The upcoming season for the Yankees will be like none other in the team’s six seasons as the top affiliate of the New York Yankees with the team essentially playing an all road schedule for the season as the team’s home venue, PNC Field undergoes a massive $40 million reconstruction.  The rebuilt facility is expected to be completed in time to open up the 2013 International League season.

Scranton/Wilkes-Barre will play its 72 “home” games as six different venues in the northeast, with Frontier Field in Rochester serving as the Yankees “home away from home” hosting 37 SWB games in 2012.  The Syracuse Chiefs will play host to the Yankees for 10 games, LehighValley for eight, Buffalo for six and Pawtucket for four.  Dwyer Stadium in Batavia, New York, home of the Batavia Muck Dogs is the lone non-International League team to host SWB games in 2012.  The Yankees will play seven games at the home field of the New York Penn League team.  A complete schedule, including the breakdown of what stadium will host the Yankees on what day can be found at www.swbyankees.com

Once again in 2012, I have the privilege of calling SWB Yankees Baseball and am very optimistic about the upcoming season (as everyone at this time of the season usually is).  The NY Yankees have done a great job of signing some key minor league free agents this off season to add to a roster that should be full of some of the organization’s top prospects.  The field staff from 2011 (Manager Dave Miley, Coaches; Scott Aldred, Frank Menechino and Butch Wynegar) all return, which should help keep some stability in what has the potential to be an exciting and I’m sure at times a trying season.  2012 will be my fifth season working with Dave Miley (which is longer than any other minor league manager has had to put up with me) and he does as good a job working with top prospects and veteran players as anyone I have ever been around.

It will no doubt be another exciting season as the SWB Yankees try to get back to the top of the International League’s North Division as they did from 2007-2010.

QUICK HITS:

As I understand it the SWB “home games” will also be streamed on MiLB TV (accessed at www.swbyankees.com and www.milb.com) with the exception of the seven games played at Dwyer Stadium inBatavia,NY.

Some changes in the radio booths in the International League this season.  Aaron Goldsmith has taken over inPawtucket replacing Dan Hoard who resigned at the end of the 2011 season to become the radio voice of the NFL’s Cincinnati Bengals.  Also Patrick Kinas is the new voice of the Durham Bulls replacing Neil Solondz who is the new pre and post game host of the Tampa Bay Rays.  Patrick and I go back to ’96 the Midwest League when he was the voice of the Clinton Lumber Kings and I was with the Lansing Lugnuts.

The IL also will see some new faces (and one familiar) one as media contacts for member teams.  Dave Lezotte in Gwinnett, Tommy Viola in Charlotte and Zach Weber in Durham are all with new teams this season.  Dave was previously in Clinton, Iowa with the Lumber Kings, Tommy was in Reading with the Phillies but had worked in Lehigh Valley for a couple of seasons before moving to the R-Phillies and Zach moves over to Durham from Gwinnett.  Congrats to those three on their new gigs.  Finally, Ian Locke who had previously been with the Norfolk Tides returns to Norfolk after a brief stint away from the game.  Welcome back Ian!

NY Yankees press release regarding the 27 non-roster invites to Major League Spring Training.  http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120208&content_id=26622054&vkey=pr_nyy&c_id=nyy

Out of the 67 that will begin Spring Training, there will be 25 active players heading north to open the season for New York.  The other 42 will open the year somewhere else, some in the Yankees Minor League system, some with other organizations and some without a place to play.  Without a pitch being thrown or a ball put in play it is perhaps a bit early to speculate (with any level of certainty) who will open the season with SWB on April 5^th inAllentown againstLehighValley.  Instead of taking a look at who may be with SWB in 2012, let’s take a look at the 2011 SWB Yankees and see where they landed during the off season.

The 2011 SWB Yankees used 63 different players in and finished the season with a 73-69 record failing to make the IL Playoffs for the first time ever as a Yankees affiliate.  32 of the 63 players that spent time on the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre roster in 2011 (as regulars or MLB rehabs) either have new homes for 2012 or soon will (22 have signed with new teams and 10 remain free agents).

Out of the 10 players that at this point are still free agents, just three of those players were on the SWB roster when the 2011 season came to a close at PNC Field on September 5^th vs.Buffalo. Pitcher Eric Wordekemper, infielder Mike Lamb and catcher P.J. Pilittere are the only players on the SWB final 24 man roster to end the season that have not either re-signed with the Yankees or found new teams.  Six players on the final SWB regular season roster have new organizations for the upcoming season: pitchers Andrew Brackman, Logan Kensing and Hector Noesi, infielder Luis Nunez and outfielders Greg Golson and Jordan Parraz will be with new organizations in 2012.

The 63 players that appeared on the 2011 SWB Yankees roster and where they have landed for 2012

PITCHERS (39)

Wilkins Arias – LHP: 0-0, 13.50 ERA, 1G, 0.2 IP / Free Agent

Luis Ayala – RHP (MLB Rehab): 0-0, 1.80 ERA, 3G, 5.0 IP / Free Agent*

Manny Banuelos – LHP: 2-2, 4.19 ERA 7G, 7GS, 34.1 IP / Non-roster invite to NY Yankees Spring Training

Dellin Betances – RHP: 0-3, 5.14 ERA, 4G, 4GS, 21.0 IP / NY Yankees 40-man roster

Andrew Brackman – RHP: 3-6,1SV, 6.00 ERA, 33G, 13 GS, 96.0 IP /Cincinnati Reds

Buddy Carlyle – RHP: 2-2, 1SV, 3.98 ERA, 27G, 2GS, 43.0 IP /Atlanta Braves

Randy Flores – LHP: 1-3, 4SV, 3.07 ERA, 29G, 29.1 IP / Free Agent

Freddy Garcia – RHP (MLB Rehab): 1-0, 4.50 ERA, 1G, 4.0 IP / NY Yankees active roster

Brian Gordon – RHP: 0-0, 0.00 ERA, 1G, 1GS, 5.0 IP / Samsung Lions (Korea)

Schaeffer Hall – LHP: 1-0, 2.84 ERA, 1G, 1GS, 6.1 IP / NY Yankees

Fernando Hernandez – RHP: 0-0, 9.00 ERA, 1G, 2.0 IP / Free Agent

Kei Igawa – LHP: 1-0, 2.78 ERA, 4G, 4GS, 22.2 IP / Free Agent

LoganKensing – RHP: 1-1, 4 SV, 4.28 ERA, 21G, 27.1 IP /Pittsburgh Pirates

George Kontos – RHP: 4-4, 2 SV, 2.62 ERA 40G, 4GS, 89.1 IP / NY Yankees active roster

Aaron Laffey – LHP: 0-1, 7.36 ERA, 2G, 1GS, 3.2 IP /Toronto Blue Jays

Kevin Millwood – RHP: 1-1, 8.00 ERA, 2G, 2GS, 9.0 IP /Colorado Rockies

D.J. Mitchell – RHP: 13-9, 3.18 ERA, 28G, 24 GS, 161.1 / NY Yankees active roster

Hector Noesi – RHP: 1-1, 3.28 ERA, 6G, 5GS, 24.2 IP / Seattle Mariners

Tim Norton – RHP: 1-0, 0.00 ERA, 1G, 1.0 IP / NY Yankees

Ivan Nova – RHP: 1-2, 3.38 ERA, 3G, 3GS, 16.0 IP / NY Yankees active roster

Lance Pendleton – RHP: 3-4, 1 SV, 3.11 ERA, 18G, 10 GS, 66.2 IP / Houston Astros

David Phelps – RHP: 6-6, 3.19 ERA, 18G, 18GS, 107.1 IP / NY Yankees active roster

Ryan Pope – RHP: 2-1, 8.14 ERA, 14G, 21.0 IP / Non-roster invite to NY Yankees Spring Training

Mark Prior – RHP: 0-0, 0.00 ERA 1G, 1.0 IP / Free Agent

Scott Proctor – RHP: 0-0, 2.57 ERA, 6G, 7.0 IP / Doosan Bears (Korea)

J.C. Romero – LHP: 1-0, 2.92 ERA, 11G, 12.1 IP /St. Louis Cardinals

Amaury Sanit – RHP: 2-1, 5.21 ERA, 10G, 2GS, 19.0 IP / Free Agent

Josh Schmidt – RHP: 5-2, 1 SV, 2.81 ERA, 19G, 32.0 IP /Miami Marlins

Carlos Silva – RHP: 2-1, 3.52 ERA, 4G, 4GS, 23.0 /Boston Red Sox

Andrew Sisco – LHP: 2-0, 1.88 ERA, 16G, 14.1 IP /Los Angeles Dodgers

Greg Smith – LHP: 3-3, 4.84 ERA, 13G, 10GS, 57.2 /Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

Rafael Soriano – RHP (MLB Rehab): 1-0, 4.50 ERA, 2G, 2.0 IP / NY Yankees active roster

Kanekoa Texeira – RHP: 0-1, 22.85 ERA, 5G, 4.1 IP /Cincinnati Reds

Jess Todd – RHP: 0-1, 10.80 ERA, 2G, 1.2 IP /St. Louis Cardinals

Raul Valdes – RHP: 1-0, 0.00 ERA, 3G, 3.0 IP /Philadelphia Phillies

Cory Wade – RHP: 1-0, 0.00 ERA, 1G, 1.2 IP / NY Yankees active roster

Adam Warren – RHP: 6-8, 3.60 ERA 27G, 27GS, 152.1 IP / Non-roster invite to NY Yankees Spring Training

Kevin Whelan – RHP: 2-3, 23 SV, 2.75 ERA, 45 G, 52.1 IP / Non-roster invite to NY Yankees Spring Training

Eric Wordekemper – RHP: 3-3, 2 SV, 3.60 ERA, 42G, 50.0 IP / Free Agent

Batters (24) *left handed # switch hitter

Doug Bernier – INF: 95G, .237 AVG, 0HR, 29RBI / Non-roster invite to NY Yankees Spring Training

Dan Brewer – INF: 46G, .278 AVG, 0HR, 9RBI / NY Yankees

Kelvin Castro – INF: 2G, 0 AB / NY Yankees

Francisco Cervelli – C (MLB Rehab): 3G, .154 AVG, 0HR, 1RBI / NY Yankees active roster

Chris Dickerson* – OF: 57G, .241 AVG, 2HR, 16RBI / NY Yankees active roster

Jose Gil – C: 6G, .250 AVG, 0HR, 0RBI / Non-roster invite to NY Yankees Spring Training

Greg Golson – OF: 105G, .263 AVG, 8HR, 33RBI / Kansas City Royals

Austin Krum* – OF: 64G, .246 AVG, 0HR, 13RBI / NY Yankees

Ray Kruml* – OF: 12G, .150 AVG, 0HR, 3RBI / NY Yankees

Brandon Laird – INF/OF: 123G, .260 AVG, 16HR, 69RBI / NY Yankees active roster

Mike Lamb* – INF/DH: 53G, .296 AVG, 6HR, 26RBI / Free Agent

Addison Maruszak – INF/C/OF: 3G, .125 AVG, 0HR, 0RBI / NY Yankees

Justin Maxwell – OF: 48G, .260 AVG, 16HR, 35RBI / NY Yankees active roster

Gustavo Molina – C: 47G, .253 AVG, 4HR, 21RBI / Non-roster invite to NY Yankees Spring Training

Jesus Montero – C: 109G, .288 AVG, 18HR, 67 RBI / Seattle Mariners

Luis Nunez – INF: 78G, .234 AVG, 2HR, 27RBI / Los Angeles Dodgers

Jordan Parraz – OF: 126G, .289 AVG, 9HR, 52RBI / Atlanta Braves

Ramiro Pena# – INF: 55G, .273 AVG, 4HR, 18RBI / NY Yankees active roster

P.J. Pilittere – C: 22G, .209 AVG, 0HR, 5RBI / Free Agent

Alex Rodriguez – INF (MLB Rehab): 2G, .400 AVG, 0HR, 1RBI / NY Yankees active roster

Austin Romine – C: 4G, .133 AVG, 0HR, 1RBI / NY Yankees active roster

Kevin Russo – INF/OF: 113G, .273 AVG, 4HR, 46RBI / NY Yankees

Terry Tiffee# – INF: 29G, .345 AVG, 3HR, 13RBI / Miami Marlins

Jorge Vazquez – INF/DH: 118G, .262 AVG, 32HR, 93RBI / Non-roster invite to NY Yankees Spring Training

Update 2/11 -

* – Luis Ayala signed a one year major league deal with the Baltimore Orioles on February 10th with a club option for 2013

Game Notes brought to you by Mike Vander Woude

ON DECK…

The Yankees continue the second half of an eight game home stand with the third game of a four game series against the Charlotte Knights, the Triple-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox.  The Knights picked up an 8-2 win in the opening game of the series on Tuesday night with the Yankees coming back on Wednesday with a 1-0 win.  The Yankees and Knights split a four game series at Knights Stadium in Fort Mill, South Carolina from April 26^th-30^th, with SWB taking the first two games of the series and Charlotte winning the final two games.  The Yankees are 11-14 at home on the season and are 6-11 at PNC Field since May 5^th.  Since the Yankees affiliation moved to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre prior to the 2007 season, the Yankees and Charlotte have played 37 times with SWB holding the edge at 22-15, including an 12-5 mark at PNC Field.  The Yankees swept the 2010 series over the Knights 4-0 and have won seven of eight games dating back to 2009.

