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I went to see the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees on Friday night, in what would be the penultimate game of their season. It was Game 3 of their first round playoff series. They split the previous two games, played in Columbus.
Minor league post-season games tend to be sparsely attended. This wasn't as deserted as some I've been to, since it was a Friday night, but it was still pretty quiet. They didn't even open the upper deck, and there were plenty of seats available downstairs. People tend to assume that postseason games will be sold out, but the opposite is true: they have trouble selling tickets. There just isn't a lot of awareness of the minor league playoffs (unlike the major league playoffs). The postseason tickets aren't included in the season ticket packages, and once school starts, families aren't that interested in attending baseball games.
I was surprised to see Kei Igawa starting. He's been pitching out of the pen most of the year. I guess they converted him back to starter in the last month or so. He pitched 7 scoreless innings, and threw 93 pitches.
Juan Miranda played first base.
Justin Christian made a couple of great plays in the outfield during the 7th inning. It was still 0-0, and Ezequiel Carrera, on 2B, tried to come home on a single. Christian gunned him down at the plate.
Amazingly, he did it again. The very next batter, Drew Sutton, singled to left, and once again, a runner tried to go from 2B to home. This time it was Cord Phelps gunned down at the plate.
Kevin Russo at bat. He went 0 for 2 with a walk.
The Clippers ended up still scoreless after the 7th, despite three singles and a walk. Eric Wordekemper came in to pitch the 8th.
He got Jerad Head to pop out to Kevin Russo.
But he gave up a double to Luke Carlin.
Jose Constanza singled, scoring Carlin. Clippers up 1-0.
Wordekemper tried to keep Constanza close...
But he stole 2B anyway.
SS Eric Bruntlett couldn't hold on the ball.
Vinne Pestano closed the game for the Clippers.
It was three up, three down, striking out all three batters swinging.
Justin Christian's great arm provided the most exciting moments of the game, but his stick was not so hot. He was 0 for 3 with three strikeouts.
Clippers win, 1-0.
That left the SWB Yankees down 1-2 in the five game series. It was do or die the next day. They lost big, and were eliminated.
The Clippers advance to face either the Louisville Bats or the Durham Bulls for the championship. Kevin Russo and Juan Miranda were called up to the Bronx after the game.
