The Yankees farm system ended the weekend with a split. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre continues to look for their first win of 2013, as Brett Marshall had a tough start. Meanwhile, Trenton showed just how potent their offense could be this season as they beat Portland. Tampa had a rough day at the plate, but Charleston made good use of the long ball as they shutout the Drive.

Scranton/Wilkes-Barre lost to Pawtucket 6-2:
Melky Mesa started the bottom of the first with a bunt single and Zoilo Almonte drew a one out walk, but the RailRiders were unable to draw first blood. Pawtucket got its first baserunner of the day when Brett Marshall walked Ryan Lavarnway. A wild pitch moved the runner over and with two outs, Mark Hamilton hit a ground-rule double, giving the Red Sox a 1-0 lead. Pawtucket started to break the game open in the third, as Marshall quickly loaded the bases, giving up a single and two walks. A sac fly by Drew Sutton plated one run and a single by Lavarnway scored two more, putting Scranton in a 4-0 hole. Pawtucket added a run in the fourth and in the seventh, holding a 6-0 lead. The RailRiders finally started to threaten in the bottom of the eighth. Thomas Neal drew a walk and Addison Maruszak grounded a single to right. A single by Almonte scored Neal for their first run of the day. With three outs left, David Adams drew a leadoff walk to start the ninth. Cody Johnson and Austin Romine both struck out, but Adams scored on a single by Neal. Maruszak reached on an error but Mesa grounded out to short as Scranton took the 6-2 loss.

The RailRiders managed only four hits all day, none for extra bases. Mesa, Almonte, Neal and Maruszak each picked up one hit. They were 2-8 with runners in scoring position. Mesa, Johnson, Romine and Neal each struck out twice. Brett Marshall had a rough day. He lasted just 3.2 innings, giving up five runs on six hits, four walks and four Ks. Preston Claibrne pitched a perfect ninth inning, picking up one K.

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It was a tough day on the Farm for the Yankees affiliates. Tampa picked up its first win of the year, but everyone else came up short. Dellin Betances made his first appearance of 2013, as did the Charleston RiverDogs after being rained out yesterday.

Scranton/Wilkes-Barre lost to Pawtucket 9-4:
Looking to turn the page on 2012, Betances made his first start of the season on Friday night. Pawtucket got to the big righty quickly, as Jeremy Hazelbaker grounded a single back to the mound and Justin Henry lined on to center. A walk to Drew Sutton loaded the bases, but Betances came back to strike out the next two batters. Brandon Snyder then lined a single to the outfield giving the Red Sox a 2-0 lead. Betances settled down, however, pitching a 1-2-3 second and third inning and allowing just one walk in the fourth before being pulled at the start of the fifth. Hazelbaker knocked a triple off Ryan Pope and scored another run on a sac fly from Henry. The RailRiders offense caught fire in the seventh, started by walks to Melky Mesa and Cody Johnson. Austin Romine lined a single to left, juicing the bases with no outs. Thomas Neal connected with a double to center, clearing the bases and tying the game 3-3.

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It is going to be a big year for the Yankees’ Triple-A affiliate. After the Empire State Yankees spent 2012 completely on the road, they return to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre this year with a newly renovated PNC Field and a brand new team name, as they have now been christened the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders. Despite spending all of last year on the road, the (then) Yankees put together a surprisingly strong season. They went 84-60 and won the North Division of the International League. Unfortunately, they lost to the eventual IL Champions, the Pawtucket Red Sox, in the playoffs.

Once again, the RailRiders are entering the season with what should be a very strong pitching staff. Even with Manuel Banuelos out for the year after Tommy John surgery, the RailRiders’ starting rotation should be a joy to watch. With players like Adam Warren, Vidal Nuno, Brett Marshall and Matt Tracy all likely to take turns on the mound, the Yankees’ Triple-A affilliate should be in good hands. So far, Dellin Betances looks to be returning to the starting rotation, and this year should be telling after his thoroughly frustrating 2012. Scranton’s strong arms don’t end in the rotation, however, as players like Mark Montgomery, Chase Whitley, Francisco Rondon and Preston Claiborne will be coming in from the bullpen.

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Trenton put together a surprisingly strong 2012, going 79-63 and winning the Division, eventually falling to the Akron Aeros in the Eastern League Finals. Stellar play by Brett Marshall, Zoilo Almonte, Vidal Nuno and David Adams all came up big for the Thunder. Luckily, this year should see more of the same for the Thunder, who should see some of the Yankees’ hottest prospects don their uniform.

A lot of eyes will fix on the Trenton outfield this season, with Tyler Austin, Slade Heathcott, Ramon Flores and Mason Williams all likely to spend some time there this season. According to Josh Norris, Flores and Austin are looking outstanding in the Minors Spring Training right now. Unfortunately, Austin seems to have tweaked his ankle and missed yesterday’s game, however, it sounds like he should be fine by Opening Day. Flores celebrated his 21st birthday yesterday and has been swinging a hot bat in Spring Training.

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Just as the start of 2012 brought a lot of excitement to Charleston, the Tampa Yankees reaped the benefits in the latter half of the year. Unfortunately, a slow start to the season put the Yankees in a big hole in the Florida State League and they ended the year with a 65-70 record, their first losing season since 2005. Additions of Slade Heathcott, Mason Williams, Gary Sanchez and Tyler Austin revived them somewhat, but in the end their inconsistencies early in the season were too much for the Yankees’ hottest prospects to salvage.

While inconsistency was a problem for the Yankees on both offense and defense in 2012, they should have some solid players on both sides of the field this year. Combined with some strong players waiting for promotions down in Charleston, it could be enough to propel the Yankees back to a winning season, if not another FSL championship. Williams and Sanchez will anchor a strong lineup, with Angelo Gumbs probably starting in Charleston.  Gumbs could spend most of the year with Tampa and be another great asset for the Yankees’ High-A club. Yankees fans will also recognize a few of the people guiding the young hopefuls, as Luis Sojo will continue to manage the Tampa Yankees. Marcus Thames will join Tampa as the batting coach.

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There was quite a bit of excitement in Charleston when the 2012 season got underway, as the RiverDogs’ Opening Day roster boasted some of the Yankees’ most exciting prospects. With Tyler Austin, Mason Williams, Gary Sanchez, Dante Bichette, Jr. and others, it looked like the RiverDogs would be the team to beat in the South Atlantic League. Unfortunately for Charleston, Austin, Williams and Sanchez moved up to Tampa part way through the season, while Cito Culver and Bichette struggled to make up for the lost production and the RiverDogs ended the season 73-63, just short of a SAL playoff berth.

As always, there will be plenty of changes in Charleston this season, and I am not just talking about  the newest addition to their heralded concessions - the beer milkshake. These changes will start in the dugout, as Al Pedrique will take over managing duties for the RiverDogs for Carlos Mendoza, the new roving defense coach for the Yankees minor league system. Pedrique served as the Arizona Diamondbacks’ interim manager in 2004 and was the bench coach for the Houston Astros the last couple years.

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