Lack of starters dooms Yankees

Trying to win by sending out a reliable starter every fifth day can be tough. Trying to pitch with a committee of bullpen pitchers is even tougher.

Just ask the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees.

With just four starters on the roster, the Yankees were forced to pitch a combination of three relievers Monday night against Syracuse – including J.B. Cox, who was making his first professional start.

The Chiefs took advantage of the opportunity, banging out 11 base hits in a 7-3 win against SWB at Alliance Bank Stadium in Syracuse. The International League North Division-leading Yankees fell to 29-15 with the loss. The Chiefs improved to 20-22.

The game almost wasn’t played. The Chiefs wrapped up a four-game series at Louisville on Sunday and their scheduled Monday morning flight was canceled. Syracuse was forced to charter a plane and the game against the Yankees started approximately 40 minutes late.

Cox was making his first start of any kind since helping lead the Texas Longhorns to the College World Series in 2003. He pitched 2 1/3 innings against the Chiefs, allowing five runs on six hits.

Zach Kroenke pitched well in his 2 2/3 scoreless innings, allowing just one hit while striking out four. Jose Valdez, who was called up from Staten Island for the game, threw the final three innings. He allowed two runs on four hits.

Trailing 2-0, Syracuse tied the game with a pair of runs in the bottom of the second. The Chiefs took a 5-3 lead in the third inning and added a pair of insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth.

John Rodriguez hit a home run for the third consecutive day, a two-run shot that gave SWB a 2-0 lead in the top of the second inning. Austin Jackson continued his torrid hitting. The top prospect in the New York Yankees organization went 2-for-4, raising his batting average to .358 – among the best in the IL.

The Yankees didn’t take advantage of most of their scoring opportunities, leaving 13 runners on base. Perhaps the best of those opportunities took place in the top of the sixth with Syracuse leading 5-2.

Chris Stewart, Doug Bernier and Jackson hit consecutive one-out singles to load the bases with Todd Linden and Shelley Duncan – the top run producers in the IL –coming to bat.

Stewart scored on a wild pitch, and Bernier and Jackson each advanced one base, to make the score 5-3. But Syracuse pitcher Michael O’Connor struck out Linden and Duncan to end the threat. O’Connor pitched the middle three innings to pick up the win.

Pinstripe notes: Cox became the 14th different pitcher to start a game for the Yankees this season. SWB had 21 different starting pitchers in all of last season… right-hander Dave Robertson was sent to New York to take the place of Brian Bruney, who went on the disabled list with a sore elbow... Valdez was activated for last night’s game and infielder Luis Nunez was sent to Staten Island.

SWB Second: Juan Miranda led off with a double and advanced to third on a wild pitch. John Rodriguez followed with a two-run home run. YANKEES 2, CHIEFS 0

Syracuse Second: Brad Eldred led off with a single and went to second on a fielder’s choice. With two outs, Corey Patterson hit a single and Eldred advanced to third. Patterson stole second and Gustavo hit a single to score Eldred and Patterson. YANKEES 2, CHIEFS 2

Syracuse Third: Ryan Langerhans walked and Mike Vento singled. Eldred hit a two-run double and went to third on a throwing error during the play. With one out, Seth Bynum singled, scoring Eldred. CHIEFS 5, YANKEES 2

SWB Fifth: Chris Stewart, Doug Bernier and Austin Jackson hit consecutive one-out singles to load the bases. Stewart scored on a wild pitch. CHIEFS 5, YANKEES 3

Syracuse Sixth: Patterson led off with a single and went to third on a single by Kory Castro. Alberto Gonzalez hit a triple, scoring Patterson and Castro. CHIEFS 7, YANKEES 3

Looking ahead

Probable Starters: Yankees RHP George Kontos (2-1, 2.45) vs. Chiefs RHP J.D. Martin (4-2, 3.13)

On Deck: The Yankees continue their four-game series at Syracuse with a 7 p.m. game Wednesday.