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Scrappers’ Kid leads shutout of Muckdogs
NILES — Mahoning Valley Scrappers pitcher Clayton Cook takes a lot of teasing from his mostly college teammates for being the youngest player in the clubhouse.
That may change if Cook keeps mowing down opposing hitters like he did Saturday night against Batavia.
Cook (2-2, 2.33 ERA), who just turned 19 on July 23, pitched six strong innings of shutout baseball to help the Scrappers (26-17) turn back the Muckdogs 2-0 at Eastwood Field.
In already his second year of professional baseball, Cook yielded three hits and struck out four batters in perhaps his best outing of the season.
“I felt good,” Cook said. “Stuff-wise it probably was my best outing. My fastball was probably the best it was all year. I didn’t get my curve ball over until about the third or fourth inning but I kept throwing it and it kept me in the ballgame.
“Overall, we got the win and anytime you get a win its a good outing.”
Cook has owned the Muckdogs this season.
In three outings against Batavia, the right-hander hasn’t allowed a run in 18 innings while posting a 2-0 record.
“I just try to do what worked the last time against them and do the same thing,” Cook said. “They have a bunch of free swingers, they’re a very aggressive ballclub and I just try to get ahead early and stay ahead in the count.”
Scrappers manager said that Cook has shown tremendous confidence on the mound.
“He pitched with confidence and a lot of poise,” Fryman said. “There was a little uncertainty about letting him come here because of his age.
“We wanted him to get off to a good start and we were concerned about how he would fit in with mostly college kids with him being so young.
“I didn’t know him well enough to be surprised or not surprised,” Fryman said of Cook’s ability. “But I do know that he has adapted well.”
Cook acknowledged that he gets his poise from his upbringing but his teammates never let him forget he’s still the clubhouse “kid.”
“They never let me forget it,” Cook said. “They give it [teasing] to me every night.”
Cook’s performance is just one in a string of great starting pitching performances the last couple of weeks for the Scrappers.
“Our starting pitching has been tremendous the last two weeks,” Fryman said. It’s been pretty impressive.”
The Scrappers have only scored nine runs in their last four wins so when Greg Folgia doubled with one out in the second inning and came around to score on an RBI single by Casey Frawley, things looked good for the Scrappers.
Cook was relieved by Antwonie Hubbard who pitched two shutout innings and Tyler Sturdevant came in the ninth to record his second save of the season.
Mahoning Valley, who improved to 16-4 at home, got an insurance run on an RBI single by Kyle Smith that chased home Frawley.
The Scrappers were also aided by outstanding defense on the left side of the infield by shortstop Kyle Smith and third baseman Kyle Bellows.
“I don’t think the left side of our infield could have been any better than it was tonight,” Fryman said. “Those two guys are doing an outstanding job over there.”
BataviaScrappers
abrhbiabrhbi
Ingram cf4010J.Henry cf4000
R.Jackson ss4000K.Smith ss4010
Ahmady dh2000Bellows 3b4000
Scruggs 1b3000Chen c3000
Rodriguez rf4010Folgia dh3110
Vasquez dh4010Carlson 1b2000
De La Cruz c3010Smit lf3000
Riportella lf3000Frawley 2b3121
Toribio 2b2000Palincsar rf3010
Totals29040Totals29252
Batavia000000000—0
Scrappers01000001x—2
DP—Scrappers 2. LOB—Batavia 6, Scrappers 4. 2B—Folgia (10). PB—Chen (4).
IPHRERBBSO
Batavia
Edwards L, 2-2521113
Bravo2 2-331102
Squatrito1-300001
Scrappers
Cook W, 2-2630024
Hubbard H,2210002
Sturdevant S, 2100021
Umpires—Home, Matt Jones; Bases, Kiff Kinkade. T—2:06. A—3.721.
HOW THEY SCORED
Scrappers, 2nd — Chun-Hsiu Chen called out on strikes. Gregory Folgia doubles (10) to center field. Ben Carlson walks. Jason Smit pops out to shortstop Ryan Jackson on the infield fly rule.Casey Frawley singles to left field, Folgia scores, Carlson to second. Tim Palincsar pops out to Jackson. 1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Scrappers, 8th — Smit strikes out. Frawley singles to center field. Palincsar singles to center field, Frawley to third. Jordan Henry flies out to left fielder Beau Riportella. Kyle Smith singles to center field, Frawley scores, Palincsar to second. Pitcher Change: Joshua Squatrito replaces Jonny Bravo. Kyle Bellows called out on strikes. 1 run, 3 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB.