Yankees MiLB Roundup for August 26th: Down the Home Stretch

Mandatory Credit: (Robert M. Pimpsner/Pinstriped Prospects)

Well, folks, the New York Yankees’ Baby Bombers began their final week of the minor league season with a bang. The bats were alive in Trenton, as the Thunder amassed nine runs in a blowout victory. The Staten Island Yankees won in dramatic fashion with a tenth inning walk-off bomb from budding prospect Chris Breen. The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders lost a tight ball game, and the other affiliates had a rest night before they kick off their final week of play.

As the season winds down, we often think back to March, when baseball pundits like Keith Law and Baseball America held little value to our farm system. Now that the season is coming to a close, it’s time to reflect and decide –  have the Yankees have accomplished anything this season? The answer is a resounding yes.

Entering this season, the Yankees didn’t have many elite prospects. However, Luis Severino has skyrocketed up the charts and is now one of the Top 50 Prospects in baseball according to some experts. When MLB.com reranked the MiLB systems, four of the Yankees five top prospects came from last season’s draft. Jacob Lindgren, the Yankees first pick in this season’s draft, is on the brink of being a September call-up. The affiliates’ catching prospects are so deep that both catchers in Staten Island had 18-game hitting streaks  going on at the same time! Are the Yankees a top five system, yet? No, they aren’t there, but the key word is yet. With the spending spree they made in the International market and some prime pieces in place, the future isn’t so bleak as it once was in the Bronx. So sit back and enjoy the last week of the MiLB season, but first, catchup on all of Monday nights action in today’s Yankees MiLB Roundup.

TRIPLE A

Scranton/Wilkes-Barres RailRiders (65-72) lost to the Rochester Red Wings (74-64) 4-2.

RailRiders fans certainly can’t be unhappy with Bryan Mitchell‘s performance Monday night. Mitchell, who will surely be called up to the Bronx come September 1st, pitched five strong innings Monday night. Mitchell allowed just one run while striking out four Red Wings on the evening, leaving with a 2-1 lead. The very next inning, Preston Claiborne, who has been getting lit up while working his way back from injury, let the RailRiders down yet again. A three run sixth by the Red Wings was all they would need to end the RailRiders chance at a series split.

The top of the lineup looked a little different for the RailRiders Monday night. With Jose Pirela getting a rare off night and Ramon Flores now getting regular at bats after his DL stint, the familiar one-two punch of Pirela and Rob Refsnyder is no more. Antoan Richardson led things off Monday night and had a 1-for-3 evening. Flores belted a triple and had one of the RailRiders RBI from the two hole. First baseman Kyle Roller went 2-for-3 on the night driving in the RailRiders other run. SWB has an off night Tuesday before a double heard on Wednesday with the Buffalo Bisons.

BOX SCORE

DOUBLE A

Trenton Thunder (65-70) defeated the Akron RubberDucks (72-63) 9-2.

The Thunder boomed their way to a win Monday night, extending their win streak to five games. While a three home run night highlighted the offensive outpour, the pitching was superb as well. Dan Camarena pitched his best game of the season, and probably his career, going eight sensational innings while striking out 12 and allowing just one run to cross the plate. Perhaps even more impressive than those numbers were the fact that Camarena did not issue a single free pass. This was a huge way for Camarena to go out on the season as he has struggled mightily since his promotion. The victory takes him to 2-6 at Double-A on the season.

The bats were on fire as well Monday night as the Thunder amassed 11 hits. Catcher Gary Sanchez, outfielder Mason Williams and first baseman Greg Bird all went yard on the evening pacing Trenton’s offense. Williams home run was exciting as his second inning grand slam highlighted a five run second inning. Right fielder Jake Cave led the way with hits, going 3-for-5 on the evening. Jaron Long looks to grab his seventh win Tuesday night and keep the Thunder rolling. Game time is 7:05 PM.

BOX SCORE

Aaron Judge-Mandatory Credit: Tom Priddy (Four Seam Images)

SINGLE A

High-A

The Tampa Yankees (68-65) were idle.

The T-Yanks had Monday night off as they prepare to kick off a series against the Clearwater Threshers. Tampa has made quite the second half run, salvaging what appeared to be a lost season. The T-Yanks have gone an impressive 35-28 in the second half of the Florida State League’s season. They need a miracle to make the final playoff spot, but the surge they made to contend for it is promising. The addition of Charleston top Dogs like Aaron Judge, Brady Lail and Caleb Smith has certainly been a huge boost. Speaking of which, Caleb Smith takes the mound Tuesday night for Tampa. Game time is 7:00 PM.

Low-A

The Charleston RiverDogs (66-67) were off for the night.

The RiverDogs, much like their High-A brethren, have put together an above .500 second half in the South Atlantic League to save a season that was once in a downward spiral. Their 33-30 second have surge has them relevant again, although they will not make the playoffs. The RiverDogs learned a lot about themselves this season as many of those who started in Charleston are now on Tampa or Trenton. Some was good, such as the emergence of Tyler Wade. Some, unfortunately, was bad, like the big sophomore slumps of Rookie Davis and Gosuke Katoh. The RiverDogs kick off a series against the Greenville Drive Tuesday night at 7:00 PM. 2014 draft pick Justin Kamplain takes the mound.