Yankees, Braves Split Doubleheader

The Yankees and Braves played a doubleheader at PNC Field Thursday after Wednesday's game was called due to rain. Each game lasted seven innings. Ross Ohlendorf started the first game for Scranton/ Wilkes Barre and held Richmond scoreless through three innings while the Yankees offense jumped out to an early lead in the second. Juan Miranda singled and Cody Ransom doubled to lead off the inning and Ben Broussard hit his fifth home run of the season to drive in all three Yankee runs.

But Yankees pitching was unable to hold on to the lead. The Braves bounced back in the fourth, scoring in each of the final four innings of the game and the Yankees fell 6-3. Ohlendorf earned the loss after last five and 2/3 innings.

The second game of the double header started out as a pitcher's duel. Both teams went without scoring through four innings of play before the Yankees scored in the bottom of the fifth. With two outs, Chris Stewart worked a walk. Greg Porter and Alberto Gonzalez followed with back-to-back singles to bring in the first run of the ball game.

Starter Ian Kennedy threw a no-hitter through six and 2/3 innings. In the top of the seventh with two outs, second baseman Chris Basak misplayed a ball off the bat of Barbaro Canizares. Scott Thorman followed with a double to tie the game. The Yankees went scoreless in the bottom half of the inning and the game went to extra innings. Scott Strickland pitched a perfect eighth, striking out the side.

Ryan Brasner took the mound for the Braves in the bottom of the eighth. With one out, Juan Miranda and Cody Ransom hit consecutive singles to set up another big opportunity for Ben Broussard. Broussard didn't disappoint and hit a walk-off homer as the Yankees took the second game of the doubleheader by a final score of 4-1. Despite a stellar pitching performance by Ian Kennedy, Scott Strickland picked up the win.