Delage's hitless pitching is sweet

Friday, August 25, 2006 Mahoning Valley took the rubber game against Jamestown. By GREG GULAS VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT NILES — For the first time this season, William Delage felt like he did his job. Delage pitched a no-hitter over seven innings, facing just 22 batters (one over the minimum) to lead the Mahoning Valley Scrappers to a 5-0 win over the Jamestown Jammers Thursday at Eastwood Field. Logan Morrison's single up the middle with two outs and just one strike remaining ruined Delage and reliever Neil Wagner's bid for a combined no-hitter, as the Scrappers took the rubber game of the series while winning three of five games on their homestand. Felt great "For the first time this season I felt like I did a good job on the mound," said Delage. "I felt great warming up prior to the game and earlier this week, pitching coach Ken Rowe and I had what I would call a good bullpen session. "I thought my slider was the best pitch working for me tonight. I just felt good all seven innings that I was out there." Delage had 11 strikeouts and the Jammers could muster only four fly balls off of him. The only Jamestown batter to reach first base was leadoff batter Dustin Kaats, who swung and missed on a third strike, then took first when the pitch hit the dirt and scooted by catcher Kelly Edmundson. That came in the fourth inning. "The last three or four outings have been quality ones for William," manager Rouglas Odor said. "He threw the ball great against Staten Island during that stretch and they are the best-hitting team in the league. He is definitely showing signs of becoming the type of pitcher that we thought he could become," Odor added. The offense The Scappers got on the board first in their half of the fourth when Dustin Realini reached on an infield hit to start the inning. Stephen Douglas followed with an infield single to put runners on first and second, and after Josh Rodriquez walked to the load the bases, Realini scored the first run of the game when Adam Davis bounced into a 6-4-3 double play. Josh Roberts then doubled home Douglas with the Scrappers' second run. Esequier Pie relieved Jamestown starter Zach Bird in the fifth and with one out Andy Lytle doubled, moved to third on a wild pitch by Pie and scored on a sacrifice fly by Realini for a 3-0 Scrappers lead. Mahoning Valley added two insurance runs in the eighth. Edmundson's double scored Davis singled and Josh Roberts was intentionally walked. The Scrappers are in Batavia tonight and Saturday for two games before returning to Eastwood Field Sunday for a series with Auburn. Notes The Scrappers outscored opponents 28-8 on their recent homestand, splitting two games with Batavia and taking two of three from the Jammers. ... Josh Tomlin (6-1, 2.30 ERA) and Luis Valdez (6-4, 2.14) are the expected starters for the Scrappers in Batavia, while Andrew Cruse (4-4, 2.34) and Edgar Garcia (2-5, 3.88) drew the starting assignments for the Muckdogs. Last time out, Tomlin beat Garcia in the opening game of the homestand, 8-1, while Cruse threw seven strong innings during the Muckodogs' 1-0 shutout of Mahoning Valley. Valdez suffered the loss. ... The Scrappers are 7-5 against Jamestown this season. ——— JAMESTOWNSCRAPPERS abrhbiabrhbi Kaats lf3000Denham cf5000 Morrison ph1010Lytle dh4110 Rogers dh2000Goedert 3b3010 Jacobs ph1000Realini 1b3111 Raynor cf3000Douglas lf3120 Blackwood 1b3000Rodriguez ss3000 McDougall rf3000Davis 2b4120 Webb 3b3000Roberts rf2111 Saylor 2b3000Edmundson c4022 Martinez ss2000 Coghlan ph1010 Westerfield c2000 Mense ph1000 Totals28010Totals315104 Jamestown000000000—0 Scrappers00021002x—5 DP—Jamestown 1. LOB—Jamestown 2, Scrappers 8. 2B—Roberts (5), Lytle (8), Edmundson 2 (7). S—Rogers. SF—Realini. IPHRERBBSO Jamestown Bird452223 Pie221122 Liersemann100000 Davis132210 Scrappers Delage7000011 Wagner210001 WP—Pie, Delage. Umpires—Home, Travis Hatch; First, Jason Cooksey. T—2:17. A—5,024. HOW THEY SCORED Scrappers 4th — Realini singled to shortstop. Douglas singled on a bunt to 3rd base, Realini to 2nd. Rodriguez walked, Realini to 3rd, Douglas to 2nd. Davis grounded into double play (6-4-3), Realini scored, Douglas to 3rd, Rodriguez out at 2nd. Roberts doubled to right field, Douglas scored. Edmundson struck out. 2 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB Scrappers 5th — Pitching change: Pie replaced Bird. Denham struck out. Lytle doubled to left field. Lytle to 3rd on wild pitch. Goedert walked. Realini flied out (F-8), Lytle scored. Douglas walked, Goedert to 2nd. Rodriguez lined out (L-4). 1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB Scrappers 8th — Pitching change: Davis replaced Liersemann. Douglas singled to shortstop. Rodriguez flied out (F-9). Davis singled to right field, Douglas to 3rd. Douglas picked off (1-5). Roberts intentionally walked. Edmundson doubled to center field, Davis and Roberts scored. Denham flied out (F-9). 2 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB