Triple-A: Scranton 5, Toledo 2
Kevin Russo: 1 for 4
Matt Antonelli: 1 for 3, 2 R, RBI
Steve Pearce: 1 for 3, 2B, RBI
Jack Cust: 0 for 2, 3 BB, R
Ronnier Mustelier: 1 for 4, RBI
Colin Curtis: 1 for 3
Gustavo Molina: 1 for 3, HR
Ramiro Pena: 1 for 4, 2B, R
Dellin Betances: 6 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 4 BB, 4 SO, WP, HBP (100/54)
Juan Cedeno: IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, BB, 0 SO (14/6)
Ryota Igarashi: 2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 4 SO (31/22)

Double-A: Trenton 3, Erie 2
Kevin Mahoney: 2 for 3, HR
Addison Maruszak: 1 for 2, HR
Shaeffer Hall: 5 IP, 4 H, R, ER, 3 BB, 5 SO (86/55)
Kelvin Perez: IP, H, R, ER, 2 BB, 0 SO (18/7)
Preston Claiborne: IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, SO (14/8)

Double-A: Trenton 4, Erie 3
Abe Almonte: 1 for 3, 2B, RBI, SB
Cody Johnson: 1 for 4, HR
Zoilo Almonte: 2 for 4, 2B, R, RBI
Luke Murton: 1 for 4
Kevin Mahoney: 1 for 3
Addison Maruszak: 1 for 3, 2B, R
Adam Miller: 4.2 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 2 ER, BB, 4 SO (77/48)
Francisco Rondon: 2.2 IP, H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 2 SO (37/23)
Ryan Pope: 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 SO (21/14)

High-A: Clearwater 5, Tampa 4
Ramon Flores: 1 for 5, R
J.R. Murphy: 1 for 4, R
Rob Segedin: 1 for 5, 2 RBI
Neil Medchill: 2 for 3, BB, outfield assist
Kelvin Castro: 1 for 2, RBI
Eduardo Sosa: 0 for 3, BB, R
Jose Mojica: 2 for 3, 2B, R, RBI, BB
Matt Tracy: 6 IP, 4 H, R, ER, BB, 5 SO
Matt Bashore: 1.1 IP, 2 H, R, ER, 0 BB, SO
Branden Pinder: 1.2 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, SO

Low-A: Asheville 10, Charleston 5
Tyler Austin: 1 for 3, BB
Angelo Gumbs: 2 for 3, 2B, HR, 2 R, RBI
Rey Nunez: 2 for 3, R, RBI
Ali Castillo: 2 for 3, 3B, HR, 3 RBI
Evan Rutckyj: 3.2 IP, 4 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 3 BB, 5 SO
John Brebbia: 1.1 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 4 ER, BB, 2 SO
Mariel Checo: IP, H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, SO

Low-A: Charleston 19, Asheville 6
Cito Culver: 3 for 6, 3 R
Dante Bichette: 1 for 6, R
Tyler Austin: 5 for 5, 2B, 3B, 4 R, 2 RBI, SB
Gary Sanchez: 3 for 3, 2 2B, HR, 7 RBI, BB
Ben Gamel: 2 for 3, R, 2 RBI
Angelo Gumbs: 1 for 3, HR, 3 RBI
Casey Stevenson: 2 for 6, 2B, HR, 3 R, 2 RBI
Kelvin De Leon: 1 for 4, 2B, 3 RBI
Ali Castillo: 3 for 5, 2B, 2 R, outfield assist
Will Oliver: 2.2 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, BB, 3 SO
Joel De La Cruz: 3.1 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 3 R, 4 BB, SO
Pedro Guerra: IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, BB, 0 SO
Phil Wetherell: 2 IP, 3 H, 0 R 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 SO

Pitching matchup: LHP Shaeffer Hall (4-5, 3.61) vs. RHP Ramon Garcia (3-3, 5.30)

In the standings: Third place Trenton is 1.5 games behind first-place New Britain and 1 game behind wild-card Reading. Third-place Erie is 6 games behind Akron in the West.

ERIE
Niuman Romero SS
Brandon Douglas 2B
Rawley Bishop DH
Jordan Lennerton 1B
Wade Gaynor LF
John Murrian C
Tony Plagman RF
Bryan Pounds 3B
Michael Rockett CF
Ramon Garcia RHP

TRENTON
Abe Almonte CF
Corban Joseph DH
Luke Murton 1B
Kevin Mahoney 2B
Jose Pirela LF
Damon Sublett RF
Addison Maruszak 3B
Yadil Mujica SS
Jeff Farnham C
Shaeffer Hall LHP

Notes: Just look at that lineup. Gaze at it in wonderment and awe. Also, after his game-winning blast in game one, Cody Johnson snapped an 0-for-14 skid in which he'd had 11 strikeouts. His 13 bombs lead the Eastern League by two over Portland's Reynaldo Rodriguez.

I haven't done of these in a while, and I'll have plenty of time today, so I'll take your questions regarding the entirety of the system this afternoon. Here's the chat box. Hit me with your best shot. Fire away. 

Pitching matchup: LHP Francisco Rondon (3-0, 3.71) vs. RHP Michael Morrison (1-1, 3.63)

In the Standings: Third-place Trenton is 2 games back of first-place New Britain and 1.5 games behind Reading in the East. Third-place Erie is 4.5 games out of first in the West.

ERIE
Jamie Johnson CF
Niuman Romero SS
Rob Brantly C
Jordan Lennerton 1B
Rawley Bishop DH
Wade Gaynor LF
Tony Plagman RF
Brandon Douglas 2B
Bryan Pounds 3B
Michael Morrison RHP

TRENTON
Abe Almonte CF
Corban Joseph 2B
David Adams DH
Cody Johnson LF
Zoilo Almonte RF
Luke Murton 1B
Kevin Mahoney 3B
Jose Gil C
Addison Maruszak SS
Francisco Rondon LHP

Refresher course: This is a continuation of yesterday's rain-marred debacle. Here's what it looked like before the weather came into play.

Pretty bad, right? Well, considering the radar looked like Skittles vomit, we all thought it was going to be awful, which is why they banged it. In reality, it didn't rain all that much, and they probably could have gotten it in. C'est la vie.

The Thunder and SeaWolves will begin with two outs in the top of the fifth and the score knotted at 3-3. Here's how they scored:

ERIE 
Top of the Second
Brandon Douglas singles. Wade Gaynor scores.
Bryan Pounds singles. Tony Plagman scores.
Jamie Johnson out on a sac fly to left. Brandon Douglas scores.

TRENTON
Bottom of the third
Addison Maruszak hits a ground-rule double.
Abraham Almonte doubles to center field. Addison Maruszak scores.
Bottom of the fourth
Zoilo Almonte doubles to right field. David Adams scores
Luke Murton singles to left field. Zoilo Almonte scores

CHAT!: I'll be doing a live chat tonight between games of the doubleheader. I'll start the queue for questions around the top of the eighth so readers can get in and post their questions early.

Injury updates: Melky Mesa ran the bases today in an effort to get him ready for game action. He should be back soon. Walter Ibarra took grounders at short but didn't throw. He's farther off. Josh Romanski threw yesterday. Everybody else is day to day.

Videos: Here are five clips of today's batting practice.

Triple-A: Scranton 8, Toledo 7
Kevin Russo: 2 for 5, R, RBI, SB
Matt Antonelli: 1 for 5, R
Steve Pearce: 2 for 4, HR, 2 R
Jack Cust: 3 for 5, 2 HR, 3 R, 2 RBI
Ronnier Mustelier: 1 for 4, 2B, 3 RBI
Francisco Cervelli: 2 for 4, 2B, BB
Cole Garner: 2 for 4
Ramiro Pena: 1 for 4, 2B
Adam Warren: 6.1 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 6 SO (104/64)
Justin Thomas: 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, SO (6/4)
Manny Delcarmen: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, BB, SO (25/14)
Kevin Whelan: IP, 3 H, 4 R, 4 ER, BB, SO (28/16)

High-A: Tampa 4, Clearwater 3
Ramon Flores: 1 for 5, 2B
J.R. Murphy: 1 for 5, 2B
Russell Branyan: 1 for 3, 2B, 2 R, 2 BB
Rob Segedin: 2 for 5, 2B, RBI
Neil Medchill: 1 for 5
Kyle Roller: 1 for 4, HR
Eduardo Sosa: 1 for 3, RBI, outfield assist
Jose Mojica: 1 for 3
Kramer Sneed: 5 IP, 4 H, R, ER, 0 BB, 2 SO
Aaron Dott: 2.1 IP, 3 H, R, ER, 0 BB, 2 SO
Mark Montgomery: 1.2 IP, 3 H, R, ER, BB, 2 SO
Tommy Kahnle: IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, BB, SO

Pitching matchup: RHP Adam Miller (0-0, 3.00) vs. LHP Kelvin De La Cruz (2-5, 3.97)

In the Standings: Third-place Trenton is 2 games back of first-place New Britain and 1.5 games behind Reading in the East. Third-place Erie is 4.5 games out of first in the West.

ERIE
Jamie Johnson CF
Niuman Romero SS
Rob Brantly C
Jordan Lennerton 1B
Rawley Bishop DH
Wade Gaynor LF
Tony Plagman RF
Brandon Douglas 2B
Bryan Pounds 3B
Kelvin De La Cruz LHP

TRENTON
Abe Almonte CF
Corban Joseph 2B
David Adams DH
Cody Johnson LF
Zoilo Almonte RF
Luke Murton 1B
Kevin Mahoney 3B
Jose Gil C
Addison Maruszak SS
Adam Miller RHP

NOTES: The Yankees announced yesterday that all five of their minor league affiliates will participate in HOPE week, a charitable tradition with the major league club. The acronym stands for Helping Others Persevere and Excel. Trenton's turn comes on June 19-22 and 25. 

