Yankees Snap Pawtucket's Franchise Record Win Streak

April 25, 2012 - International League (IL1)
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees News Release


Pawtucket, RI - Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (9-9) used a four run ninth inning for it's biggest come from behind win of the season and in the process denied the Pawtucket Red Sox (15-6) a chance for a 10th consecutive win and a Pawtucket franchise record. The Yankees trailed 5-0 early but then roared back with an 8-6 win to split the two game series.

The Red Sox had been on a home run tear hitting 17 homers during the team's franchise record tying nine game winning streak. Pawtucket was at it again on Wednesday afternoon jumping out to a 5-0 lead over the Yankees thanks to three home runs from three different players. Mauro Gomez got the Paw Sox on the board with a two run homer in the first inning off SWB starter Adam Warren for his second of the series and sixth of the season. The 2-0 lead carried to the third inning when the Red Sox hit a pair of homers to run the lead to 5-0. Leadoff man Pedro Ciriaco hit his first HR of the season over the bullpen in left field extending the lead to 3-0. After a one out double from Daniel Nava and a ground out from Gomez, Will Middlebrooks hit his ninth homer of the season with a two run blast to right center for a 5-0 lead.

The Yankees got back into the game off Red Sox starting pitcher Doug Mathis with three runs in the top of the fourth inning also via the long ball. Dewayne Wise drew a one out walk and moved to second base on a single from Steve Pearce, extending his hit streak to a season high nine games. With first and second Jack Cust deposited a Mathis pitch into the last row of the right center field bleachers for a 415 foot homer, his second of the season and the lead was down to 5-3.

Francisco Cervelli pulled the Yankees to within a single run at 5-4 with a two out, two strike RBI single in the top of the fifth inning that scored Colin Curtis, who had singled with two out off Mathis and stole second base. Cervelli's single past Middlebrooks at third scored Curtis and the Yankees were within a single run.

The Pawtucket bullpen scuffled a bit but held through the eighth inning as Scranton/Wilkes-Barre put two on base with one out in the seventh and two on with two out in the eighth inning but failed to score.

The Yankees did not squander their opportunity in the ninth off Paw Sox reliever Garrett Mock (LP, 0-1). Ramiro Pena led the inning off with a single to right center, moved to second on a walk to Kevin Russo and then to third as a walk to Curtis loaded the bases. Cervelli came through off Mock with his second hit of the afternoon, a single to left that scored Pena and Russo giving SWB a 6-5 lead. Before departing after just 0.2 IP, Mock allowed a sacrifice fly to Pearce to make it 7-5. Brandon Laird's RBI hit off new pitcher Chorye Spoone ran the lead to 8-5.

The Paw Sox loaded the bases off Yankees closer Kevin Whelan (S, 5) who entered to open the ninth inning in a save situation for Chase Whitley (WP, 3-1). A Tony Thomas single and walks to Ciriaco and Jose Iglesias loaded the bases for Nava who would get the only Pawtucket run of the inning home on a sacrifice fly. With first and second and one down, Whelan struck out both Gomez and Middlebrooks as the Yankees held on for the win.

Scranton/Wilkes-Barre will open a four game "home" series on Thursday night at Coca-Cola Park in Allentown against the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs with a 7:05 PM first pitch. Right hander Ramon Ortiz (0-1, 5.25) will start for the Yankees while the Iron Pigs will send righty Dave Bush (1-2, 3.07) to the mound.



International League Stories from April 25, 2012


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