TRIPLE-A INTERNATIONAL LEAGUE

Richmond 4, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre 3
(Richmond wins series 3-1)

Richmond scored three times in the top of the ninth inning to come from behind and earn a berth in the Governor’s Cup Finals against Durham with a 4-3 win against Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

The series against Durham, which begins at Durham Bulls Athletic Park on Tuesday, should be interesting—the two clubs finished 8-8 against each other during the regular season. [...] Continue Reading »

TRIPLE-A INTERNATIONAL LEAGUE

Durham 5, Toledo 2
(Durham wins series 3-0)

The Bulls continued their home run frenzy, hitting three more bombs—they connected for nine in the series—to sweep Toledo with a 5-2 victory.

Third baseman Evan Longoria blasted two homers, and wound up going 3-for-4 with three RBIs while left fielder Jon Weber also went deep for Durham.

The Bulls advance to the Governor’s Cup Finals for the first time since 2003, and will face the winner of the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and Richmond series. [...] Continue Reading »

TRIPLE-A INTERNATIONAL LEAGUE

Scranton/Wilkes Barre 6, Richmond 4
(Series tied 1-1)

Scranton pitching was just good enough over the course of 10 innings to hold off Richmond and their 11 hits–which included three apiece by prospects Brent Lillibridge and Brandon Jones. Yankees outfielder Bronson Sardinha provided the go-ahead run with an RBI single in the top of the 10th, before Scranton tacked on two more.

Lefthander Kei Igawa allowed two runs in five innings to get the Yankees started on the right foot, and relievers Ross Ohlendorf, Ben Kozlowski and T.J. Beam combined to surrender two runs in the final five frames. [...] Continue Reading »

TRIPLE-A INTERNATIONAL LEAGUE

Richmond 3, Scranton/Wilkes Barre 2
(Richmond leads series 1-0)

The R-Braves scored two runs in the first inning, added one in the third and were able to hang on as closer Joey Devine worked the final 1 2/3 innings to defeat Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, 3-2.

Designated hitter Larry Bigbie went 2-for-3 with a pair of singles and drove in two runs for Richmond, and righthander Jeff Bennett allowed a run on four hits over 5 1/3 innings to earn the victory. [...] Continue Reading »

Here’s a quick rundown of which teams are in the playoffs around the minor leagues. All playoff series begin today (Wednesday, Sept. 5) unless otherwise noted. [...] Continue Reading »

DOUBLE-A
EASTERN LEAGUE
In the one-game playoff to decide who moved into the postseason, Portland defeated New Hampshire, 7-4, and will have the chance to defend their 2006 EL title.

Third baseman Andrew Pinckney hit two homers–both off Fisher Cats starter Kyle Yates–and outfielder Jeff Corsaletti went 4-for-5 with a homer and three runs scored.

Yates allowed five runs on eight hits in just 3 1/3 innings, and shortstop Sergio Santos was the lone hitter in New Hampshire’s lineup to record a multi-hit game.

The Sea Dogs move on to face Trenton, who won the Northern Division by 12 1/2 games.

HIGH CLASS A
FLORIDA STATE LEAGUE
The first round of the postseason began Tuesday in the FSL with a pair of shutouts, as St. Lucie blanked Brevard County, 8-0, and Sarasota defeated Clearwater, 2-0.

Mets lefthander Jon Niese and Reds righthander Ben Jukich were the difference-makers for their clubs, as both starters had quality outings.

Niese, a 2005 seventh-round pick, allowed just one hit over six innings, striking out nine. Jukich, a 13th-round pick of the Athletics in 2006 who came over to Cincinnati in the Chris Denorfia deal, tossed seven no-hit innings, walked two and struck out five.

Triple-A International League: With Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and Toledo already locking up their division races, Durham maintained their two-game lead over Richmond in the South Division.

The Bulls knocked off Charlotte, 7-3, while Richmond kept pace, defeating Norfolk, 6-2.

Durham will wrap up the regular season Monday in Charlotte with one final home game scheduled for today against the Knights, while the R-Braves also have three games remaining at home against the Tides. Buffalo and Rochester are on the outside looking in for the wild card spot. [...] Continue Reading »

The Rookie-level Appalachian League seems like it always comes down to Elizabethton and Danville in recent years, and the Twins claimed their second Appy League title in three seasons, completing a sweep of the Braves in the championship series. [...] Continue Reading »

Your Mariners are Rookie-level Arizona League champions!

OK, so don’t go crazy, but the Mariners beat the Giants 8-5 yesterday to win the league thanks in part to a four-run first inning outburst. That was more than enough for righthander Jacob Wild, who struck out 14 in eight innings for the victory.

It’s a great way for Wild to end his strong pro season. A former Bakersfield (Calif.) JC product (and 17th round pick of the White Sox in 2004), Wild is coming off two rough years at Pacific, when he went 3-13, 5.88. The 23-year-old righthander is 6-foot-5, 190 pounds and had a great year (as he should at his age) in the AZL, going 3-1, 1.88 with 62 strikeouts in 48 innings.

Mario Martinez–who signed for $600,000 last year–finished strong in the AZL this year and went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI to lead the team’s 11-hit attack.

The Mariners had won the first half of the AZL season and owned the AZL’s top record at 37-19, while the Giants won the second half.