The XST games had been moved up from their 1:00PM start to noon, so when I arrived they were just completing the 2^nd inning. As I walked up to the Williamsport game, Justin Parr was completing his AB, working a walk. Nick Ferdinand followed with a perfectly executed hit-and-run. Then the Yankees “rolled” the inning. I overheard one of the Yankee pitching coaches remark that the pitcher had thrown too many 3-2 counts.  Apparently, it was “Take a Pitch Day”. Most of the Williamsport batters were working deep counts, even guys who usually hack at the first pitch.

Feliberto Sanchez pitched 6 innings. I saw 4 of his 5 strike outs in the four innings I was there. He walked only 1 batter in that span. He kept the batters off balance in the first few at bats I saw, jamming batters and getting lazy pop ups. Through the 5^th inning, I had only seen 1 hard hit ball. Sanchez entered the 6^th inning for his longest start of the spring. The Yankees greeted him with 4 consecutive hits. He regrouped and got his 5th strike out and 2 ground balls to finish his outing.

It’ll be interesting to see who makes up the Williamsport rotation from among the pitchers I’ve seen them stretching out in XST – Alejandro Arteaga, Mitch Gueller, Denton Keys,  Ricardo Pinto, Sanchez, and Jorge Serrano.  And how will Shane Martin fit into the mix?

Matt Southhard and Mark Meadors worked one scoreless inning each.

Among the batters, Robinson Torres caught my eye with a high fast ball that he ripped into the left field corner for a double.

I heard later that I missed Carlos Beltran getting 3 rehab at bats with the Yankees GCL squad playing the Phillies GCL squad.  Didn’t miss much.  I also herad he went 0 for 3.

I should have mentioned earlier that for some time now Trey Williams has been employing an exaggerated, open stance. I would guess that this gives him a better look at the ball as the pitcher releases. He steps into the pitch and has been making better contact with it.

Cord Sandberg was back with the Williamsport squad and Jake Sweaney was with the GCL squad. Can’t wait to see who goes to Williamsport. I would think that Nick Ferdinand and Justin Parr would not be kept in Clearwater for GCL.

In the evening, the Threshers lost 5-0. Colin Kleven started and pitched well except for a 36-pitch 2^nd inning where he gave up the games only runs, 6 hits and a walk. In his other 4 innings, Kleven allowed only 3 hits, struck out 3, and walked none. Ramon Oviedo pitched 2 scoreless innings, Shawn Camp and Lee Ridenhour 1 each.

On offense the Threshers could only manage 3 hits but did get 6 walks. Unfortunately they couldn’t take advantage of their few at bats with men in scoring position. It didn’t help that Stolmy Pimentel pitched 2 innings of relief as part of an MLB rehab assignment.

It was another busy day on the transaction wire.

• Andrew Knapp was assigned to Lakewood from Clearwater.
• Chris Serritella was assigned to Clearwater from Reading.
• Jair Morelos was assigned to Clearwater from GCL.
• Ryan Demmin was assigned to Clearwater from Reading ( to be a starter).
• Malquin Canelo was assigned to XST from Clearwater.
• Will Morris was assigned to Lakewood from XST.
• C Jose Mayorga was put on the 7-day DL in Lakewood.

The Threshers close the current home stand tomorrow night, XST plays their last game Wednesday morning, and the draft is Thursday.  The joke in the stands tonight was that the 7th pick is starting Friday for Clearwater.