LAST TIME OUT…

The Yankees made it six of seven against the Knights at PNC Field dating back to 2009 picking up a 1-0 shutout win on Wednesday night.  Gustavo Molina had two of the Yankees four hits including the game winning single to left field in the bottom of the eighth inning off Tyson Corley (L, 0-1) with two outs scoring Kevin Russo who had reach on a fielder’s choice and went to second on a ground out.  David Phelps (ND) threw 7.0 innings of shutout baseball allowing five hits with 3BB and 8K’s in a no decision.  Miguel Socolovich (ND) making a spot start for Charlotte blanked SWB for 4.0 innings in his first start of the season.  Tim Norton (W, 1-0) just called up from Double-A Trenton earlier in the day made his 2011 SWB Yankees debut and picked up the win with a scoreless eighth. Kevin Whelan (S, 18) picked up the save with a perfect ninth inning with a pair of strikeouts.

NOW PITCHING FOR THE SWB YANKEES…

Adam Warren is in search of his fourth win of the season and looks to tie David Phelps and D.J. Mitchell for the team lead with his second start of the season against Charlotte.  Warren got no decision against the Knights in Fort Mill on April 26^th allowing 5R (4ER) on 7H in 5.1 innings with 2BB and 4K in a game won by the Yankees 8-5.  He suffered his second loss of the season on Saturday night against Toledo allowing 3ER over 6.0 innings on 8H with a walk and five strikeouts.

The right hander has put up comparable numbers in terms of ERA in both starts at PNC Field and on the road.  Warren is 1-2 with a 3.86 ERA in five starts at PNC Field with a .259 average against. He is 2-0 in six starts with a 3.89 ERA and a .275 average against on the road.  The Yankees have won seven of the 11 games started by Warren in 2011.

ALONE AT THE TOP FOR A QUARTER OF AN HOUR…

The Yankees picked up their IL best sixth shutout of the season on Wednesday night with a 1-0 win over Charlotte. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre sat atop the league in the shutout department for a grand total of 14 minutes, until IL North leading Lehigh Valley put the finishing touches on its sixth shutout with a 6-0 blanking of Durham.

BY THE SLIMEST OF MARGINS…

The Yankees picked up their second 1-0 win in a week on Wednesday edging by the Charlotte Knights in the second game of a four game series at PNC Field.  SWB opened the month of June with a 1-0 win on the 1^st at Indianapolis.  In both cases, the Yankees got the winning run home in the eighth inning.  Since the Yankees began play in Moosic in 2007, they have played 11 1-0 regular season games in the team’s brief history and are 9-2 in those contests.  The two regular season losses came to Rochester on May 15, 2007 and to Charlotte on May 12, 2009.  The Yankees are also 1-1 in 1-0 post games beating Durham in 13 innings on their way to the Governors’ Cup on September 10, 2008.  Two years later on the same date, Columbus beat the Yankees at PNC Field 1-0 on their way to the IL title.

AVOIDING THE HAT TRICK…

The Yankees committed a single error for the second straight game on Wednesday in the 1-0 win over Charlotte marking just the sixth time this season that the team has posted an error in back-to-back games.  The Yankees will try to avoid three straight games with a miscue which has taken place twice in 2011 from April 11-13 and May 7-9. With 27 errors on the year, the Yankees are the top defensive unit in all of minor league baseball.  Salt Lake City of the PCL has the next fewest in the minor leagues with 32.

A STRETCHED OUT STREAK…

Greg Golson has hit safely in all five games (6-18, .333) he has played in since coming off the DL missing 27 SWB team games with a pulled Hamstring suffered in a May 2^nd game at Gwinnett.  The outfield picked up an infield single to start the Yankees rally in their 1-0 win over Charlotte on Wednesday and had now hit in six consecutive games (.348 (8-23), R, 2B, 2 RBI, BB, 6K) dating back to the game in which he departed in the top f the seventh due to the injury. The six game streak over 37 days is not the most drawn out for Golson who had a 13 game hit streak to open the 2011 season that actually began on August 24, 2010 that ran through April 11, 2010.

BACK IN THE MIX…

Hector Noesi is back with Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and will be in uniform for the third game of the series against the Charlotte Knights after rejoining SWB from his second stint with the NY Yankees.  With the big club in 2011, the right hander went 1-0 with a 1.76 ERA in four games allowing 11H, 3R, 3ER in 15.1 IP. Noesi walked five and struck out six and held the American League to a .208 average against.  He most recently threw 6.0 innings against the Red Sox on Tuesday night allowing 3H and 2ER with a HR, BB and a K.  To make room for Noesi on the SWB roster, Tim Notron, who picked up the win for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Wednesday night was placed on the 7-Day DL.

Tonight’s Lineups:

Charlotte Knights

#7 Alejandro De Aza LF

#10 Jim Gallagher RF

#24 Dayan Viciedo 1B

#17 Tyler Flowers C

#8 Dallas McPherson 3B

#43 Michael Restovich DH

#15 Jordan Danks CF

#6 Andrew Garcia 2B

#3 Eduardo Escobar SS

#20 Gaby Hernandez SP

Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees

#13 Austin Krum CF

#19 Ramiro Pena SS

#38 Jorge Vazquez 1B

#10 Brandon Laird 3B

#8 Jordan Parraz DH

#2 Greg Golson RF

#5 Kevin Russo 2B

#3 Dan Brewer LF

#22 P.J. Pilittere C

#28 Adam Warren SP

Update 6:46- First pitch has been pushed back to 7:30 PM due to rain. The grounds crew is on the field and taking the tarp off now.

First Pitch: 7:32  Game Time Temperature: 68 degrees

Update: 1st Inning

Top Half:

Adam Warren faces 4 batters, giving up one hit to Jim Gallgher and ending the inning by striking out Tyler Flowers. Austin Krum will lead off the bottom half of the inning here at PNC Field.

Bottom Half:

The Yankees go down in order to close out the bottom half of the first, with Jorge Vazquez striking out to end the inning. Dallas McPherson is due up for the Knights headed into the second inning.

Update: 2nd Inning

Top Half

The Knights go down in order as McPherson strikes out while Restovich and Danks both ground out to second base. Laird Parraz and Golson will be due up in the bottom half of the inning to start something for the Yankees.

Bottom Half:

The Yankees break out early in this half inning, with Laird reaching on a throwing error from the third baseman, Jordan Parraz lined a screaming double into center field. With Parraz on second, Greg Golson flew out to center, but Kevin Russo quickly singled home Parraz, and advanced to second on the throw. Dan Brewer drove in Kevin Russo, and P.J. Pilittere would walk to futher extend the inning. Tyler Flowers would be charged with a pass ball during Krum’s AB which caused Pilittere and Brewer to advance to 2nd and 3rd. Ramiro Pena would walk to load the bases, but Jorge Vazquez struck out to end the inning. the Yankees get 3 runs off of 3 hits, with the Knights committing one error. The Knights will try and close in on a 3-0 Yankee lead as they send Andrew Garcia to the plate to lead off the top half of inning 3 here at PNC Field.

Update: 3rd Inning

Top Half:

Adam Warren retires the side in order again by getting Garcia to strike out, Escobar grounds into a great bare-hand play by Laird. Alejandro De Aza ends the inning by grounding out to Russo at second base. So far the Knights have mustered 1 hit over three innings. Brandon Laird will lead off the bottom half for the Yanks.

Bottom Half:

Brandon Laird reaches by getting hit by a pitch, and Jordan Parraz gets good wood on a ball but SS Eduardo Escobar climbs the ladder and pulls down a sure-fire base hit from Parraz. Greg Golson walks which moves over Brandon Laird to second base. Kevin Russo brings in a run after he singles, and Golson moves to third on an error by the left fielder. Hernandez was wild most of the inning, but found his compsure striking out Dan Brewer, and then Getting P.J. Pilittere looking at strike three. SWB picks up one more run on one hit this inning, bringing the score to 4-0 headed into the 4th inning.

Update: 4th Inning

Top Half:

Jim Gallagher leads off the inning with a deep fly ball to center field which is caught by Austin Krum for the first out of the 4th. Dayan Viciedo Singles to right fiend, but Tyler Flowers hits into the inning-ending 4-6-3 double play. The line-up turns over for the Yankees as Austin Krum heads to the plate to lead off the 4th inning for the Yankees.

Bottom Half:

Gaby Hernandez gets his 3rd straight strikeout when Austin Krum wiffs in his third at-bat of the night. Ramiro Pena hits a hard double into right-center field, and Jorge Vazquez finally connects tonight for his 20th dinger of the season. Brandon Laird continues the Yankees’ hot hitting with a frozen rope double. Jordan Parraz, the Designated Hitter, Flies out to left field. Greg Golson walks to put runners on first and second with two outs. Kevin Russo comes to the plate and hits a ground ball to the short stop, who flips it to second base to get Hernandez out of the inning. Gaby Hernandez has already thrown 108 pitches through 4 innings of ball. The Knights will send Michael Restovich to the plate to start a Charlotte Rally.

Update: 5th inning

Top Half:

Warren again has a 1-2-3 inning as he gets McPherson to ground out to second, Restovich strikes out, and Danks flies out in foul ground to Laird to end the inning. The Yankees will send Dan Brewer to the plate in the bottom half.

Bottom Half:

Pitching Change: #30 Anthony Carter for #20 Gaby Hernandez

Hernandez’s Stats: 4IP, 5K, 4BB, 7H, 6R, 5ER, 1WP

Carter comes in and retires the Yankees in order, striking out Dan Brewer, getting P.J. Pilittere to ground out to first base, and Austin Krum to fly out to left field in foul ground. Headed into the 6th inning, the Yankees lead this one 6-0.

Update: 6th Inning

Top Half:

After Warren retired the first two batters by way of fly ball to left and ground out to third, he walks De Aza, and Jim Gallagher drives De Aza in with a double. Warren strikes out Dayan Viciedo to get out of the inning. Score here at PNC Filed is now 6-1 with Ramiro Pena due up in the bottom half of the inning.