Today's starters, De La Cruz and Miller were teammates last year with Akron. De La Cruz made 16 starts and seven relief appearances. His first relief appearance came against Trenton in a game that was delayed two hours by rain. He made 11 more starts after that before moving to the bullpen  full time. 

Miller made 23 relief appearances with the Aeros, including a pair against Trenton. 

The Yankees today claimed Ryota Igarashi off of waivers from the Blue Jays. He'll report to Triple-A Scranton, which has a hole on its 25-man roster, so a move is not necessary to accommodate Igarashi. 

Triple-A: Scranton 6, Toledo 3
Kevin Russo: 1 for 5
Matt Antonelli: 1 for 4, 2B, 2 R, BB
Ronnier Mustelier: 1 for 4, RBI
Brandon Laird: 1 for 3, 2B, R, 2 RBI, BB
Francisco Cervelli: 2 for 4, HR, 2 RBI
Cole Garner: 2 for 4
Ramiro Pena: 1 for 3, 2B, BB
Nelson Figueroa: 7 IP, 5 H, R, ER, 2 BB, 5 SO (90/59)
Chase Whitley: 2 IP, H, 2 R, 2 ER, BB, 3 SO (34/21)

Double-A: Trenton 4, Richmond 3
Jose Pirela: 1 for 4, R
David Adams: 2 for 5, 2B, 2 RBI
Zoilo Almonte: 1 for 4, R, BB, SB
Luke Murton: 2 for 5, HR
Kevin Mahoney: 2 for 2, 2 BB
Mikey O'Brien: 6.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 4 BB, 4 SO (95/54)
Lee Hyde: 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 SO (4/3)
Kelvin Perez: 1.1. IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 SO (15/10)
Ryan Flannery: 0.2 IP, H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 0 SO (28/13)
Preston Claiborne: 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, BB, SO (11/4)

Low-A: Asheville 15, Charleston 12
Cito Culver: 2 for 5, 2 R, 2 RBI
Dante Bichette: 4 for 5, 2B, 2 R, RBI
Tyler Austin: 2 for 4, 2 R, 2 RBI, BB, SB
Gary Sanchez: 1 for 4, HR, 3 RBI, 2 R
Ben Gamel: 3 for 5, R
Kelvin De Leon: 1 for 4, HR
Ali Castillo: 1 for 3, R, BB
Scottie Allen: 4 IP, 7 H, 8 R, 8 ER, BB, 3 SO
Mariel Checo: IP, H, 4 R, 4 ER, 4 BB, 0 SO
Fred Lewis: 2 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 2 SO
Ben Paullus: IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, BB, 0 SO

Triple-A: Buffalo 8, Scranton 7
Kevin Russo: 1 for 5
Matt Antonelli: 2 for 5, HR, 2 RBI
Steve Pearce: 2 for 4, R
Jack Cust: 3 for 5, 2 HR, 3 RBI
Ronnier Mustelier: 1 for 5
Brandon Laird: 1 for 5, 2B, R
Cole Garner: 2 for 4, 2B, RBI
Gustavo Molina: 1 for 4, HR
Ramiro Pena: 2 for 4, R
D.J. Mitchell: 6 IP, 7 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 4 BB, 6 SO, WP (104/60)
Justin Thomas: IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 SO (12/7)
Manny Delcarmen: 2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, BB, 2 SO (27/16)

Double-A: Trenton 1, Richmond 0
David Adams: 1 for 3, BB, SB
Zoilo Almonte: 1 for 3, BB
Jose Pirela: 1 for 4
Jose Gil: 1 for 4, HR
Brett Marshall: 6 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 4 BB, 8 SO (96/61)
Francisco Rondon: IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 SO (17/9)
Ryan Pope: IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 SO (13/9)
Ryan Flannery: IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, SO (10/7)

High-A: Tampa 5, Lakeland 0
J.R. Murphy: 1 for 4, HR, BB
Rob Segedin: 2 for 5
Neil Medchill: 1 for 4, R
Tyson Blaser: 2 for 2
Kyle Roller: 2 for 3, 2B, 3B, 2 R, RBI, BB
Kelvin Castro: 1 for 4, HR, 2 RBI
Eduardo Sosa: 2 for 4, RBI
Jose Toussen: 2 for 4
Zach Nuding: 6 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 ER, BB, 6 SO
Tommy Kahnle: 2 IP, H, 0 R, 0 ER, BB, 2 SO
Rigoberto Arrebato: IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 SO

Low-A: Greenville 15, Charleston 10
Mason Williams: 3 for 4, 2B, 3 R, BB, 2 SB
Cito Culver: 1 for 3, RBI, 2 BB
Tyler Austin: 2 for 3, 2B, 3 R, RBI, 2 BB, SB, outfield assist
Ben Gamel: 1 for 5, 2B, R, RBI
Angelo Gumbs: 2 for 5, HR, 3 RBI
Rey Nunez: 1 for 4, HR, 2 RBI
Wilton Rodriguez: 2 IP, 9 H, 9 R, 9 ER, 2 BB, 0 SO (64/37)
Brett Gerritse: 6 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 5 SO (89/48)
Phil Wetherell: IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 3 SO (22/16)

Triple-A: Scranton 8, Buffalo 7
Kevin Russo: 1 for 4, RBI
Matt Antonelli: 1 for 4, 2 R, BB
Jack Cust: 3 for 5, HR, 3 R
Ronnier Mustelier: 1 for 4, HR, 2 RBI
Francisco Cervelli: 2 for 4, 2 R
Cole Garner: 2 for 4, 2B, R, RBI
Dellin Betances: 2 IP, 2 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 4 BB, 2 SO, WP, BK, HBP (65/31)
Mike O'Connor: 2.2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, ER, 3 BB, 0 SO (59/31)
Chase Whitley: 2.1 IP, 2 H, R, ER, BB, 2 SO (40/25)
Jason Bulger: 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 SO (23/14)
Juan Cedeno: IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, SO (14/9)
Kevin Whelan: 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, BB, SO (9/5)

Double-A: Richmond 4, Trenton 1
Abe Almonte: 1 for 4, 2B, RBI
Corban Joseph: 1 for 4
Zoilo Almonte: 1 for 4
Cody Johnson: 0 for 3,  BB -- 13-game hitting streak snapped
Jose Pirela: 2 for 3, 2B, R
Shaeffer Hall: 6 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 3 ER, BB, 2 SO, HBP (76/55)
Preston Claiborne: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, SO (25/12)

High-A: Tampa 7, Lakeland 1
Ramon Flores: 1 for 5, R
J.R. Murphy: 5 for 5, 2B, 4 R
Rob Segedin: 1 for 5, R
Neil Medchill: 1 for 5, HR, 3 RBI
Kyle Higahshioka: 0 for 1, RBI, 3 BB, SF
Kyle Roller: 3 for 5, 2B, 3 RBI
Sean Black: 5 IP, 6 H, R, 0 ER, BB, SO
Manny Barreda: 2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 SO
Rigoberto Arrebato: 2 IP, H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, SO

Low-A: Greenville 12, Charleston 6
Mason Williams: 1 for 4, RBI, BB
Cito Culver: 1 for 4, R, BB, SB
Dante Bichette: 2 for 5
Tyler Austin: 0 for 3, R, 2 BB
Ben Gamel: 2 for 5, 2B, R, RBI
Angelo Gumbs: 2 for 5, 2B, R, RBI
Rey Nunez: 1 for 4, 2B, R, RBI
Kelvin De Leon: 1 for 4, 2B, R, RBI
Francisco Arcia: 1 for 2, 2 BB
Evan Rutckyj: 1.1 IP, 3 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 4 BB, 2 SO (50/23)
Dan Mahoney: 1.2 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, SO (36/23)
Joel De La Cruz: 3 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, BB, 4 SO (47/33)
Ben Paullus: IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 SO (10/8)
Fred Lewis: IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 SO (10/7)
Casey Stevenson: IP, 2 H, 2 R, ER, 0 BB, 0 SO (21/11)

I spoke with Yankees pitching coordinator Nardi Contreras earlier this week, mostly about the rash of injuries the system's have suffered through the first two months. Here's what he had to say: 

On Jose Ramirez: I believe he's got his sub muscle under his armpit (hurt). All these injuries are crazy injuries. It's not like bad shoulders or elbows. These are all tweaks. Jose's got a strain underneath his armpit, so we shut him down.

On Dellin Betances: He's got a cracked fingernail that he's trying to pitch with. He's not a command guy. We want him to control the baseball. If he controls it in the strike zone, with his power, his curve and his change-up, he'll have a lot of success. Any little thing like (the cracked nail) will affect control, because you have no feel. It does affect him some, and affecting him some takes away from the ability to throw within the strike zone on a consistent basis. 

On Manny Banuelos: Manny's got a tired arm. There's nothing structurally wrong. He said his arm was tired, so we shut him down. That's easy. He did the MRI and stuff, and there's nothing structurally wrong. Whenever something bothers our guys, we get the MRI and make sure everything's OK, and everything's OK.

We'll give him seven days and then go from there, seven days of no throwing. Seven days of charting, running -- I'm not sure he'll do any weightlifting, because you've got to use your arm to do that -- that's it. 

On Dan Burawa: Danny Burawa will be pitching in extended spring training. He did a BP yesterday (Monday). He's going out twice, 35 pitches, then he'll have a couple of days off and then pitch in the extended spring game. (When he'll join a full-season team) will be the call of the people seeing him. They'll talk to me and let me know how he threw the baseball, but they see him. If I was there, then I could say, 'this is what we'll do.' 

On Jeremy Bleich: He's pitched twice, one-inning stints. I was there on his first one. He pitched really well. In the 90s, curveball for strikes. Then he pitched again on Saturday and he pitched another inning. He's coming. 

I believe we'll pitch him as a reliever in a pre-determined innings (scenario), so when he does break the extended spring program, there's a chance that, wherever he ends up going, you'll say, 'OK, today's Tuesday, he's going to pitch two innings,' and then two days' rest and go out there and pitch again.

