SWB Yanks swept away

MOOSIC – For the third consecutive game in the Governors’ Cup finals, the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees struggled to score runs against the Durham Bulls.

But the way starting pitcher Ivan Nova and a group of relievers performed, it didn’t seem like it would matter Thursday night.

Durham’s John Jaso drilled a run-scoring double in the top of the 12th inning and the Yankees failed to take advantage of several late scoring opportunities as the Bulls captured the Governors’ Cup championship with a 3-2 win at PNC Field.

The win gave the Bulls a three-game sweep in the best-of-five series and their first championship since 2003. The Bulls have been in the finals seven of the last 12 seasons.

The Yankees had one last gasp – this time in the bottom of the 12th inning. Juan Miranda walked and John Rodriguez drew a one-out walk. Reegie Corona hit a fly ball down the left field line that was caught by a diving Justin Ruggiano. It proved to be a series-clinching play.

Doug Bernier followed Corona’s at-bat by hitting a hard one-hopper back to pitcher Julio DePaula, who ran to first base, jumped on it, and set off a wild celebration by the Bulls.

The Yankees finished the game just 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position and left 15 runners on base.

The SWB starter pitched seven scoreless innings before allowing two in the top of the eighth inning. Nova surrendered just two hits while striking out five and walking two. He faced just two batters over the minimum through seven innings.

The 22-year-old was almost unhittable. In fact, he was unhittable for the first four innings. The Bulls got their first hit off Nova on a leadoff single by Sean Rodriguez in the fifth inning. The SWB starter didn’t allow another hit until the top of the eighth inning.

The Yankees had several chances to win the game, including a golden one in the bottom of the 11th. Catcher Chris Stewart led off with a double, but Kevin Russo, Colin Curtis and Austin Jackson all struck out to end the threat.

The Yankees scored the first two runs of the game courtesy of Cody Ransom, who was activated off the disabled list earlier in the day. Miranda led off the bottom of the second with a triple and scored on a sacrifice fly by Ransom.

In the bottom of the third, Jackson and Miranda drew back-to-back walks with two outs. Ransom followed by drilling a single to left field, giving the Yankees a 2-0 lead.

Jackson had a good night at the plate, reaching base four times. The center fielder had two singles and walked twice. Corona also reached base four times. The second baseman walked twice, got hit by a pitch and singled.

With his team holding a 2-0 lead, Nova came out to start the top of the eighth inning. He immediately gave up a leadoff single to Justin Ruggiano and a walk to Elliot Johnson to give Durham runners on first and second.

Zach Kroenke – who selected to the Triple-A All-Star Game in July – replaced Nova, who slowly walked off the field to a standing ovation from the crowd of 1,503.

Kroenke quickly got two outs – John Jaso on a flyout to shallow center field and an infield popout by Ray Olmedo – before Ruggiano and Johnson advanced a base each on a double steal.

Desmond Jennings followed with a sinking line drive that hit the ground in front of a sliding left fielder John Rodriguez, scoring Ruggiano and Johnson to tie the game 2-2.

The Yankees couldn’t take advantage of a good opportunity retake the lead in the bottom of the eighth. With two outs, reliever Joe Nelson walked Corona, Bernier and Stewart to load the bases. Durham manager Charlie Montoyo – a former SWB Red Baron shortstop – brought in reliever Heath Rollins, who got Russo to fly out to left.

The Bulls loaded the bases in the top of the 11th inning, but failed to score. SWB reliever Kevin Whelan, who entered the game in the top of the 10th and struck out three of the first four batters he faced, walked the bases loaded.

Yankees manager Dave Miley, who wasn’t very happy with the third and fourth called balls on Matt Joyce that loaded the bases, brought in reliever Eric Wordekemper. The fourth SWB pitcher of the night got Ruggiano to ground out to end the inning.

Nova wasn’t the only starting pitcher to pitch well. Durham starting pitcher Jason Cromer was almost as impressive, scattering four hits while allowing just two runs in six innings. The left-hander struck out six.

SWB Second: Juan Miranda led off with a triple and scored on a sacrifice fly by Cody Ransom. YANKEES 1, BULLS 0

SWB Third: With two outs, Austin Jackson and Miranda drew back-to-back walks. Ransom followed with a single to score Jackson. YANKEES 2, BULLS 0

Durham Eighth: Justin Ruggiano led off with a walk and Elliot Johnson singled to put runners on first and second. Zach Kroenke replaced Ivan Nova on the mound for SWB. With two outs, Ruggiano and Johnson each advanced on a double-steal. Desmond Jennings followed with a two-run single. YANKEES 2, BULLS 2

Durham 12th: Johnson hit a one-out single and scored on a double by John Jaso. BULLS 3, YANKEES 2