Bottom Half:

Ramiro Pena gets his second hit of the ball game (single) and advances to second on an error in right field. After Jorge Vazquez fought off a series of pitches, he smacks a double into left field that Pena scores on, increasing the Yankees lead to 6 runs. Brandon Laird flies out to right field for the first out of the inning, and Jordan Parraz walks. Greg Golson singles into center field after the ball is deflected off of pitcher Anthony Carter. Kevin Russo hits a fly ball into right field that scores Jordan Parraz for the second out, and Dan Brewer flies out to right field to end the inning. The Yankees score three more this inning to put the score at 9-1 going into the 7th inning. Knights catcher Tyler Flowers will lead the inning off.

Update: 7th Inning

Top Half:

After Tyler Flowers strikes out, Dallas McPherson singles to right field. Michael Restovich remains hit-less tonight as he flies out to right field. Jordan Danks gets an infield single on a ball just out of the read of Laird, moving McPherson to second base. Warren is able to get the final out though as he gets Andrew Garcia to ground out to second base to end the threat.

Bottom Half:

Pitching Change:  #29 Wes Whisler for #30 Anthony Carter

Carter’s Stats: 2IP, 1K, 1BB, 3H, 3R, 3ER

P.J. Pilittere singles with a ground ball up the middle, and Austin Krum works a walk. Ramiro Pena grounds into a 5-3, but advances both Pilittere and Krum. Jorge Vazquez hits a sacrifice fly to left field that scores Pilittere and makes the score 10-1 with 2 outs. Brandon Laird breaks his bat swinging at a lot pitch that he sends to McPherson at third base, who throws him out to end the inning. One run on one hit and one man left on base as we head into the 8th inning.

Update: 8th Inning

Top Half:

Adam Warren has been stellar as he’s only thrown 89 pitching through 8 innings, getting three straight this inning by way of a fly-out to center, De Aza down looking, and Jim Gallagher grounding out to first base to end the inning. We’ll head to the bottom of the inning with Jordan Parraz leading off for the Yankees.

Bottom Half:

Pitching Change: #13 Josh Kinney for #29 Wes Whisler

Whisler’s Stats: 1IP, 0K, 0BB, 1H, 1R, 1ER

Jordan Parraz grounds out to short stop for the first out of the inning. Greg Golson reaches with a double into left field, but Josh Kinney Strikes out Kevin Russo and gets Dan Brewer to ground out to second base. The Knights are out of the inning, and are down to their last hacks of the night here at PNC Field.

Update: 9th Inning

Top Half:

After Warren gets Viciedo to fly out to center and Tyler Flowers to ground out to short, Dallas McPherson doubles to center field. Michael Restovich makes the final out of the game when he grounds out to Ramiro Pena. The Yankees win this one 10-1, and will play the last game of this home stand tomorrow at 7:05 PM.

Kinney’s Stats: 1IP,1K, 0BB, 1H, 0R, 0ER

WP- Adam Warren (4-2) 9IP, 7K, 1BB, 6H,1R, 1ER

LP- Gaby Hernandez (4-6)

Game Notes brought to you by Mike Vander Woude

ON DECK…

The Yankees continue the second half of an eight game home stand with the second game of a four game series against the Charlotte Knights, the Triple-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox.  The Knights picked up an 8-2 win in the opening game of the series on Tuesday night to take a 3-2 lead in the season series.  The Yankees and Knights split a four game series at Knights Stadium in Fort Mill, South Carolina from April 26^th-30^th, with SWB taking the first two games of the series and Charlotte winning the final two games.  The Yankees are 10-14 at home on the season and are 5-11 at PNC Field since May 5^th.  Since the Yankees affiliation moved to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre prior to the 2007 season, the Yankees and Charlotte have played 36 times with SWB holding the edge at 21-15, including an 11-5 mark at PNC Field.  The Yankees swept the 2010 series over the Knights 4-0 and have won six of seven games dating back to 2009.

LAST TIME OUT…

Charlotte snapped a six game losing streak at PNC Field winning their first game in Moosic since May 13, 2009 with a mid inning eruption picking up four in the sixth, three in the seventh and one in the eighth to blow out the Yankees 8-2 in the opener.  SWB took a 1-0 lead off Knights starter Matt Zaleski (W, 1-2) on Gustavo Molina’s first HR of the season in the bottom of the third.  Yankees starter Andrew Brackman (L, 2-5) took a shutout into the sixth before allowing three walks and three separate RBI hits producing four runs.  The Knights added three in the sixth inning off reliever Kanekoa Texeria and picked up a solo HR from Andrew Garcia in the eighth inning off Ryan Pope.  The final Yankees run in the sixth inning came home on Kevin Russo’s RBI single.

NOW PITCHING FOR THE SWB YANKEES…

David Phelps looks for his fifth win of the season and his third straight as he faces the Knights for the first time in 2011 and for the first time in his career.   The right hander’s turn in the rotation did not come up in the Yankees series at Charlotte in late April.  Phelps earned no decision in his last start against Toledo on June 3^rd as a pair of unearned runs did him in during the Mud Hens eighth.  He went 7.2 innings allowing 7H, 3R, 1ER, with his team leading eighth HR allowed and 2BB with 7K’s.  At home this season Phelps is 2-2 with a 2.39 ERA over six starts compared to a 2-2 record on the road with an ERA of 4.26.  After a beginning the season with a 1-3 record and a 4.15 ERA in April, Phelps has turned things around over his last six starts with a record of 3-1 and a 2.54 ERA.

MISTAKE FREE EQUALS WINS…

The Yankees committed an error in the opening game loss to Charlotte on Tuesday night marking just the 26 time that Scranton/Wilkes-Barre has been guilty of a miscue.  When the league’s top defensive team plays error free baseball in 2011 they are 23-13.  When committing one error the Yankees are 7-9, when two errors are involved the team is 0-4.

RISP…

The Yankees have picked up their average with runners in scoring position on the season moving the average up to .233 (124-533).  Through the opening month of the season the team was at .217 (46-212) with runners at second and third or some combination there of.  Since May 1^st SWB is hitting .243 (78-321) as a team with RISP, not record setting but a marked improvement.  During the current home stand however the Yankees have resorted to their opening month form hitting just .205 (9-44) in those situations.

LAIRD KEEPS IT ROLLNG ALONG…

Brandon Laird picked up a single in his final at bat in Monday’s loss to Toledo to extend his current hit steak to five games and has now hit safely in 17 of his last 19.  Although his four game run of consecutive multi-hit games came to an end, Laird is still swinging a hot bat hitting .336 (42-125) since the end of April raising his batting average 91 points since finishing the opening month of the season hitting .184.  Laird is tied with Kevin Russo and Jorge Vazquez for the SWB lead in multi-hit games with 16.

COMINGS AND GOINGS…

The NY Yankees have recalled RH Amauri Sanit back to New York to give the bullpen a fresh arm, he had been on the DL with SWB since May 31^st with a groin injury.  Scranton/Wilkes-Barre placed RH Kanekoa Texeria on the DL after he left the game on Tuesday night with an injury.  To fill Texeria’s spot the Yankees promoted RH Tim Norton from Double-A Trenton where he was 1-0 with 6 saves and a 1.55 ERA in 22 games.

THIS AND THAT…

The Yankees are 2-6 in the opening game of a series at PNC Field this season…SWB struck out 11 times in the opening game of the series with Charlotte marking the 26^th time the team has struck out 10 or more times in a game…When posting double digit K’s in a ball game the Yankees are 15-11…The Yankees current deficit in the IL North of 5.0 games behind Lehigh Valley is the Yankees largest deficit since July 8, 2008 when the eventual Governors’ Cup Champions trail Pawtucket by the same margin.

Charlotte Knights

#7 Alejandro De Aza LF

#10 Jim Gallagher 1B

#24 Dayan Viciedo RF

#17 Tyler Flowers C

#8 Dallas McPherson 3B

#23 Lastings Milledge DH

#15 Jordan Danks CF

#6 Andrew Garcia 2B

#3 Eduardo Escobar SS

#25 Miguel Socolovich SP

Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees

#13 Austin Krum LF

#19 Ramiro Pena SS

#38 Jorge Vazquez 1B

#10 Brandon Laird 3B

#8 Jordan Parraz DH

#2 Greg Golson CF

#5 Kevin Russo 2B

#3 Dan Brewer RF

#48 Gustavo Molina C

#35 David Phelps SP

Update: 1st Inning

First Pitch: 7:06 Game Time Temperature: 88 Degrees

Top Half:

Alejandro De Aza and Jim Gallagher both single to lead off of the inning here at PNC Field. Dayan Viciedo swings through a 91 MPH heater for the first out of the inning.  Phelps walks the bases loaded after Tyler Flowers worked the count full, but gets Dallas McPherson to strike out for the second out of the inning. Phelps gets Lastings Milledge to ground out to Ramiro Pena at short stop to end the inning. Phelps saw six batters, allowed two hits, walked one, but struck out two and allowed no runs. Austin Krum is due up to lead off the bottom of the First for the Yankees.

Bottom Half:

Miguel Socolovich gets the Yankees to go down in order with Krum ground out to second base, Pena hitting a line drive right at the left fielder for an out, and Jorge Vazquez Striking out to end the inning for the Yankees. Jordan Danks, Andrew Garcia, and Eduardo Escobar will come up in the second inning for the Knights.

Update: 2nd Inning

Top Half:

Jordan Danks leads off the inning by hitting a fly ball into foul territory, but Austin Krum is able to get under it to make the out. Andrew Garcia ground into a 3-1 out at first base, and Phelps catches Eduardo Escobar looking at a curveball for his third strikeout and final out of the inning. Laird, Parraz, and Golson are due up for the Yankees.

Bottom Half:

Brandon Laird chops a pitch off of home plate that ends up in the second baseman’s glove for the first out of the inning. Jordan Parraz flies out to second base, and Greg Golson smelled a base hit, but Eduardo Escobar ranged to his left to make a nice pick to throw Golson out at first. No runs, hits, or errors, and the score is still 0-0 here at PNC Field. Top of the order due up for the Knights.

Update: 3rd Inning

Top Half:

David Phelps retires the side in order again, as Alejandro De Aza Lines out to first, Jim Gallagher becomes Phelps’ 4th strikeout of the night, and Dayan Viciedo grounds out to short to end the inning. The Yankees will try and get something started here in the 3rd, with Kevin Russo, Dan Brewer, and Gustavo Molina due up in this inning.

Bottom Half:

Kevin Russo flies out to left field after a 9 pitch at-bat, but Dan Brewer breaks through and gets the Yankees first hit of the game with a single to right field. Gustavo Molina flies out to right field , and as the order turns over Austin Krum strikes out to end the third inning. Tyler Flowers will lead off the top of the 4th inning for the Knights here at PNC Field with Phelps back on the mound.

Update: 4th Inning

Top Half:

Tyler Flowers works a walk to lead off the inning, which leads to Dallas McPherson flying out to right field after Dan Brewer made a nice running catch to retire him. Lastings Milledge hit a ground ball to Ramiro Pena, which turned into an inning ending 6-4-3.  Ramiro Pena, Jorge Vazquez, and Brandon Laird will all step into the batter’s box in the bottom half of the 4th, still tied here 0-0.

Bottom Half:

Ramiero Pena works a walk to lead off the inning, but Vazquez and Laird both follow up with strikeouts. Pena steals second base on the third strike that Laird saw, but Parraz makes the final out of the inning by striking out. So after a lead off walk, Socolovich strikes out three straight (5 for the game) and ends the inning. We’ll head into the 5th inning still knotted up here at o a piece.

Update: 5th Inning

Top Half:

After retiring Jordan Danks and Andrew Garcia, Phelps hits a rough spot by giving up a double to Eduardo Escobar and walking Alejandro De Aza. Jim Gallagher strikes out to end the inning, and afterwards throws his bat and helmat to the ground resulting in his ejection from the game. Knights manager Joe McEwing is also ejected after arguing in Gallagher’s case.

Bottom Half:

Knights move Dallas McPherson to first base, and substitute Gookie Dawkins to third base.

