Friday, August 31, 2012
Mahoning Valley second baseman rips bases-clearing triple
By STEVE WILAJ
niles
We all know that crazy relative. Or at least we think we do.
As Mahoning Valley Scrappers second baseman Joe Sever came to bat in the bottom of the eighth inning with the bases loaded, he didn’t think he had family in the stands.
But he couldn’t help but hear chants of “Cousin Joe!” ringing from an Eastwood Field fan suite the entire at-bat.
“I didn’t know what that was about,” Sever said, laughing. “I’ve never seen that guy in my life. No relation.”
Whatever the case, Sever ripped a bases-clearing triple to give the Scrappers an 8-6 lead and eventual victory over the Auburn Doubledays Thursday night.
“That was definitely the biggest hit I’ve ever had here,” said Sever, 2-for-5 on the night. “It felt good to finally hit a ball hard since I’ve been struggling lately.”
Sever is not the only one struggling lately. The Scrappers entered the game with an 8-19 August record, having lost four straight.
“We’ve usually been down late in games,” Wendle said. “Tonight was nice to be close. I think it’s a big win for us to keep our heads in it going into the last six games.”
It didn’t look good from the start for the home team, as the Doubledays jumped to a 4-0 first inning lead, keyed by three Scrappers errors.
However, MV fought back to tie the game at four when recently promoted Jorge Martinez launched a three-run homer to right. Falling behind 6-4 heading into the eighth, the dramatics were only the beginning for the Scrappers.
A Martinez single, Robel Garcia double, and Aaron Siliga RBI single cut the lead to 6-5. After an intentional walk to Joe Wendle to load the bases, the stage was set for “Cousin Joe.”
“It’s kind of a slap in the face and it motivates you that much more,” Sever said of the intentional walk. “I wanted the opportunity, so I’m glad they were [intentionally] walking Wendle.”
Sever took full advantage, lining a 2-1 pitch just shy of the right-center field wall.
“He threw me two sliders low, so I knew he was having trouble locating it and was gonna come fastball 2-1,” he said. “Luckily he kind of left one up and over the plate.”
After the game, Sever signed autographs and talked with his unknown “cousin.” But before the game, the Scrappers discussed their recent lackadaisical play during a team meeting.
“I think it was a good talk because everyone came out and played hard and played a full nine innings,” Sever said. “The talk got through to us.”
At 30-39, the Scrappers will play two more at home before finishing their season with four on the road. Admitting to the disappointment in the team record, Sever said it’s hard not to think “what could have been.”
“There’s always a sense of that when we beat teams late in the year that are in first place,” he said. “But we just gotta finish out the season strong.”
SCRAPPERS 8, AUBURN 6
AuburnScrappers
abrhbiabrhbi
Renda 2b4111Gonzalez rf4020
Schill ss5120Wendle 2b3210
Peffner 1b3111Sever 2b5023
Miller rf4000Vick lf4011
Mrtinez lf5130Jones lf1000
Ramos dh3012Nilsson 1b4110
Lopez 3b4100Frazar 1b0000
McQnln ph1000Stock c3100
Mesa cf3110Mrtinez 3b4231
Kieboom c3011Garcia ss4110
Siliga cf4111
Totals356105Totals368126
Auburn400000110—6
Scrappers103000040—8
E—Sever (5), Merritt (1). LOB—Scrappers 8, Batavia 10. 2B—Martinez (16), Vick (3), Martinez (1), Nilsson (4), Gonzalez (7), Garcia (11). 3B—Sever (1). SB—Martinez (9).
IPHRERBBSO
Batavia
Pineyro3.264423
Boyden2.120012
Harper L 0-11.133302
Medina BS 10.211112
Scrappers
Merritt4.254315
Stokes2.121112
Peoples011110
Homblert W 3-1120000
Wagoner S 2100020
HBP—Renda by Homblert. Umpires—Home, James Pattison; Bases, Jorge Teran. T—3:08. A-3,362.