Moncrief launches Scrappers to late victory

By Joe ScaLZO

scalzo@vindy.com

NILES

After two frustrating years spent on a minor league pitcher’s mound and quite a few frustrating nights in the batter’s box so far this summer, Scrappers outfielder Carlos Moncrief deserved a night like Saturday.

This was the scenario. The game was tied 4-4 in the bottom of the eighth inning. Two outs. One on.

Moncrief — who was batting .185 entering the night with no homers — watched a first pitch fastball sail past him.

“My teammates were saying he [Williamsport reliever Julian Sampson] had a good change and I was sitting on it,” Moncrief said. “I knew it was coming.”

And as soon as he swung, he knew it was going.

Moncrief crushed it into the left-field bullpen and the Scrappers added another run later in the inning en route to a 7-4 win over the Crosscutters at Eastwood Field.

“It felt good, man,” said Moncrief, a 14th round pick by the Indians in 2008 who was converted to pitcher for his first two seasons in the minors before switching back. “When you hit it good with a wood bat, you just know. It’s a perfect swing.

“You don’t even feel it when you hit it. It just flies.”

When asked to name his last game-winning home run, Moncrief thought for a second, then said, “Um, I don’t know that I’ve ever hit one.”

Really? Not even in high school or college?

“No, first time,” he said. “I’ve been playing since I was 7 years old and I’ve never done it.”

Center-fielder Jordan Casas doubled twice and tripled to extend his hitting streak to nine games — best on the team this year. He also drove in two runs and scored a run.

Even better, the Monterey, Calif., native did it on Jimmy Buffett Tribute Night.

(Alas, he’s not really a fan.)

“I’m just being patient, waiting for my pitch,” said Casas, a 40th round pick who was batting .234 entering Saturday’s game. “I fixed my hands a little bit and I just try to see the ball and hit the ball.

“It’s working out right now.”

It was a much-needed win for the Scrappers (12-17), who were coming off a three-game sweep in Brooklyn and were tied for last in the New York-Penn League’s Pinckney Division.

“Tonight we were fortunate,” Casas said. “The last few nights we weren’t.

“Baseball’s a funny game. It can go your way or it can go the opposite way just as easy.”

The Scrappers led 4-0 after five innings but Williamsport scored two runs in the seventh and eighth innings to set up the final drama. Nick Kirk pitched a perfect ninth to get the save and starter Owen Dew pitched six shutout innings in a no decision.

“You got to stay focused the whole game,” Moncrief said. “We got four runs early and kind of slacked off and they came back.

“Everybody just try to stay relaxed, stay focused and try to come out with a win.”

WilliamsportScrappers

abrhbiabrhbi

Hernan 2b3110Casas cf5132

Duran ss4010Heere lf3100

Dabbs lf4100Urshela 3b4010

Rupp dh4021Burnette 1b3011

Santana rf3100Cannon ss4100

Alvarez cf4121Seastrunk c4010

Klocke c4011Fontanez 2b3110

Cusick 1b3000Moncrief rf4122

McConn 3b3010Rucker dh4221

Totals30483Totals347116

Williamsport000000220—4

Scrappers00204003x—7

E—McConnell (2), Sampson (2), Cannon (6), Gaynor (1). DP—Williamsport 2, Scrappers 3. LOB—Williamsport 3, Scrappers 7. 2B—Alvarez (7), Rupp (5), Casas 2 (6). 3B—Klocke (1), Casas (3), Rucker (1). HR—Moncrief (1). SB—Fontanez 2 (6), Heere (1), Cannon (1).

IPHRERBBSO

Williamsport

Buchanan4 2-342220

Sosa1 1-332021

Sampson L, 0-2243002

Scrappers

Dew520012

Rosario122210

Gaynor W, 2-1132000

Kirk S, 4100002

Umpires—Home, Carlos Torres; Bases, Shane Livensparger. T—2:35. A—3,293.