New reliever impresses in debut for Yankees

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Double-A or Triple-A. Starter or reliever. At this point in his career, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre pitcher John Van Benschoten doesn’t really care.

“After bouncing around (from the Pirates to the Chicago White Sox) the last two years and being around my friends and guys I’ve talked to who have struggled to get jobs,” Van Benschoten said, “I know I’m lucky to have one.”

Van Benschoten, who turned 30 April 14, made his Scranton/Wilkes-Barre debut Wednesday night, tossing 2 2/3 innings of scoreless relief in the Yankees’ 8-2 win over the Syracuse Chiefs before an announced crowd of 4,126 fans at Alliance Bank Stadium.

Juan Miranda socked a three-run home run in the first inning, and David Winfree went 2-for-4 with a double and two RBI as the Yankees (7-6) moved within one game of first-place Syracuse (8-5) in the IL North.

Van Benschoten became a minor-league free agent in the offseason after spending the entire 2009 season with the White Sox’ Triple-A team in Charlotte. He didn’t get any offers, probably because of his ugly 2-8 record and 6.35 ERA at Charlotte.

The New York Yankees signed Van Benschoten as a free agent March 1 and sent him to their minor-league camp. He was assigned to Double-A Trenton, where he appeared in two games before moving to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

Van Benschoten had spent most of the last four years in Triple-A or the big leagues with Pittsburgh. But he knows the employment landscape and didn’t complain when the Yankees shipped him to Double-A.

“When they told me I was going to go to Double-A, I said, ‘There’s always moves being made, there’s always trouble somewhere,’ and I said, ‘Fine, I’m just going to wait,’ ” he said.

He didn’t have to wait long. When starter Dustin Moseley went on the disabled list last week, Scranton shifted Kei Igawa from the bullpen to the starting rotation. Igawa’s move and Boone Logan’s promotion created holes in the bullpen that were filled by Kevin Whelan and Van Benschoten.

On Wednesday, Igawa made his first start and surrendered two runs on six hits in 3 1/3 innings before reaching his pitch count (61). Van Benschoten entered the game with the Yankees leading 4-2, and by the time he exited, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre had built a 7-2 cushion.

“Igawa went out there on a spot start and pitched well, but (Van Benschoten) was the key for us,” Yankees manager Dave Miley said.

Van Benschoten, who has been a starter most of his career, said Miley told him he was going to relieve Igawa early in the game.

“It was comforting in the fact that they said, ‘You’re the first one out of the pen,’ ” Van Benschoten said. “It helps with the mindset, instead of being surprised.”

While Igawa and Van Benschoten shut down the Chiefs offense, the Yankees hitters took advantage of Syracuse pitchers’ inability to get ahead in the count. Chiefs pitchers issued five walks and hit three batters, as four of the batters who walked scored.

“(Chiefs starter Colin) Balester’s obviously a very good pitcher, he’s got a great arm,” Winfree said. “I think it took him a little while to settle down tonight and we were able to get some guys ahead in the count. It was nice to be able to jump on a team early and give your pitchers a little more confidence to go out there.”