played was, in effect, a road game.

Cervelli was angry, pouted, and got off to a bad start in the minors. He wouldn't return to the Major Leagues until the rosters expanded in September. He hit just .246 and slugged .316 for Scranton. It appeared his days in pinstripes were numbered.

The off-season changed all that. The Yankees decided to meet the league's $189MM salary ceiling to avoid the luxury tax for the 2014 season. Doing that meant letting Martin sign elsewhere as a free agent.  Cervelli came to camp refreshed and renewed, and with his head on straight.  Originally slated to play in the World Baseball Class (WBC), Cervelli changed his mind and opted to compete with Chris Stewart for the starting catching job on the Yankees.

At the conclusion of Spring Training, Joe Girardi wasn't sure how he would split up the time between his two backstops. Cervelli made the decision for him; he entered Saturday's play swinging a hot bat and has worked well with the pitching staff.  Yes, there's the occasional one or two hop throw into centerfield on a stolen bsae attempt, but to this point he has fans not caring that the Yankees didn't make much of an effort to keep Martin. (Who, oddly enough, enters Saturday's play just 8-45 on the season.)

Not known for power, Cervelli is already half way to his career high of four home runs. He hit a 9th inning home run against Arizona Diamondbacks closer J.J. Putz Thursday night to send the game into extra innings. More impressive is his 1.012 OPS through 12 games, one of the highlights of which is he's drawn more walks (8) than he has struck out (5).  It's a small sample, but he's 3-4 with runners in scoring position.

Cervelli even played an inning at second base when the Yankees got in a tight jam. No matter where he is on the field, Cervelli has his smile and confidence back, and he knows not to take anything for granted.

The Captain and Cash Visit With Francesa

Mike Francesa opened his WFAN radio show on Thursday with the Captain himself, Derek Jeter, and then brought on GM Brian Cashman to discuss the upcoming season.

Jeter maintains he will be ready for opening day, hedging just a little in saying he will need to get enough at-bats. Among the things Jeter discussed were:

1. He knew his ankle was broken in the ALCS the instant it happened. He was afraid to look at it though in case it was pointing in the wrong direction.

2. He likes the makeup of the current Yankees. It reminds him of the early teams he was on when the Yankees didn't need to rely so much on home runs to win games. Jeter further stated he prefers to play the type of baseball the Yankees will need to now play with so many home run bats missing from last year's lineup.

You can more of the interview at the YES Network.

Among the things that we learned from Cashman were:

1. The catching job will be held down by Francisco Cervelli and Chris Stewart. Why? Because they are out of options. Cashman didn't feel Austin Romine had any shot at the job when queried by Francesa. Since he has options and basically no Major League experience, Romine needs to start the season in Triple-A.

2. Cash was really hoping Russell Martin would return, but things couldn't be worked out. Francesa asked if there was any miscommunication between the Yankees and Martin, but Cash said there was none.

3. You can tell Cash does not love the WBC, but he has become accustomed to it and shrugged it off.

4. Cash expects Curtis Granderson back the first week of May. Until them the team will "evaluate what we have" and they will also check the waiver wires. Right now there is no player ahead of the others to win the left field job.

5. Francesa asked, "Is Nunez your insurance policy at shortstop?" - Cash said Nunez or (Jayson) Nix and said that the team may only carry one of them. Francesa also asked if Eduardo Nunez had the chance to be the right-handed DH. Cash said he wanted something more, which I would interrupt as someone with the more pop/power in his bat.

You can hear more of the interview at the YES Network website.

Thursday games wrap up

The wins and losses don't matter during Spring Training, but the efforts do. Though the Yankees lost both games on Thursday (against the Astros and Blue Jays), there were some high notes.

David Phelps tossed three scoreless innings in 1-0 loss to Toronto. He allowed a couple of hits, walked a batter and struck one out.  Reliever David Aardsma tossed a scoreless inning and Juan Rivera was 2-2.

The Yankees lost to the Astros 7-6 after they had built a 5-1 lead. All fives runs came in the 6th inning when Melky Mesa belted a 3-run home run. Mesa, who's full first name is Melquisedec, has been mentioned as a possible fill-in in left field until Curtis Granderson returns. Mesa only hit .230 in 33 games after an in-season promotion to Scranton last year, but had 9 HR and 21 RBI.  Zoilo Almonte continued to impress with a pair of hits and an RBI.

