Acevedo returns with gem for RiverDogs

Domingo Acevedo worked around a pair of errors and a couple wacky plays in the fifth and sixth innings that could have cost him his third scoreless start of the season for Class A Charleston.

The Yankees' seventh-ranked prospect gave up four hits over 5 2/3 scoreless innings Friday, dropping his ERA to 1.90 and pitching the RiverDogs to a 3-0 victory over Class A Asheville at Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park. 

"He had everything working early," Charleston pitching coach Justin Pope said. "He was locating his fastball in the zone pretty well. He walked two guys, so a couple hitters got away from him, but his misses were close and competitive and his sliders were good. He threw good changeups. He had all three pitches working and he did a good job staying under control in his delivery."

Acevedo (3-1) struck out five and issued a walk in the first and singles in the third and fourth before things got interesting. 

Chris Keck led off the fifth with a single and took second on right fielder Alexander Palma's throwing error. Keck quickly advanced to third after Acevedo plunked him in the back trying to pick him off. Carlos Herrera popped out and Keck was caught trying to steal home on a failed squeeze play by Scott Burcham. After walking Burcham, Acevedo got Sam Hilliard to bounce out to end the inning.

In the sixth, Palma and Yankees No. 14 prospect Hoy Jun Park lost a fly ball in the twilight for a leadoff double by Mylz Jones. Acevedo retired Rockies top prospect Brendan Rodgers on a fly ball and Jones was thrown out at third on a fielder's choice that ended the night for the 22-year-old right-hander.

"He did a great job of staying in control [through the fifth and sixth]," Pope said. "I said, 'Stuff like that's going to happen.' We play enough games, starters get enough starts in the season, so you're going to face adversity. It's nice to see how he reacted to it, how he overcame it and how he handled it. He handled it well. That stuff does nothing but help you become a better pitcher. It helps with your experience down the road, if it happens again."

Acevedo, who was activated from the disabled list prior to the game, threw 58 pitches over 3 1/3 scoreless innings in his last outing on June 4 and Pope said he exited early due to a high pitch count. The pitching coach added that the native of the Dominican Republic is healthy and able to participate in all training activities after a lower body injury landed him on the DL for the third time this season.

Hobie Harris relieved Acevedo and worked around three hits by striking out three in 2 1/3 innings. Andrew Schwaab fanned one in a perfect ninth for his South Atlantic League-leading 11th save.

The RiverDogs did all of their scoring in the fifth. Yankees No. 26 prospect Leonardo Molina reached on a dropped third strike, Park doubled and Palma singled to break a scoreless tie. Eduardo Navas was plunked to load the bases and Cesar Diaz plated another run with a fielder's choice before No. 22 prospect Kyle Holder singled home Palma.

Asheville starter and Rockies No. 13 prospect Peter Lambert (2-4) gave up three runs -- two earned -- on three hits and two walks with one strikeout in four-plus innings.