Scrappers beat Muckdogs 4-3

By BRIAN RICHESSON
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
NILES -- So what if Matt Lawton wasn't the designated hitter Friday during the Mahoning Valley Scrappers game? Jesus Colmenter was.
And if that wasn't enough to excite fans at Cafaro Field, they could have taken pleasure in the Scrappers' 4-3 victory -- their fourth straight -- over the Batavia Muckdogs.
Pitcher Roger Lincoln (2-0), normally a reliever, made the most of his second spot start this season. He pitched five solid innings, combining with Matt Davis and Dan Rich to back the Scrappers' early offense.
"They call him Picasso because he can paint," Scrappers manager Ted Kubiak said of Lincoln, a first-year left-hander from Northford, Conn.
"He was a good fill-in. We needed that. We needed good innings from him," Kubiak said. "He didn't waste any pitches. I don't know what the ball was doing, but they [Batavia batters] were having trouble getting the bat on the ball."
Lawton's absence
The Scrappers' front office received a number of telephone calls Friday inquiring about Lawton, who was supposed to spend the weekend at Mahoning Valley as the designated hitter rehabbing a dislocated finger.
After Thursday night's game with the Double-A Akron Aeros, Lawton decided to take time off to allow the injury to heal. He is expected to rejoin the Indians today at Jacobs Field in their series against the Anaheim Angels.
So instead of watching Lawton, Scrappers fans watched Lincoln strengthen as the game wore on.
In 69 pitches, he allowed the three runs on seven hits while striking out seven, without a walk.
"The way the schedule worked out, they asked me to do a spot start. I'll be the first one to raise my hand," said Lincoln, who pitched at Stetson University.
Settling
After being touched up for two runs on 25 first-inning pitches, Lincoln settled down in his first start since July 26 against Jamestown.
"Once I got on a roll, I got into a tempo and I felt better," he said. "I felt stronger."
Lincoln's approach to starting a game doesn't differ from relieving, he said, but he recognizes the role's importance.
"The big thing with starting, you can set a tone for the team," he said, "because the way I pitch is going to affect our hitters, as well. You have to keep the tempo going."
Davis, the former Poland baseball and basketball standout, pitched three perfect innings, with four strikeouts, before Rich closed Batavia (22-29) in the ninth, with the tying run on second, for his third save.
"Davis was excellent," Kubiak said. "They [the pitchers] threw strikes again. That's what we've been doing. We've been harping on that."
Offensive production
First-round draft pick Brad Snyder singled and tripled in his first two at-bats for the Scrappers (24-27), and Ryan Goleski doubled home two runs in the first inning to tie the score 2-2.
Snyder's RBI triple in the second gave the Scrappers their go-ahead run, and Colmenter added the fourth with a single in the same inning.
"I'm pleased with how we're playing," Kubiak said. "A lot of things are beginning to jell with this club. Other clubs might drift at the end of the season, but I want these guys to learn how to play at this point."
BATAVIAMAHONING VALLEY
abrhbiabrhbi
Moran lf4100Snyder cf4221
Bourn cf4120Colmenter dh4011
Headley rf4121Kouzmanff 3b4120
Blalock dh4000Goleski rf4012
Norman 3b4022Mulhern 1b3010
Hansen 1b4000Garko c4000
Moss 2b4010Conroy lf4000
Diaz c4000Cotto ss3110
DeLs Santos ss3010Lunetta 2b3000
Totals35383Totals33484
Batavia200010000--3
Mahoning Valley22000000x--4
E--Padilla, Cotto. LOB--Mahoning Valley 8, Batavia 5. 3B--Snyder. 2B--Goleski, Mulhern. SB--Bourn 2, Headley, Norman, Moss, Moran.
IPHRERBBSO
Batavia
Parcus L, 1-4574404
Padilla210011
Rupert100020
Mahoning Valley
Lincoln W, 2-0573307
Davis300004
Rich S, 3110000
Umpires--Darren Budahn, home; John Tumpane, bases. T--2:36. A--5,223.
HOW THEY SCORED
FIRST INNING
BATAVIA 2, MAHONING VALLEY 2
Muckdogs: Javon Moran grounded out to third. Michael Bourn singled to center, Jack Headley singled to center, Bourn to second. Double steal advanced Bourn to third, Headley to second. Jake Blalock struck out. Zach Norman singled to right, Bourn, Headley scored. Norman stole second. Bryan Hansen grounded out to first. 2 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 1 left.
Scrappers: William Parcus pitching. Brad Snyder singled to center, Jesus Colmenter struck out. Kevin Kouzmanoff singled in the infield, Snyder to second. Ryan Goleski doubled to center, Snyder, Kouzmanoff scored. Ryan Mulhern flied out to right, Goleski tagged and advanced to third. Ryan Garko flied out to left. 2 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 1 left.
SECOND INNING
MAHONING VALLEY 4, BATAVIA 2
Scrappers: Parcus pitching. Mike Conroy flied out to center. Luis Cotto singled up the middle, Anthony Lunetta grounded out to second, Cotto to second. Snyder tripled down the right-field line, Cotto scored. Colmenter singled to center, Snyder scored. Kouzmanoff grounded out to second. 2 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 1 left.
FIFTH INNING
MAHONING VALLEY 4, BATAVIA 3
Muckdogs: Lincoln pitching. Esteban De Los Santos singled in the infield, Moran hit into a fielder's choice, De Los Santos out at second. Moran stole second. Bourn struck out. Headley singled to right, Moran scored. Blalock struck out. 1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 left.
richesson@vindy.com