Not such a great start for Dellin Betances, who showed the control trouble he struggled with last year. In one inning against the Astros Betances walked two and struck out two. Betances averaged 8.3 walks per nine innings at Triple-A last year, which led to a demotion to Trenton. He was a little better there with an average of 4.8 walks per nine innings.

Chris Stewart did something you don't see too often in Spring Training. He was ejected for arguing a call at first base.

Go to Mo

Mariano Rivera took the next step in his return by throwing an 18 pitch simulated game.

Jeter Touches 'Em All

Derek Jeter took the next step in his rehab Saturday when he joined his teammates in running the bases. It was the first time the Yankees shortstop has been able to do so since breaking his ankle in the 2012 league championship series against the Detroit Tigers.

Jeter has worked hard to get to this point, but though he proclaimed he would be ready for opening day, there is no guarantee. He'll need to play in at least a week's worth of games to be ready. Today he'll watch his teammates take on the Toronto Blue Jays in the home spring training opener in Tampa. The game will be televised on the YES and MLB networks.

Today's Yankees starting lineup courtesy of LoHud's Chad Jennings:

Gardner CF
Ichiro RF
Cano 2B
Teixeira 1B
Granderson LF
Youkilis 3B
Hafner DH
Nunez SS
Stewart C
Warren P

Seeing Travis Hafner's name in a Yankees lineup is quite strange, but still not as strange as seeing Youkilis in there. The clean shaven third baseman is wearing David Cone's old #36.

Adam Warren is the Yankees starting pitcher today. He was highly touted at one point and was recalled to make one start in the Majors last season. It wasn't a pretty sight - 6 runs, 8 hits, and 2 walks in just 2.1 innings pitched.

Though he is expected to start the season in Triple-A, Austin Romine made a triumphant return to the ball park yesterday. Romine missed all but 31 minor league games due to a back injury that flared up in spring training last year. On Saturday he replaced started Francisco Cervelli and drove in two runs in the Yankees 8-3 win over the Braves.

Yankees Add Bobby Wilson to the Catcher Merry-Go-Round

The Yankees expected Eli Whiteside to possibly play a major part in their catching situation next season. Having already determined to let Russell Martin walk, Whiteside was expected to compete for part of a catching platoon with Austin Romine, Francisco Cervelli, Chris Stewart or whomever else the Yankees might sign in the meantime.

But in that meantime Whiteside got grabbed off waivers by the Blue Jays, and then again on Wednesday by the Rangers. But there's always a non-hitting veteran out there and the Yankees grabbed up another one in Bobby Wilson, formerly of the LA Angels.

Wilson was signed to a minor league deal after hitting .211 last year and has just a .593 career OPS. He is considered a decent defensive catcher.

One good thing Wilson did last year was quit Twitter - a very smart move before possibly playing in NYC for sure.

“I’m done with twitter. Try to be fan friendly and all I get is criticism. I wasn’t blessed with 5 tools. I worked hard to get here.”

A Molina Perhaps

According to the Star-Ledger's Marc Carig, neither Jesus Montero or Austin Romine may be backing up Russ Martin until Francisco Cervelli heals up.

There's a very real possibility that both will get more playing time at Scranton with Gustavo Molina getting the reserve catcher role. “Molina was brought in to be an insurance policy for us,” Brian Cashman said. “That’s why he’s here. He’s got major-league time.”

Molina isn't related to the triumvirate of Bengie, Jose, and Yadier, and has just 23 games of Major League experience with the White Sox, Orioles, Mets, and Red Sox. The 29-yr old has a .122 lifetime batting average in 45 at-bats.

Colon Seals The Deal- Joins The Band of 25

Photo Courtesy of AP - Look how happy this guy is!

Barring an unforeseen injury, a Tonya Harding-eque incident, or something of that nature, Bartolo Colon put his stamp on the #5 or #4 spot (depending on Joe Girardi's preference) in the rotation last night with an impressive outing against the Tampa Bay Rays. What this means is that Freddy Garcia will be given his release at week's end and will likely catch on with another team (perhaps the Mets?).

There also hasn't been an announcement concerning the final piece of the rotation puzzle, but Ivan Nova has clearly pitched above and beyond and will get the spot.