On Jairo Heredia: Heredia was given the OK today or yesterday, so he'll start throwing (Wednesday). I think he has something wrong internally that is affecting him from being able to perform in the field. Something internally. What it is, I don't know, but I know he was OK'd yesterday.

Final score: Trenton 4, Akron 3

Synopsis: After a solid outing from Adam Miller and more stellar relief from the bullpen, the Thunder used a double from Cody Johnson and a single from Luke Murton to walk off winners against the Aeros on Thursday night. 

Can't Stop Cody: Johnson was the star of this night, as he has been for virtually the entire season. He extended his hitting streak to 13 games, hit a game-tying two-run homer, threw out a runner at the plate with a strike from left field and set up the game-ending rally with the ninth-inning double. 

He said after the game that, although both the double and homer came on hanging breaking balls, Akron had thrown him more fastballs this series than he'd seen all season. That's just not smart. Tony Franklin said after the game that in all his years of managing, Johnson is in the top five when it comes to players who hit the ball the hardest. 

Akron got Fingered: Miller was throwing in the low to mid 90s with the fastball all evening. When he got in trouble, it seemed to be when the heater had too much side-to-side run. He hit Akron catcher Roberto Perez in the helmet in the third inning on a fastball that just kept veering toward the right-handed batter's box. 

A Bullish Pen: Kelvin Perez got the final out of the fifth before putting himself in a huge jam in the sixth. With the bases loaded and one out, though, he reached back and found his best stuff to freeze Chun Chen get get Ben Copeland to wave at high heat. 

Lee Hyde got two outs in the eighth before handing things over to Ryan Flannery, who used his mix of deception and control in the lower half of the zone to get the game's final four outs. 

Picks to click: Here is Mike Ashmore's game story from this evening. 

Flicks to click: Here are six videos I shot Thursday night.

Pitching matchup: RHP Adam Miller (0-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. LHP Giovanni Soto (4-2, 4.10)

In the standings: Third place Trenton is 3.5 games back of first-place New Britain and 1.5 games back of Reading for the wild card in the East. First-place Akron is 4.5 games up on Harrisburg in the West.

AKRON
Tim Fedroff - CF
Ryan Rohlinger - SS
Adam Abraham - DH
Chun Chen - 1B
Ben Copeland - RF
Nick Weglarz - LF
Kyle Bellows - 3B
Davis Stoneburner - 2B
Roberto Perez - C
Giovanni Soto - LHP

TRENTON 
Abraham Almonte - CF
Corban Joseph - 2B
David Adams - DH
Cody Johnson - LF
Zoilo Almonte - RF
Luke Murton - 1B
Kevin Mahoney - 3B
Jose Gil - C
Addison Maruszak - SS
Adam Miller - RHP

Left out: After last night's loss to Akron and T.J. House, Trenton is 0-4 against southpaws at Waterfront Park and 3-6 against them overall. That said, tonight's lineup features a few players who have hit well against lefties this season, albeit in small samples.

Jose Gil: .350/.364/.600

Cody Johnson: .276/.300/.483

Corban Joseph: .417/.417/.750

Kevin Mahoney: .375/.474/.438

Addison Maruszak: .389/.421/.556

Four of the team's five homers against lefties have come from that quartet. The other longball came from Luke Murton, who has 7 hits in 29 trips against lefties this year.

On the other hand, David Adams, Abe Almonte and Zoilo Almonte, who's back after an extended absence, are a combined 7 for 54 against them.

Welcome back: Adam Miller, a former first-rounder of the Cleveland Indians way back in 2006, will start for Trenton this evening. He's missed a lot of time in his career due to injuries, including soreness in his shoulder and elbow, and four surgeries on his right middle finger. 

He pitched twice against the Thunder last year, once at Canal Park and once at Waterfront. 

Oh hey, Jose: Jose Pirela, out since April 12 with concussion-like symptoms is back with the team today. 

Double-A: Akron 4, Trenton 2
Shane Brown: 1 for 4
Corban Joseph: 1 for 4
David Adams: 1 for 4, R
Cody Johnson: 1 for 4, HR
Luke Murton: 1 for 4
Kevin Mahoney: 2 for 3, BB
Addison Maruszak: 1 for 4, 2B
Yadil Mujica: 1 for 4
Mikey O'Brien: 5.1 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 2 SO
Ryan Pope: 2.2 IP, H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 SO
Mike Dubee: IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, BB, 0 SO

High-A: Palm Beach 5, Tampa 4
Ramon Flores: 3 for 5, 3B, 2 R
Kelvin Castro: 1 for 4
Rob Segedin: 3 for 5, RBI
Neil Medchill: 1 for 5, RBI
Kyle Higashioka: 1 for 3, HR, BB
Kyle Roller: 1 for 4, HR,
Eduardo Sosa: 2 for 4
Jose Mojica: 1 for 4, 2B
Kramer Sneed: 3 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 4 ER, BB, 4 SO
Evan DeLuca: 1.2 IP, 0 H, R, ER, 6 BB, SO
Matt Bashore: 1.1 IP, H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 2 SO
Tommy Kahnle: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, BB, 2 SO

Low-A: Savannah 6, Charleston 3
Mason Williams: 0 for 1, R, BB
Cito Culver: 1 for 2, R, 2 BB
Dante Bichette: 1 for 4
Tyler Austin: 1 for 4, RBI
Gary Sanchez: 1 for 3
Ben Gamel: 1 for 4, 2 RBI
Casey Stevenson: 1 for 4
Francisco Arcia: 1 for 4, R
Scottie Allen: 4 IP, 9 H, 6 R, 6 ER, BB, 2 SO
Dan Mahoney: 2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, SO
Phil Wetherell: IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, BB, SO
Mariel Checo: IP, H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, SO

Final score: Akron 4, Trenton 2

Synopsis: Rocking a most unorthodox outfield alignment, the Thunder couldn't overcome lefty T.J. House and his seven innings of one-run ball. Ben Copeland's bases-clearing triple -- uncatchable by even the greatest of outfielders -- was the deciding blow. 

Bright spots: Cody Johnson homered again, his league-best 11th of the year. If he pulled the ball at all in two at-bats following the homer, he'd have had three bombs. As it is, he'll have to settle for leading the team in batting average, HRs, RBIs and doubles.

In addition to his two hits, Kevin Mahoney, stuck in right field for the first time in his career, also came up with an outfield assist. His peg from shallow right cut down Chun Chen at the dish in the fourth. 

Ryan Pope pitched 2 2/3 innings of scoreless ball, the first time since April 27 that he's had a scoreless outing that last more than an inning. 

Trenton also turned three double plays, moving its season total to 42. 

Rehab over: Tony Franklin hinted before the game and confirmed afterward that Zoilo Almonte and Jose Pirela are on their way back from rehab work in extended spring. Almonte had been out since April 20 with hamstring spasms, and Pirela had been gone since April 12 with concussion-like symptoms. Almonte came up lame stealing second base, and Pirela was struck in the helmet by a 95  mph fastball from Portland's Chris Martin.

You can see videos of both injuries below.

Picks to click: Here are my game story and notes from Wednesday. I'll be there on Thursday, but Mike Ashmore (I'm sure you know him)

Pitching matchup: LHP T.J. House (2-1. 3.91) vs. RHP Mikey O'Brien (2-1, 3.91)

In the Standings: Third-place Trenton is 2.5 back of New Britain and 1.5 behind Reading. First-place Akron is 3.5 games up on Harrisburg.

AKRON
Tim Fedroff - LF
Ryan Rohlinger - SS
Adam Abraham - DH
Chun Chen - 1B
Ben Copeland - CF
Thomas Neal - RF
Kyle Bellows - 3B
Davis Stoneburner - 2B
Roberto Perez - C
T.J. House - LHP

TRENTON 
Shane Brown - CF
Corban Joseph - DH
David Adams - 2B
Cody Johnson - LF
Luke Murton - 1B
Kevin Mahoney - RF
Jose Gil - C
Addison Maruszak - 3B
Yadil Mujica - SS
Mikey O'Brien - RHP

Notes: This is Kevin Mahoney's first career start in the outfield. He's there because Dan Brewer dislocated a finger in a collision last night. ... Abraham Almonte is hitting .143/.214/.250 against lefties, which is probably why he is out. Brewer is not officially on the DL yet, which is an interesting yet confusing sign. ... Shane Brown has played center field once in his career (July 15, 2011 - he went 2 for 3 that day ) and batted leadoff 19 times in 2010 but never last season. ... Today is Austin Romine mini-bobblehead night. 

Final score: Trenton 3, Akron 2

Synopsis: Trenton pitchers worked around nine walks, and the offense put it together just enough to score a one-run win over the Aeros, the league's best team. Trenton got its runs on sac flies from Cody Johnson and Kevin Mahoney, and a double from Luke Murton. Francisco Rondon, Lee Hyde, Preston Claiborne and Ryan Flannery allowed one run over their five innings. 

Bright spots: Cody Johnson got two more hits, a double and a single, upping his average to .292. Considering he was hitting .186 at this time last year, there's something to be said about him possibly improving. Remember, he's still just 23 and doesn't turn 24 until August. 

Flannery pitched another scoreless inning, lowering his ERA to a fantastic 0.86. He doesn't have stuff that jumps out at you, but he locates what he has very well, and he has a delivery loaded with deception. 

He hasn't allowed a run since April 29 at New Hampshire, a span of eight outings and 9 1/3 frames. He's picked up six saves this year (though that stat is, of course, meaningless), and is the team's de facto closer. 

Bad news: Dan Brewer dislocated his finger on a collision with Murton late in the game and was immediately sent to the hospital. He's almost certainly going to wind up on the disabled list again, leaving Trenton with three healthy outfielders (Abe Almonte, Cody Johnson and Shane Brown) while he, Zoilo Almonte and Melky Mesa are injured. 

