RHP Chien-Ming Wang will join the Triple-A Scranton rotation on Friday, the team announced. He had been working and getting stretched out in Tampa these last few weeks. I think it’s just a coincidence he’ll be lined up on the same day as Andy Pettitte, who is battling a back issue. Wang last pitched on Saturday and Friday gives him the typical extra day of rest.
C Austin Romine, meanwhile, is day-to-day after taking a foul pitch to the arm last night according to Donnie Collins.
Triple-A Scranton (1-0 win over Rochester)
- 2B Corban Joseph: 1-4, 1 R, 1 K
- CF Melky Mesa: 2-4, 1 3B
- LF Zoilo Almonte: 0-2, 2 BB — got picked off first … 12 walks in ten games after 25 walks in 106 games last year
- RF Thomas Neal: 2-4, 1 2B, 1 K
- RHP Mark Montgomery: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K, 1/1 GB/FB — 19 of 32 pitches were strikes (59%) … 12 strikeouts in seven innings so far
- RHP Cody Eppley: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, 1/0 GB/FB — 11 of 19 pitches were strikes (58%)
Double-A Trenton (5-1 loss to Akron)
- CF Ramon Flores: 2-4, 1 2B — eleven hits in his last 26 at-bats (.423)
- RF Tyler Austin: 0-4, 2 K — crummy day at the plate, but he did throw runners out at second and third
- C J.R. Murphy: 1-3, 1 R, 1 BB, 1 PB
- RHP Zach Nuding: 4 IP, 4 H, 5 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 6 K, 3/4 GB/FB — 52 of 81 pitches were strikes (64%)
- LHP Jeremy Bleich: 4 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 3 K, 6/2 GB/FB — 34 of 57 pitches were strikes (64%) … he’s still kicking around
High-A Tampa (8-6 loss to Dunedin)
- CF Mason Williams: 2-5, 2 K
- LF Ben Gamel: 1-5, 2 K
- C Gary Sanchez: 0-2, 2 R, 1 BB, 1 HBP — no hits today, but he’s been very good in the early going
- RF Eduardo Sosa: 2-3, 2 R, 1 2B, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 1 K
- RHP Corey Black: 5 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 8 K, 1 WP, 7/0 GB/FB — still not sure if the starting thing will work out long-term, but I’m encouraged by the 18/6 K/BB in 16 innings
Low-A Charleston (3-0 loss to Rome)
- SS Cito Culver & 3B Dante Bichette Jr.: both 0-4 — Culver struck out twice, Bichette once … they only had two hits as a team tonight, so no one was hitting
- RHP Rafael DePaula: 6 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 7 K, 1 Balk, 4/5 GB/FB — 56 of 74 pitches were strikes (76%) … 23 strikeouts in 12.1 innings