Yankees P Andy Pettitte's final minor league start Sunday for the Triple-A Int'l League Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees "means some quick shifts of the schedule" for the Int'l League's Buffalo Bisons and Rochester Red Wings, according to Mike Harrington of the BUFFALO NEWS. The Bison and Red Wings were to meet Sunday at 1:00pm ET at Rochester's Frontier Field, but that game "has now been shelved in favor of Pettitte's outing" against the Pawtucket Red Sox, which will be at 2:00pm. Frontier Field is "housing 37 of Scranton/Wilkes-Barre's home games this year while its ballpark is being renovated," and Frontier Field has "agreed to add" Sunday's game as well. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre was scheduled to play Sunday at Batavia's Dwyer Stadium, but the Yankees "balked at having Pettitte pitch in Batavia, a New York-Penn League city with a ballpark well below Triple-A standards." The Red Wings said that they “understand fans might be upset at the perception the hometown team is being pushed aside.” But team GM Dan Mason said, “We feel this is a chance to give people in this area a chance to see a possible future Hall of Famer. We’re very excited” (BUFFALO NEWS, 5/4). In Rochester, Jim Mandelaro notes Scranton/Wilkes-Barre was scheduled to play seven games at the 2,600-seat Dwyer Stadium "as part of a season-long road trip." The Red Wings front office is “thrilled” with the venue change, as a “sellout crowd in the 10,840-seat stadium is possible.” Int'l League President Randy Mobley said he has "no concerns" about moving the Red Wings game to accommodate Pettitte (ROCHESTER DEMOCRAT & CHRONICLE, 5/4).
