DotF: Charleston clinches first postseason berth since ’05

Some promotion news:

• 3B Miguel Andujar has been promoted from High-A Tampa to Double-A Trenton, reports Matt Kardos. That was very much expected. Andujar hit .283/.343/.474 (144 wRC+) in 58 games in his second stint with Tampa. Now comes the hard part: Double-A.
• C Kyle Higashioka was sent from Triple-A Scranton to Double-A Trenton, so says Chad Jennings. Higashioka had a monster three weeks filling in for C Gary Sanchez, but, at the end of the day, Sanchez is the priority here, and he’s going to start behind the plate.
• Old friend alert: OF Slade Heathcott has signed a minor league deal with the White Sox, the team announced. He was placed on their Triple-A DL. I thought Slade was going to end up with the Angels because they’re short on outfielders and Billy Eppler knows him. Alas.

Triple-A Scranton (7-5 win over Toledo)

• LF Ben Gamel: 3-5, 1 3B, 3 RBI, 1 CS — 22-for-49 (.449) in his last 12 games
• DH Nick Swisher: 0-4, 1 BB
• RF Aaron Judge: 2-3, 2 R, 2 BB, 1 K, 1 SB — 16-for-39 (.410) in eleven games since the 0-for-24 slump
• C Gary Sanchez: 2-4, 1 R, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 1 BB — first time behind the plate since the broken finger
• CF Jake Cave: 1-4, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 1 K, 1 CS
• 1B Tyler Austin: 0-5, 1 K
• RHP Brady Lail: 5 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 3 K, 6/1 GB/FB — 48 of 75 pitches were strikes (64%)

Double-A Trenton (7-4 win over Harrisburg)

• SS Tyler Wade: 1-5, 2 R, 3 K
• CF Dustin Fowler: 1-5, 1 RBI
• 3B Miguel Andujar: 2-5, 2 R, 1 2B, 1 RBI, 1 K, 1 E (throwing) — he just missed a three-run homer too (Matt Kardos has video) … that is one heck of a Double-A debut
• C Kyle Higashioka: 1-3, 1 R, 1 2B, 2 RBI, 1 BB, 2 K
• RHP Vicente Campos: 6.2 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 9 K, 4/6 GB/FB — 72 of 106 pitches were strikes (68%) … first real tough outing in Double-A
• RHP Jonathan Holder: 1 IP, zeroes, 3 K — 15 pitches, eleven strikes … 50/5 K/BB in 33.2 innings

High-A Tampa (2-0 loss to st. Lucie)

• SS Jorge Mateo: 0-4, 1 E (throwing) — quietly in a 6-for-35 (.171) slump
• RF Austin Aune: 1-4, 1 2B, 1 K
• 3B Thairo Estrada: 1-4 — the Andujar promotion gives Thairo an everyday lineup spot
• 2B Abi Avelino: 2-4, 1 SB, 1 CS — 17-for-25 (68%) in steal attempts this year
• LHP Ian Clarkin: 7 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 3 K, 9/4 GB/FB — 62 of 92 pitches were strikes (67%) … he’s allowed five earned runs total in his last four starts and 25 innings (1.80 ERA)

Low-A Charleston (3-0 win over Augusta) the win clinches the first half division title and their first postseason berth since 2005, so that’s cool … team co-owner Bill Murray loves it

• SS Kyle Holder: 1-4
• 1B Chris Gittens: 0-3, 1 BB, 1 K
• RF Alex Palma: 1-4, 1 R, 1 K — 8-for-25 (.320) in seven games since being promoted
• 2B Hoy Jun Park: 1-4, 1 R, 1 RBI, 2 K — in an 8-for-41 (.195) rut
• LF Leonardo Molina: 0-3, 1 BB
• 3B Gosuke Katoh: 1-2, 1 RBI, 1 K, 1 SB
• LHP Nestor Cortes: 6 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 3 K, 8/1 GB/FB — 53 of 83 pitches were strikes (64%) … another fine outing from Nasty Nestor
• RHP Jose Mesa Jr.: 2 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 4 K, 1 WP, 1/1 GB/FB — 22 of 33 pitches were strikes (67%)