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Batavia, NY - Louisville manager David Bell tried to use some strategy, by intentionally walking Russell Branyan with runners on second and third in the bottom of the third inning on Tuesday morning at Dwyer Stadium in Batavia, NY. However, the strategy didn't quite work out as he had hoped as Scranton/Wilkes-Barre got three runs on bases loaded walks issued by Louisville starter Sean Gallagher en route to a 9-7 Yankee victory in the series finale with the Bats.

The Yankees didn't waste any time getting on the board as they took the 1-0 lead in the first. Kevin Russo led off the game by reaching on an error by Louisville shortstop Miguel Rojas. Russo then went from first to third on a single to right field off the bat of Jack Cust. Branyan then roped a single right back up the middle allowing Russo to score easily from third.

The Bats struck right back in the top half of the second with a one out sacrifice fly off the bat of Danny Dorn, which brought Bill Rhinehart home from third. The run was an unearned run, because Rhinehart took third on a wild pitch from Scranton/Wilkes-Barre pitcher John Maine. Louisville took a 2-1 lead in the top half of the third on yet another sacrifice fly, this time off the bat of Willie Harris.

The Yankees responded in a big way with a four-run third inning. Russo led off the inning with a line drive double down the left field line. Corban Joseph followed with a single, and Ronnier Mustelier dropped one in short centerfield allowing Russo to score easily. Later in the inning Gallagher's intentional walk proved to be costly for the Bats as he walked Laird, Gustavo Molina and Doug Bernier with the bases loaded and the Yankees took a 5-2 lead into the fifth inning.

The Bats crept to within 5-3 when Felix Perez crushed a solo homer over the left-center wall to lead off the top of the fifth. Following the Perez home run, right-hander Nelson Figueroa came on to relieve Maine. The Bats picked up a run off of Figueroa in the top half of the sixth on a Cody Puckett sacrifice fly, coming to within 5-4.

The Yankees opened the floodgates with a four-run sixth inning. Mustelier extended the Yankee lead to 6-4 with and RBI single to left-center. Later in the inning, the Yankees loaded the bases and Russell Branyan crushed a bases clearing double to deep left field, beating the Louisville shift and making it a 9-4 ballgame. The Bats refused to go away quietly as Mike Costanzo crushed a three run homer way over the left-center wall, bringing the Bats within 9-7 in the eighth.

David Robertson got the start for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, tossing one inning of perfect baseball in his second rehab appearance with Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. John Maine then came on for the Yankees tossing three innings allowing just two earned runs on two hits while striking out four and walking two. Maine was credited with the win in his debut and is now 1-0 on the season. Gallagher suffered the loss for the Bats falling to 5-4 on the season.

Both Louisville and Scranton/Wilkes-Barre have the day off on Wednesday. Following the off day the Yankees travel to Syracuse to begin a four game series as the home team against the Chiefs at Alliance Bank Stadium in Syracuse. Right-hander Adam Warren (4-3, 3.89) takes the ball for the Yankees, while Mitch Atkins (5-5, 4.32) gets the nod for the Chiefs. First pitch is scheduled for 7:00 PM.