News:
Nothing new.
Scranton (59-61; 25-21 in the second half) (Split a doubleheader against Lehigh Valley)
This is a big series against Lehigh Valley, the team they are chasing for the second-half title. It is a logjam, however, as four teams are between Lehigh Valley and Scranton in the standings.
Game 1 (Won, 4-3, in eight innings)
CF Estevan Florial: 1-for-3, 2B (18), RBI, RS, BB, K
DH Austin Wells: 2-for-4, 2 RS, CS (1)
Wells’ first career caught stealing (he is now 39-for-40 stealing bases)
1B Andres Chaparro: 1-for-2, RBI, 2 BB, K
RF Franchy Cordero: 1-for-2, RBI, BB, HBP
C Carlos Narvaez: 1-for-4, RBI
Narvaez walks it off with an RBI single in the 8th.
3B Mike Lamb: 2-for-3, RS
2B Jamie Westbrook: 0-for-1, 2 HBP
LF Brandon Lockridge: 0-for-1, BB, SAC
SS Wilmer Difo: 0-for-2
PH Jasson Dominguez: 0-for-0, BB (intentional)
SS Jesus Bastidas: 0-for-0
RHP Mitch Spence: 7 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 10 K
4.59 ERA (133.1 IP, 131 H, 75 R, 68 ER, 24 HR, 44 BB, 125 K). August: 25.2 IP, 19 H, 8 R, 8 ER, 2 HR, 6 BB, 33 K. This is Spence’s first career 10+ strikeout effort.
LHP Anthony Misiewicz (W, 2-0): 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K
Game 2 (Lost, 6-0)
LF Estevan Florial: 0-for-3, 2 K
CF Jasson Dominguez: 0-for-2, BB
Dominguez has 79 walks in 517 plate appearances (15.3%).
DH Austin Wells: 1-for-3
There is talk that Wells could be promoted to the big club. He has multiple hits in three of his last five games and is 20-for-77 (.260) in August with seven doubles, four homers, and 17 runs batted in.
1B Andres Chaparro: 0-for-3, K
.246/.340/.467 in 483 PA (19 doubles, 2 triples, 23 HR, 76 RBI, 70 R, 59 BB, 104 K, 3-for-3 SB). Chaparro’s first season in the organization was back in 2016, so I believe he could be staring at minor league free agency this winter. Just like with the Rule 5, the Yankees can “block” that free agency by adding him to the 40-man roster. For example, they did that a few years ago with Donny Sands before they traded him to the Phillies.
C Rodolfo Duran: 0-for-3
3B Jake Lamb: 0-for-3, K
2B Jamie Westbrook: 0-for-3
RF Michael Hermosillo: 2-for-2, SB (7)
SS Jesus Bastidas: 0-for-1, HBP, SB (7)
Bastidas was called back up here for today’s doubleheader.
RHP Zach McAllister: (L, 1-1) 1.2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, HR
McAllister’s first start as a member of the Yankees’ organization since August 17th, 2010.
RHP Matt Bowman: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K
RHP Ron Marinaccio: 1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K
LHP Matt Krook: 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K
Krook, who has a 1.04 ERA in 26 innings at this level, makes his first appearance since July 18th.
LHP Nick Ramirez: 1.2 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, HR
RHP Wilmer Difo: 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
Difo, a utility infielder, with his 4th pitching appearance this season (3.2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 2 K)
Somerset (68-47; 26-21 in the second half) (Lost to Hartford, 3-2)
3B Caleb Durbin: 1-for-4, 2 SB (17)
Durbin has 32 stolen bases (37 attempts) in 57 games between here and Hudson Valley. He is hitting .298/.395/.400 in 238 PA with 24 walks (10.1%) and 16 strikeouts (6.7%).
1B Ben Rice: 1-for-4, HR (11), RBI, RS
Rice has 11 home runs in 28 games at this level. Overall, he is hitting .319/.441/.623 in 236 PA (11 doubles, 1 triple, 15 HR, 54 RBI, 44 R, 34 BB (14.4%), 42 K (17.8%), 8-for-9 SB). Rice is 24 and you wonder just how much more development he needs.
C Agustin Ramirez: 1-for-4, RS
Since promotion: 12-for-59 (1 double, 1 HR, 5 RBI, 9 R, 5 BB, 11 K)
LF Elijah Dunham: 1-for-3, BB, 2 K, SB (15)
Dunham has 28 stolen bases in 35 attempts between here and Scranton.