While the Rays lineup last night wouldn't intimidate anyone, that didn't keep you from taking notice of Colon's performance. He allowed just two hits over six innings, a solo home run to Kelly Shoppach, didn't walk a batter and struck out five.

Colon needed just 64 pitches to get it done and even showed some remarkable quickness, coming off the mound to cover a 1st base on a tapper to the right side. (Yes, somewhere, someone said, "He moves quick for a big man".) Garcia has already said he wouldn't accept a trip to the minors, and though he said he would willingly work as the long man out of the pen, Girardi (for reasons still unclear to me and just about everyone) prefers Sergio Mitre for that role. (Is Mitre Latin for "blackmail the manager"?)

Manny Banuelos came back to Earth last night and showed the crazies that he's not quite ready for the Majors just yet. Man-Ban gave up a pair of runs in two innings of work and took the loss. He allowed a solo home run to Dan Johnson in the 8th inning for a bit of insurance.

Setting the 25-man

While the rotation should be set, the bullpen that heads north is not there yet. Mariano Rivera, Rafael Soriano, Boone Logan, Mitre, and David Robertson are all set. But there's a good chance, Joba Chamberlain and Pedro Feliciano will start the season on the DL. Chamberlain was having a decent spring when he strained an oblique and was shut down. He'll be back on the mound today though against the Orioles and has a chance to prove he's healthy. Feliciano, who has been workhorse in his career has suffered from a dead arm and not thrown much. He did have a 15 pitch bullpen session on Saturday and a 25 pitch session on Monday. He's hoping to get into a game this weekend, but it would be ridiculous to rush him. Of the two, Chamberlain is more likely to head north with the club.

Eric Chavez will miss a few days with calf spasms, but appears to have locked up a backup corner infield position. Eduardo Nunez looks to be a lock for the utility infielder role over the much better gloved, but much weaker hitting Ramiro Pena. Nunez also saw some, albeit somewhat shaky, time in the outfield and would be an emergency fifth outfielder.

Andruw Jones is set to back the triumvirate of Brett Gardner, Curtis Granderson, and Nick Swisher and occasionally DH to give Jorge Posada a rest. With Francisco Cervelli DL'ed, the battle for back up to Russell Martin will go down to the wire between Jesus Montero and Austin Romine (Be sure to read Jack Curry's touching story about the loss of Romine's cousin in Afghanistan recently). The Yankees need to decide which they are better served by- Romine's superior defensive skills or giving Montero a chance to show he should stay in the Majors. Of course, how much chance Montero will get remains to be seen with Martin catching, Posada locked in at DH, and Mark Teixeira at 1st base. The feeling here is that Montero will get a look see and will possibly be replaced when Cervelli gets healthy.

Nine days until opening day. Mmmmmm.

Oritz, Romine are FSL All-Stars

Tampa Yankees reliever Jonathan Ortiz and catcher Austin Romine have named to the Florida State League's North All-Star squad.

Ortiz, who recorded 33 saves for the Charleston RiverDogs last season, had struggled for Tampa this season. While he had earned 7 saves, Ortiz posted a 6.14 ERA and was 0-3, and was sent back to Charleston at the end of May.

Romine has split the catching duties the last two seasons, both in Charleston and Tampa, with Jesus Montero. With Montero's recent promotion to Trenton, more of the load should fall on Romine. He's hitting .282 with 6 HR and 28 RBI in 50 games, and is known for his defensive prowess.

Minor League Recap - 7/1

Games of 6/30

Scranton rallied in the 9th inning for 5-4 win, to salvage the finale of their 4-game series with the Buffalo Bisons. After a walk to Cody Ransom and a single by Eric Duncan, J.D. Closser hit a game tying 3-run home run, his first long ball of the year. Nick Green followed with a walk and moved to 3rd base on Greg Porter's single. Chris Basak's fly ball to right brought home Green with the game winner.

Dan McCutchen was outstanding in his start for the Yankees, allowing 1 run on 6 hits over 6 innings. He also struck out 5. Kei Igawa gave up the 3 runs in the 7th, but was still around in the 9th to pick up the win.

Chad Jennings has more on McCutchen's start and has an update on Alan Horne.

