SWB wins AAA Championship.

Each year, the International League Champ plays the Pacific Coast League Champ in a one-game, sudden death game to decide the AAA Championship.

This year, it was the Yankees’ AAA team, the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Railriders, the International League Champ, going up against the El Paso Chihuahua’s, the Pacific Coast League Champ and the AAA team of the San Diego Padres.

SWB won, 3-1, on a 3-run HR by Chris Parmalee.

He had 2 hits as did Clint Frazier and Jake Cave.

The Minors. SWB wins International League championship. Trenton loses.

AAA: SWB won the Governor’s Cup, the International League Championship, with a 3-0 win on Friday night to take the series three games to one. Mark Payton had 3 hits, a triple, 2 RBI. Clint Frazier had 2 hits and an RBI.

AA: Trenton lost the Eastern League title, as they were swept three games to none. They lost Game 3 by the score of 2-1. Justus Sheffield was a bit wild, 4 1/3 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 4 walks, 5 K. Anthony Swarzak (yup, all the way down here) gave up a run in 2/3 of an inning. Sebastian Valle a solo HR. Trenton managed just four hits, two by Mike O’Neill (Paul’s nephew).

The Minors: SWB advances to title round, Tampa is in it. Trenton close.

AAA: SWB beat Lehigh Valley 11-3 to sweep the series 3 games to none and advance to the championship series. Giovanny Gallegos with 3 no-hit shut out innings of relief with 5 K. 2 hits, HR, 3 RBI Cito Culver. 3 hits and 2 RBI for Kyle Higashioka. Donovan Solano, Chris Parmalee and Jake Cave all had 2 hits and an RBI. 2 hits for Mason Williams.

AA: Trenton lost to Reading 13-5 as Justus Sheffield and Cale Coshow struggled. Trenton still leads the best-of-five series two games to one. 2 hits, HR, 3 RBI Billy McKinney.2 hits, RBI for Dante Bichette, Jr. 2 hits, solo HR Sebastian Valle.

High A: Tampa’s first series was a best of three (didn’t know that), and Tampa won that, two games to one.

So this is game 1 of the championship series, which is a best of five. Tampa lost 8-1. HR Kevin Cornelius.

Low A: Charleston won 4-3 to even their series at one game apiece and stay alive. They scored all four runs in the seventh, when they were down 3-0. Taylor Widener 4 1/3 scoreless relief innings, 1 hit, 6 K. Vicente Conde 2 RBI. This is a best-of-three. Should Charleston win Game 3, they would advance to the best-of-five championship series.

 

Game 136. Ellsbury & Austin lead Yanks to 5-3 win.

Jacoby Ellsbury homered, had three hits and drove in three runs, and Tyler Austin had two hits (both doubles) and 2 RBI as the Yanks beat Toronto 5-3 on Labor Day afternoon.

The win puts the Yanks at 71-65, 5 1/2 out of first in the AL East, still in 4th place, and keeps them 3 1/2 out of the second wild card spot. They still need to jump teams and probably have to go 18-8 against a tough schedule to make the playoffs.

But they aren’t going down without a fight.

Masahiro Tanaka, the Yanks’ best player this year (according to WAR on baseballreference.com) didn’t have his best stuff, giving up 10 base runners in 6 1/3 IP, but he gave up just two runs in improving to 12-4.

Because of some no-decisions early in the season due to the Yanks’ lack of hitting, Tanaka doesn’t have as many decisions as you’d think. He probably should be something like 17-6 or so. If he were that, he’d probably get CYA consideration. Maybe he still will. He has had an excellent season.

Tanaka gave up a run in the first, but the Yanks got two in the bottom of the inning on Ellsbury’s 2-run HR (7).

In the third, Austin doubled and scored on Ellsbury’s single to make it 3-1.

Austin doubled in two in the fourth to make it 5-1. Toronto made it close with two in the seventh.

Aaron Judge is still striking out too often, as he was 0 for 3 with 3 strikeouts today and has some 35 strikeouts in 65 at bats. He didn’t take his offensive frustrations out to the field however, as he saved two runs defensively. His diving catch saved one run, and he robbed another of a home run. At 6’7 1/2″, he hardly had to jump to bring back a potential home run ball from clearing the 8′ high fence.