DH Josh Breaux: 1-for-4, RBI, K
2B Anthony Seigler: 0-for-4, K
CF Jeisson Rosario: 0-for-2, BB, K
RF Grant Richardson: 0-for-3, 2 K
Richardson’s Double-A debut. I am not sure if this is permanent or a “we need a body” situation. Anyway, he hit .204/.306/.389 in 304 PA for Hudson Valley (13 HR, 37 RBI). He was 10-for-33 in August with three homers and seven runs batted in.
SS Max Burt: 0-for-2, BB, K
RHP Yoendrys Gomez: 5.2 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 5 K
The oft-injured Gomez with his longest outing since August 22, 2019. He owns a 3.14 ERA in 48.2 IP (34 H, 19 R, 17 ER, 5 HR, 25 BB, 56 K). We have seen extra option years handed out in the past. If Gomez doesn’t qualify, this is his final option year, so a very interesting winter/spring is shaping up for him.
RHP Carlos Gomez: 1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K
LHP Ryan Anderson: (L, 1-1) 1.1 IP, 0 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
RHP Danny Watson: 0.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K
Watson allowed Anderson’s run to score in the 9th. Given his season, I think we can let this one go!
Hudson Valley (64-52; 25-25 in the second half) (Defeated Aberdeen, 3-2)
CF Spencer Jones: 1-for-4, RS, K
August: 19-for-74 (.257) with four doubles, a home run, and 12 runs scored.
DH Anthony Hall: 0-for-4, 4 K
SS Jared Serna: 1-for-2, 3B (1), SF, RBI, RS, BB, CS (1)
At this level: 14-for-51 (.275/.356/.373; 3 doubles, 1 triple). Serna has hit safely in four straight games.
1B Jesus Rodriguez: 3-for-4, 2B (3), 2 RBI
Rodriguez with the walk-off single in the bottom of the 9th. At this level: 17-for-44 (.386/.491/.523; 3 doubles, 1 HR, 10 RBI, 6 R, 8 BB, 9 K). He has three 3-hit games since his promotion.
2B Alexander Vargas: 0-for-3, 2 K
3B Ben Cowles: 2-for-3, CS (4)
August: 19-for-54 (.352) with 15 walks and 15 strikeouts.
C Rafael Flores: 0-for-3, 2 K
LF Christopher Familia: 0-for-3, K
RF Jared Wegner: 0-for-2, RS, BB, 2 K
RHP Justin Lange: 4 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 5 K
Lange’s second start since his promotion (5.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 8 K in his first start). Lange has a 128/59 K/BB over 82.1 innings between here and Tampa.
LHP Clay Aguilar: 2.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K
2.80 ERA (35.1 IP, 27 H, 13 R, 11 ER, 2 HR, 17 BB, 52 K). Aguilar is 24 and was signed as an undrafted free agent after the shortened 2020 COVID draft.
RHP Anderson Munoz: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K
The 25-year-old puts together an impressive night. I guess his rehab is over as he is now listed as active. While he didn’t pitch well during his stint in Tampa, he has tossed 3.1 hitless innings here with a 7/0 K/BB.
RHP Harrison Cohen (W, 3-2): 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
At this level: 3.79 ERA (38 IP, 29 H, 17 R, 16 ER, 4 HR, 17 BB, 48 K)
Tampa (56-60; 25-25 in the second half) (Defeated Palm Beach, 4-1)
2B Roc Riggio: 1-for-4, RBI, 2 RS, K, SB (2)
.220/.692 OPS (12-for-57; 12 runs scored)
1B Kiko Romero: 1-for-3, RBI
C Omar Martinez: 0-for-1, SF, RBI, BB
SS Brenny Escanio: 0-for-3, RBI, K
CF Cole Gabrielson: 0-for-3, 2 K
LF Tayler Aguilar: 1-for-3, K
RF Daury Arias: 0-for-1, RS, 2 BB
DH Jose Colmenares: 1-for-3, 2 K
3B Beau Brewer: 0-for-3, RS
RHP Hayden Merda: 4.1 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 4 BB, 6 K
6.32 ERA (94 IP, 100 H, 74 R, 66 ER, 10 HR, 53 BB, 94 K)
RHP Nolberto Henriquez: (W, 1-0) 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K
RHP Luis Arejula (S, 1): 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
FCL Yankees (35-22)
The playoffs begin on Thursday. As I suspected, they will play the Pirates in the semifinals, which is only one game.
DSL Yankees (33-19)
Their season is over, as they missed the playoffs by a half-game.
DSL Bombers (27-26)
Their season is over.