Minor League Weekend Recap - 4/28

Scranton finished a series with Buffalo on Friday with a well pitched, 2-1 win. Steven White didn't figure in the decision, but he allowed just one run over 6 innings.

Saturday's game with Syracuse was a washout so the two teams hooked up in a 7 inning doubleheader on Sunday. The Yankees took the opener, 2-1, as Darrell Rasner continued his excellent season at Triple-A. The right-hander allowed 1 run in 6 innings and struck out 6 to improve to 4-0, 0.87. Chris Stewart, who will be taking Jorge Posada's spot on the 25-man roster, had 2 hits and an RBI. The Sky Chiefs won the nightcap 2-0 behind the strong pitching of veteran John Parish. Jeff Marquez was outstanding, allowing just 2 hits, but got no run support.

Trenton's Dan McCutchen dominated the New Britain Rock Cats on Friday, allowing 1 hit and striking out 12 in 7 innings. McCutchen is now 3-1, 1.42, and has allowed on 18 hits and 7 walks in 31.2 innings pitched, while striking out 31.

The Thunder went down in 12 innings on Saturday, 7-4. Steven Tolleson, son of former Yankee Wayne Tolleson, drove in 3 runs for New Britain. Danny Graves, the long time major leaguer on the comeback trail, picked up the win. Cody Ehlers homered for the Thunder.

The Thunder made it 3 of 4 in the series with a 7-5 victory on Sunday. Jason Jones gave up 4 runs in 6 innings, but improved to 4-0, 2.61. Matt Carson had a big day going 4-5 with a home run and 5 RBI. Kevin Russo added 4 hits and 4 runs scored.

Austin Jackson was 5-15 to raise his average to .288. Jose Tabata's struggles continued, as he went 0-9 dropping him to .200 for the season.

Tampa rallied from a 2-0 deficit on Friday to beat the Ft. Myers Miracle, 3-2. Luis Nunez singled in the game winner in the bottom of the 9th. Mark Melancon pitched to scoreless innings of relief and Jose Valdez improved to 3-0. Valdez has not been scored on in 12.2 innings this season.

The Yankees came back again on Saturday to beat the Clearwater Threshers, 9-8 in 11 innings. Tampa blew a 4-2 lead and had come back from an 8-4 deficit. They scored single runs in the 5th through 8th innings before winning it on another walk off single by Luis Nunez. And Valdez picked up the win again to up his record to 4-0.

No such heroics on Sunday though as Clearwater blanked the Yankees 5-0. Alfredo Aceves was roughed up, but Anthony Claggett, acquired in the Gary Sheffield deal, through a solid 3.1 innings, striking out three.

Charleston lost back-to-back games for the second time this season, losing to Columbus 6-3 and 7-4 on Friday and Saturday. The River Dogs defense let them down in Friday's loss, as 3 errors lead to 3 unearned runs. Sunday was no better when 4 errors lead to 4 unearned runs. Wady Rufino did provide a highlight with his 4th home run of the season.

The River Dogs bounced back on Sunday to gain a split of the 4-game series with an 8-3 win. Adam Olbrychowski allowed 3 unearned runs in 5 innings pitched for the win. Brandon Laird drove in 3 runs and Rufino scored a pair. Jesus Montero was 3-12 in the 3 games with an RBI.

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