In his postgame last night, manager Tony Franklin mentioned that Addison Maruszak, Yadil Mujica could see time in the outfield if necessary while they wait for people to heal. Here's the career breakdown for that trio as far as their outfield experience is concerned. 

Picks to Click: Here are my game story and notes from Tuesday

Flicks to Click: Here are three videos from Tuesday

Pitching matchup: LHP Vidal Nuno (NR) vs. RHP Paolo Espino (0-0, 0.00)

In the standings: Third-place Trenton is 3 games back of New Britain and 2.5 games back of Reading in the East. Akron is in first place in the West by 5 games over Harrisburg. 

AKRON

Tim Fedroff - CF
Ryan Rohlinger - 2B
Adam Abraham - 1B
Chun Chen - DH
Ben Copeland - LF
Juan Diaz - SS
Thomas Neal - RF
Kyle Bellows - 3B
Roberto Perez - C
Paolo Espino - RHP

TRENTON

Abe Almonte - CF
Corban Joseph - 2B
David Adams - DH
Cody Johnson - LF
Luke Murton - 1B
Kevin Mahoney - 3B
Jose Gil - C
Dan Brewer - RF
Yadil Mujica - SS
Vidal Nuno - LHP

Baseball is a hurting thing: With Melky Mesa and Walter Ibarra hitting the shelf before yesterday's game, that makes 15 DL stints for Thunder players this year. The team reached 15 disabled players on June 1 in 2011, although six of those were for either Wilkins Arias, Damon Sublett or Naoya Okamoto, who were often placed on the paper DL to make room for other players. 

Of this year's stints, just one, Jeff Farnham's to begin the season, appears to have been a paper move, which means 12 players have gotten hurt this year. If you'd like to look at it in chronological form, here you go: 

April 5: Jeff Farnham (we'll call it a paper cut)

April 9: Graham Stoneburner: (groin)

April 12: Gustavo Molina (back)

April 12: Rob Lyerly (labrum)

April 12: Jose Pirela (concussion-like symptoms)

April 14: David Adams (sore neck)

April 19: Dan Brewer (hand)

April 20: Zoilo Almonte (hamstring)

April 24: Josh Romanski (blister)

May 6: Walter Ibarra (finger)

May 13: Graham Stoneburner (groin)

May 14: Craig Heyer (arm soreness)

May 18: Cory Arbiso (back strain)

May 21: Melky Mesa (shoulder soreness)

May 21: Walter Ibarra (finger)

Manny, what a relief: A Yankees person told me earlier today that the elbow soreness that landed Manny Banuelos on the DL yesterday is "minor" and that his stint on the disabled list in Scranton is precautionary. 

Catch 'em while you can: Today is Jesus Montero mini-bobblehead night at the park. Yesterday was Francisco Cervelli night, and tomorrow is Austin Romine. I'll give away all the bobbles from this season in a contest at the end of the year.

First, the good news. It appears that Craig Heyer's arm stiffness was not symptomatic of any larger problem. He saw the doctor while the team was on its recent road trip, and came back without news of any structural damage. He should pitch for the Thunder again this season. 

To fill in while Heyer, Graham Stoneburner, Cory Arbiso and Josh Romanski are on the shelf, lefty Vidal Nuno was bumped from Tampa to Trenton and will start this evening (weather permitting) against the Aeros, the best the Eastern League has to offer. 

With Tampa this season, Nuno, a 24-year-old, was 1-1 with a 2.96 ERA over 11 appearances (one start). He was 7-1 with a 1.38 ERA in 15 appearances (7 starts) last year between Staten Island and Charleston. The Indians originally popped him in the 48th round of the 2009 draft.

Now for the bad news. 

Walter Ibarra and Melky Mesa are headed to the DL for Trenton, marking the 14th and 15th players to land on the shelf this season. To put that in perspective, the Thunder's 15th DL transaction last year happened on June 28, and most players on the list to that point were members of the fake DL, where teams sometimes stash players when they need room for another guy. 

Ibarra reaggravated a previous injury to his middle finger during the team's road trip to Binghamton, and Mesa complained of soreness in his throwing arm/shoulder after Friday's game. Considering what an asset his arm is, and how well he'd been playing this season, that's a major blow.

Romanski, who's been dealing with blister issues, hasn't started throwing off a mound yet, so he's a ways away. Outfielder Zoilo Almonte and infielder Jose Pirela are playing in games in extended spring training, so they're getting closer. 

Triple-A: Scranton 9, Columbus 6
Kevin Russo: 2 for 5, R, BB
Matt Antonelli: 1 for 4, 3B, 2 R, BB
Steve Pearce: 3 for 5, 2 R, HR, 3 RBI
Brandon Laird: 1 for 3, RBI, 2 BB
Francisco Cervelli: 1 for 5, 2 RBI
Cole Garner: 3 for 5, 2 HR, 2 R, 2 RBI
Ramiro Pena: 2 for 5, R
D.J. Mitchell: 5 IP, 8 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 0 BB, 0 SO, WP, 3 HBP (78/47)
Justin Thomas: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, SO, BB (25/15)
Chase Whitley: IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, BB, 0 SO (16/7)
Kevin Whelan: IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, BB, 2 SO (16/8)

Double-A: Akron 5, Trenton 1
Abe Almonte: 1 for 3, SB
Corban Joseph: 0 for 3, SF, RBI
Cody Johnson: 1 for 4, 2B
Dan Brewer: 1 for 4
Addison Maruszak: 1 for 2, BB, R
Jeff Farnham: 1 for 3
Brett Marshall: 6 IP, 8 H, 5 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, SO
Kelvin Perez: 2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 SO
Mike Dubee: IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, BB, SO

High-A: Tampa 5, Palm Beach 2
Ramon Flores: 3 for 4, R
J.R. Murphy: 1 for 3, R, BB
Rob Segedin: 1 for 3, HR, 3 RBI
Neil Medchill: 1 for 4, R
Kyle Higashioka: 1 for 4, HR, 2 RBI
Kelvin Castro: 1 for 4, 2B
Eduardo Sosa: 1 for 4
Zach Nuding: 7 IP, 8 H, 2 R, 2 ER, BB, 2 SO
Branden Pinder: 2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 SO

Low-A: Charleston 5, Savannah 3
Mason Williams: 1 for 3, 2B, R, RBI
Cito Culver: 1 for 6
Dante Bichette: 1 for 5, RBI
Tyler Austin: 2 for 5, 2B, R, 2 SB (including home)
Ben Gamel: 2 for 5, SB
Angelo Gumbs: 2 for 5, 2B, R
Rey Nunez: 2 for 5, R
Kelvin De Leon: 2 for 5, 2B, R, RBI, BB
Brett Gerritse: 4 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 3 SO
Fred Lewis: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 2 SO
Phil Wetherell: IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 SO
Pedro Guerra: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, BB, 3 SO
Ben Paullus: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, BB, 4 SO

(Manchester, NH) - Shaeffer Hall came within one out of a complete game as the Trenton Thunder rolled to an 8-3 win to complete a three-game sweep of the new Hampshire Fisher Cats Sunday afternoon. Hall (4-4) threw a career-high 8.2 innings to win his second game on the road trip and move Trenton (22-18) a season high four games above .500. The Thunder out-scored New Hampshire 18-5 in the sweep.


The left-hander Hall allowed seven hits (including two home runs) and did not walk a batter while striking out three. He allowed a two-out, two-run home run to Mike McDade in the ninth and was then pulled in favor of Ryan Pope, who recorded the final out. In two games on the trip, Hall pitched 15.1 innings and allowed three runs while not walking a batter.


Dan Brewer went 2-for-3 with a walk and his first home run of the season, a blast to left that put the Thunder ahead 4-1 in the seventh inning. Cody Johnson had given Trenton an early 1-0 lead by delivering an RBI single in the first against Fisher Cats starter Joel Carreno (0-1), the fourth straight game he had driven in a run in the first inning.


Trenton added two runs in the fifth, eighth and ninth innings. David Adams recorded two sacrifice flies while Corban Joseph and Yadil Mujica each picked up RBI hits.


Abraham Almonte, Joseph, and Brewer each had a pair of hits while Johnson extended his hitting streak to a team-season-high nine games. He has 12 RBI and four homers during those nine. The Thunder finished the six-game road trip with a 4-2 record.


Trenton next returns home for a four-game series against Akron, which holds the best record in the Eastern League at 26-14. Game one will be Monday night at 7:05 pm, with right-hander Brett Marshall (4-1, 2.79) expected to start for Trenton against righty Brett Brach (0-1, 5.87). Limited tickets are available by contacting the Thunder box office at 609-394-3300 or online at www.trentonthunder.com.

Let's be frank. There have been an alarming number of injuries among the pitchers in the Yankees system this year. Look at the list right now:

SCRANTON

Pat Venditte

Matt Daley

TRENTON

Graham Stoneburner

Josh Romanski

Craig Heyer

Cory Arbiso

TAMPA

Jose Ramirez

Reiner Casanova

Nik Turley -- not on the DL yet, but he had blister issues yesterday and seems headed there

CHARLESTON

Jose Campos

Zach Varce

Zachary Arneson

Additionally, Manny Banuelos and Matt Tracy also spent time on the shelf. And that's only the pitchers. Walter Ibarra, Gustavo Molina, Zoilo Almonte, Dan Brewer, Jose Pirela, David Adams, Austin Romine, Slade Heathcott and Anderson Feliz have also missed time this year. 

I'm not sure there's any more to this than just a string of seriously bad luck, but it certainly looks bad. What say you, readers?

