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Branyan Goes Yard Twice, Drives in Six as Yankees Win

June 5, 2012 - International League (IL1)
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees News Release


Durham, NC - One day after a pair of Jack Cust home runs led the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees (32-27) to an 13 inning win, the team's newest slugger Russell Branyan hit a pair of three run homers, driving in six, as the Yankees out slugged the Durham Bulls (25-34) in the opening game of a four game series by a 12-8 final on Tuesday night.

On two different occasions Tuesday night, the Bulls got within one run of the Yankees; the first time in the fifth following a Chris Giminez two RBI single to close the SWB lead to 6-5, the second time was at 9-8 in the seventh following a three run homer from Henry Wrigley. Each time that Durham got within one run, Branyan, who joined Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on June 2nd, delivered a three run homer to push the lead back to four.

The Yankees jumped on Durham early staking starter D.J. Mitchell (WP, 5-2) to a 6-0 lead heading to the bottom of the third inning. In the top of the first off spot starter and former Yankee minor leaguer Jhonny Nunez, SWB scored three runs on Cust RBI double, a bases loaded walk to Francisco Cervelli and a sacrifice fly from Brandon Laird. Ronnier Mustelier made it 4-0 Yankees in the second inning with an RBI single scoring Kevin Russo, who had doubled with one out off Nunez. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre wasn't done adding two more in the third off the second Durham pitcher, Alex Torres. Colin Curtis, who had two hits on the night, scored from third on a wild pitch and Ramiro Pena knocked in the sixth run of the night on an RBI single to left.

The Bulls did not go quietly against Mitchell scoring three in the home half of the third on a Leslie Anderson three run homer. Durham would add two more in the fifth to close within one at 6-5 on Giminez's two run single. With another former Yankee, Romulo Sanchez, on the mound Branyan hit his first of two three run shots, clearing the wall in right center scoring Mustelier and Cust to extend the lead to 9-5.

Mitchell pitched into the sixth inning before giving up his second three run homer of the night, a shot to left by Wrigley just under the famous Bull on its perch high over the left field fence. The Yankee right hander picked up the win despite allowing a season high 12 hits and eight runs over 5.2 innings. Mitchell walked one, hit one and struck out two on the night improving to 5-2. His ERA jumped from 4.42 to 5.22. In his last four starts, Mitchell has allowed 23ER over 22.2 innings.

Chase Whitley, the only Yankee reliever who did not pitch in Norfolk in either Sunday's double header or Monday's 13 inning game entered the game with two out in the sixth inning with SWB leading 6-5 and after walking Anderson struck out former Yankee Juan Miranda to end the Bulls threat.

Branyan's second homer of the night to left center in the top of the eighth off Bulls reliever Ryan Reid pushed the lead back to four runs at 12-8. Whitley pitched a scoreless seventh and eighth and Jason Bulger added a one, two, three, ninth to seal the SWB victory.

The Yankees and Bulls continue the four game series on Wednesday night from Durham Bulls Athletic Park with a 7:05 PM first pitch. Right hander Ramon Ortiz (3-3, 3.42 ERA) will start the second game of the series for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre while former SWB Yankee right hander Lance Pendleton (2-1, 2.93 ERA) will start for the Bulls.



International League Stories from June 5, 2012


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