Around the Minors: Yankees Top Prospects Gary Sanchez, Mason Williams and Tyler Austin Lift Trenton to Title

March 2, 2013; Tampa, FL, USA; New York Yankees right fielder

(88) gets walked against the Detroit Tigers at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

The Trenton Thunder (NYY) completed an undefeated run in the postseason, capturing the Eastern League championship with an 11-4 win over Harrisburg (WAS).

The Thunder received big performances from New York Yankees’ top prospects Gary Sanchez, Mason Williams and Tyler Austin. Each member of the trio tallied two hits and an RBI. Williams, who had a trying year, scored a pair of runs and was able to close 2013 by putting away the final out in center field for the Thunder. Playoff MVP Ali Castillo hit a two-run homer.

> Gabriel Ynoa threw seven shutout innings of four-hit ball as the Savannah Sand Gnats (NYM) beat Hagerstown (WAS) 6-0. Ynoa struck out five batters and issued one walk. Savannah is now one win away from the South Atlantic League championship, leading the series 2-1.

> Trayce Thompson hit a home run and drove in a pair in the Birmingham Barons’ (CHW) 8-2 win over Mobile (ARI). The Barons lead the series 2-0, putting them a win away from the Southern League title.

> Mason Katz went 3-for-4 with a two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth, but it wasn’t enough as the State College Spikes (STL) fell to the Tri-City ValleyCats (HOU) 4-3. The victory gave Tri-City its second New York-Penn League title in the last four years. ValleyCats’ starter Kyle Westwood gave up just one run on six hits and a walk while striking out six over six innings pitched.

> Orangel Arenas out dueled Ty Blach as the Inland Empire 66ers (LAA) defeated the San Jose Giants (SF) 4-0. Arenas pitched eight shutout innings, giving up just three hits and two walks while racking up six strikeouts. Blach was strong in the losing effort, giving up a pair of runs over 7 ⅓ innings.

> It’s not often a middle reliever stands out in a box score, but Jamaine Cotton did just that in the Quad Cities River Bandits’ (HOU) 5-0 win over South Bend (ARI). The right-hander pitched three perfect innings, tallying six strikeouts in the process. Cotton came in to relieve Joe Bitcher, who threw five shutout innings. Quad Cities leads the series 2-0, just one win shy of the Midwest League title. Rio Ruiz went 2-for-four with an RBI double and scored twice.