Pitching Change: #21 Brandon Kloess for #25 Miguel Socolovich

Socolovich’s Stats: 4.0IP, 5K, 1BB, 1H, 0R, 0ER

Kloess gets Golson to ground out to third baseman Gookie Dawkins, and then strikes out Kevin Russo and Dan Brewer in order to retire the side. We’ll head into the troublesome 6th for the Yankees, with the game tied 0-0.

Update: 6th Inning

Top Half:

Phelps is able to come in and get a 1-2-3 inning, striking out Viciedo for his sixth of the game. Gustavo Molina who hit his first home run of the season last night is set to lead off the bottom of the 6th inning against Brandon Kloess.

Bottom Half:

Gustavo Molina leads off with a solid single down the left field line. With Molina on first, Austin Krum steps in and strikes out for the second time tonight. Ramiro Pena hits a shot into left field, but the speedy Jordan Danks chases the ball down. Gustavo Molina was caught off of second base, and due to his lack of speed was thrown out back at first base while he was attempting to retreat. It goes down as a 7-6-3 double play off of Pena’s bat. Lastings Milledge will lead off for the Knights in the top of the 7th as this ball game remains scoreless.

Update: 7th Inning

Top Half:

Dan Brewer runs down a fly ball in foul territory right in front of the Knight’s bullpen to retire Lastings Milledge. Jordan Danks blisters the second pitch he sees into right center field for a base hit, but Phelps responds by striking out Andrew Garcia for his 7th strikeout of the night, and second out of the inning. Eduardo Escobar gets his second hit of the night as he punches one through the left side of the field, moving Danks to second base. Alejandro De Aza strikes out to make himself the last batter of the inning. The Yankees will send the heart of the order up in Vazquez, Laird, and Parraz to lead off the bottom of the 7th for the Yanks in a tie game at PNC Field.

Bottom Half:

Pitching Change: #33 Tyson Corley for #21 Brandon Kloess

Kloess’ Stats:  2IP, 3K, 0BB, 1H, 0R, 0ER

The Yankees go down in order to end the 7th inning, with Vazquez flying out to right, Laird flying out to center, and Parraz striking out to end the inning. Gookie Dawkins will be up for the Knights to lead off the inning.

Update: 8th Inning

Top Half:

Pitching Change: #37 Tim Norton for #35 David Phelps

Phelp’s Stats: 7IP, 8K, 3BB, 5H, 0R, 0ER 103 Pitches thrown

Norton K’s Gookie Dawkins, but Daylan Viciedo tears into a pitch that is sent into center field for a single. Tyler Flowers also strikes out, and Norton gets Dallas McPherson to hit into a fielder’s choice at short stop, where Pena keeps it himself to end the inning. Greg Golson will try to get something going here for the Yankees in the bottom of the 8th inning.

Bottom Half:

Golson reaches on an infield single. Kevin Russo tries to move Golson over to second base, but Greg Golson is thrown out trying to go into second standing up. Russo reaches on the fielder’s choice with Dan Brewer next in the lineup. Brewer hits into a 4-3 ground out, advancing Kevin Russo to second base. Gustavo Molina lines the fifth pitch of his at-bat, bringing Kevin Russo home. Austin Krum grounds out to the first baseman to end the inning, but not before the Yankees take the lead 1-0 going into the top of the 9th inning.

Update: 9th Inning

Top Half:

Pitching Change: #23 Kevin Whelan for #37 Jim Norton

Kevin Whelan gets Lastings Milledge to strike out, and Jordan Danks bounces out to Vazquez at first base for the second out of the 9th. With the Knights down to their last out of the game, Andrew Garcia steps in against Whelan and strikes out swinging to end the game.

Yankees win this one 1-0.

WP- Jim Norton (1-0)

LP- Tyson Corley (0-1)

SV- Kevin Whelan (18)

Game Notes brought to you by Mike Vander Woude

THE STATE OF THE YANKEES…

The Yankees open up the second half of an eight game home stand with the first game of a four game series against the Charlotte Knights, the Triple-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox.  Scranton/Wilkes-Barre split the opening half of the home stand with the Toledo Mud Hens, winning the second and third games of the series.  The Yankees and Knights split a four game series at Knights Stadium in Fort Mill, South Carolina with SWB taking the first two games of the series and Charlotte winning the final two games of the set between April 26^th-30^th.  Charlotte enters the series having wrapped up an eight game home stand having dropped five of eight games.  The Knights split a four game series with Buffalo and dropped three of four to Lehigh Valley.

YANKEES AND THE KNIGHTS…

Since the Yankees affiliation moved to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre prior to the 2007 season, the Yankees and Charlotte have played 35 times with SWB holding the edge at 21-14, including an 11-4 mark at PNC Field.  The Yankees swept the 2010 series over the Knights 4-0 and have won six straight games dating back to 2008.  Scranton/Wilkes-Barre leads the all time series with Charlotte 95-81.

LAST TIME OUT…

Toledo took the final game of the four game series with the Yankees 4-1 to gain a split in the series with SWB.  Mud Hens starter Thad Weber (W, 3-5) picked up the win allowing one earned run over 7.0 innings on a solo homer to Jorge Vazquez, his 19^th of the season.  The Mud Hens picked up three earned off Yankees starter D.J. Mitchell (L, 4-4) despite a season high 10 strikeouts.  Deik Scram’s two RBI single off Mitchell in the sixth snapped a 1-1 tie and put Toledo up for good.  The Hen’s added a ninth inning run to go up 4-1 on Timo Perez’s RBI single.  Matt Hoffman pitched a scoreless eighth and Ryan Perry (S, 2) picked up his second save of the series with a scoreless ninth.  

NOW PITCHING FOR THE SWB YANKEES…

Andrew Brackman looks to snap a four game losing streak when he takes the mound in the opening game of the four game series with Charlotte.  Brackman has been winless over his last his last seven starts and hasn’t picked up a victory since a start at PNC Field vs. Syracuse on April 24^th. In the six starts since his last win Brackman has allowed 30R in 30.1 IP for an ERA of 8.90.  Brackman lasted just 1.0 innings in his most recent start at Indianapolis on June 2^nd allowing 3ER with out allowing a hit.  He walked three and hit one batter facing three hitters in the second loading the bases before getting pulled.  Brackman will be making his fourth start of the season at PNC Field where he is 1-1 with a 5.06 ERA.  The Yankees are 3-7 in games that the right hander has started this season.

RETURNING TO THE WELL…

JorgeVazquez hit his 19^th homer of the season and his first since launching a two run shot at Louisville on May 27^th.  The homer off Toledo right hander Thad Weber was the first for the IL leader in long balls in 36 at bats, ending his longest dry spell of the season without a home run.  The previous long stretch for Vazquez was 33 at bats from April 29^th – May 8^th.  The slugger also picked up his first RBI since the 27^th also running a stretch of 36 AB’s without driving home a run. Vazquez’s previous long stretch without an RBI was 28 at bats from April 29^th – May 7^th.  Despite the recent dry spell, he continues to lead the IL in both categories.

TRYING TO GET OFF ON THE RIGHT FOOT….

The Yankees will look for the a win in the opening game of a home series for the third time this season in eight tries.  Scranton/Wilkes-Barre is 10-13 at PNC Field this season and has opened up the previous seven home series with a 2-5 record, defeating Syracuse on April 23^rd and Toledo on June 3^rd as the only open game wins.  The Yankees have won two series at home (BUF and SYR), have lost three (ROC, PAW, LHV) and have split two (IND, TOL).

LAIRD KEEPS IT ROLLNG ALONG…

Brandon Laird picked up a single in his final at bat in Monday’s loss to Toledo to extend his current hit steak to five games and has now hit safely in 17 of his last 19.  Although his four game run of consecutive multi-hit games came to an end, Laird is still swinging a hot bat hitting .336 (42-125) since the end of April raising his batting average 91 points since finishing the opening month of the season hitting .184.  Laird is tied with Kevin Russo and Jorge Vazquez for the SWB lead in multi-hit games with 16.

BLUE vs.. GRAY…

The Charlotte Knights are the first team from the South Division the Yankees will host at PNC Field in 2011 and following the four game series which ends on Friday, the Yanks and the Knights will be done for the regular season.  SW has already concluded their season series with the Indianapolis Indians with the four game series at Victory Field May 30^th – June 2^nd. The Yankees finished the 2010 regular season with a 16-16 record against the IL South with a 9-7 record at PNC Field and a 7-9 record on the road.

Tonight’s Starting Lineups:

Charlotte Knights

#7 Alejandro De Aza LF

#10 Jim Gallagher 1B

#24 Dayan Viciedo DH

#17 Tyler Flowers C

#8 Dallas McPherson 3B

#14 Lastings Milledge RF

#15 Jordan Danks CF

#6 Andrew Garcia 2B

#3 Eduardo Escobar SS

#22 Matt Zaleski SP

SWB Yankees

#13 Austin Krum CF

#19 Ramiro Pena SS

#38 Jorge Vazquez 3B

#10 Brandon Laird 1B

#8 Jordan Parraz RF

#2 Greg Golson DH

#5 Kevin Russo 2B

#3 Dan Brewer LF

#48 Gustavo Molina C

#40 Andrew Brackman SP

First Pitch: 7:05 Game Time Temperature: 82 Degrees

Update: 1st Inning

Andrew Brackman gets the Knights to go down in order, striking out the 2 hitter Gallagher. The Yankees will send Austin Krum to the plate to lead off the game against the Knight’s RHP Matt Zaleski.

Austin Krum gets up to the plate and grounds out to second base, and Pena does the same after. With two outs, Jorge Vazquez strikes out on a check swing. The Yankees go down in order, so we have a hitless ball game going into the second inning here at PNC Field. Tyler Flowers will lead the inning off for the Knights.

Update: 2nd Inning

After Tyler Flowers grounded out to second base, Dallas McPherson struck out swinging. That was followed by Lastings Milledge grounding out to short to end the inning with a 6-3 put out. Andrew Brackman has retired the first six batters that he has seen.

Brandon Laird grounded out to third base and Jordan Parraz struck out. But Greg Golson gets a 2 out base-knock into left field, providing the Yankees with the game’s first hit. Kevin Russo stepped into the batter’s box, and bounces into a 6-4 fielder’s choice play that ends the inning. After two here at PNC Field, the Yankees and Knights are tied at 0-0. Jordan Danks will lead off the top of the 3rd inning for the Knights.

Update: 3rd Inning

Jordan Danks leads off the inning with a short fly ball, but Austin Krum makes a terrific diving catch to save a hit. Andrew Garcia lines out to Ramiro Pena at short stop, and Eduardo Escobar grounds out to second base to end the inning. Through three innings, Andrew Brackman has retired the first nine batters he has seen on just 28 pitches. Dan Brewer will lead off the bottom of the 3rd inning for the Yankees.

Dan Brewer becomes Zaleski’s third strikeout victim of the night, but Gustavo Molina gets the Yankees’ first run and second hit of the game with a home run just under the scoreboard in left field. It’s Molina’s first home run of the season. Austin Krum follows Molina’s bomb up with a one-out single to right field. Ramiro Pena was able to worked the count full after fouling off numerous pitches, and eventually reached via walk. Jorge Vazquez grounds into a 6-4-3 double play to end the inning. The Yankees score one run on three hits, and strand one runner as we go to the 4th inning with Alejandro De Aza set to lead off for the Knights.

Update: 4th Inning

After Alejandro De Aza Reached with a double to left field, Jim Gallagher flew out to right field and not long after De Aza is caught trying to swipe third base. Viciedo reaches after he hits a hot shot to Brandon Laird who boots it to right field and is charged with the error. Shortly after that, Tyler Flowers grounds into a 6-4 force out which Viciedo is retired on. That ends the inning with Brandon Laird due up in the bottom of the 4th, still 1-0 SWB.

