Yankees Seek Help From Sonora’s Own

Sonora, Ca — The New York Yankees fan base is likely to grow in the Mother Lode, as class of 2001 Sonora High School graduate Phil Coke made his major league debut Monday afternoon for the big league club.

Coke learned of the promotion at six o´clock Sunday evening, and soon left for Detroit to join the Yankees for a series against the Tigers.

On Monday he pitched a scoreless seventh inning, striking out two and giving up just one hit. Coke called his father Doug in Twain Harte, shortly after the game went final.

?I asked him how it felt, and he said it was actually surreal,? says the proud father. ?He couldn´t believe that he was there, it was so fast, and just unbelievable. He said that he has finally found the best place in the house to watch a baseball game, and that is in the bullpen.?

The 6´ 1? 210 lbs. southpaw started 2008 in AA with the Trenton Thunder. Coke posted a 9-4 record with a 2.51 E.R.A., and earned a call up to the AAA affiliate, Scranton Wilkes-Barre, where he compiled a 2-2 mark and a 4.67 E.R.A.

Coke was drafted by the Yankees in 2002, and later went on to play college ball at San Joaquin Delta College in Stockton.

The Yankees are in the midst of a push toward the playoffs, and are currently seven games behind the Boston Red Sox in the wild card race.

Written by BJ Hansen