Triple-A: Scranton 9, Toledo 8
Kevin Russo: 2 for 5, 2B, R, RBI
Colin Curtis: 3 for 5, 2 R, RBI
Steve Pearce: 1 for 5, HR, 3 RBI
Jack Cust: 1 for 4, R
Brandon Laird: 1 for 3, 2 BB
Ronnier Mustelier: 2 for 4
Francisco Cervelli: 1 for 2, HR, 2 RBI, 3 BB
Ramiro Pena: 0 for 4, R, BB
Ray Kruml: 1 for 1, HR, BB
Cole Garner: 1 for 3, 2B, R
Manny Banuelos: 4 IP, 4 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 3 BB, 5 SO (94/56)
Nelson Figueroa: 3 IP, H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 4 SO (51/31)
Justin Thomas: IP, H, R, ER, 0 BB, SO (19/12)
Kevin Whelan: IP, H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, SO (17/7)

Double-A: Trenton 7, Binghamton 1
Abe Almonte: 0 for 5, RBI
Corban Joseph: 2 for 4, HR, BB
Luke Murton: 0 for 4, BB, R
Cody Johnson: 1 for 4, HR, 2 RBI, BB
Melky Mesa: 1 for 5, R
Kevin Mahoney: 2 for 4, R, BB
Yadil Mujica: 2 for 4, 2B, R, 2 RBI
Jeff Farnham: 1 for 3, 2B, R
Mikey O'Brien: 7 IP, 3 H, R, ER, BB, 3 SO (93/54)
Kelvin Perez: 2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 SO (33/20)

High-A: Charlotte 2, Tampa 0
J.R. Murphy: 1 for 4
Rob Segedin: 1 for 4, 2B, outfield assist
Neil Medchill: 1 for 3, 2B
Nik Turley: 3 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 3 SO -- left with blister issues
Kramer Sneed: 4 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 SO
Branden Pinder: 2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, BB, SO

Low-A: Charleston 10, Rome 5

Francisco Arcia: Star of the Day (Gotham Baseball)

Angelo Gumbs: 1 for 3, R, 2 RBI, BB
Cito Culver: 1 for 4, 2 R, SB
Ben Gamel: 3 for 4, R, RBI, SB
Tyler Austin: 1 for 2, R, 2 BB, SB
Gary Sanchez: 1 for 3, R, RBI, BB
Casey Stevenson: 1 for 3, 2B, R, RBI
Francisco Arcia: 4 for 4, 3 2B, 4 R, 3 RBI
Ali Castillo: 1 for 4
Wilton Rodriguez: 4 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 2 SO (50/29)
Pedro Guera: IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 SO (9/7)
Ben Paullus: 2 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 3 ER, BB, 3 SO (29/22)

Triple-A: Scranton 4, Toledo 1
Kevin Russo: 1 for 5
Colin Curtis: 3 for 4, 2B, R, SB
Steve Pearce: 1 for 3, R, RBI
Jack Cust: 0 for 2, 2 BB, R
Ronnier Mustelier: 2 for 4, HR, 3 RBI
Ramon Ortiz: 7 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, BB, 8 SO
Chase Whitley: IP, 2 H, R, ER, BB, SO
Manny Delcarmen: IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 2 SO

Double-A: Binghamton 12, Trenton 3
David Adams: 1 for 4, R
Cody Johnson: 1 for 2, HR, 2 R, 2 RBI, 2 BB
Kevin Mahoney: 1 for 4, RBI
Cory Arbiso: 2 IP, 7 H, 9 R, 3 ER, BB, 2 SO
Francisco Rondon: 2.1 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, BB, 4 SO
Ryan Pope: 1.2 IP, 2 H, R, ER, 0 BB, 3 SO
Lee Hyde: IP, H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 SO
Ryan Flannery: IP, H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 SO

High-A: Tampa 9, Charlotte 3
Ramon Flores: 2 for 5, HR, 2 R, 3 RBI
J.R. Murphy: 1 for 4, RBI, BB
Rob Segedin: 1 for 3, RBI, SB
Neil Medchill: 1 for 3, R, BB
Eduardo Sosa: 0 for 2, BB, R
Kelvin Castro: 2 for 4, 2 2B, 2 R, 2 RBI, SB
Garrison Lassiter: 1 for 3, HR, 2 R, BB
Jose Mojica: 1 for 2, R, RBI, 2 BB
Vidal Nuno: 3 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 3 SO
Manny Barreda: 3 IP, 2 H, R, ER, 2 BB, 4 SO
Aaron Dott: 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 SO
Mark Montgomery: 1.1 IP, H, 0 R, 0 ER, BB, 3 SO

Low-A: Charleston 3, Rome 0
Dante Bichette: 1 for 3, R
Tyler Austin: 1 for 2, HR, 2 RBI
Angelo Gumbs: 1 for 3, 3B, R
Rey Nunez: 1 for 3, RBI
Kelvin De Leon: 1 for 3, 2B
Bryan Mitchell: 7 IP, 6 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 10 SO
Joel De La Cruz: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, BB, 3 SO

Triple-A: Scranton 3, Toledo 1
Eduardo Nunez: 1 for 4, SB
Ray Kruml: 1 for 1
Ramiro Pena: 1 for 5
Kevin Russo: 1 for 2, 2B, R, 3 BB
Brandon Laird: 1 for 4, R, RBI
Ronnier Mustelier: 1 for 3, BB
Gustavo Molina: 2 for 4, 2 RBI
D.J. Mitchell: 7 IP, 4 H, R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 6 SO (115/73)
Justin Thomas: 0.1 IP, H, 0 R, 0 ER, BB, 0 SO (8/4)
Manny Delcarnen: 0.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, SO (5/4)
Kevin Whelan: IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 SO (13/9)

Double-A: Binghamton 1, Trenton 0
Abe Almonte: 1 for 4
Corban Joseph: 1 for 3, BB
David Adams: 1 for 4
Luke Murton: 2 for 3, BB
Kevin Mahoney: 1 for 4
Brett Marshall: 7 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, BB, 2 SO (85/55)
Preston Claiborne: IP, 3 H, R, ER, 2 BB, 0 SO (36/22)

High-A: Lakeland 6, Tampa 5
Ramon Flores: 1 for 4
Kelvin Castro: 1 for 4, HR
Rob Segedin: 1 for 4, 2B, R
Neil Medchill: 2 for 4, R, RBI, SB
Kyle Higashioka: 1 for 4, 2B, R, RBI
Eduardo Sosa: 1 for 4
Tyson Blaser: 1 for 4, R, RBI, SB
Garrison Lassiter: 1 for 4, RBI
Zach Nuding: 7 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, BB, 5 SO
Tommy Kahnle: IP, 2 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 3 SO
Rigoberto Arrebato: IP, H, R, ER, BB, SO

Low-A: Charleston 16, Savannah 5
Mason Williams: 3 for 4, R, 2 RBI
Cito Culver: 2 for 4, 2 R, RBI
Dante Bichette: 2 for 3, 3 R, 2 RBI, 2 BB
Tyler Austin: 1 for 4, HR, 2 R, 2 RBI, BB
Gary Sanchez: 2 for 5, 2B, HR, 6 RBI
Ben Gamel: 2 for 4, R, BB
Kelvin De Leon: 1 for 4, R, RBI
Francisco Arcia: 2 for 4, R
Ali Castillo: 1 for 4, R
Caleb Cotham: 6 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 2 SO (65/51)
Pedro Guerra: IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 SO (5/3)
John Brebbia: 2 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, SO (34/21)

Triple-A: Toledo 8, Scranton 2
Eduardo Nunez: 1 for 4, RBI, SB
Kevin Russo: 1 for 4
Jack Cust: 1 for 3, R, BB
Brandon Laird: 2 for 4
Cole Garner: 1 for 4, R
Dellin Betances: 3.2 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 6 BB, 7 SO (104/50)
Jason Bulger: 0.2 IP, H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 0 SO (19/8)
Juan Cedeno: 2.1 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 2 ER, BB, 3 SO (45/27)
Kevin Whelan: 1.1 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 SO (26/18)

Double-A: Trenton 10, Binghamton 1
Abe Almonte: 1 for 5, R, RBI
Corban Joseph: 3 for 5, 2B, HR, 3 RBI
David Adams: 1 for 5, R
Luke Murton: 1 for 4, HR, 2 RBI
Melky Mesa: 2 for 4, R
Shane Brown: 1 for 1
Kevin Mahoney: 3 for 5, 2B, 2 R
Jose Gil: 2 for 3, 2 B, 2 R, 2 RBI
Yadil Mujica: 2 for 4, R, 2 RBI
Shaeffer Hall: 6.2 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 4 SO (87/62)
Kelvin Perez: 1.1 IP, 2 H, R, ER, 0 BB, 2 SO (26/18)
Mike Dubee: IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, SO (18/8)

High-A: Lakeland 5, Tampa 3
Ramon Flores: 2 for 4, 2B, R, SB
J.R. Murphy: 1 for 4, BB
Rob Segedin: 1 for 4, 2B
Kyle Higashioka: 1 for 4
Neil Medchill: 1 for 4, HR
Kelvin Castro: 2 for 4, 3B, R
Eduardo Sosa: 1 for 4, SB
Jose Mojica: 1 for 3, RBI
Jose Ramirez: 6 IP, 4 H, 3 R, ER, BB, 8 SO -- walk was intentional
Branden Pinder: 2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 2 SO
Mark Montgomery: IP, H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, SO

Low-A: Savannah 4, Charleston 3
Mason Williams: 1 for 5
Cito Culver: 1 for 3, RBI
Dante Bichette: 0 for 3, BB, R
Ben Gamel: 2 for 4, 2B, R
Ali Castillo: 1 for 1, 2B, RBI
Rey Nunez: 0 for 3, SF, RBI
Brett Gerritse: 4.2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 3 SO (83/48)
Mariel Checo: 2.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 4 SO (45/24)
Ben Paullus: 2 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 0 SO (22/15)

Per Zach Nuding on Twitter, Mikey O'Brien will join Trenton for his next turn in the rotation, which falls on Friday the 18th, when the Thunder will be in New Hampshire to take on the Fisher Cats. 

