Yankees Take Opener 7-1

The Scranton/Wilkes Barre Yankees used timely hitting and solid relief pitching to earn a 7-1 victory in game one of the Governor’s Cup opening round playoff series against the Pawtucket Red Sox last night at McCoy. The Yankees hold a 1-0 lead in the best-of-five series.

Scranton scored six runs off PawSox starter and IL Pitcher of the Year Charlie Zink (0-1). They scored three runs in the fourth on a Chris Stewart RBI double to center and a two-run homer to left by Justin Christian. The Yankees tacked on three more in the sixth on a Stewart solo homer, a sacrifice fly by Melky Cabrera, and a Juan Miranda RBI single to right.

Scranton added they seventh run in the top of the ninth on a solo homer by Ben Broussard off PawSox reliever Marcus McBeth.

The PawSox offense did collect 8 hits in the ball game but could not take advantage of multiple scoring opportunities, stranding a total of 13 runners on base. Pawtucket’s lone run came in the fifth on a solo home run by Gil Velazquez off Yankees starter Chase Wright.

Four Yankees reliever worked to hold the PawSox scoreless over the final 4 2/3 innings of the ballgame. Steven Jackson (1-0) worked 1 1/3 innings to earn the win. Zachary Kroenke, David Robertson, and Scott Strickland combined to pitch the remaining three innings, giving up only two PawSox hits.

Stewart and Eric Duncan each had three hits to lead the Yankees. Christian and Chris Basak chipped in with two apiece. Velazquez and Jeff Natale had two hits each for the PawSox.

A must win game two of the series will be played tonight (7:05 pm) at McCoy. RHP Ian Kennedy (5-3, 2.35) will pitch for the Yankees. He’ll go up against RHP Devern Hansack (6-10, 4.08) for the PawSox.

BOX SCORE
MILB GAME STORY
PROJO REPORT
SCRANTON TIMES TRIBUNE REPORT

NOTES: In the other IL Playoff series, the Durham Bulls blasted three solo homers, enough to shut-out the Louisville Bats 3-0. The Bulls also take a 1-0 lead in their best-of-five series. BOX