Brandon Laird grounds out to second base to lead off the inning, but Jordan Parraz reaches on a double. Greg Golson lines out to Charlotte short stop Eduardo Escobar who immediately doubles up Parraz who was caught too far away from second base. Zaleski only sees 3 batters this inning, but the Knights still trail 1-0 with Dallas McPherson leading off the 5th Inning.

Update: 5th Inning

Dallas McPherson is retired after he grounds out to short, and after hitting a vicious line-drive into the crowd in left field Lastings Milledge works a walk to be the first Knights baserunner of the inning. Jordan Danks hits the ball to Kevin Russo who throws Lastings Milledge out at second base. Andrew Garcia hits a high fly ball to left field, and Dan Brewer camps under it to make the final out of the inning. The Yankees will send Kevin Russo to the plate with a 1-0 lead.

Kevin Russo hits a ground ball out to third base to start the inning off. Dan Brewer singles, and Gustavo Molina gets his second hit of the game, moving Dan Brewer over to second base. Austin Krum gives the ball a good ride to deep left center field, but Jordan Danks is able to run over and make the catch. With two outs, Ramiro Pena flys out to center field as well to end the inning. The Yankees have 1 run on 6 hits with 1 error headed into the 6th inning, and lead the game 1-0. The Knights will send up Eduardo Escobar to lead off the 6th inning.

Update:6th Inning

Eduardo Escobar works a lead off walk to start the inning, but the order turns over to Alejandro De Aza who flies out to left field. Jim Gallagher stands in and delivers an RBI double to tie the game at 1 run a piece. Brackman gets Dayan Viciedo to ground out to third base, but Brackman walks Tyler Flowers with two outs.  After the walk, Dallas McPherson steps in a blisters a double into center field, which scores Jim Gallagher and Tyler Flowers giving the Knights a 3-1 lead. Brackman can’t stop the bleeding as a wild pitch advances McPherson to third, and then he walks Lastings Milledge for the second time in the game.

Pitching Change: #33 Kanekoa Texiera for #40 Andrew Brackman

Brackman’s Stats: 5.2 IP, 3H, 4R, 4ER, 4BB, 2K

With McPherson on third and Milledge on first, Jordan Danks singles, driving home McPherson and moving Lastings Milledge to second base.  The run was charged to Brackman. Texiera finally gets Andrew Garcia to fly out to center field for the final out of the inning. Jorge Vazquez will lead off the inning for the Yankees who are now down 4-1 headed into the bottom of the 6th inning.

Jorge Vazquez leads off the bottom of the inning with a single into left field. Soon after Brandon Laird smacks his team-leading 15th double down the left field line enabling Vazquez to go from first base to third base. Jordan Parraz and Greg Golson each strikeout, with Kevin Russo up next. With two outs Kevin Russo lines a shot into center field, scoring Jorge Vazquez. Brandon laird rounds third and also tries to score, but Jordan Danks guns him out at home plate for the final out of the inning. The Yankees score one to bring themselves within 2 runs, the score now is 4-2.

Update: 7th Inning

Escobar singles into right field, and then is moved over by a sacrifice bunt by Alejandro De Aza which makes the first out of the inning. Jim Gallagher walks, and then both Gallagher and Escobar are driven home by a frozen rope to left center field by Dayan Viciedo, who reaches second base. Tyler Flowers is then thrown out on a close play at first base and is ejected for arguing the call.

Pitching Change: #58 Ryan Pope for #33 Kanekoa Texiera

Texiera’s Stats: 1IP, 0K, 1BB, 3H, 3R, 3ER

Dallas McPherson walks, and Lastings Milledge strikes out, but reaches on a wild pitch third strike. Jordan Danks sends a deep fly ball into center field, where Austin Krum makes the final out for the second straight innings. The Knights score 3 more runs this inning, increasing their lead to 7-2.  Dan Brewer will lead off for the Yankees.

Pitching Change: #28 Greg Infante for # 22 Matt Zaleski

Zaleski’s Stats: 6IP, 5K, 1BB, 9H, 2R, 2ER

Dan Brewer works a lead off walk, Gustavo Molina strikes out, and Kevin Russo singles, moving Brewer over to second base. Ramiro Pena hit the ball right on the screws, but it was straight at who else but Jordan Danks in center field. Jorge Vazquez drew a 2 out walk, but Brandon Laird lined out to right field to put an end to the inning. We’ll head into the top half of the 8th inning, as the Yankees Trail 7-2.

Update: 8th Inning

Andrew Garcia leads off the inning by crushing a home run to make the score 8-2. Eduardo Escobar stands in and hits a line-drive out to Vazquez at third base, De Aza flies out to center field, but then Gallagher and Viciedo both reach with singles. Pope Strikes out Tyler Flower’s replacement Donny Lucy  to end the inning. The Knights come away with one run on 3 hits and increase their lead here in the 8th 8-2. Jordan Parraz will lead off the Inning for the Yankees in the next half inning here at PNC Field.

Jordan Parraz and Greg Golson both work walks, bringing up Kevin Russo with runners on 1st and 2nd base.

Pitching Change: #27 Shane Lindsay for #28 Greg Infante

Shane Lindsay comes in and strikes out Kevin Russo on 3 straight pitches, then getting Dan Brewer and Gustavo Molina to strike out. The Yankees leave two runners stranded as the inning comes to a close, still 8-2 headed into the 9th.

Update: 9th Inning

Pitching Change: #20 George Kontos for #58 Ryan Pope

Pope’s Stats: 1.1IP, 0K, 1BB, 3H, 1R, 1ER

Kontos comes into the game and gets a fly ball to left, a fly ball to right, and a strike out. The Yankees will come up in the bottom of the 9th, down by 6 runs  and Austin Krum at bat.

Pitching Change: #21 Brandon Kloess for #27 Shane Lindsay

Austin Krum hits a hard line drive back up the middle, but Kloess gets his glove on it; deflecting it to the short stop who throws him out. Score that a 1-6-3.  Kloess proceeds to strike out Pena and Vazquez to end the game. The final score is 8-2.

WP: Matt Zaleski (1-2)

LP: Andrew Brackman (2-5)

Tonight’s Lineups

Toledo Mudhens

#3 Will Rhymes 2B

#6 Timo Perez LF

#21 Magglio Ordonez DH

#50 Scott Thorman 1B

#12 Bryan Pounds 3B

#17 Cale Iorg SS

#13 Ben Guez CF

#8 Deik Scram RF

#16 Max St. Pierre C

#14 Thad Weber SP

Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees

#13 Austin Krum CF

#19 Ramiro Pena SS

#38 Jorge Vazquez 1B

#10 Brandon Laird 3B

#8 Jordan Parraz RF

#2 Greg Golson LF

#5 Kevin Russo 2B

#3 Dan Brewer DH

#48 Gustavo Molina C

#24 D.J. Mitchell SP

First Pitch 7:05 Temperature 78 Degrees

Update: 1st inning

The Mudhens started off the inning giving up two singles, but then got on a hot streak by striking out two. After the second strikeout, Yankees catcher Gustavo Molina threw out leadoff man Will Rhymes trying to steal third to end the first half of the inning.

Mudhens pitcher Thad Weber retired the side in order, striking out Austin Krum then getting Ramiro Pena to fly out to center and Jorge Vazquez to ground out to third base. At the end of the first the game is tied at 0-0.

Update: 2nd inning

Cale Iorg is the only Mudhen to reach, as D.J. Mitchell strikes out two more this inning bringing his total to four K’s already. Still 0-0 here at PNC Field with Laird, Parraz, and Golson due up in the bottom half of the inning for the Yanks.

Weber retires the Yankees in order again, as Laird flies out to left, Parraz grounds out to third, and Golson flies out to Right.

Update: 3rd inning

Mitchell gets his first 1-2-3 inning of the game, getting his fifth strikeout  of the game. The game is still 0-0.

After Kevin Russo Leads off the bottom half of the inning with a triple, but Weber strikes out Dan Brewer and Gustavo Molina in order, and then gets Austin Krum to fly out to center field. The Yankees strand one as we go to the top of the 4th, with Magglio Ordonez due up to lead off the inning for the Mudhens.

Update: 4th inning

Ordonez strikes out looking, but Scott Thorman singles and is followed by Bryan Pounds doubling in Thorman. After Iorg flew out to a back pedaling Kevin Russo at second, Ben Guez puts the ball in left field, where Greg Golson fields the ball and throws out Bryan Pounds who was trying to score from second base on the play. Golson gets the outfield assist and ends the inning. The Mudhens lead here 1-0.

After Ramiero Pena flies out to center field again, Jorge Vazquez crushes his 19th homer of the season into left field, tieing the game a 1 a piece. Laird and Parraz both hit 6-3 ground outs to wrap up the bottom of the 4th.

Update: 5th Inning

Diek Scram gets walked to lead off the inning, Max St. Pierre becomes D.J. Mitchell’s 7th strikeout victim of the night, and then Mitchell picks off Scram at first. Will Rhymes tries to keep the inning alive, singling to center field, but Timo Perez is thrown out by Mitchell to end the inning. Score is still 1-1 here at PNC Field.

Golson leads off the inning by striking out, Kevin Russo flies out to right field, but Dan Brewer singles into right center field and steals second base. With a running in scoring position, Gustavo Molina grounds out to short stop, leaving the game tied at 1-1 after five Innings. Magglio Ordonez (0-2) is due up in the top half of the 6th.

Update: 6th Inning

Magglio Ordonez strikes out for the third time in the game, followed by a Scott Thorman single. Bryan Pounds strikes out (Mitchells 9th of the game), but Cale Iorg gets his second base knock of the game, moving Thorman to second. Mitchell walks Ben Guez, loading the bases. Diek Scram  singles into center field, which scores Thorman and Iorg. Guez moves over to third base and Scram moves to second on the throw. Max St. Pierre Strikes out to end the inning for the Mudhens, but not before the score two runs, taking the lead 3-1.

Krum lines out to lead off the inning, but when Ramiro Pena gets up he lays a bunt down the 3rd base line to reach. Shortly after Pena is picked off at first base. Vazquez reaches on an error by the third baseman, but the inning ends after Brandon Laird lines out to short stop. The Yankees can’t answer back, as the Mudhens head into the 7th inning with Will Rhymes at the plate, leading 3-1.

Update: 7th Inning

Pitching Change: #29 Randy Flores for #24 D.J. Mitchell

Mitchell’s Stats: 6IP, 10K, 3BB, 9H, 3R, 3ER

Will Rhymes singles to left field, but Timo Perez reaches on a force out which sends Rhymes to the bench. Magglio Ordonez grounds into a 4-6-3 double play to end the inning.  Mudhens still leading 3-1.

Jordan Parraz flies out to second base, Greg Golson doubles to left, and then Weber strikes out Russo and Brewer back-to-back to end the inning. The Mudhens will send up Scott Thorman to lead off the top of the 8th inning.

Update: 8th Inning

Randy Flores Strikes out Scott Thorman for the first out of the inning

Pitching Change: #39 Eric Wordekemper for #29 Randy Flores

Flores’ Stats: 1.1 IP, 1K, 0BB, 1H, 0R, 0ER

Bryan Pounds hits the ball between Laird and Pena on the left side of the infield for his second base knock of the day.  Wordekemper then retires Iorg and Guez by way of fly out to center, and strikeout to end the inning. The Yankees will come up with Molina in the batter’s box to lead the inning off.

Pitching Change: #19 Matt Hoffman for #14 Thad Weber

Weber’s Stats: 7IP, 6K, 0BB, 5H, 1R, 1ER

The Yanks go down in order to end the 8th inning, still down 3-1. Ben Guez will lead off the 9th inning for the Mudhens.

Update: 9th Inning

The Mudhens pot together 4 hits to score one run. Max St. Pierre scores on a Timo Perez single. Magglio Ordonez and Scott Thorman both single, but with two outs the Mudhens try to send home pinch runner (for Timo Perez) Clete Thomas, who is thrown out from left field by Greg Golson. The Mudhens do, however, score one more making it 4-1. Jorge Vazquez due up for the Yankees.