Before the promotion, O'Brien was 4-1 with a 2.92 ERA in six starts and one relief appearance (behind Andy Pettitte). Those numbers are pretty darn good on their own, but they become even more impressive when you realize they include a disaster start. 

He allowed eight earned runs on eight hits in just 3 1/3 innings on April 21 and still has an ERA below 3.00. O'Brien hasn't allowed a longball this year, and his strikeout-to-walk ratio is nearly 3-to-1. He's held hitters to a .230 batting average. 

I did this interview with him last year, when the RiverDogs came to New Jersey (much to their dismay) to play the Lakewood BlueClaws. 

And while O'Brien's promotion isn't technically official just yet, Trenton did make a few moves before thumping Binghamton this evening, 10-1. 

Shortstop Walter Ibarra was activated from the DL now that his sore middle finger has healed, Jose Toussen was sent back to Tampa and Craig Heyer, who left Sunday's outing with arm stiffness after three innings, was placed on the DL. Also, reliever Adam Miller, a former Indians top prospect, was sent from Scranton to Trenton. 

Triple-A: Durham 1, Scranton 0
Eduardo Nunez: 1 for 5
Kevin Russo: 0 for 3, 2 BB, SB
Ronnier Mustelier: 1 for 4, SB
Brandon Laird: 2 for 3, BB
Francisco Cervelli: 1 for 2, BB
Adam Warren: 7 IP, 4 H, R, ER, 3 BB, 6 SO (97/62)
Cody Eppley: IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 SO (17/11)
Manny Delcarmen: IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 SO (16/11)

High-A: Lakeland 7, Tampa 3
Ramon Flores: 2 for 4, BB
Rob Segedin: 2 for 4, 2B, R
Kyle Roller: 1 for 4, 2B, R, RBI
Kyle Higashioka: 2 for 4, 2B, R, RBI
Neil Medchill: 1 for 2, RBI, 2 BB
Kelvin Castro: 1 for 4, 2B
Matt Tracy: 5 IP, 3 H, R 0 ER, BB, 4 SO
Sean Black: 0.2 IP, 5 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 2 BB, 0 SO
Kramer Sneed: 2.1 IP, H, 0 R, 0 ER, BB, SO
Rigoberto Arrebato: IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 SO

Low-A: Savannah 6, Charleston 2
Mason Williams: 1 for 5, HR
Cito Culver: 1 for 4, R, BB
Tyler Austin: 1 for 4, 2B, RBI
Angelo Gumbs: 1 for 4
Rey Nunez: 1 for 4, 2B
Kelvin De Leon: 1 for 4
William Oliver: 5 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, BB, 5 SO
Dan Mahoney: 2 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, BB, SO
Fred Lewis: 2 IP, H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, SO
Joel De La Cruz: IP, 5 H, 4 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 SO

The Thunder's starting rotation is in a world of hurt. Josh Romanski is on the disabled list with a blister (although he was charting yesterday, so he's getting closer). Graham Stoneburner went on the shelf yesterday after he re-aggravated a previous injury to his groin. Then there's Craig Heyer, who left yesterday's start after three innings with tightness in his arm/shoulder region. 

That leaves Trenton with Cory Arbiso, Shaeffer Hall and Brett Marshall for the moment. That, of course, will pose a problem. Unless Romanski's ready to return, here's how the rotation shakes out for the next five games:

5/15 - Hall at Binghamton

5/16 - Marshall at Binghamton

5/17 - Arbiso at Binghamton

5/18 - TBA at New Hampshire

5/19 - TBA at New Hampshire 

One of those TBA's could easily be Romanski, who's been out for nearly three weeks with the blister. That second TBA, Heyer's spot, is a bigger issue. Tightness in a pitching arm is never a good sign, and I'd expect him to, at the very least, wind up on the DL. 

So, what to do, then? Here are a few solutions I've thought about. 

The Pontiff: Ryan Pope's began 2010 as a starter but moved to the bullpen when Hector Noesi was called up. Sixty-three of his 156 career appearances have been starts, but he hasn't made one since May 10, 2010. He's pitched into the third inning three times this season, so stretching him back into a starter's role wouldn't take as long as, say, a reliever who typically goes one inning at a time.

Help from above: Scranton has an absurd 14 pitchers active, and might get a 15th if newly acquired Justin Thomas is sent there. A half-dozen starters are included among the staff, so, under normal conditions, it would be easy to simply send one down to Trenton and plug the hole. Problem is, Scranton's conditions are far from normal. 

Four of those six starters -- Dellin Betances, Manny Banuelos, D.J. Mitchell and Adam Warren -- are prospects who have already conquered Double-A. A move for any of those pitchers could stunt their development, and the last thing the Yankees need is to add to the public perception that they can't properly identify and develop major league pitching. 

The other two pitchers, Ramon Ortiz and Nelson Figueroa, are, to put it nicely, overripe. The pair has a combined 441 major league appearances and 279 starts. They are also 39 and 37, respectively, and wouldn't likely accept a demotion, even if it meant a respite from the Triple-A Traveling Road Show and a chance to pitch every five days. 

From Florida With Love: Obviously, most alluring option from a media standpoint is a promotion from Tampa. New guy, new story, etc. etc. Here's the thing, though: It's May 14, and Tampa's rotation has been a bit inconsistent, and it just underwent a bit of a shakeup when Matt Tracy was added and Shane Greene was reassigned to extended spring. 

Here's what the numbers look like among the High-A hurlers: 

Zach Nuding:    2-1, 5.14 ERA, .310 BAA, 36 hits in 28 IP, 11 ER on 19 H over last two starts

Jose Ramirez:   2-4, 4.89 ERA, .294 BAA, 47 hits in 38.2 IP, 3 ER over last 18 innings

Mikey O'Brien: 4-1, 2.92, ERA, .230 BAA, 31 hits in 37 IP, 3 ER over last 23 innings

Nik Turley:        2-1, 2.83 ERA, .252 BAA, 39 hits in 41.1 IP, just made first start after DL stint

Matt Tracy:       Just off DL

A Yankees person I spoke with earlier told me that, of those options, Turley is the only one he thinks would be considered, and he seems unlikely. O'Brien's numbers look great, and he does fit in perfectly with the slot Stoneburner vacated (although rain in Binghamton could mess that up), but it doesn't sound like he's an option. 

Those are my thoughts. What are yours?

Pitching Matchup: RHP Craig Heyer (2-2, 4.28) vs. RHP Chris Balcom-Miller (2-2, 5.12)

In the standings: Third-place Trenton is 4 games back of first-place New Britain and 3.5 games back of Reading for the wild card. Last-place Portland is 10 games back of the Rock Cats and 9.5 games behind the R-Phils.

PORTLAND
Jeremy Hazelbaker RF
Oscar Tejeda LF
Juan Linares CF
Reynaldo Rodriguez 1B
Bryce Brentz DH
Matt Spring C
Derrik Gibson SS
Ryan Dent 3B
Zach Gentile 2B
Chris Balcom-Miller RHP

TRENTON
Abe Almonte RF
Corban Joseph 2B
David Adams DH
Cody Johnson LF
Melky Mesa CF
Luke Murton 1B
Kevin Mahoney 3B
Jeff Farnham C
Addison Maruszak SS
Craig Heyer RHP

Welcome back fodder: David Adams is back after not playing since April 9 with a stiff neck. This after missing a year and a half with a broken foot. Yadil Mujica, a one-time Eastern League Player of the Week, is also back, mostly to accommodate Eduardo Nunez's demotion to Scranton. Graham Stoneburner hasn't been officially placed on the DL yet, but he'll be there, probably in short order.

WOOF: Today is bark in the park day in Trenton, which means there will be many, many dogs roaming the stands. I'm glad I'm not a mailman. 

Triple-A: Scranton 3, Durham 2
Kevin Russo: 1 for 5, R, SB
Colin Curtis: 1 for 4, 2B, R, RBI, BB
Steve Pearce: 1 for 3, HR, 2 RBI
Brandon Laird: 1 for 4, 2B
Francisco Cervelli: 1 for 4
Yadil Mujica: 2 for 4, 2B
Nelson Figueroa: 6 IP, 9 H, 2 R, 2 ER, BB, 3 SO (91/62)
Juan Cedeno: 2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, BB, 2 SO (35/20)
Kevin Whelan: 2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, SO (22/16)

Double-A: Trenton 5, Portland 1
Abe Almonte: 1 for 2, 2 R, 2 BB
Corban Joseph: 1 for 4
Luke Murton: 2 for 4, 2B, HR, 4 RBI
Cody Johnson: 1 for 4, HR
Melky Mesa: 1 for 3
Kevin Mahoney: 1 for 4
Dan Brewer: 1 for 4, SB
Addison Maruszak: 1 for 4, R
Cory Arbiso: 7 IP, 4 H, R, ER, 2 BB, 2 SO (93/60)
Kelvin Perez: 2 IP, 0 R, 0 ER, BB, 3 SO (32/18)

High-A: Lakeland 4, Tampa 2
Ramon Flores: 0 for 3, 2 BB, R
Kelvin Castro: 3 for 5
Kyle Roller: 0 for 1, R, RBI, 3 BB
Hector Rabago: 2 for 4
Eduardo Sosa: 1 for 4
Jose Mojica: 2 for 4, RBI
Nik Turley: 5 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 7 SO
Aaron Dott: 2 IP, H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, SO
Manny Barreda: 2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, SO

Low-A: Charleston 16, West Virginia 2
Angelo Gumbs: 4 for 6, HR, 2 R, 3 RBI
Dante Bichette: 3 for 4, 3 R, RBI, BB
Tyler Austin: 2 for 5, 2B, 2 R, RBI
Ben Gamel: 3 for 6, 2B, R, 5 RBI
Kelvin De Leon: 4 for 5, 2 HR, 4 R, 4 RBI
Francisco Arcia: 1 for 2, 2B, RBI
Nick McCoy: 1 for 1, R
Ali Castillo: 1 for 4, R, RBI, BB
Bryan Mitchell: 6 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 8 SO
John Brebbia: 3 IP, H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 SO

Final score: Trenton 5, Portland 1

Synopsis: Cory Arbiso was brilliant. He tossed seven innings of one-run ball, walked two and struck out two, and induced 12 groundouts, including 10 to either shortstop Addison Maruszak or third baseman Kevin Mahoney. Arbiso was backed by back-to-back homers from Luke Murton and Cody Johnson. Murton had four RBIs, which tied a career best. 

