Chad Jennings reports that Mark Melancon is on his way to the big league club. The corresponding move has not yet been announced.

Via Bryan Hoch.

Mike Axisa at River Ave. Blues reports that Baseball America has released it's midseason list of the top 25 prospects in the game. Number 3? Our very own Jesus Montero. Austin Jackson also factors into the "next 25," an unnumbered list of 25 players after the initial list.

Filling in for the injured Chien-Ming Wang, Alfredo Aceves made his first start of the season this afternoon, following a four inning save on Sunday. He last 3 and 1/3 innings, throwing 65 pitches and allowing 4 runs (3 earned). Two of those came around on bases loaded walks by David Robertson, who relievred Aceves in the 4th with the bases loaded and 1 out.

Beside that, the bullpen was on point, allowing no earned runs over the last 5 and 2/3 innings of the game. That was 1 inning from Robertson, 1 and 2/3 innings from Jonathan Albaladejo (who got the win), 2/3 of an inning from Phil Coke, 1 and 1/3 innings from Phil Hughes and a scoreless ninth for Mariano Rivera, who collected his 23rd save.

While the offense only had 8 hits, 3 walks and 6 runs - they spread it around. 8 players had 1 in (all except Nick Swisher, who was 0 for 5 in the second spot in the order). Robinson Cano and Melky Cabrera had doubles, while Mark Teixeira had a home run. Runs were also scored by A-Rod, Jorge Posada (2) and Cano (2) and more RBI came from Derek Jeter, Cody Ransom (2) and Brett Gardner (2).

With the win, the team improves to 51-34 - the third best record in the game. They are only half a game out of first place but with a Red Sox loss tonight, could grab a share of the division lead.

Tomorrow, the team heads to Los Angeles to face the Angels in the final series of the first half. Joba Chamberlain (4-2, 4.04) goes against Joe Saunders (8-5, 4.44).

Recap records: Patrick: 25–12, Seamus: 20–15, Andrew: 6–7.

During Tuesday's loss, third base umpire Marty Foley mistakenly called out Derek Jeter on a steal of third and then, according to Jeter, he told the Captain that the ball beat him and that's why he was out - he didn't need to be tagged. This led to Joe Girardi being tossed from the game.

Yesterday, umpire crew chief John Hirschbeck revealed that Foley told him that he said something different: "The ball beat you, and I had him tagging you."

Derek Jeter has responded, talking to the Post. "He didn't say that," Jeter said. "He knows exactly what he said and he didn't say that." Third base coach Rob Thomson added that he didn't hear Foley say that, either.

I'd be surprised if anything at all came of this, but I'm glad that Jeter didn't just back down.

As expected, Francisco Cervelli was demoted to make room for Jose Molina, returning from the DL, reports MLB.com's Anthony DiComo.

The Yankees held on to win a tight game in which they led almost the entire way, as a 4–3 victory over the Twins helped keep the Yanks within one game of Boston in the A.L. East. The Yankees have now won five straight series and have won 12 of 14 games overall.

The Yankees went jumped ahead in the top of the 2nd with three runs off of Anthony Swarzak, who started for the Twins in place of a sick Glen Perkins. A wild pitch by A.J. Burnett in the bottom of the inning followed by an RBI double from Joe Mauer brought the Twins within 3–2. A-Rod made it 4–2 with an RBI single in the 5th.

A.J. Burnett was pulled with one out in the 7th (6.1 IP, 7 H, 2 ER, 2 K) and two lefties due up to bat. Joe Girardi went to Phil Coke, who entered the game and immediately served up a solo home run to Joe Mauer. After striking out Justin Morneau, Girardi went to Phil Hughes.

Hughes recorded three outs and allowed one hit, and Girardi went to Mariano Rivera with two outs in the 8th. Rivera retired all four batters he faced en route to recording his 22nd save of the season. The declining Rivera struck out one batter, and now has 43 strikeouts on the season compared to just 3 walks (a 14.33 K/BB ratio).

For the fourth straight series, the Yankees will be heading into the final game attempting to complete a sweep, and they will send Alfredo Aceves to the mound to make his first start of the season. No official word yet on who the Twins' starter will be, but it will most likely be Francisco Liriano (thanks to Patrick for helping me out with this). Tomorrow night will also be the last time the Yankees play in the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, provided the two teams don't meet in the postseason. Game starts at 8:10 ET.

Recap records: Patrick: 24–12, Seamus: 20–15, Andrew: 6–7

EDIT: I just realized a major goof I made. Thursday's game began at 1:10 ET. I apologize for the error.

MLB.com's Jesse Sanchez has umpire crew chief John Hirschbeck findings, in regard to the little controversy that erupted yesterday when third base umpire Marty Foley incorrectly called Derek Jeter out on an attempt at stealing third base. It wasn't the call that was the problem as much as what Jeter says Foley said afterward, which was that the ball beat him, so he was out - he didn't need to be tagged.

Hirschbeck says that Foley told him that that isn't what he said. Instead, Foley claims that he said: "The ball beat you, and I had him tagging you."

"Sometimes when tempers flare, you don't hear everything that's said," Hirschbeck added.

I share the skepticism expressed by Ben Kabak of River Ave. Blues. That said, this is probably the end of this story.

Joel Sherman of the Post says that, according to anonymous Yankee officials, there is "zero chance" (Sherman's words) that the team will trade for Roy Halladay, for the same reasons that they didn't pull the trigger on Johan Santana: the cost is simply too high.

Via Ben Nicholson-Smith.

Chad Jennings reports that Trenton catcher Jesus Montero has been added to the Eastern League Northern Division All-Star team as a replacement player, after just 26 games. He'll be joining five other Trenton players on the team.

The bottom three hitters in the Yankees order - Robinson Cano, Brett Gardner and Francisco Cervelli - turned in quite the effort on Tuesday night. Combined, they were 7 for 14 with 2 doubles, a triple, 5 runs and 6 RBI. Of course, the offense as a whole was pretty good - especially Mark Teixeira (4 for 6, 1 run, 1 RBI).

On the other side of the ball, CC Sabathia victimized the Twins, holding them to 1 earned run on 3 hits over 7 innings. Brett Tomko pitched the final two innings and allowed the Twins a second run, but that would be hit - a combined 4 hitter for the two righties.

Tomorrow at 8:10 PM ET, A.J. Burnett (7-4, 3.83) will go against Glen Perkins (4-4, 4.38).

Recap records: Patrick: 24–12, Seamus: 19–15, Andrew: 6–7.