Tagged: Trenton

Champions

The Major League club may not be headed for the postseason, but the Yankees have to be impressed with the success and talent in their farm system. The Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees dominated in a 20-2 win against the Durham Bulls on Friday to take home the Governors’ Cup title. It marked the most runs of the season for the club. Phil Hughes said the cup itself is much like the Stanley Cup and is passed around throughout the year, though people don’t drink out of it as it’s old and “falling apart.” After taking the championship, the Yankees fell to the Sacramento River Cats in the Bricktown Showdown, an exhibition game that decides the winner of the Pacific Coast League. Ian Kennedy got the start, and while he was disappointed in himself (thought he only gave up three runs), his club remains one of the top Triple-A clubs in the country.

Following his impressive 12-strikeout performance in the Governors’ Cup title game Friday night, Phil Hughes was recalled by the big league club. He will start Wednesday’s matchup against the White Sox, his first appearance in the Major Leagues since April 29. Hughes said his mechanics and location have improved during his time with the Yankees affiliates, and he is confident in his pitching.

Double-A Trenton also took home a championship, defending its Eastern League title in front of a home crowd with a 5-1 win over the Akron Aeros.

-Samantha Newman

Movin’ On

It was worth the wait. After the effects of Hurricane Hanna pushed back Game 4 on Saturday between the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees and the Pawtucket Red Sox, the Yankees came away with a walk-off win Sunday to move on to the Governor’s Cup finals. A two-run homer from Shelley Duncan in the 10th inning broke a scoreless game to help the Yankees advance. Duncan may have delivered the game-winner, but the performance of the game came from Phil Hughes, who pitched eight shutout innings and gave up just four hits. Hughes also struck out 11 without recording a single walk–he threw 94 pitches, 75 for strikes. But the right-hander left the game with the score tied and was forced to settle for a no-decision while reliever Scott Strickland picked up the win.

The team was without Melky Cabrera, who rejoined the big league club in Seattle on Friday as a precaution after Bobby Abreu jammed his left wrist. Cabrera had struggled in the Majors this season, batting .242 with eight home runs and 36 RBIs. But he became a consistent part of the Triple-A offense since being optioned Aug. 15. Cabrera hit .333 from the plate in 15 games with Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.  He will serve as a reserve outfielder for the big league Yankees as they make an improbable push for the playoffs.

But another Yankees affiliate has already worked its way into a championship series. Double-A Trenton Thunder moved into the Eastern League finals with a three-game sweep of the Portland Sea Dogs. The difference-maker in the final game came when the Thunder loaded the bases and Colin Curtis used patience at the plate to draw a walk and force in the winning run.

-Samantha Newman 

Making the Case

With pitchers Joba Chamberlain and Dan Giese on the disabled list, the Yankees have an open spot in the starting rotation. The most likely candidates? Phil Hughes and Carl Pavano. Both hurlers are working back from their own injuries, and the rehab process is almost complete. A day off Monday means the Bombers would not need a fifth starter until Saturday, and Hughes and Pavano both pitched Sunday, each making a separate case for a return to the big leagues.

And based on Sunday’s numbers, the job would go to Pavano. He threw 88 pitches in six innings to pick up the win in his third rehab start for the Trenton Thunder. He struck out six and scattered six hits with just one walk. Things didn’t go as well for Hughes with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. After posting two shutout innings, he gave up five runs and left after 3 2/3 innings. His velocity also decreased. He had been throwing approximately 92-94 mph in earlier rehab starts, but averaged 90-92 on Sunday.

Melky Cabrera also made his first appearance for Scranton since being sent down Friday. He started in center field and went 1-for-1 at the plate with four walks. He scored two runs, but he was thrown out trying to score from second base in the first inning. Baserunning was one aspect Yankees manager Joe Girardi felt that Cabrera could work on in Triple-A.

Slugger Hideki Matsui made an immediate impact in his first rehab start for Class-A Tampa on Friday. He homered in the first game of a double-header to provide the difference in a 1-0 victory. The designated hitter played again Saturday and had 15 simulated at-bats Sunday. Matsui was placed on the disabled list with left knee inflammation, but no swelling has resulted from his activity during the rehab starts, and if all continues to go well, he could rejoin the Yankees as early as Tuesday for a three-game series in Toronto, adding a big bat to the middle of the lineup.