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Scrapper Fontanez plays well in front of family
Fontanez plays well in front of family
By Greg Gulas
NILES
With family in town from Puerto Rico to help celebrate his 21st birthday, Mahoning Valley infielder Kevin Fontanez didn’t want to disappoint
Not his fans, his family or least of all, himself.
His run-scoring double in the fifth inning proved to be the margin of difference as the Scrappers went on to defeat the Batavia Muckdogs, 2-0 in New York-Penn League action Tuesday at Eastwood Field.
“With my father, girlfriend and other members of my family in town, I just wanted to do my best,” he said. “The first couple of innings I was nervous, but was able to settle down after that. I just come to the park and do what they ask me to do and let everything else fall into place.
“This was the first time that my family was able to get to see me play so I just wanted to do my best.”
Baserunning blunders cost Batavia scoring opportunities in both its opening frame and in the third inning, yet the Muckdogs looked like they were finally going to capitalize in their half of the fourth.
With one away, David Medina walked and Romulo Ruiz doubled off the left field fence to put runners on second and third.
Scrappers manager David Wallace then brought in reliever Cody Allen for starter Danny Jimenez, who struck out catcher Kevin Moscatel and left fielder Virgil Hill to end the inning.
“Cody [Allen] was very impressive tonight,” said Wallace. “We aren’t going to read anything into a good or bad outing right now, because we just want everyone to compete.”
The Muckdogs (2-3) stranded five of their seven runners in the first four innings.
Allen (1-0) set down all 11 batters that he faced, including six by strikeout.
“I was just throwing what catcher Alex Lavisky was calling for,” he said. “I just wanted to maintain the situation and throw strikes.
“A lot of pitchers throw hard, but throwing strikes remains the key.”
The Scrappers got on the board first in their half of the fifth inning when Fontanez doubled home Todd Hankins with two outs for the run advantage.
Mahoning Valley (3-2) added an insurance run in the eighth inning when Tony Walters doubled with two out, later scoring when Bryson Miles singled to right field and Roberto Reyes’ throw went up the third base line.
“This was a nice, overall team effort,” Wallace said. “I was happy for Kevin because he is our leader in the clubhouse, has contributed both offensively and defensively thus far and with family in attendance, that made it all the more special.
Mahoning Valley will play Batavia at 7:05 tonight in the final game of a three-game set.