DotF: Sheffield and Stephan dominate again in wins

Three quick notes:

In case you missed it earlier, the Yankees have re-signed RHP David Hale to a new minor league contract. He’s heading back to Triple-A Scranton. OF Cody Asche was released to open up a roster spot, the team announced.
OF Mark Payton is progressing well following knee surgery, RailRiders manager Bobby Mitchell told Conor Foley. Payton needed knee surgery in Spring Training. He’s about three weeks away from returning.
RHP Gio Gallegos is now dealing with low back tightness, Mitchell told Brendan Kuty. Gallegos was initially placed on the disabled list with a groin issue. Now his back is acting up.

Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (7-1 win over Buffalo)

CF Tyler Wade: 1-4, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 1 K, 1 SB — notable that he’s playing center field … the Yankees are having him work to increase his versatility again
SS Thairo Estrada: 1-4, 1 RBI, 2 K
3B Brandon Drury: 0-3, 1 R, 1 RBI — Mitchell told Kuty it is unrealistic to expect Drury to be ready to return by Friday … Drury’s 20-day rehab window doesn’t expire until May 14th, so there’s no rush to get him back soon
DH Kyle Higashioka: 2-4, 2 2B, 2 RBI, 1 K — had been in an 0-for-13 skid
LF Clint Frazier: 0-4, 2 K — his rehab has been moved up here from Tampa
LHP Daniel Camarena: 7 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 6 K, 1 HB, 8/4 GB/FB — 53 of 80 pitches were strikes (66%), plus he picked a runner off second base
RHP Brady Lail: 2 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 K, 3/2 GB/FB — 21 of 31 pitches were strikes (68%) … 23/3 K/BB in his last 11.1 innings

Double-A Trenton Thunder Game One (6-1 win over Portland in eight innings)

2B Gosuke Katoh: 0-3, 2 R, 1 BB
RF Jhalan Jackson: 3-4, 1 R, 1 2B, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 1 K — three doubles, one triple, nine homers, and five singles so far this season
LHP Justus Sheffield: 6 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 9 K, 4/0 GB/FB — 51 of 88 pitches were strikes (58%) … fourth straight start with at least eight strikeouts … he had only nine career starts with 8+ strikeouts before this stretch

Double-A Trenton Thunder Game Two (6-4 loss to Portland in seven innings) makeup of yesterday’s rainout

CF Rashad Crawford: 0-4, 1 K
SS Abi Avelino: 2-4, 1 R, 1 K, 1 SB — with Thairo now in Scranton, Avelino was sent down here to play everyday … he’d hit .286/.337/.377 (106 wRC+) in 22 games with the RailRiders
RF Jhalan Jackson: 2-3, 1 R, 1 BB, 1 K, 1 SB — make it three doubles, one triple, nine homers, and seven singles on the season
2B Gosuke Katoh: 0-3, 1 R, 1 BB, 1 K
RHP Brian Keller: 4 IP, 8 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 4 BB, 2 K, 5/4 GB/FB — 57 of 94 pitches were strikes (61%) … former 39th round pick is having much trouble in Double-A than he did in Single-A last year … the season is young though, give him time to adjust

High-A Tampa Tarpons (2-1 win over Fort Myers)

SS Hoy Jun Park: 1-4
CF Estevan Florial: 1-4, 1 2B, 1 K — 6-for-16 (.375) in his last four games
1B Adam Lind: 0-3, 1 BB, 1 K
3B-1B Brandon Wagner: 0-3, 2 K
LF Isiah Gilliam: 3-4, 1 K — 6-for-12 in his last three games
RF Alex Palma: 1-4 — 11-for-26 (.423) during his seven-game hitting streak
2B Diego Castillo: 0-3, 1 R, 1 K, 1 E (fielding)
RHP Trevor Stephan: 7 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 6 K, 1 K, 6/4 GB/FB — 60 of 86 pitches were strikes (70%) … 40/6 K/BB in 35.2 innings
LHP Trevor Lane: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K, 1 HB, 3/2 GB/FB — 20 of 34 pitches were strikes (59%) … 19/0 K/BB in 14 innings

Low-A Charleston RiverDogs (3-1 loss to Asheville)

SS Wilkerman Garcia & 2B Oswaldo Cabrera: both 0-4 — Garcia struck out three times
RF Steven Sensley: 0-3, 1 BB — in a 7-for-40 (.175) rut
LF Leonardo Molina: 0-4, 1 K
DH Pablo Olivares: 2-4, 1 K — 7-for-23 (.304) in his last six games
RHP Rony Garcia: 6.1 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 6 K, 1 Balk, 5/2 GB/FB — 64 of 93 pitches were strikes (69%) … 16/3 K/BB in 22 innings