Bright spots: Let's start with Arbiso, who, over the last three seasons with Trenton, has been one of the most valuable pitchers on the staff. As I wrote in today's paper, he's been the Thunder's version of Ramiro Mendoza. In other words, he has taken the ball in a variety of roles, and has given his team valuable innings that otherwise would have to be divvied among the bullpen. 

“Invaluable,” manager Tony Franklin said about his starter. “You’ve seen him, and you’ve seen how we’ve used him whenever there’s been a situation where we’ve lost a pitcher, particularly a starter, he’s gone in there and he’s done well for us.”

He's started five games this season, but he hasn't been able to settle into a rhythm until recently. His first start came on three days of rest, his next on nine days, and his third on 10 days. His last two have come on the traditional four days, which Arbiso says has made a world of difference. 

"That was difficult for me, but I felt a lot better with that five days rest and getting your sides through and so on," he said, referring to the traditional work a pitcher will complete between starts, which can be tough to schedule when you don't know when you're pitching next. 

Arbiso also noted that felt uncomfortable early in the game, and that pitching coach Tommy Phelps told him between the first and second innings that he needed to forget everything and focus getting in a rhythm, something Arbiso said he did very well during his time with Cal-State Fullerton. 

“My mechanics were in my head -- I was working on direction -- but sure enough I got out of it only giving up one. I didn’t have a rhythm out there that first inning,” he said. “I went out there, changed my mechanics just a little bit. … Mostly, the whole thing was just getting the rhythm, and that’s what I did.”

Of course, when there's a pitcher on the hill who uses contact to get his outs, the defense behind him has to be superb. Last night, for one of the first times this season, it was. Maruszak and Mahoney were gangbusters on the left side, essentially putting up a brick wall between the infield and the outfield all night long. 

"I liked it. I liked a lot," Franklin said," but I think they're capable of doing that, and I told you guys that. Our ability to play defense is going to be the one thing that's going to help us win baseball games. We have to play defense. We have to catch the ball and throw the ball to first base and throw the ball to second base. I think if we do that, we'll be fine."

"It's still a defensive game, nine guys against one," Franklin continued. "That guy out on the hill is very important, and when we make pitches it's important that we get outs. When we start giving guys 30 outs, 31, we're going to lose, there's no question about it."

Beyond Arbiso and the men with gloves behind him, there was the offense, which has been a pleasant surprise all season. Johnson's longball -- another typically effortless and majestic shot from the Eastern League's best replica of Adam Dunn -- tied him for the league lead (with teammate Melky Mesa) with seven homers. He's hitting them out at a clip of approximately once every 16 at-bats. 

Murton's shot was also crushed to the point where I legitimately feared for my car in the parking lot beyond the 30-foot wall in left field. He spoke afterward about what he saw against Portland starter Billy Buckner, who had stonewalled the Thunder over the first five frames. 

"My first two at-bats weren't great, and then my last two at-bats I got some good pitches to hit with guys on and I put some good swings on them. That's all I can ask for," he said. "(Buckner's) a good pitcher. He was making good pitches early in the game (and) we weren't hitting them. Later in the game he made a couple of mistakes and we hit them." 

Kelvin Perez also continued his stellar work out of the bullpen. The stick-like righty hurled two more scoreless innings, lowering his ERA to 0.44 and his average against to a meager .164. He's been scored upon in just one of his 13 appearances, and has permitted just nine hits over 20 2/3 innings. He does have 12 walks, though, which obviously need to be cut down if he's to succeed past Double-A. 

- Abraham Almonte swapped his original center field slot for Melky Mesa's designated hitter slot just before game time. Both Mesa and Almonte have played in all but one game this season. Almonte's had a bit of a sore arm of late, but Franklin downplayed that aspect, saying he just needed to get Almonte a bit of a half day.

- This was the fourth straight game the Thunder have played in less than 3 hours. All their other games this month have gone 3 hours or more.

- Jose Gil had a strange day on the basepaths. He stole base by easily 40 feet, then was thrown out by at least that margin (a rundown was involved) on the back end of a double steal with Dan Brewer. 

Picks to click: The Trentonian's website is down, but I'll link my game story and notes when it's back up. 

Flicks to click: Here are videos Murton and Johnson's longballs, and a grounder to third induced by Arbiso. Those three pretty much sum up the game, don't you think?

Pitching matchup: RHP Cory Arbiso (0-0, 3.09) vs. RHP Billy Buckner (1-2, 3.94)

In the standings: Third-place Trenton is 4.5 games back of Reading in the EL East and 4 games back New Britain for the wild card. Last-place Portland is 9.5 games back of Reading and 9 games behind New Britain.

PORTLAND
Jeremy Hazelbaker - RF
Kolbrin Vitek - 3B
Oscar Tejeda - LF
Reynaldo Rodriguez - 1B
Bryce Brentz - DH
Ronald Bermudez - CF
Matt Spring - C
Derrik Gibson - SS
Heiker Meneses - 2B
Billy Buckner - RHP

TRENTON 
Abe Almonte - CF
Corban Joseph - 2B
Luke Murton - 1B
Cody Johnson - LF
Melky Mesa - DH
Kevin Mahoney - 3B
Dan Brewer - RF
Jose Gil - C
Addison Maruszak - SS
Cory Arbiso - RHP

Notes: Not much going on here, to be honest. No move for Stoneburner yet, and he hasn't been DLed.

Triple-A: Durham 8, Scranton 7
Steve Pearce: 2 for 5, HR
Jack Cust: 1 for 2, 3 BB
Ronnier Mustelier: 2 for 4, 2B, R
Colin Curtis: 0 for 2, 2 BB, R
Francisco Cervelli: 2 for 5, R, 2 RBI
Cole Garner: 2 for 5, HR, 3 RBI
Yadil Mujica: 3 for 5, RBI
Ramon Ortiz: 5.2 IP, 7 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 3 BB, 5 SO (93/62)
Mike O'Connor: 4.1 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, BB, 6 SO (8352)

Double-A: Portland 4, Trenton 2
Dan Brewer: 1 for 4
Cody Johnson: 2 for 4
Kevin Mahoney: 1 for 4, R
Jose Gil: 1 for 4, HR, 2 RBI
Jose Toussen: 1 for 3, 2B
Addison Maruszak: 1 for 3
Graham Stoneburner: 2.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 SO (26/18)
Ryan Pope: 1.2 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 0 BB, 2 SO (37/22)
Lee Hyde: IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 2 SO (23/12)
Preston Claiborne: 2 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 SO (31/22)
Mike Dubee: 1.2 IP, H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, SO (33/19)
Francisco Rondon: 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, BB, SO (12/6)

High-A: Tampa 4, Jupiter 0
Ramon Flores: 1 for 5
Rob Segedin: 1 for 4, R, 2B, BB
Kyle Roller: 1 for 3, R, 2 BB
Tyson Blaser: 2 for 4, 2B, 2 R, 2 RBI, BB
Neil Medchill: 1 for 3
Hector Rabago: 1 for 4, 2 RBI
Garrison Lassiter: 2 for 3, BB
Mikey O'Brien: 6 IP, H, 0 R, 0 ER, BB, 4 SO
Tommy Kahnle: 2 IP, H, 0 R, 0 ER, BB, 3 SO
Rigoberto Arrebato: IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 SO

Low-A: Charleston 8, West Virginia 4
Angelo Gumbs: 1 for 4, RBI, BB, 2 SB
Cito Culver: 1 for 2, R, 2 RBI, 3 BB
Ben Gamel: 1 for 6
Tyler Austin: 1 for 6, RBI, SB
Dante Bichette: 2 for 5, 2B, R, BB
Rey Nunez: 1 for 2, R
Ali Castillo: 1 for 1, R, outfield assist
Casey Stevenson: 1 for 5, R
Kelvin De Leon: 3 for 4, 2 R, RBI
Francisco Arcia: 1 for 3, 3B, R, 2 RBI
Caleb Cotham: 6 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, BB, 7 SO
Fred Lewis: IP, H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, SO
Phil Wetherell: 2 IP, 3 H, 4 R, 3 ER, BB, 3 SO
Ben Paullus: IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 SO

Final score: Portland 4, Trenton 2

Synopsis: Graham Stoneburner re-aggravated a previous injury to his right groin muscle, and the Thunder bullpen couldn't hold the fort in his absence. Ryan Pope allowed all four runs in the fifth inning, and that was all she wrote. 

Bright spots: Jose Gil hit a two-run homer, Cody Johnson collected two hits, Jose Toussen got his first Double-A hit (a double) and Kevin Mahoney singled on his 25th birthday. 

Here's what Stoneburner had to say after the game: 

“It’s extremely frustrating. This year, I’ve been feeling really good.  I thought the groin issue was in the past, and tonight it was feeling really good.  It’s just really frustrating now for it to come back.”

“This time, I tried to pitch through (the injury), that’s the only difference. I couldn’t make it happen.  As I push off to the mound, and try to put effort into a pitch, it kind of grabs and tightens up.  It gives me some tightness in the groin area.  It’s almost to where I don’t want to get full flexibility out of it.”

Manager Tony Franklin was also frustrated for his pitcher.

