So far, it has not been a good Wednesday in the New York Yankees organization in terms of results. The Scranton Wilkes-Barre RailRiders played a doubleheader against the Buffalo Bisons and ended up losing both games.
In Game 1, Hayden Wesneski took the loss as he went 4.1 innings, allowed two runs on two hits, walked two, and struck out six on 75 pitches (48 strikes). However, the offense managed only two hits in a 2-1 loss, with one of them being a home run by Miguel Andujar (2nd of the season).
In Game 2, The RailRiders had the lead in the top of the seventh and the top of the eight, but they were unable to hold on as they took a 6-5 loss. Matt Pita had a three-run home run in the third (2nd of the year) and Andujar was 2-for-4 with an RBI single. On the mound, Deivi Garcia had trouble with his command at times, but he kept it from being ugly. He went four innings, allowed three runs on seven hits, walked two, and struck out three on 76 pitches (44 strikes).
Can the Yankees affiliates pick up some wins tonight? Find out who gets the start in our Pinstriped Preview:
Mitch Spence. Photo by Matt Kardos
Double-A
Somerset Patriots (6-4) vs. Hartford Yard Goats (5-5)
7:05 PM ET I Dunkin’ Donuts Park
RHP Mitch Spence (0-1, 6.75 ERA) vs. RHP Mitchell Kilkenny (0-2, 12.96)
The Patriots offense did not manage a hit for the first seven innings last night as they lost the series opener to Hartford, 4-0. They will look to bounce back tonight and get some run support for Mitch Spence.
Spence took the loss in his first Double-A start on April 13 against Erie. He went four innings, allowed three runs on four hits, walked a batter, and struck out four on 69 pitches (42 strikes). He allowed runs in three of the four innings, including a solo home run in the top of the fourth.
For Hartford, Mitchell Kilkenny takes the ball. The 76th pick in the 2018 MLB Draft is not off to a good start in Double-A as opponents are hitting .415 against him. In his last start against New Hampshire on April 15, he went five innings, allowed five runs on six hits, walked a batter, and struck out two on 78 pitches (44 strikes) in the loss.
The problem for Kilkenny has been the long ball as he has surrendered five home runs in his first two starts. That might be a good recipe for Somerset’s offense that has 13 home runs in the first 10 games (tied for fourth in the Eastern League).
Matt Sauer (Photo by John Brophy/Pinstriped Prospects)
High-A
Brooklyn Cyclones (6-4) vs. Hudson Valley Renegades (5-5)
7:05 PM I Dutchess Stadium
RHP David Griffin (1-0, 0.00) vs. RHP Matt Sauer (0-0, 4.26)
The Renegades had their home opener on Tuesday and picked up a 5-3 victory. This year, Tyson Blaser’s team is 5-1 in games which they have scored five runs or more. Cooper Bowman had a double and drove in his 9th run of the year, Carlos Naravez hit his first home run of the season, and Edgar Barclay was impressive on the mound in relief (3 IP, 2 H, 7 Ks, 34 of 44 pitches for strikes).
Matt Sauer will take the ball for the Renegades to try to keep the momentum going. The 23-year-old right-hander has only thrown a total of 6.1 innings in his first two starts of the year. On April 14 against Rome, he went 3.1 innings, allowed two runs on two hits, walked three (hit two batters), and struck out four on 66 pitches (32 strikes).
It is a small sample size, but command is still something to watch when Sauer is starting. Teams are 4-for-4 in stolen bases against him in two games after runners were successful 19 out of 23 times against him a year ago.
The Cyclones will go with David Griffin. The 25-year-old right-hander will be making his first start of the season after making two appearances out of the bullpen. He has yet to allow a hit this year while striking out six batters and walking one in five innings of work.
Last year, Griffin ended the season making seven starts for the Cyclones and he went 3-1 with a 4.18 ERA (30 strikeouts to 13 walks in 32.1 innings). Two of those starts came against the Renegades in September and he gave up four home runs in those outings.
Austin Wells had one of those home runs and he had an RBI double in another game. Wells has yet to hit a home run this year, so this might be a good matchup for him if he’s in the lineup.
Richard Fitts (Photo Credit: John Brophy/Pinstriped Prospects)
Low-A
Tampa Tarpons (6-4) vs. Clearwater Threshers (2-8)
6:30 PM I BayCare Ballpark
RHP Richard Fitts (0-0, 10.13) vs. TBD
The Tarpons lost the series opener to Clearwater in walk-off fashion despite the pitching staff combining to strike out 11 batters (5 each by Yon Castro and Ryan Anderson). Benjamin Cowles had the lone RBI for Tampa in the defeat while Connor Cannon went 2-for-3 with a walk.
Richard Fitts will get the start for Tampa. The 6th Round pick in 2021 made his professional debut in his last start on April 13 against Dunedin. He gave up three runs on seven hits, walked a batter, and struck out three over 2.2 innings of work. While Fitts was hittable, he stayed around the strike zone as 44 of his 59 pitches were for strikes.
Clearwater has yet to name a starter for tonight’s game. If the Threshers stay on turn, then Gabriel Cotto (0-0, 2.08) would get the start.
The 7th Round pick in 2018 had a good first start to the year on April 14 against St. Lucie. He went 4.1 innings, allowed two runs (one earned) on one hit, walked a batter, and struck out nine on 61 pitches (37 strikes). Cotto did not allow a home run in the two starts he had against Tampa last August (9 IP, 3 ER, 4 H, 6 BB, 12 Ks).
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