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Scrappers’ scoreless streak extended again
By Jon moffett
NILES
Photo
Mahoning Valley Scrappers catcher Moises Montero looks down as Lance Durham (23) and John Roberts (14) of the Auburn Doubledays celebrate after scoring in Tuesday’s game at Eastwood Field in Niles. The Doubledays shut out the Scrappers, 5-0, for their second time in a row.
The fans came back for the Mahoning Valley Scrappers’ second home game of the year.
But the offense did not.
For the second game in a row, the Scrappers (2-3) were blanked in the run column and were virtually shut out of the hit column, too.
That means the Scrappers added nine more innings to their streak of scoreless frames in Tuesday’s 5-0 loss to the Auburn Doubledays at Eastwood Field.
The tally is now at 20, dating to Sunday’s victory over the Jamestown Jammers.
Manager Travis Fryman said it’s hard to make an assessment of an offense that hasn’t been there to see.
“We have a lot of work to do offensively, that’s very clear,” Fryman said.
Perhaps the most evidence of a frustrating offense was in the bottom of the ninth inning. After striking out, right fielder Carlos Moncrief slammed his bat at home plate and split it in half.
Fryman said the learning curve from college to the pros will create some frustration. It should be remedied with more time at the plate, he said.
The Scrappers managed only four hits off of Doubledays (3-2) starter Asher Wojciechowski and his relief.
Conversely, the Scrappers arms gave up eight. The biggest hit of the night, by far, was a rocket off the bat of Auburn first baseman Lance Durham.
Durham stepped up to the plate with a man on and one out in the top of the fourth inning. Jordan Cooper fired the ball in, and Durham took it out just as quickly. His blast — a straight blast — caromed off the roof of the right-field batting cages. Moncrief stopped shortly and watched the ball sail over the home bullpen.
Fryman said those type of hits won’t be typical of the more-finesse Scrappers team. He stressed plate discipline and patience will lead the Mahoning Valley offense.
“Certainly, it doesn’t look like we’re going to drive the ball a great deal,” he said. “So we’re going to have to have better, quality at bats, get deeper in the count and get a little better feel of ourselves as players.”
On a night when the bats were lethargic, the pitching brought some life to the team.
Cooper allowed four runs — all earned — on five hits. The Indians’ 2010 ninth-round draft choice lasted 31/3 innings. He struck out two and walked one.
But it was reliever and Japan native Takafumi Nakamura who had the best outing on the hill.
The non-drafted free agent allowed only two hits in 32/3 innings. His five strikeouts led the team, and he only walked one.
“Taka has been fine; he was throwing the ball pretty good in Arizona,” Fryman said. “He’s gaining confidence out there, and it’s very important for him learning how to pitch to contact a little bit. I hope that with each outing he gets a little more confidence out there.”
Fryman described Nakamura as a “sinker-ball pitcher” and that the facility’s high infield grass should be conducive to double plays.
Meanwhile, the Scrappers offense hit into a pair of the two-out killers. Only three hitters made it to second base — al on singles — and none reached third.
Fryman, who acts as the third-base coach, said he’s getting pretty lonely at the hot corner.
“I don’t think I’ve had anybody to talk to,” he said.
Doubledays 5, Scrappers 0
AuburnMahoning Valley
abrhbiabrhbi
Brisker cf5010DeGeorg 2b4000
Domin. 2b3000Fontanez ss4000
Perez c4010KInney 1b4010
Schwar 3b4000Burnette dh3000
Roberts lf4220Urshela 3b3010
Knecht dh4110Moncrief rf3000
Durham 1b3212Casas cf4000
Johns. ss4010Urshela 3b4000
Aponte rf4011Montero c3010
Heere lf2010
Totals35583Totals34040
Auburn020200001—12
Washington000000000—0
DP—Auburn 2, Scrappers 0. LOB—Auburn 5, Scrappers 7. 2B—Roberts (2). HR—Durham (1). E —Durham (1), Kinney (1), DeGeorge (1). SB—Aponte. CS—Johnson.
IPHRERBBSO
Auburn
Wojciechowski430022
Gracey W, 1-0310030
Permison200023
Scrappers
Cooper L, 0-13.154412
Nakamura3.220015
Kirk211003
WP—Permison, Cooper, Nakamura. PB—Montero. Pickoff—Cooper.
Umpires—Home, Ivan Mercado; Bases, Dustin Klinghagen. T—2:27. A—3,662.