“I know the reason they’re here is to pitch and to play, and that’s the enjoyment they get out of this game.  When they can’t do it, it’s a bad feeling.  These guys are miserable when they can’t compete.  Stoneburner was hurt earlier in the year, and his season was cut short last year and he was miserable.  This is what they’ve done the majority of their lives, and when they can’t do that, it takes its toll.  It’s probably driving (Stoneburner) nuts.”

Picks to click: Here's my game story from Friday night. 

Flicks to click: Here are three videos from Friday, including the batter during which Stoneburner sustained his latest injury.

Pitching matchup: RHP Graham Stoneburner (0-0, 1.80) vs. LHP Chris Hernandez (1-2, 1.99)

In the standings: Third-place Trenton is 4.5 games back of Reading in the EL East, and 3 back of New Britain for the wild card. Last-place Portland is 10.5 games back of first and 9 games behind the Rock Cats. 

PORTLAND

Jeremy Hazelbaker - RF

Kolbrin Vitek - 3B

Juan Linares - CF

Reynaldo Rodriguez - 1B

Oscar Tejeda - LF

Bryce Brentz - DH

Dan Butler - C

Derrik Gibson - SS

Heiker Meneses - 2B

Chris Hernandez - LHP

TRENTON 

Abe Almonte - RF

Dan Brewer - LF

Luke Murton - 1B

Cody Johnson - DH

Melky Mesa - CF

Kevin Mahoney - 3B

Jose Gil - C

Jose Toussen - 2B

Addison Maruszak - SS

Graham Stoneburner - RHP

NOTES: Before last night's standout effort, Addison Maruszak had committed 10 errors, nearly a third of the team's total. He admitted after the game that, even though he was drafted as a shortstop, he hadn't been fully comfortable at the position of late. 

"I've been struggling at shortstop, making more errors than I think I've ever made in my career so far. I had a good talk with some people in the organization, and it's more of a 'It's OK what happened, let's move forward and get better," and that's what I've been doing. I've been working at it. Obviously I still need some work, so I'm going to keep working at it until it becomes what it was, what, three years ago, when I played there every day."

"I lost a little bit, but I'm gaining it back now. It's not going to take long. It could take one practice to gain the feeling back. I felt pretty good today, but not like I did three years ago."

Manager Tony Franklin offered extremely high praise when talking about Brett Marshall, last night's starter, even going so far as softly comparing him to Ian Kennedy and Edwar Ramirez, two of the Thunder's better pitchers in recent seasons

Before getting to comparisons, however, he threw some kind words at his change-up. 

"His change-up's tremendous. It's got so much depth in it (that) it looks like a curveball almost. What makes it such a pretty good pitch is that his arm slot is the same and his arm speed on the pitch is the same as his fastball, and he gets a lot of swings and misses on his fastball.

Then came the vaunted comps.

"He comes pretty close to Ian Kennedy, for me. Ian could take a ball and throw it exactly where he wanted it. He pitches in as well as anyone I've ever seen (at this level). I think he understands the importance of pitching in on hitters. ... For the most part, he's in on guys and he knows he can get in there, and that's pretty good."

"His change-up reminds me quite a bit of Edwar Ramirez's. Not as good, not as good. It's not a power change like Edwar's was, but it's got the makings of some pretty good depth."

Triple-A: Scranton 4, Columbus 3
Kevin Russo: 0 for 3, 2 BB, SB
Steve Pearce: 4 for 5, 3 2B, 3 R
Jack Cust: 2 for 3, HR, 3 RBI, 3 BB, SB
Ronnier Mustelier: 1 for 4
Brandon Laird: 1 for 5
Gustavo Molina: 1 for 5, RBI
D.J. Mitchell: 6 IP, 8 H, 3 R, 3 ER, BB, 6 SO (96/60)
Manny Delcarmen: 1.2 IP, H, 0 R, 0 ER, BB, 2 SO (20/12)
Jason Bulger: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 SO (14/9)
Chase Whitley: IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, BB, 2 SO (16/10)

Double-A: Trenton 7, Portland 0
Abe Almonte: 1 for 3, RBI, BB
Corban Joseph: 1 for 5, R
Luke Murton: 3 for 5, 2B, 2 R
Cody Johnson: 1 for 4, 3B, 2 RBI, BB
Melky Mesa: 1 for 4, 2 RBI
Kevin Mahoney: 1 for 4, 2B, R
Dan Brewer: 2 for 4, 2 RBI
Jose Gil: 1 for 4, R
Addison Maruszak: 3 for 4, 2B, R, RBI
Brett Marshall: 6 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, BB, 4 SO (85/52)
Kelvin Perez: IP, H, 0 R, 0 ER, BB, SO (21/12)
Mike Dubee:  IP, H, 0 R, 0 ER, BB, SO (15/8)
Ryan Flannery: IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 SO (14/9)

High-A: Tampa 9, Jupiter 8
Rob Segedin: 1 for 3, 3 R, 2 BB, SB
Kyle Roller: 2 for 4, 3B, 2 R
Tyson Blaser: 4 for 4, 2 2B, R, 4 RBI, BB
Neil Medchill: 1 for 3, HR, 2 RBI, outfield assist
Eduardo Sosa: 2 for 4, HR, 3 RBI
Jose Mojica: 2 for 4
Zach Nuding: 4 IP, 10 H, 8 R, 5 ER, BB, 2 SO
Vidal Nuno: 2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 SO
Branden Pinder: 2 IP, H, 0 R, 0 ER, BB, SO
Mark Montgomery: IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, SO

Low-A: Charleston 15, West Virginia 3
Angelo Gumbs: 3 for 6, 2 R, 4 SB
Cito Culver: 2 for 6, 2 R
Ben Gamel: 1 for 5, HR, 3 RBI
Tyler Austin: 1 for 3, HR, 2 R, 2 RBI
Dante Bichette: 2 for 3, 3 R, BB
Rey Nunez: 2 for 5, 2B, 2 R
Casey Stevenson: 0 for 3, 2 R, BB
Kelvin De Leon: 2 for 5, 2 RBI
Francisco Arcia: 3 for 5, HR, 3 RBI
Brett Gerritse: 3 IP, 3 H, 2 R, ER, 4 BB, 2 SO
Mariel Checo: 3 IP, H, R, ER, 0 BB, 3 SO
Dan Mahoney: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 SO
Joel De La Cruz: IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 SO

Final score: Trenton 7, Portland 0

Synopsis: After a season of inconsistency, this was easily Trenton's best win of the year. Brett Marshall fired six innings of two-hit, no-run baseball, the defense sparkled, every starter had a hit, and  the result was the team's first shutout of the young season. 

Bright spots: Just about everything. Luke Murton and Addison Maruszak had three hits apiece. Bloopers were falling. Cody Johnson legged out a triple when neither the center fielder nor the right fielder could find his long drive. 

Maruszak turned in a gem of a day at shortstop. Heck, manager Tony Franklin even thought his team was in command enough to remove Abe Almonte in the seventh so he could get Shane Brown in for his Double-A debut. 

And of course, the game was played in 2 hours and 47 minutes, the second sub-2:00 game in as many days, after six straight three-hour contests to begin the month. 

Nothing to worry about: In addition to Almonte's early breather, Franklin hooked Marshall after 85 pitches -- he'd gone 95 plus in his previous three outings -- so he could get some work for Kelvin Perez, Mike Dubee and Ryan Flannery. 

Line drives in the box score: Both hits Flannery gave up in the ninth were infield singles -- a bouncer that took a wicked hop over Corban Joseph, and a slow roller to third with which Kevin Mahoney could do nothing. 

Picks to Click: Here are my game story and notes from Thursday.

Flicks to Click: Here are four videos from Thursday

Pitching Matchup: RHP Brett Marshall (3-1, 3.82) vs. RHP Chris Martin (2-2, 4.30)

TRENTON 
Abe Almonte - RF
Corban Joseph - 2B
Luke Murton - 1B
Cody Johnson - DH
Melky Mesa - CF
Kevin Mahoney - 2B
Dan Brewer - LF
Jose Gil - C
Addison Maruszak - SS

PORTLAND
TBA

NOTES: Yankees farm director Pat Roessler is here. ... Kevin Mahoney, Addison Maruszak and Corban Joseph were out early doing work on the infield. ... Among this team's problems this year has been ability to cash in its runners in scoring position. To wit, Trenton is .221/.326/.308 with RISP, with just 56 hits in 253 at-bats. With the bases full, Trenton has had just three hits all year, all singles. 

Marshall is coming off a start during which he allowed five runs (three earned) on 11 hits, one short of his career worst. ... He's thrown 332 of his 544 pitches for strikes this year, good for 61 percent. He's also been the beneficiary of 6.2 runs per game of support, far and away the best on the team.

Final score: Reading 5, Trenton 1 

Synopsis: This was Jon Pettibone's game, period. The Reading righty handcuffed the Thunder for 8 2/3 innings until Melky Mesa's homer in the ninth broke up the shutout and ended Pettibone's outing. Lisalberto Bonilla got the final out. Reading's Darin Ruf hit a two-run homer and a two-run single to provide the bulk of the R-Phils' offense. 

Bright spots: Mesa's home run was his seventh on the season, putting him in the lead in the Eastern League. He's hitting .310/.383/.595 over his last 10 games, with three doubles and three home runs. Perhaps, at 25, he's finally turning the corner and actualizing his immense tools. 

Against everybody but Darin Ruf, Shaeffer Hall put together a great outing. Overall, he lasted seven innings and allowed five runs (three earned) on five hits and a walk. He whiffed three and threw 56 of his 79 pitches for strikes. 

Oddity: Abraham Almonte was called out in the fifth inning after it was ruled that his bunt was struck while he had a foot out of the batter's box. It's not the 1-4 popout from the other day, but it's still pretty darn strange.

Picks to Click: Here's my game story from Wednesday.

Flicks to Click: Here's a video of Melky Mesa going deep in the top of the ninth against Jonathan Pettibone.