What? Don’t look at me like that, it’s a holiday. I’m allowed one of these once in a while.

• Triple-A Scranton’s game was postponed because the field was a swamp. They’ll play two tomorrow.
• Double-A Trenton and New Britain are tied at 6 in the 11th inning as of this writing. New Britain took the lead in the top of the 10th, but Eduardo Nunez smacked a 2 run job to tie in the bottom half. Jesus Montero is 0 for 4 at the moment.
• Austin Romine took an 0-fer as High-A Tampa fell 4-0 to Lakeland.
• Low-A Charleston broke out the whoopin’ stick on Asheville, pounding them for a 14-4 victory. Jose Pirela went 3 for 6 with 3 doubles while Corban Joseph went 4 for 6 with 3 XBH and 4 steaks. Manny Banuelos allowed 1 run and 5 baseunners in 6 innings.
• Short Season Staten Island squeaked by Lowell 2-0. Kyle Higashioka doubled and Neil Medchill drove in a pair of runs while everyone who took the mound did a terrific job.
• Kelvin DeLeon went deep and Jose Mojica ripped a pair of doubles as the Rookie GCL Yanks downed the GCL Pirates 4-2. Matt Richardson was excellent on the mound again, and Mikey O’Brien made his season debut in relief.

There are still some tickets left for this year’s Double-A Eastern League All-Star Game in Trenton, if you’re interested.

Triple-A Scranton (6-1 win over Partucket)
Kevin Russo, Ramiro Pena, Shelley Duncan, Colin Curtis: Yurendell DeCaster & Eric Duncan: all 1 for 4 - Russo drew a walk & K’ed … Pena walked, scored a run & K’ed twice … Shelley walked, scored a run, drove in one & K’ed … Curtis broke the game open with a grand salami in the 8th … E-Dunc doubled & scored a run
Austin Jackson: 0 for 4, 1 RBI, 1 K
Juan Miranda: 0 for 3, 1 R, 1 BB, 1 K
Jose Molina: 1 for 2, 1 2B, 1 BB - caught six innings
Josh Towers: 7 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 4 K, 1 HB, 7-10 GB/FB - 61 of 86 pitches were strikes (74.4%) … his ERA’s high, but he’s certainly been better than I expected
Anthony Claggett: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, 3-2 GB/FB - 17 of 29 pitches were strikes (58.6%) … hadn’t pitched in the last six days

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Austin Jackson, Shelley Duncan, and Chris Stewart were named to the International League All-Star Team. Congrats to them.

Make sure you scroll down for tonight’s game thread.

Triple-A Scranton (4-3 loss to Pawtucket)
Kevin Russo: 0 for 3, 1 BB, 1 K, 1 E (fielding)
Ramiro Pena & Austin Jackson: both 2 for 4, 1 R - Jackson swiped a bag & K’ed
Shelley Duncan: 1 for 4, 1 R, 1 RBI, 1 K
Juan Miranda: 1 for 3, 1 2B, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 2 K
Jose Molina: 0 for 2, 1 RBI - caught the first five innings
Colin Curtis: 0 for 2, 2 BB, 2 K
Yurendell DeCaster & Eric Duncan: both 0 for 4, 1 K
Sergio Mitre: 5.1 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 3 K, 1 HB, 9-3 GB/FB - 44 of 79 pitches were strikes (55.7%)
Mark Melancon: 2.2 IP, zeroes, 1 K, 7-0 GB/FB - 26 of 39 pitches were strikes (66.7%) … that’s domination, homes

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Looks like Aroldis Chapman has defected from Cuba while participating in a tournament in the Netherlands (h/t The Artist). It’s unconfirmed other than the linked report, but huge news if true. You may remember him from the WBC, (supposedly) 21-yr old southpaw with serious heat and tons of projection left. Here’s a clip. Tremendous arm.

Triple-A Scranton had a scheduled off day.

