DotF: Austin goes deep in Trenton’s win

Let’s start with the notes:

• According to Matt Eddy, the Yankees have signed LHP Ramon Benjamin to a minor league contract. “A one-time Marlins prospect, [Benjamin] has matchup relief potential based on his fastball/slider mix, but he hasn’t pitched since 2011 because of injury,” wrote Eddy.
• RHP Ty Hensley pitched in an Extended Spring Training game earlier today, according to his Twitter feed. It was his first game action since the end of the 2012 regular season. Hensley’s been out with hip and hernia surgeries, and it sounds like we might actually see him in a minor league game relatively soon.
• RHP Bruce Billings has been activated off the Triple-A Scranton DL, according to Donnie Collins. He hasn’t pitched in a little more than a month due to a forearm problem. LHP Matt Tracy was sent to Double-A Trenton to clear a roster spot.
• 3B Dante Bichette Jr. was named the High-A Florida State League Offensive Player of the Week and LHP Jeremy Bleich was named the Double-A Eastern League Pitcher of the Week.

Triple-A Scranton (11-4 win over Louisville)

• CF Ramon Flores: 1-6, 1 R, 1 2B, 1 K
• 3B Scott Sizemore: 3-6, 1 R, 1 2B, 1 3B, 1 RBI, 2 K — 9-for-21 (.429) in his last five games
• 1B Kyle Roller: 2-5, 2 R, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 2 K, 1 HBP — 12th dinger of the season
• SS Dean Anna: 3-5, 2 R, 1 3B, 2 RBI — snaps out of an 0-for-20 slump
• C Austin Romine: 2-3, 2 R, 1 2B, 2 BB
• DH Corban Joseph: 2-4, 1 R, 1 2B, 1 3B, 4 RBI
• RHP Bruce Billings: 2.2 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 0 K, 2/5 GB/FB — 27 of 49 pitches were strikes (55%)
• SwP Pat Venditte: 3 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 0 K, 1 Balk, 3/1 GB/FB — 30 of 49 pitches were strikes (61%)
• RHP Jose Ramirez: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, 2/2 GB/FB — 28 of 45 pitches were strikes (62%)
• RHP Mark Montgomery: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 1 K, 3/0 GB/FB — 13 of 24 pitches were strikes (54%) … has to get that 6.26 BB/9 under control before he becomes a realistic call-up option

Double-A Trenton (3-1 win over Reading)

• CF Mason Williams: 1-3, 1 R, 1 2B
• LF Ben Gamel: 1-4
• C Gary Sanchez & DH Peter O’Brien: both 0-4 — Sanchez struck out once, O’Brien twice
• RF Slade Heathcott: 1-4, 1 R, 2 K — still trying to find his groove after coming back from his latest injury
• 1B Tyler Austin: 2-3, 1 R, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 1 BB — first homer of the year … 10-for-35 (.286) with four doubles and the homer in his last ten games
• LHP Matt Tracy: 6.2 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 3 K, 10/3 GB/FB — 63 of 96 pitches were strikes (66%)
• LHP Tyler Webb: 2.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 4 K, 1/1 GB/FB — 19 of 27 pitches were strikes (70%) … 35/8 K/BB in 26.1 innings

High-A Tampa is currently in extra innings after starting late due to lengthy rain delay. I’m not waiting around any longer. Here’s the box score. SS Cito Culver had four hits, including a double, as of the 12th inning.

Low-A Charleston Game One (4-2 win over Greenville in seven innings) makeup of the April 7th rainout

• LF Michael O’Neill: 0-2, 1 R, 1 BB
• SS Tyler Wade: 2-3, 3 RBI, 1 K — 13-for-34 (.382) during his eight game hitting streak
• RF Aaron Judge, 1B Mike Ford, 3B Miguel Andujar & CF Dustin Fowler: all 0-3 — Judge drove in a run … Fowler struck twice
• LHP Caleb Smith: 5.1 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 4 K, 3/3 GB/FB — 59 of 90 pitches were strikes (66%) … 42/19 K/BB in 47.2 innings

Low-A Charleston Game Two (3-0 win over Greenville in seven innings)

• RF Michael O’Neill & SS Tyler Wade: both 0-2, 1 R, 1 BB — O’Neill stole a base and drove in a run … Wade’s hitting streak ended
• DH Aaron Judge: 0-2, 1 BB
• 1B Mike Ford: 3-3, 1 2B, 2 RBI
• 3B Miguel Andujar & CF Dustin Fowler: both 0-3  — Fowler struck out
• 2B Gosuke Katoh: 0-0, 2 BB, 1 SB
• RHP Jaron Long: 7 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 9 K, 1 WP, 7/3 GB/FB — 63 of 92 pitches were strikes (68%) … he had a four-strikeout innings in this game