Knox won't forget four-error performance

He made three errors in one inning in the Scrappers' 9-4 loss on Saturday.
By BRIAN RICHESSON
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
NILES -- Matt Knox has a newspaper clipping taped to his locker. It serves as a reminder of a fateful night that he would prefer to forget.
But he can't, because the Mahoning Valley Scrappers third baseman knows that what he did Saturday at Cafaro Field is unlike something Matt Knox would do.
A native of Lebanon, Pa., who played at Rookie League Burlington last season, Knox committed four errors in the Scrappers' 9-4 loss to the Batavia Muckdogs. Three came in the fourth inning when Batavia took command by scoring five runs.
Following the Scrappers' 4-3 win Sunday, Knox was asked about the previous night. He pointed to the headline taped to his locker: "Error-prone Scrappers defeated by Muckdogs."
"I'm very upset, very disappointed with the way I played yesterday," Knox said. "I cost us the game. It wasn't a very good showing, even though I hit the ball well. It was one of those days."
Hitting the ball well
Knox tripled and scored twice in the loss to Batavia. A night earlier in the home opener, a 2-0 Scrappers victory, Knox drove in the game's first run with an RBI single.
To Knox, though, that doesn't make up for what he went through Saturday.
"I came in here, got showered and got the hell out," Knox said. "I had family in town. I just left. I needed to get away and completely forget about what happened."
Most of Knox's trouble Saturday came on his throws to first base. He got some advice from the coaches. Manager Chris Bando told him to stay aggressive.
"They saw me backing up on the ball and not coming and getting it," he said. "It's very uncharacteristic of what I normally do."
Knox said he played well during spring training, committing three errors "in 30-some games."
"But you don't see many days with four errors in a game, let alone three in one inning," he said.
Knox was back at third Sunday. Although he didn't get many chances, he made the plays when he had to. And he enjoyed being part of the come-from-behind win.
"It's nice to know we can come back and win these type of games," Knox said.