Double-A Trenton (5-3 loss to Erie)
Reegie Corona, Edwar Gonzalez & Marcos Vechionacci: all 0 for 4- Corona scored a run & K’ed
Chris Malec: 0 for 2, 2 BB
Eduardo Nunez: 2 for 4, 1 R, 1 HR, 1 RBI
Jorge Vazquez & Jack Rye: both 1 for 4, 1 K - Vazquez drove a run in … Rye doubled
Jesus Montero: 2 for 3, 1 R, 1 2B, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 1 BB - 12 for his last 31 (.387) … four jacks in his last three games … he’s 19, in AA, in a pitcher’s park … this is absolutely insane
Zach McAllister: 4 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 6 K, 1 HB, 4-2 GB/FB - this is the time of year when guys start having their pitch counts monitored a little more tightly and stuff, so I wouldn’t worry about the short outings
Mike Dunn: 2 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, 2-1 GB/FB - gave up two homers tonight after giving up just one all year
Josh Schmidt: 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K - allowed an inherited runner to score
Amaury Sanit: 1 IP, zeroes, 1 K, 2-0 GB/FB

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Chad Jennings reports that George Kontos will likely need Tommy John surgery after feeling tightness in his forearm. This could end up being a blessing in disguise for the Yanks, because Kontos is now likely to slide through the Rule 5 Draft untouched in the offseason if they decide to leave him off the 40-man roster. Still sucks though.

Triple-A Scranton was rained out. They’re going to make this one up when they play Rochester at the end of the season.

Double-A Trenton (5-3 loss to Erie)
Austin Krum: 0 for 5, 1 K - 0 for his last 11
Reegie Corona & Chris Malec: both 1 for 5 - Corona K’ed once, Malec twice
Jorge Vazquez & Justin Snyder: both 0 for 3, 1 BB - Vazquez was hit by a pitch & scored a run … Snyder K’ed & committed a pair of fielding errors
Jesus Montero: 2 for 3, 2 R, 2 HR, 3 RBI, 1 BB - 11 for his last 30 (.367) with three homers & three doubles
Jack Rye: 0 for 2, 2 BB - up from Tampa to fill out a thin roster
Marcos Vechioacci: 1 for 3, 1 BB
Jeremy Bleich: 5.1 IP, 7 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 3 BB, 4 K, 1 WP, 4-8 GB/FB - AA debut
Kevin Whelan: 2.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 3 K, 3-1 GB/FB

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Kevin Cash, John Rodriguez and Justin Leone were all placed on the DL with various ailments. Meanwhile, Jim McLennan tells you everything you need to know about labrums, and more.

Lance Pendleton was named Florida State League Pitcher of the Week while Melky Mesa was named the South Atlantic League’s Player of the Week.

Triple-A Scranton
Game 1 (5-0 win over Rochester in 7 innings) make up of an April 20th rain out
Kevin Russo, Austin Jackson, Colin Curtis, Eric Duncan & Chris Stewart: all 1 for 3 - Jackson doubled, scored a run & K’ed … E-Dunc hit a three run bomb & K’ed
Shelley Duncan: 2 for 3, 1 R, 1 RBI, 1 K
Juan Miranda: 1 for 2, 1 R
Ivan Nova: 5.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 5 K, 7-5 GB/FB - 56 of 90 pitches were strikes (62.2%) … lost the no-hitter with two outs in the sixth on a line drive off the shortstop’s glove … he’s been getting better and better with each start for about two months now
Jon Albaladejo: 1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K, 3-0 GB/FB - 16 of 21 pitches were strikes (76.2%)

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Dom Amore had a great article on High-A Tampa reliever Tim Norton in today’s Hartford Courant. Norton has missed most of the last two seasons with major shoulder surgery before coming back earlier this year. Check it out, good stuff.

In case you missed it, Joe had some minor league notes earlier, including word on Jeremy Bleich’s promotion to Double-A Trenton.

Make sure you scroll down for tonight’s game thread.

Triple-A Scranton (6-2 loss to Rochester)
Kevin Russo: 0 for 3, 1 BB
Austin Jackson: 1 for 3, 2 R, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 1 K - just his second homer of the year
Colin Curtis & Eric Duncan: both 0 for 4 - Curtis K’ed once, E-Dunc twice
Shelley Duncan & PJ Pilittere: both 1 for 4  - Shelley doubled … PJ K’ed
Juan Miranda: 1 for 3, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 1 K
Justin Leone: 0 for 2 - left with a leg injury
Kevin Cash: 0 for 1, 1 BB, 1 K, 1 E (fielding) - played third after Leone left the game
The Ghost of Kei Igawa: 6 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 3 K, 4-11 GB/FB - 64 of 103 pitches were strikes (62.1%)
Zach Kroenke: 2 IP, 3 H, 4 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 K, 1 WP, 1-1 GB/FB - 25 of 41 pitches were strikes (61%) … the walk was intentional

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Mike Ashmore reports that Ivan Nova has been promoted to Triple-A Scranton (as expected) and veteran Jason Johnson has been activated to take his place on the roster and in the rotation. Chad Jennings says Nova’s debut could come Monday.

