After downing the Gwinnett Braves, three games to one, the Scranton Yankees will play in the Governors' Cup finals -
Making his Triple-A debut, McAllister pitched 5 strong innings, holding the Gwinnett Braves scoreless until the Yankees built a big lead that became a 12-3 win.
"He was good," Yankees manager Dave Miley said. "For his first Triple-A start in that environment in the playoffs, he gave us exactly what we needed.
The victory clinched the first-round series and secured a return trip to the championship round, where the Yankees will face [the] Durham [Bulls].
However, the team and league's MVP, Shelley Duncan, will not be with the squad since he's currently in the Bronx. The International League's Rookie of the Year will stay with Scranton though.
Some other minor league news:
- According to Baseball America, Jesus Montero would have been the Minor League Player of the Year if not for a broken finger that sidelined him the last month of the season. Instead, the award went to the Braves' 20-year-old Jason Heyward, who hit .323/.408/.555 between three levels.
- It's fitting that the surgery is named after a one-time Yankee, because another just went through it. This time it was Dellin Betances, who may not pitch again until late next season or possibly 2011.
- Ian Kennedy reappeared, upholding his vow to pitch again this year after suffering an aneurysm in May. He threw two scoreless innings for the Tampa Yankees in game one of the Florida State League finals.