	June 30, 2008
	Final 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E Buffalo 0 0 1 0 0 0 3 0 0 4 9 0 Scranton/WB 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 4 5 9 0 Recap | Box | W: K. Igawa (8-4, 3.64); L: J. Stevens (0-1, 5.40) HR: SWB: J. Lane (14), J. Closser (1).

Trenton made it three in a row over the Portland SeaDogs behind another big time effort from Eric Hacker. The right-hander allowed 1 run over 7 innings, scattered 6 hits, didn't walk a batter and struck out 3. He improved to 3-1 to go along with a 1.85 ERA. In 92 innings, between Tampa and Trenton, Hacker has allowed just 19 earned runs. Austin Jackson and Reegie Corona belted solo home runs for the Thunder.

Mike Ashmore has some notes on player comings and goings.

	June 30, 2008
	Final 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E Portland 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 6 1 Trenton 1 0 1 2 1 1 0 0 X 6 11 0 Recap | Box | W: E. Hacker (3-1, 1.85); L: D. Gassner (0-4, 6.75) HR: TRE: A. Jackson (8), R. Corona (2).

The Tampa Yankees lost a tough one to the Palm Beach Cardinals 4-3. Starter Mike Dunn was charged with 3 runs in 5 innings, and a Yankees late rally fell short. Jose Gil was 4-4 and drove in a pair of runs to lead the Tampa offense.

	June 30, 2008
	Final 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E Tampa 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 3 8 1 Palm Beach 0 2 0 0 1 0 1 0 X 4 7 1 Recap | Box | W: T. Norrick (1-1, 8.53); L: M. Dunn (3-4, 4.24); SV: F. Samuel (16) HR: PBC: L. Gorsett (2).

Jairo Heredia limited the Savannah Sand Gnats to 2 hits over 7 innings as the Charleston RiverDogs won their third straight, 5-3. Heredia allowed 1 unearned run and struck out 6 to improve to 3-2. Austin Romine and Brandon Laird both went deep.

	June 30, 2008
	Final 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E Savannah 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 2 3 3 0 Charleston 0 0 0 2 0 2 1 0 X 5 8 2 Recap | Box | W: J. Heredia (3-2, 2.96); L: B. Rustich (1-4, 5.33) HR: SAV: J. Jimenez (8). CHA: B. Laird (8), A. Romine (2).

Staten Island won a pair of games with the Aberdeen IronBirds last evening. The Baby Bombers won the conclusion of Sunday's game, which had been suspended in the 2nd inning, 5-3. The game was tied 3-3 in the bottom of the 8th when Jahdiel Santamaria singled in the go ahead run. Melky Mesa, who had earlier homered, added an insurance tally with an RBI single of his own. Walter Ibarra, who had just been sent down from Charleston, homered for the Yankees as well.

	June 29, 2008
	Final 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E Aberdeen 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 3 6 0 Staten Island 0 0 2 0 0 0 1 2 X 5 9 2 Recap | Box W: J. Gonell (2-1, 3.38); L: H. Williamson (0-1, 5.79); SV: P. Venditte (3) HR: STA: M. Mesa (2), W. Ibarra (1).

S.I. made his 3 straight over the IronBirds with a supberly pitched 3-0 win. Dave Phelps won his first game of the year after allowing just 3 hits over 6 innings. He walked just 1 and struck out 6. Josue Selenes picked up his first save with a scoreless 9th.

	June 30, 2008
	Final 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E Aberdeen 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 3 Staten Island 0 0 0 0 3 0 X 3 5 0 Recap | Box W: D. Phelps (1-0, 2.77); L: P. Egan (0-1, 2.30); SV: J. Selenes (1) HR: None.

The GCL Yankees were knocked around by the GCL Braves, 10-3, as Dellin Betances had another rough rehab outing. Betances was charged with 4 runs, 3 of them earned, on 8 hits in 2.1 innings pitched. Tough rehab assignment for Ryan Pope too, as he allowed 5 runs in 4 innings.

June 30, 2008
	Final 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E GCL Braves 1 0 3 1 0 1 0 4 0 10 15 3 GCL Yankees 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 2 0 3 4 3 Recap | Box W: E. Spruill (1-0, 2.57); L: D. Betances (0-1, 8.53) HR: BRA: R. Brooks (1).