Triple-A Scranton (6-5 loss to Rochester, walk-off style)
Kevin Russo & John Rodriguez: both 2 for 4 - Russo drew a walk & was caught stealing … J-Rod doubled twice, drove a run in, scored one & K’ed twice
Austin Jackson & Justin Leone: both 1 for 4, 1 R - Jackson drew a walk, swiped a bag & K’ed … Leone drove in a run & K’ed twice
Colin Curtis: 1 for 3, 1 RBI, 2 BB
Shelley Duncan: 0 for 5, 2 K - OPS dips below 1.000
Juan Miranda: 0 for 3, 1 R, 1 BB
Eric Duncan: 3 for 4, 1 2B, 1 R, 1 RBI - first back-to-back three hit games since 2003
Josh Towers: 6 IP, 8 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, 7-7 GB/FB - 57 of 83 pitches were strikes (68.7%)
Mark Melancon: 2 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, 2-3 GB/FB - 18 of 32 pitches were strikes (56.3%)
Anthony Claggett: 0.1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 0 K, 1-0 GB/FB - 8 of 12 pitches were strikes

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Chad Jennings says that both George Kontos & JB Cox have been placed on the DL. He also mentions that Chris Garcia is done for the year after having elbow surgery. In six years with the organization, Garcia’s thrown just 290.2 innings over 67 appearances (55 starts).

Triple-A Scranton (5-1 win over Syracuse)
Kevin Russo: 2 for 5, 1 R, 1 3B, 1 K - still hitting a cool .350
Austin Jackson: 0 for 5, 2 K - www.sadtrombone.com
Colin Curtis, Justin Leone & Chris Stewart: all 1 for 4 - Curtis K’ed … Stewart doubled, drove in a run & scored the plate
Shelley Duncan: 2 for 3, 1 R, 1 2B, 1 BB
Juan Miranda: 0 for 3, 1 BB, 1 E (fielding)
John Rodriguez: 0 for 4, 1 K
Eric Duncan: 3 for 4, 2 R, 1 2B, 1 K - had been 7 for his last 57 (.123)
Romulo Sanchez: 3 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 3 K, 4-2 GB/FB - 31 of 52 pitches were strikes (59.6%) … can’t complain about that spot start
Paul Bush: 3 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, 2-4 GB/FB - 30 of 43 pitches were strikes (69.8%)
Edwar Ramirez: 1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 K, 0-2 GB/FB - 26 of 38 pitches were strikes (68.4%)
Jon Albaladejo: 1.1 IP, zeroes, 1 K, 1-2 GB/FB - 7 of 8 pitches were strikes … just eight pitches to get four outs, including a K? sign me up

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Make sure you scroll down for tonight’s game thread.

Triple-A Scranton (6-3 loss to Syracuse)
Kevin Russo & Colin Curtis: 2 for 4, 1 K - Russo doubled, was caught stealing & missed a catch at second for an error … Curtis homered, drove in three & K’ed
Austin Jackson & Juan Miranda: both 1 for 4 - Jackson doubled (& didn’t K!) … Miranda scored a run
Xavier Nady: 0 for 2, 1 K - played five innings in RF…For more on Nady’s short rehab appearance tonight, see Ben’s post.
John Rodriguez: 1 for 3, 1 R, 1 2B, 1 BB, 1 K
Justin Leone: 0 for 3, 1 BB, 3 K
Eric Duncan & Kevin Cash: both 0 for 4 - E-Dunc K’ed once, Cash four freakin’ times
George Kontos: 3 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 2 BB, 1 K, 5-3 GB/FB - 33 of 62 pitches were strikes (53.2%) … first start in 13 games because of all the rain outs, so chalk this one up to rust
Zach Kroenke: 3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 5 K, 2-2 GB/FB - 27 of 48 pitches were strikes (56.3%)
Anthony Claggett: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, 1-0 GB/FB - 14 of 22 pitches were strikes (63.6%)
Mark Melancon: 1 IP, 0 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K, 1 HB, 1 WP, 1-2 GB/FB - 15 of 24 pitches were strikes (62.5%) … heh, that’s on odd line … he hit the first batter, got the second guy to fly out, the runner moved to second on Russo’s error, moved to second on a ground out, then scored on a wild pitch

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