Tanaka (w, 12-4, 3.11) 6 1/3 IP, 2 R, 7 H, 3 walks,  4 K.
Holder 1/3 IP, 1 R, 0 H, 2 walks, 0 K. 6.75
Heller 0 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 walks, 0 K. 6.00. Faced one batter, gave up a hit for 2 runs, one charged to Tanaka, the other to Holder.
Layne (H, 8) 1/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 walks, 0 K. 3.32 (Bos/NYY)
Clippard (H, 20) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 walks, 1 K. 3.25 (AZ/NYY)
Betances (S, 9) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 walks, 2 K. 2.05

We are still awaiting word on Wednesday’s starter, now that Green is out.

BTW, have you noticed how little Teixeira and McCann are being used during these important games?

The Minors. SWB Clinches Division.

AAA: SWB won 6-1. Phil Coke 6 IP, 1 run. Solo HR Chris Parmalee. 3 hits, RBI Mason Williams, who is at .316. Did the Yanks trade Ben Gamel because they feel Williams would be better? Who knows. 2 hits, RBI Cito Culver. With Lehigh Valley’s loss, SWB clinched their division.

AA: Trenton lost 5-3.

High A: Tampa rained out again.

Low A: Charleston won 8-2. Adonis Rosa six shutout innings. Estevan Florial triple, HR, 2 RBI. 2 hits, RBI Luis Torrens. Kyle Holder 3 hits.

The Minors.

Dietrich Enns at AAA, and Chance Adams at AA, both of whom have been exceptional this year, have been moved to the bullpen and basically shut down due to innings limits.

AAA: SWB won 4-0. Combined 3-hitter. Nestor Cortes 5 2/3 IP, no hits. Luis Severino 2 1/3 IP, 5 K. Enns 1 IP. Donovan Solano 2 hits, 2 RBI. 2 hits, RBI for both Mason Williams and Rob Refsnyder.

SWB’s Magic # for clinching the division is 3.

Earlier in the day, OF Ben Gamel was named International League MVP.

AA: Trenton won 6-4. Mark Payton 2-run HR. 2 hits Miguel Andujar, 2 RBI Tyler Wade. 2 hits, rbi for Abiatal Avelino. Trenton stays 1 1/2 back of Reading for the division, and have already clinched a wild card spot.

High A: Tampa had already won the first-half title. They were scoreless in the second inning when rain suspended the game. It should be completed today.

Low A: Charleston had already won the first-half title. they lost 2-0, getting just 3 hits.

The Minors. SWB pitchers strike out 22 in their 3-1 win.

There will be a lot of minor league postseason action soon.

AAA: SWB’s Jonathan Holder, in relief, struck out 11 straight batters, and after giving up a hit, struck out another in retiring all 12 of his outs via strikeout in SWB’s 3-1 win. Bryan Mitchell started, and gave up 1 unearned run in 3 2/3 IP, striking out 8. SWB struck out 22 Rochester batters in the game. Chris Parmalee with 2 hits, HR, 2 RBI.  SWB, 84-51, has clinched a playoff spot, and has a four game lead in the division. Their magic # for clinching the division is 5. They have the best record in the league.

AA: Trenton  (83-51) won 4-3 in 11 innings.   2-run HR Mark Payton. 3 hits Miguel Andujar. 2 doubles Mike O’Neill; 2 RBI for Abiatal Avelino. Trenton is in 2nd place, 1 1/2 back of Reading, and can still take the division, but did clinch a playoff spot.

High A: Tampa (77-55) won 8-2. Justus Sheffield 0 R, 1 H in 5 IP. Thairo Estrada 3 hits. 4 hits and 1 RBI for Gleyber Torres. 3 hits, 2 RBI Trey Amburgey. 3 hits, 3 RBI Rashad Crawford. Zack Zehner 2 rbi. Tampa had already clinched a postseason berth by being the first-half (split season) division champs.

Low A: Charleston won 2-1 in 10 innings. Christian Morris 6 IP, 1 unearned run. Ricardo Ferreira 2 hits. Charleston (72-60) did the same as Tampa. First half (split season) champs, so they clinched a playoff spot already.