Bats Complete Four Game Sweep of SWB with 11-6 Win

June 21, 2012 - International League (IL1)
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees News Release


Louisville, KY - The Louisville Bats completed their first four game sweep of the season, handing the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees an 11-6 loss on Thursday night at Louisville Slugger Field. The four game sweep at the hands of Bats was the first time the Yankees have been swept since the Durham Bulls won four straight in a series at PNC Field August 16-19, 2011.

For the third time in the series, things started well for the Yankees who jumped out early scoring two runs in the top half of the first inning off Louisville starter Tim Gustafson (WP, 3-1). Kevin Russo picked up the first of his three hits on the night and drove home the first two of his of his three runs on a single to center field scoring Corban Joseph and Francisco Cervelli to give the Yankees a 2-0 lead. Joseph drew a one out walk and was safe at second base when Bats second baseman Cody Puckett dropped a throw at second base on a potential force play at second base. Joseph was safe on the error and Cervelli reached on a fielder's choice. A two out walk to Russell Branyan loaded the bases for Russo who gave the Yankees their only lead of the night.

SWB starter D.J. Mitchell (LP, 5-4) allowed a first inning walk before retiring the side to preserve the 2-0 Yankees advantage. The Bats came out swinging in the home half of the second scoring six runs on seven hits off Mitchell. After a one out walk, Bill Rhinehart tied the game at two with his seventh homer of the season with a two run homer to right center. Three straight singles loaded the bases for Kristopher Negron who knocked in two runs with a double to left for a 4-2 advantage. An RBI ground out made it 5-2 before Dioner Navarro's RBI single close out the scoring in the inning to give Louisville a 6-2 lead. Mitchell's night was done after the second inning allowing six runs, all earned on seven hits with three walks and two strikeouts.

The Yankees added a run in the fifth inning off Gustafson in the fifth inning on a Branyan RBI single scoring Jack Cust who doubled to left center to close the gap to 6-3. Louisville had an immediate answer in the bottom half of the inning off SWB reliever Mike O'Connor with a Paul Janish leadoff homer and a double steal of home and second by Puckett and Daryl Jones.

Louisville added three more in the sixth inning off the second Yankee reliever of the night Manny Delcarmen. Janish added his second RBI of the night with a double to left scoring Mike Costanzo who led off the inning with a walk giving the Bats a 9-3 lead. Puckett made it a 11-3 with a two RBI single to left scoring Navarro who single and Janish.

Scranton/Wilkes-Barre scored three in the top of the ninth inning of Louisville reliever Carlos Fisher to close to 11-6 on RBI's from Joseph and Russo who picked up his third hit of the night with a run scoring single to center. The Yankees also added a run on a Negron throwing error from third base.

The four game sweep improved the Bats to 26-49 while the Yankees dropped to 40-34 with their fourth consecutive loss.

The Yankees and Indianapolis Indians open up a four game series on Friday night with a 7:15 PM first pitch from Victory Field in Indianapolis. Right hander Ramon Ortiz (6-3, 3.13) gets the start for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre while Indianapolis countering with right hander Tim Gustafson (2-1, 5.06).



International League Stories from June 21, 2012


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