Yankees Win an Extra Innings Thriller 8-6

PAWTUCKET- I guess this was to be expected between two of the best teams in the International League.

3B Eric Duncan broke up a 6-6 tie with a two run double in the top of the 11th inning to lead the Scranton/Wilkes Barre Yankees to a 8-6 win over the PawSox tonight in what proved to be a classic at McCoy.

With the win the Yankees increased their lead over the PawSox to 2 1/2 games in the IL North Division.

The winning runs came off PawSox reliever Jose Vaquedano (1-1). With one out LF Shelley Duncan walked and advanced to second in a single by DH Ben Broussard. Eric Duncan then laced a 3-1 pitch off the right field wall, scoring the go-ahead runs.

Steven Jackson (3-0) got the win for Scranton.

Entering the tenth at 2-2, the Yankees scored four times off PawSox closer Chris Smith. With one out Broussard reached first after being hit by a pitch and advanced to second on a wild pitch. SS Cody Ransom then drove a 2-2 pitch to center to score Broussard. Smith walked Eric Duncan before C Chad Moeller drove a 0-2 pitch into the PawSox bullpen for a three run homer.

The PawSox never gave up, matching the Yankees’ four spot with four of their own off Yankees closer Scott Strickland. Jeff Corsaletti led off with a lead-off infield single. He scored on a Gil Velazquez double to left. Sean Danielson added an RBI, driving in Velazquez with a single to center. Jeff Bailey then singled to put runners at first and second. Joe Thurston followed with a ground rule double to right, scoring Danielson. After Keith Ginter was hit by a pitch and George Kottaras struck out, Dusty Brown tied the game with a sacrifice fly to center.

"We battled back" said PawSox Manager Ron Johnson, "We were in a real good position to win the game. We were down by one with the base loaded (in the tenth), I thought we were going to win this ball game. The effort and desire is something to sit back and salute,"

Both starters, Phil Hughes for the Yankees and Davern Hansack for the PawSox pitched well, but neither figured in the decision. Hughes, on his second rehab start with Scranton for New York, worked 5 1/3 innings, giving up two runs on three hits. He walked one and struck out four. He reached his pitch limit of 84 pitches, 50 of which were strikes.

Hansack pitched 5 2/3 innings, giving up two runs on four hits. He walked two and struck out four, throwing 100 pitches, 64 for strikes.

"(Davern) threw the ball well" said Johnson, "In his last three outings he's faced Scranton. There's no mystery as to what he was throwing. He did a pretty good job"

The Yankees scored first off Hansack in the top of the third. With two out 2B Chris Basak reached second on a double after Jeff Bailey could not finish off a diving catch in right. CF Brett Gardner then drove in Basak on a bouncing ball to third that bounded just over the head of Keith Ginter into short left field.

The Yankees scored another run off Hansack in the fifth, again with two outs. LF Shelley Duncan reached on a single to left and stole second. After John Switzer replaced Hansack, Ben Broussard blooped a single to left plating Duncan.

The PawSox tied the game off Hughes in the sixth. With one out Bailey extended his hitting streak to seven games with a double to left center.. Joe Thurston followed with a walk. With Keith Ginter at the plate, Mark Melancon came on in relief of Hughes and threw a wild pitch advancing the runners to second and third. Ginter then drove in Bailey and Thurston with a two run single to left.

The two teams wrap-up their short two game set tomorrow night (7:05 pm). Alfredo Aceves (1-1, 4.91 ERA) throws for the Yankees. He’ll be opposed by Edgar Martinez (6-2, 4.03 ERA for the PawSox.

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