Game 56- Charlotte Knights @ Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees

Good evening Yankees Fans, Shawn Murnin here at PNC Field for the first game of a four game set between the SWB Yankees and the Charlotte Knights. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 tonight.

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)