Burnette hits two bombs in Scrappers victory

June 26, 2010 at 12:09a.m.

By JOE SCALZO

niles

In the bottom of the fifth inning on Friday, Batavia Muckdogs reliever Christopher Corrigan threw a inside fastball to Scrappers first baseman Chase Burnette.

Burnette smoked it over the right field fence.

“It’s definitely a pitch I like,” Burnette said. “I’m not complaining about it.”

Three innings later, Houston Summers came in for Corrigan and also threw a fastball to Burnette. That one would have landed even farther away but the Eastwood Field scoreboard got in the way.

“He left it a little up,” said Burnette. “I like those.

“I like fastballs when they leave them up.”

There was a lot for Burnette — and the rest of the Scrappers — to like on Friday as the bats finally came alive in a 12-4 win that gave Mahoning Valley its first home win of the season after four losses.

“It took a little longer than I would have liked, that’s for sure,” said Scrappers manager Travis Fryman.

Added Burnette, “I think that was kind of a monkey on our backs. All the newspaper [headlines] were saying, ‘Scrappers still winless at home,’ so it’s nice to get that off our back.”

Burnette went 3 for 5, scoring three runs and driving in four as Mahoning Valley (3-5) piled up 11 hits. The Scrappers had been outscored 31-6 in their first four home games, all losses.

“I know it’s in there somewhere,” said Fryman of the team’s offense. “I just got to figure out how to bring it out on a more regular basis.

“Our batting practice was better today and I think what we’re probably seeing is it’s been a couple weeks since some of these guys have played games so with each day of practice and workout and game, these guys are getting a little better. I hope that continues.”

The homers were the first as a pro for Burnette, a standout at Georgia Tech who was drafted in the 18th round this month. Fryman has said he has the most advanced swing of the team’s drafted players.

When Burnette was asked if his teammates ribbed him about his power surge, he laughed and said, “No, no, no.”

“Everybody at this level has power or they wouldn’t be here,” he said. “Everybody’s got talent, everybody can run, everybody can hit, everybody has power, everybody can throw.

“It’s a level playing field. Everybody’s got it.”

Leadoff hitter Jordan Casas also had three hits, including two doubles, with two RBIs and a run in the victory. Shortstop Tyler Cannon added two hits, two runs and two RBIs. The Scrappers also played well in the field — third baseman Giovanny Urshela, in particular — while Batavia committed three errors.

“Our infield defense has been real good,” Fryman said. “Giovanny has looked tremendous at third base for an 18-year-old kid. Cannon’s been a nice addition to our club and Kevin [Fontanez] is back at his natural position at second base. Chase hasn’t played a lot of first base but he will this summer along with Andrew [Kinney].

“The defense was good and obviously we swung the bats good.”

BataviaScrappers

abrhbiabrhbi

Lngmre cf4010Casas cf4132

Brgmn 2b4120Fontan 2b5110

Ahmdy 3b4100Kinney dh5100

Klein dh4121Brntte 1b5334

Rodri 1b4011Urshla 3b4110

Rosari lf2110Moncrf rf4210

Melker rf3021Cannon ss4222

Edwar rf2011Montro c2100

DL Cruz c5000Heere lf3001

Castillo ss3000

Valai ss1000

Totals363104Totals3612119

Batavia000001200—4

Scrappers00023331x—12

E—Ahmady 2 (2), Biserta (1). DP—Batavia 1, Scrappers 0. LOB—Batavia 13, Scrappers 6. 2B—Klein 2 (3), Casas 2 (2), Fontanez (2), Moncrief (1). 3B—Melker (1). HR—Burnette 2 (2). PB—De La Cruz (2), Montero (2). SB—Moncrief (1)

IPHRERBBSO

Batavia

Moss L, 0-1452206

Corrigan246310

Summers113241

Kington111102

Scrappers

Kmnsky W, 2-0550033

Dickerson1 2-333341

Kirk1 1-300002

Goryl121111

WP—Summers, Dickerson. Umpires—Home, Dustin Klinghagen; Bases, Ivan Mercado. T—2:55. A—5,043.