Pitching Change: #40 Ryan Perry for #19 Matt Hoffman

After Vazquez struck out, Laird placed a hard hit ball down the left field line for a single. Jordan Parraz was robbed of a base hit with a nice diving catch. Greg Golson struck a two-out base hit into center, but Kevin Russo grounded out for the last out of the game.

WP- Thad Weber

LP- D.J. Mitchell

Save- Ryan Perry

The Yankees fell to the Mud Hens last evening 7-3. The Yankees current record is 29=24 and trail Lehigh Valley by 4 games in the IL North. The Mud Hens improve to 26-31 and trail the Columbus Clippers by 10.5 games, sitting in last in the IL West.

Here are today’s starting Lineups.

Toledo

#         Name         Pos.

3    Will Rhymes   2b

6    Timo Perez      DH

21  Magglio Ordonez  RF

55  Ryan Strieby    1b

12   Bryan Pounds  3b

13  Ben Guez         LF

34  Clete Thomas  CF

17  Cale Iorg        SS

27  Jeff Kunkel    C

Starting Pitcher: #24 Ramon Garcia

Yankees

#         Name       Pos.

2  Greg Golson CF

19 Ramiro Pena  SS

21 Jesus Montero  C

38  Jorge Vazquez 1B

10 Brandon Laird 3B

8   Jordan Parraz DH

5  Kevin Russo  2B

3   Dan Brewer   RF

13 Austin Krum  LF

Starting Pitcher: 26 Buddy Carlyle

First Pitch – 1:08, Game time temperature 67 degrees.

Update 1:10 - The Mud Hens are on the board. Will Rhymes drew a leadoff walk and later scored on a double to centerfield by Timo Perez. Golson nearly came up with the catch on a diving attempt. However, the ball got under his glove and rolled all the way to the left – centerfield wall.

Update 1:14 - Buddy Carlye gets out of the inning having allowed just one run. Bryan Pounds flew out to Dan Brewer in right field and left Timo Perez stranded at third base. Greg Golson will lead things off for the Yankees in the bottom half of the first inning.

Update 1:25 - Brandon Laird continues to hit the ball well. He just roped an RBI single right back up the middle, Pena scores easily from third to tie the game at 1-1. Jordan Parraz is the new hitter with runners on first base and second base and two out in the inning.

Update 1:30 - Jordan Parraz works a 3-2 count, but flies out to right field to end the inning. Vazquez and Laird were left on base in the inning. However, the Yankees were able to tie the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the second. Ben Guez will lead things off for the Mud Hens in the top of the second.

Update 1:35 - Great defensive play by Jesus Montero to come up with an inning ending catch. Carlyle goes 1-2-3. Kevin Russo to lead off.

Update 1:45 - Yankees go down in order in the second. Jeff Kunkel will lead things off for the Yankees in the top half of the third.

Update 1:52 - Timo Perez ropes a two out double to right – centerfield. Maglio Ordonez at the plate for the Mud Hens.

Update 1:53 - Ordonez flies out to left field to end the inning.

Update 1:59 - Ramiro Pena just blasted a home run to left field to give the Yankees a 3-1 advantage in the bottom of the third inning. Dan Brewer now at the plate with nobody out.

Update 2:02 - Yankees fail to extend their lead after the Pena homer. To the fourth we go, Ryan Strieby at the plate.

Update 2:11 - Another K for Carlyle. 1-2-3 with a flashy play by 3b Brandon Laird. Yanks to bat in the bottom of the 4th.

Update 2:15 - Yankees retired in order again in the bottom of the fourth inning.

Update 2:24 - Will Rhymes flies out to Dan Brewer in right field to end the inning. To the bottom half of the fifth we go.

Update 2:34 - Nothing doing for the Yankees in the bottom of the fifth. Timo Perez will lead off the sixth inning for the Mud Hens.

Update 2:37 - Magglio Ordonez just crushed a ball to left – center, but was tagged out at second thanks to the 7-6-4. Nice play by Krum, Pena and Russo. Strieby then popped up to end the inning. Yankees lead is 3-1 as we go to the bottom of the inning.

Update 2:48 - Brandon Laird is left stranded at first base in the bottom of the sixth. George Kontos is the new Scranton/Wilkes-Barre pitcher.

Update 2:55 - Cale Iorg just doubled in Bryan Pounds. It was a very close play at the plate, however Montero dropped the ball.

Update 3:09 - Greg Golson grounds out to shortstop ending the seventh inning. He nearly beat out the throw. Will Rhymes will lead off the eighth inning for the Mud Hens.

Update 3:15 - Magglio Ordonez flies out to shallow left field to end the top of the eighth. Greg Golson looks much faster than he was prior to being injured.

Update 3:22 - Jorge Vazquez K’s. Kevin Whelan in for the save attempt in the top of the ninth inning. He will face Ryan Strieby.

THE STATE OF THE YANKEES…

The Yankees continue an eight game home stand with the second game of a four game series against the Toledo Mud Hens, the Triple-A affiliate of the Detroit Tigers. SWB picked up a 4-3 win over the Mud Hens in the opening game of the series on Friday night. The Yankees will host the Charlotte Knights in the second half of the home stand beginning on Tuesday. The Yankees went 5-3 on their recent eight game trip taking three of four from Louisville and splitting a four game series with Indianapolis. The Yankees are in a stretch where the team plays 16 of 20 at PNC Field with Friday’s win SWB improved to 9-11 on their home turf and have won three straight at home after snapping a franchise record tying seven game home losing streak (May 7th – 22nd). With Friday’s win over the Mud Hens and a Lehigh Valley win at Charlotte , the Yankees stand in second place in the IL North 4.0 games behind the first place Iron Pigs.

YANKS AND THE HENS…

Since the Yankees affiliation moved to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre prior to the 2007 season, the Yankees and Mud Hens have played a competitive series with SWB holding a 18-15 edge including going 10-7 at PNC Field. Over the last two home series with the Mud Hens dating back to 2009, the Yankees have won three of four in each of the series. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre leads the all time series with Toledo 122-111.

LAST TIME OUT…

Brandon Laird’s bloop single to right field in the bottom of the ninth inning scored Kevin Russo with the game winning run giving the Yankees a 4-3 win over Toledo in the opening game of the four game series at PNC Field. Laird knocked in two runs on the night including the game winner as Kevin Whelan (W, 1-1) picked up the win in relief of SWB starter David Phelps who allowed 3R (1ER) over 7.1 innings. Bryan Pounds homered off Phelps in the sixth for Toledo and Clete Thomas drove home two runs with an RBI double to tie the game in the eighth off Eric Wordekemper to tie the game at 3-3 before Laird’s game winning hit in the ninth. Lester Oliveros (L, 1-2) took the loss for the Hens in relief of Phil Coke who was making a big league rehab start.

NOW PITCHING FOR THE SWB YANKEES…

Adam Warren is in search of his fourth win of the season and looks to tie David Phelps for the team lead with his first start of the season against Toledo. Warren got no decision in his most recent start at Indianapolis on May 30th tossing 6.0 innings against the Indians allowing 9H and 4ER with 2BB and 4K. The right hander has put up decent numbers in both games started at PNC Field and away from home. Warren is 1-1 with a 3.68 ERA in four starts at home with a .244 average against and 2-0 with a 3.89 ERA with a .275 average against in six starts on the road. The Yankees have won seven of the 10 games started by Warren in 2011.

MULTIPLE HITS BY MULTIPLE PLAYERS…

Seven different Yankees had hits in the opening game win against Toledo on Friday night and all seven had multiple hits in the victory over the Mud Hens. Brandon Laird led the 15 hit attack with his second three hit game of the season. Austin Krum, Jesus Montero, Jorge Vazquez, Dan Brewer and Doug Bernier each chipped in with two hits apiece off Toledo pitching. The seven multi-players with multi-hit games occurred for the second time in the last four games for the Yankees who also had seven different players with multi hit games in an 18 hit 10 run effort on May 31st at Victory Field in Indianapolis.

RUSSO AND LAIRD…

Kevin Russo and Brandon Laird continue to swing hot bats for the Yankees heading into the lengthy home stand. Since beginning the season 3-34 (.088) Russo is hitting .319 (44-138) and is riding a six game hit streak where he is hitting .400 (10-25), with 4R, 2 2B, 2 3B, RBI, BB, 4K, CS. The utility man has eight two hit games in his last 12 played. Laird led the Yankees in hits during the month of May with 31 on route to hitting .307 raising his average from .184 to .254. He has hit safely in 14 of 16 games (22-62, .385) dating back to May 17th including a season high eight straight from May 23rd – 31st.

BULLPEN CHIPS IN…

Kevin Whelan picked up his first win of the season in the opening game of the four game series against Toledo on Friday night. Whelan’s win for the Yankees bullpen since Ryan Pope picked up a victory at McCoy Stadium against the Pawtucket Red Sox on May 13th in relief of spot starter Lance Pendleton. In between wins for the Yankees pen the unit had gone 0-5 but did convert on four save opportunities.

TURNING THINGS AROUND AT HOME…

The Yankees will play 15 of their next 19 games at PNC Field where the team has gone 9-11 through the first two months and three days of the season. SWB has the most wins on the road of any International League team with 20. The Yankees have the second fewest home wins (Toledo – eight) in the league so far in 2011. The Yankees are hitting 22 points lower at home (.250) than on the road (.272) and is averaging 3.7 runs per game in 20 home games as opposed to 5.1 runs per game on the road. The pitching numbers for the Yankees have been slightly better at home as opposed to the road with a 3.26 home ERA and a 3.95 ERA away from PNC Field. After suffering through a franchise record tying seven game home losing streak May 7th-22nd the Yankees have won their last three in a row at PNC Field.

Tonight’s Starting Line-ups –

Toledo Mudhens:

#3 Will Rhymes 2B

#6 Timo Perez LF

#21 Magglio Ordonez DH

#50 Scott Thorman RF

#12 Bryan Pounds 3B

#34 Clete Thomas CF

#17 Cale Iorg SS

#16 Max St. Pierre C

#Duane Below SP

Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees

#2 Greg Golson CF

#19 Ramiro Pena SS

#21 Jesus Montero C

#38 Jorge Vazquez 1B

#10 Brandon Laird 3B

#8 Jordan Parraz RF

#5 Kevin Russo 2B

#3 Dan Brewer LF

#15 Luis Nunez DH

#28 Adam Warren SP

Update 7:41 - The Mud Hens jumped out to an early 1-0 lead. In the top of the first, Maglio Ordonez roped an RBI double.

Update 8:11 - Toledo extends their lead to 2-0 in the top of the fourth. Ryan Strieby scored on an infield single off the bat of Cale Iorg.

Game Notes brought to you by Mike Vander Woude

THE STATE OF THE YANKEES…

The Yankees return home to PNC Field to open up an eight game homestand with four against the Toledo Mud Hens, the Triple-A affiliate of the Detroit Tigers. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre will host the Charlotte Knights in the second half of the homestand beginning on Tuesday night. The Yankees went 5-3 on their recent eight game trip taking three of four from Louisville and splitting a four game series with Indianapolis. SWB had a chance to take three of four from the Indians for the fourth straight season at Victory Field but got blown out in the series finale 13-2. The Yankees are in a stretch where the team plays 16 of 20 at PNC Field but thus far the home field hasn’t been an advantage as the Yankees are just 8-11 on their home turf and have lost seven of their last nine games at PNC. With Thursday night’s loss to Indy and a Lehigh Valley win at Gwinnett, the Yankees stand in second place in the IL North 4.0 games behind the first place Iron Pigs.

