Yanks win New York-Penn opener

Adam Warren rebounded from a poor outing against Lowell in the first round, fanning seven while allowing four hits and over six innings as Staten Island blanked Mahoning Valley, 3-0, in the New York-Penn League Finals opener Monday.

"You can't leave anything out there. I was just trying to end on a good note and head into the offseason with confidence," said Warren, who was 4-2 with a 1.43 ERA in the regular season.

The Yankees posted a couple runs in the first two innings to give Warren the early lead off Mahoning Valley starter Brett Brach. It helped the '09 fourth-round pick, who gave up two hits in the first, settle down.

"It takes a little pressure off me knowing I don't have to be as perfect. Me and my pitching coach [Pat Daneker] talked a little bit and made an adjustment. I was opening up too early and the ball was tailing away from me," Warren said.

Warren, who lasted only 4 2/3 innings against Lowell in Game 1 of their semifinal series, struck out five batters over the last two innings. The right-hander said he had a good feel for his off-speed pitches in the later innings.

New York-Penn All-Star Zoilo Almonte slugged his second home run of the postseason in the eighth and also had a fourth-inning double.

The Yankees bullpen worked out of trouble late in the game. The tying run came to the plate without any outs in the ninth, but closer Ryan Flannery didn't allow a ball out of the infield to pick up his second save of the playoffs.

The Scrappers, who finished with the best record in the league and led the league in batting average, were held in check for most of the evening. Ben Carlson finished with three hits, including a pair of doubles.

The best-of-3 series resumes Tuesday night in Mahoning Valley.