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Scrappers’ Popham unhittable
Photo
Scrappers' Marty Popham (45) pitches to Auburn Doubledays, Wednesday July 8, 2009.
By Joe Scalzo
He didn’t allow a hit through seven innings. The Scrappers beat Auburn 6-1 with a two-hitter.
NILES — Just before 10 p.m. on a beautiful summer night, with starting pitcher Marty Popham already in the clubhouse with ice bags wrapped around his right arm and the laid-back Eastwood Field crowd barely buzzing, the Mahoning Valley Scrappers had a chance to make history.
The Scrappers were ahead 6-0 with two outs in the ninth and a runner on second. Reliever Austin Adams was on the mound with Auburn pinch-hitter Chris Hopkins at the plate facing a 2-2 count.
Mahoning Valley was one strike away from the first no-hitter in Eastwood Field’s 11-year history.
Hopkins chopped a ball into the open space around second base, Scrappers second baseman Lurvin Basabe roamed far to his right to field it, looked at first base and ... held it.
He had no play and he knew it.
Bradley Glenn followed with a single to left to ruin the shutout, but Adams got the next batter to ground out and close out a 6-1 victory Wednesday in front of 3,903 fans.
“At the end of the game, there’s a little sour taste in your mouth,” said Scrappers manager Travis Fryman. “But I’ll take a win anytime.”
Popham (2-0, 1.57 ERA) was brilliant through seven innings, striking out nine and walking one batter (in the seventh) for his second straight strong start. His pitch count (89) and innings pitched were higher than normally seen in the New York-Penn League, but Fryman had no problem leaving him in.
“To get to seven innings this early in the year is a testament to how he pitched and how efficient he was from inning to inning,” said Fryman.
Popham, who was making just his fourth start of the summer after spending last season in the bullpen, didn’t mind getting the hook.
“I don’t worry about what kind of moves they make or how they manage the game,” he said. “I’m not in that place. I just go out and perform.
“It’s a special situation but you’ve still got to protect your arm and body.”
Popham (6-foot-6, 235 pounds) was a 20th-round pick by the Indians out of Union (N.Y.) College last year and pitched extremely well in the Gulf Coast League last summer. He went 1-1 in 14 appearances with a 0.78 ERA. He’s followed that up with four strong performances this summer.
Because he’s still adjusting to his starting role, he isn’t likely to get called up soon. But then again. ...
“You keep pitching like that and they don’t let you stay very long, so we might throw him a bad outing next time,” Fryman joked. “No, obviously the goal is get them better and get them out of here.
“Marty is certainly a candidate if he continues to show the maturity and preparation he’s shown in his last two starts.”
When asked about moving up, Popham smiled and shrugged his shoulders.
“I’m not in a position to say [anything],” he said. “It’s the guys up top making the decision. I’m just going to keep doing my job.”
Leadoff hitter Jordan Henry went 3-for-3 with two runs, an RBI and reached base all five times for the Scrappers (13-7), who have won three straight and five of six. Shortstop Kyle Smith also had three hits and scored a run, but his throwing error with one out in the ninth gave the Doubledays (8-12) an extra out, eventually leading to Hopkins’ hit.
Greg Folgia went 2-for-2 with two walks, a run and an RBI for the Scrappers, who had 10 hits and also stole two bases.
“Swung the bats well, ran the bases well and the defense was good up until the ninth,” said Fryman, whose club committed both errors in the ninth. “The club played extremely well.”
———
AuburnScrappers
abrhbiabrhbi
Brisker cf4100J.Henry cf3231
Eiland lf2000K.Smith ss5130
Hopkins pr-lf1010J.Smit rf5011
Glenn 3b4011Carlson 1b4001
Gomes dh4000Bellows 3b2100
W.Ramirez rf2000Folgia lf2121
Durham 1b3000Ch.Chen c5000
Gilligan 2b3000Palincsar4000
Ja.Murphy c3000Basabe 2b4111
J.Gonzalez ss3000
Totals29121Totals346105
Auburn000000001—1
Scrappers10100220x—6
E—J. Gonzalez (4), M. Wright (1), K. Smith (3), Basabe (13). DP—Scrappers 1. LOB—Auburn 3, Scrappers 13. 2B—Folgia (2), J. Smit (4), Basabe (1). SB—Folgia (1), J. Henry (6). SF—Carlson.
IPHRERBBSO
Auburn
Justice L, 0-2111120
J. Lehman321123
D. Miller232222
M. Wright1 2-342213
Turkamani1-300000
Scrappers
Popham W, 2-0700019
Adams221001
WP—Justice. HBP—by Justice (Folgia), by Adams (W. Ramirez). Umpires—Home, Brett Houseman; Bases, Nick Lentz. T—2:46. A—3,903.
HOW THEY SCORED
Scrappers 1st — Henry walks. Smith singles to left, Henry to 2nd. Smit grounds out (5-3), Henry to 3rd, Smith to 2nd. Carlson pops out (F-3). Bellows walks. With Folgia batting, Henry scores on wild pitch, Smith to 3rd, Bellows to 2nd. Folgia hit by pitch. Chen flies out (F-8). 1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 3 LOB.
Scrappers 3rd — Smit flies out (F-7). Carlson pops out (F-6). Bellows walks. Folgia doubles to right, Bellows scores. Chen grounds out (6-3). 1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Scrappers 6th — Basabe grounds out (1-3). Henry infield single. Smith singles to left, Henry to 2nd. Smit doubles to left, Henry scores, Smith to 3rd. Carlson sacrifice fly to right (F-9), Smith scores, Smit to 3rd. Bellows grounds out (5-3). 2 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Scrappers 7th — Pitching change: Wright replaces Miller. Folgia singles to center. Chen strikes out swinging. With Palincsar batting, Folgia steals 2nd, advances to 3rd on throwing error (E-1). Palincsar strikes out swinging. Basabe doubles to left, Folgia scores. Henry singles to center, Basabe scores. Smith singles to right, Henry to 3rd. Smit grounds out (5-3). 2 runs, 4 hits, 1 error, 2 LOB.
Doubledays 9th — Murphy grounds out (4-3). Gonzalez reaches on throwing error (E-6). Brisker grounds into fielder’s choice (6-4), Gonzalez out at 2nd, Brisker to 2nd on throwing error (E-4). Hopkins infield single, Brisker to 3rd. Glenn singles to left, Brisker scores, Hopkins to 2nd. Gomes grounds out (1-3). 1 run, 2 hits, 2 errors, 2 LOB.
scalzo@vindy.com