YANKS AND THE HENS…

Since the Yankees affiliation moved to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre prior to the 2007 season, the Yankees and Mud Hens have played a competitive series with SWB holding a 17-15 edge including going 9-7 at PNC Field. Over the last two home series with the Mud Hens dating back to 2009, the Yankees have won three of four in each of the series. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre leads the all time series with Toledo 121-111.

LAST TIME OUT…

Thursday night was one the Yankees would like to forget. Indianapolis set season highs allowed by Yankees pitching in runs, hits, extra base hits and tied the high watermark for homers in a game by an opponent as the Indians blasted the Yankees 13-2 in the final game of the four game series at Victory Field. Alex Presley hit a pair of three run homers and drove home six runs, Miles Durham had a three RBI double and Matt Hague homered and scored twice as Indy’s 13 runs, 15 hits and seven extra base hits were all season highs allowed by the SWB staff. Andrew Brackman (L, 2-4) lasted just 1.0+ innings allowing 3ER on 3BB and a hit batsman before being removed in the second inning. The bullpen didn’t fare much better with Ryan Pope allowing 4ER, George Kontos 2ER and Kanekoa Texeria 4ER. Eric Wordekemper was the only Yankees pitcher to throw a scoreless inning. Justin Wilson (W, 6-3) beat the Yankees for the second time on the season allowing 5H and 2ER over 6.0 innings with 3BB and 3K.

NOW PITCHING FOR THE SWB YANKEES…

David Phelps looks for his fifth win of the season and his third straight as he faces the Mudhens for the third time in his career. The right hander went 1-0 with a 2.08 ERA against Toledo in 2010 throwing 13.0 innings in starts at both PNC Field (7/18) and Fifth Third Field (8/14). He allowed 3ER and 13H with 16K’s (including a career high 10 in the 7/18 game) and 0BB. In his last start Phelps picked up a win at Louisville on Sunday night tossing a season high 8.0 innings with 10H, 4ER and 5K’s. In five starts at PNC Field this season the right hander is 2-2 with a 2.70 ERA covering 30.0 innings allowing 30H (4HR) with 9BB and 25K. After a slow start to the season with a 1-3 record and a 4.15 ERA in April, Phelps turned things around in May going 3-1 with a 2.87 ERS in five starts.

TURNING THINGS AROUND AT HOME…

The Yankees will play 16 of their next 20 games at PNC Field where the team has gone 8-11 through the first two months of the season. SWB has the most wins on the road of any International League team with 20. The Yankees are tied with Toledo for the fewest home wins in the league so far in 2011. SWB’s winning percentage is better than the Hens who have gone 8-18 at Fifth Third Field. The Yankees are hitting 32 points lower at home (.240) than on the road (.272) and is averaging 3.7 runs per game in 19 home games as opposed to 5.1 runs per game on the road. The pitching numbers for the Yankees have been slightly better at home as opposed to the road with a 3.38 home ERA and a 3.95 ERA away from PNC Field.

RUSSO AND LAIRD…

Kevin Russo and Brandon Laird continue to swing hot bats for the Yankees heading into the lengthy home stand. Since beginning the season 3-34 (.088) Russo is hitting .316 (42-133) and is riding a five game hit streak where he is hitting .400 (8-20), with 3R, 2 2B, 3B, RBI, BB, 3K, CS. The utility man has seven two hit games in his last 11 played. Laird led the Yankees in hits during the month of May with 31 on route to hitting .307 raising his average from .184 to .254. He has hit safely in 13 of 15 games dating back to May 17th including a season high eight straight from May 23rd – 31st.

MULTIPLE SOUTHPAWS…

The Yankees have faced 39 right handed starters and 12 left handers in 2011. SWB has posted an 8-4 record against left hander starters and are in the midst of a stretch where they will face six consecutive southpaw starters. The Indians threw Rudy Owens, Brian Burres and Justin Wilson in the final three games of the four game series. Toledo comes into PNC Field opening a four game series on Friday and are scheduled to throw former SWB Yankee Phil Coke on a big league rehab and then another pair of lefties with Duane Below on Saturday and Andrew WIlk on Sunday before finally seeing a right hander on Monday Thad Weber in the series finale.

AT LONG LAST A LENGHTY HOME ENGAGEMENT…

After finishing up their current eight game eight day road trip, the fourth trip of the season for the Yankees of six games or more on the season, the Yankees return home for a stretch of 16 of 20 games. SWB will host Toledo (June 3rd-6th) and Charlotte (June 7th- 10th) at PNC Field and following a four game series at Syracuse (June 11th-14th), the Yankees return home for four against Columbus (June 16th-19th) and four against Norfolk (June 20th – 23rd).

Tonight’s Starting Line-ups –

Toledo Mudhens:

#3 Will Rhymes 2B

#6 Timo Perez DH

#21 Magglio Ordonez RF

#50 Scott Thorman 1B

#12 Bryan Pounds 2B

#13 Ben Guez LF

#34 Clete Thomas CF

#11 Argenis Diaz SS

#16 Max St. Pierre C

#24 Phil Coke SP

Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees

#13 Austin Krum CF

#5 Kevin Russo 2B

#21 Jesus Montero DH

#38 Jorge Vazquez 1B

#10 Brandon Laird 3B

#8 Jordan Parraz RF

#3 Dan Brewer LF

#48 Gustavo Molina C

#12 Doug Bernier SS

#35 David Phelps SP

First Pitch 7:06 Game Time Temperature 67 Degrees

Update 7:06 – Lead off man Will Rhymes singles up the middle after working the count full on Phelps. Up next is Timo Perez for the Mudhens.

Update 7:08 – Perez singles, moving Rhymes over to second. Magglio Ordonez is due up with two on and no outs here in the first.

Update 7:10 – Ordonez goes down looking. Phelps has his first strikeout of the game, and the first out of the inning. Still runners on first and second with Scott Thorman at the dish.

Update 7:11 – Phelps K’s Thorman for the second out of the inning with Bryan Pounds up next in the order.

Update 7:13 – After giving up two straight hits to start off the game, Phelps strikes out the next three batters, as the Mudhens strand two in the top of the first. Top of the order due up for the Yanks against Phil Coke.

Update 7:18 – Coke retires the first two batters, striking out Austin Krum and getting Kevin Russo to ground into a 4-3 out.

Update 7:19 – Jesus Montero hits a frozen rope over the right fielder’s head for a double. Two outs here in the bottom of the first inning with Jorge Vazquez at the plate.

Update 7:21 – Jorge Vazquez can’t hold up, as he strikes out trying to check his swing. Still scoreless at PNC Field with the Mudhens sending third baseman Ben Guez up to lead off the second inning.

Update 7:24 – Phelps fields a dribbler back to the mound, throwing out Guez for the first out of the inning. Clete Thomas is up next.

Update 7:26 – Thomas hits a towering fly ball into the shadows in left field, and Dan Brewer is there to make the out. Two down in the second inning.

Update 7:33 – Diaz, the short stop, works a two-out walk but Max St. Pierre hits a fly-out to right field to end the inning. Brandon Laird is due up to start off the inning for the Yankees.

Update 7:35 – Laird drives the ball into center field, but Clete Thomas slides into place to make the out.

Update 7:38 – Jordan Parraz watches strike three go by as the Yankees are down to their final out of the inning with Dan Brewer at the plate.

Update 7:40 – Brewer hits the ball down the left field line, and just beats the throw from left field as he slides into second base.

Update 7:40 – Gustavo Molina pops the first pitch he sees into right field, and that will do it for the Yankees in the second inning. Still scoreless at PNC field with the order turning over for the Mudhens in the third.

Update 7:43 – Will Rhymes loops the first pitch he gets right to Dan Brewer in left field, and Timo Perez grounds his first pitch back to David Phelps.

Update 7:45 – Magglio Ordonez flies out to second baseman Kevin Russo to end the inning. David Phelps only threw 4 pitches that inning.

Update 7:49 – Phil Coke strikes out Doug Bernier to lead off the inning, as the top of the order is due up. Austin Krum steps in 0-1 with 1 strikeout so far tonight.

Update 7:51 – Krum hits a shot to right center for a double. Kevin Russo is up next with one out here in the third.

Update 7:54 – Russo singles into left field, moving Krum over to third base. With one out, Jesus Montero comes up to the plate.

Update 7:57 – Montero strikes out, with Jorge Vazquez up next. Two outs here in the third.

Update 7:59 – Vazquez grounds into a 6-4 fielder’s choice to end the inning. The Yankees get two hits and leave two runners on base to end the inning.

Update 8:02 – Phelps Strikes out Scott Thorman for the second time in the game for the first out of the inning.

Update 8:06  – Bryan Pounds singles, and Ben Guez follows up with a fly-out to center field.

Update 8:08 – Phelps issues his second walk of the night to Clete Thomas. With two runners on, and two outs, Argenis Diaz comes up to bat here in the fourth inning.

Update 8:09 – Diaz hits a 4-3 ground out to end the inning. Yankees will send Brandon Laird to the plate to lead off the fourth inning.

Update 8:13 – Laird gets a lead off walk with Jordan Parraz up next.

Update 8:14 – Parraz flies out to center field for the first out of the inning.

Update 8:16 -Dan Brewer flies out to center field, and Gustavo Molina flies out to right center after a long run from Clete Thomas.

Update 8:21 – Max St. Pierre leads off the inning for the Mudhens by ground out to Russo at second base. One down as Will Rhymes comes to the plate for his third AB.

Update 8:23 – DH Timo Perez comes to the plate now after Rhymes flew out to left field. Two out.

Update 8:24 – Perez gets a two out single into left, with Magglio Ordonez up next. Ordonez struck out looking in the first, and flew out to the second baseman in the third.

Update 8:25 – Ordonez is now 0-3 as he gives the ball a ride to deep right field, but doesn’t have quiet enough on it as Parraz makes a nice catch at the wall to end the inning. Still scoreless headed into the bottom of the fifth inning here a PNC Field.

Update 8:29 – Doug Bernier singles to center field to lead off the inning for the Yankees.

Update 8:32 – After trying to bunt Bernier to second, Austin Krum grounds into a force out sending Bernier to the bench. Krum is on first with one out.

Update 8:34 – Kevin Russo grounds into a 6-4-3 double play to end the inning.

Update 8:38 – After Scott Thorman strikes out, Brian Pounds hits a home run over the left field wall to make it a 1-0 Mudhen’s lead here in the top of the sixth inning.

Update 8:39- Ben Guez singles, and then swipes second base with Clete Thomas at the plate and one out.

Update 8:43 - After Thomas strikes out, Diaz grounds out to third to end the inning.

Update 8:45 – Jesus Montero leads off the inning with a single.

Update 8:48 – Vazquez singles, moving Montero over to second base. Brandon Laird hits a lazer into the left field corner, bringing home Montero and sending Vazquez to third. Laird stands at second base with the score 1-1 and Parraz stepping into the box.

Update 8:52 – Phil Coke walks Jordan Parraz to load the bases. Dan Brewer comes up to bat with none out.

Update 8:57 – Dan Brewer goes down swinging for the first out of the inning. Bases still loaded for Gustavo Molina, who has Flied out to center, and right field in two at-bats.

Pitching Change: #52 Brandan Wise in for #24 Phil Coke

Phil Coke: 5.1 IP 8H, 3R, 3ER, 2BB, 6K

Update 8:59 – Molina almost grounds into a double play, but the second baseman throws wide of first, and reaches on a fielder’s choice E-4.Vazquez scores on the play making it 2-1.

Update 9:01 – Doug Bernier singles to drive in Laird, making the score 3-0. Molina moves to second base. Austin Krum singles to left, but Gustavo Molina is thrown out at the plate trying to score from second base to end the inning.

Update 9:05 – Max St. Pierre Flies out behind the plate to make the first out of the inning.

Update 9:07 – Will Rhymes lines out to second base, and Timo Perez grounds out to second base to end the inning.

Update 9:09 – Kevin Russo grounds out to short to lead off the inning.

Update 9:10 – Jesus Montero grounds out to second base for the second out of the inning.

Update 9:12- Vazquez reaches on a single, Laird singles to right, and then Parraz grounds into a close play at first, as the first basemen dove head-long into the bag for the out. Ryan Strieby (substituted for Ordonez) is due up for the Mudhens to lead off the 8th inning. The Mudhens trail 3-1.

Update 9:19 – Strieby reaches on an error by the short stop.

Update 9:21 – Scott Thorman becomes Phelp’s seventh strike-out victim of the night. Bryan Pounds is up next with one out and one on.

Update 9:22 – Pounds flies out to second base for the second out of the inning.

Update 9:25 – Ben Guez singles to center field, and Strieby goes from first to third on the play.

Pitching Change: #39 Eric Wordekemper for #35 David Phelps

David Phelps stats: 7.2IP, 7H, 3R, 1ER, 2BB, 7K, 1HR

Update 9:30- Clete Thomas doubles, scoring Guez and Strieby. The game is now tied 3-3 with Argenis Diaz at the plate.

Update 9:33 – Argenis Diaz strikes out to end the inning.

Pitching Change: #36 Buster Oliveros for #52 Brandan Wise

Update 9:36 – Brewer singles, and Gustavo Molina bunts him over to second base. One out.

Update 9:38 – Doug Bernier Flies out to right field, Dan Brewer advances to third base with two down in the inning.

Update 9:41- Austin Krum grounds out to second to end the inning. Game still tied 3-3 going into the 9th inning.

Pitching Change: #23 Kevin Whelan for #39 Eric Wordekempter

Update 9:44 – Max St. Pierre flies out to center field for the first out of the inning.

Update 9:46 – Will Rhymes flies out to right field for the second out of the inning.

Update 9:48 – Timo Perez grounds out t short stop to end the inning.

Update 9:52 – Kevin Russo triples to lead off the inning. Next up is Jesus Montero here in the 9th in a 3-3 game.

Update 9:55 – The Mudhens intentionally walk Jesus Montero and Jorge Vazquez to bring up Brandon Laird with the bases loaded.

Update 9:57 – Brandon Laird loops a ball into right field, scoring Kevin Russo. Russo scores the game winning run, and the Yankees win 4-3.

WP- Kevin Whelan

LP- Lester Oliveros

YANKEES AND INDIANS…
Since the Yankees affiliation moved to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre prior to the 2007 season, the Yankees have dominated the Indians at Victory Field inIndianapoliseven with Monday night’s loss winning 15 of 19 games.  The Yankees completed a four game sweep at Victory Field in 2007 and have won winning three of four games over Indianapolis from 2008-2010.  The Yankees lead the series withIndianapolissince 2007 by a 26-13 mark.  All-time Scranton/Wilkes-Barre is 70-58 against the Indians.

LAST TIME OUT…
Ramiro Pena’s RBI groundout in the top of the eighth inning was the only run scored in the Yankees 1-0 shutout win at Indianapolis on Wednesday afternoon.  The shutout win for the Yankees was their fifth of the season and second on the current road trip, having shutout Louisville 5-0 last Thursday.  D.J. Mitchell (W, 4-3) picked up his fourth win on the road with 7.0 shutout innings allowing 5H with 1BB and 5K.  Indians starter Brian Burres (ND) held the Yankees without a run over 7.0 innings allowing just three hits in a no decision.  SWB picked up the winning run after a lead off double in the eighth by Dan Brewer, who moved to third on a single by Luis Nunez before the one out RBI grounder off closer Tim Wood (ND).  Wood came on with one out reliving Tony Watson (L, 2-3) who gave up the hits to Brewer and Nunez.  Kevin Whelan (S, 16) pitched around a lead off double in the ninth to earn the save.

NOW PITCHING FOR THE SWB YANKEES…
Andrew Brackman looks to snap a three game losing streak when he takes the mound in the final game of the four game series with Indianapolis.  Brackman has been winless over his last his last six starts and hasn’t picked up a victory since a start at PNC Field vs. Syracuse on April 24^th. In the six starts since his last win Brackman has allowed 27R in 29.1 IP for an ERA of 8.28.  Brackman tossed 4.1 innings in his most recent start at Louisville on May 26^th allowing 2ER on just 1H.  The right hander struck out a season high eight Bats hitters but also set a season high with six walks and threw 96 pitches in the outing.  Brackman earned no decision at PNC Field vs. Indianapolis on May 22^nd tossing 6.0 innings allowing 6H and 4ER with 3BB and 4K.  Brackman has struggled away from PNC Field this season posting a 1-2 record with a 7.06 ERA in six starts covering 29.1 innings allowing 32H and 23ER with 22B and 26K.  The IL is hitting .291 against him on the road.

BAGEL CATCHER…
The Yankees have recorded five shutouts in 2011 and Jesus Montero has been behind the plate for all five of the no run games against SWB this season.  Montero leads the Yankees catchers with a 21-13 record and a 3.36 ERA.  In 295.0 innings behind the plate Scranton/Wilkes-Barre has given up 110 earned runs.

A LOW SCORING WINNER…
SWB picked up a 1-0 shutout win on Wednesday afternoon marking the fewest combined runs scored in a Yankees game this season.  Ramiro Pena’s RBI groundout off Tim Wood proved to be the game winner.  The last time the Yankees were involved in a 1-0 shutout win as on opening night 2010 with the team shutout Buffalo by the same score.  David Winfree provided the offense for the Yankee that night with a solo homer in the bottom of the fourth inning off Bisons starter Tobi Stoner.

STREAKING NO MORE…
Jesus Montero and Brandon Laird each had hitting streaks stopped on Wednesday afternoon with Montero going 0-4 with 2K and Laird going 0-4 with 1K.  Laird’s streak reached a season high eight games with a two hit effort on Tuesday night.  During his eight game run Laird hit .364 (12-33), with 3R, 4 2B, 5RBI and 3K and has raised his overall average from .236 to .254.  Montero streak stopped at 11 games, he picked up his second straight two hit game on Tuesday night and finished his streak hitting .277 (13-47) with 6R, 2 2B, 3B, 2HR, 9RBI, 3BB and 15K. 

MULTIPLE SOUTHPAWS…
The Yankees have faced 39 right handed starters and 11 left handers in 2011.  SWB has posted an 8-3 record against left hander starters and are in the midst of a stretch where they will face six consecutive southpaw starters.  The Indians threw Rudy Owens, Brian Burres and will start Justin Wilson in the final game of the four game series on Thursday night.  Toledo comes into PNC Field opening a four game series on Friday and are scheduled to throw former SWB Yankee Phil Coke on a big league rehab and then another pair of lefties with Duane Below on Saturday and Andrew WIlk on Sunday before finally seeing a right hander on Monday Thad Weber in the series finale. 

AT LONG LAST A LENGHTY HOME ENGAGEMENT…
After finishing up their current eight game eight day road trip, the fourth trip of the season for the Yankees of six games or more on the season, the Yankees return home for a stretch of 16 of 20 games.  SWB will host Toledo(June 3^rd-6^th) and Charlotte (June 7^th-10^th) at PNC Field and following a four game series at Syracuse (June 11^th-14^th), the Yankees return home for four against Columbus (June 16^th-19^th) and four against Norfolk (June 20^th – 23^rd).

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PROBABLE PITCHING MATCH UP vs. TOLEDO

Friday  TOL – LH Phil Coke (NR) vs. SWB – RH David Phelps (4-4, 3.50)
Saturday  TOL – LH Duane Below (4-3, 3.57) vs. SWB RH Adam Warren (3-1, 3.81)
Sunday  TOL – LH Adam Wilk (4-4, 3.54) vs. SWB RH Carlos Silva (2-0, 3.44)
Monday TOL – RH Thad Weber (2-5, 6.02) vs. SWB RH D.J. Mitchell (4-3, 2.78)

The Yankees will see left handers in three of the four games vs. Toledo with the Mud Hens expected to start former SWB Yankee Phil Coke in the opening game of the four game series against the Yankees on Friday.  Coke went 2-2 for SWB with a 4.67 ERA in 2009 appearing in 14 games with 1 start.  In 17.1 innings, Coke allowed 19H, 11R, 9ER with 5BB and 22K.  The southpaw was placed on the 15 day DL by the Tigers on May 24th with a bone bruise in his left foot.

The Tigers are also expected to send OF Magglio Ordonez to PNC Field to test his right ankle under game conditions.  Detroit placed Ordonez on the 15 day DL on May 13th (retro to May 11th) with right ankle weakness.  According to the Detroit News if all goes well with Ordonez at PNC Field over the weekend he could rejoin the Tigers as soon as Monday, when the team opens a series at Texas.

STARTING LINE UPS – June 2 @ Indianapolis  (* – LH / # – SH)

SWB Yankees (28-22)

5 – Kevin Russo 2b
19 – Ramiro Pena# ss
21 – Jesus Montero c
38 – Jorge Vazquez 3b
10 – Brandon Laird 1b
8 – Jordan Parraz rf
3 – Dan Brewer lf
15 – Luis Nunez dh
13 – Austin Krum cf

40 – Andrew Brackman (2-3, 6.35 ERA)

Indianapolis Indians (24-30)

19 – Chase d’Arnaud ss
12 – Brian Friday 2b
7 – Alex Presley* lf
23 – John Bowker* 1b
25 – Andy Marte 3b
26 – Matt Hague dh
16 – Eric Fryer c
28 – Miles Durham rf
13 – Gorkys Hernandez cf

45 – Justin Wilson* (5-3, 3.54 ERA)

SWB 1-0 (TOP 1st)

The Yankees picked up a pair of unearned runs in the top of the firwas st inning off Justin Wilson.  Kevin Russo led off the game with a triple on an ill-advised sliding attempt at a catch by right fielder Miles Durham.  Ramiro Pena tried to bunt home Russo from third but the bunt went to Wilson on the mound and his throw to the plate was bobbled and eventually dropped by catcher Eric Fryer. Russo scored and the Yankees led 1-0. Pena moved from from first ot second on a wild pitch and scored on a two out RBI single to left center from Brandon Laird.  Laird’s first hit in the month of June after 29 in May drove home his 16th runs of the season and the Yankees had the 2-0 advantage.

IND 3-2 (BOT 2nd)

SWB Andrew Brackman imploded in the third inning putting the first three batters he faced on board with two walks and a hit batsman.  Yankees manager Dave Miley had seen enough and pulled the started in favor of Ryan Pope.  Pope gave up a gap double to right center off the bat of Miles Durham that scored three runs (all charged to Brackman) and the Indians grabbed a 3-2 lead.

IND 8-2 (BOT 4th)

This one got out of control in a hurry as the Indians put five on the board in the bottom of the fourth inning with four of the runs coming off Ryan Pope.  Pope hit Eric Fryer with a pitch to open the inning, Fryer went first to third on a Gorkys Hernandez double a walk to Chase d’Arnuad loaded the bases for Brian Friday, who got home Fryer home on a sacrifice fly for a 4-2 lead.  Alex Presley was the next hitter to stand in againt Pope and took the Yankees right hander over the wall in right field for a 7-2 Indy lead.  George Kontos was brought in out of the SWB bullpen and gave up a triple to the first hitter he faced, Andy Marte.  During the AB of the next hitter John Bowker, Kontos uncorked a wild pitch scoring Marte for a 7-2 lead.

IND 9-2 (BOT 5th)

The Indians added to their lead with their second homer of the night, this one coming off George Kontos.  Matt Hague lead off the fifth with a lawn shot to left and the lead went to seven.

IND 13-2 (BOT 8th)

Another big inning for Indy in the bottom half of the eighth inning scoring four more runs off the fourth Yankees pitcher Kaneoka Texeria.  Alex Presley’s second three run homer of the game highlighted the six hit inning that also saw an RBI single from Eric Fryer.  The Indians sent 10 men to the plate in the frame.