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Scrappers singe Birds
Mahoning Valley pounces on Aberdeen’s pitchers
By matthew peaslee
Niles
The Mahoning Valley Scrappers had a cup of Coffey on Thursday night — Aberdeen starting pitcher Cameron Coffey, that is.
The Scrappers strung together five runs in the second inning off the lanky lefty that set up a 11-4 win over the IronBirds.
A few helpings of actual espresso would’ve come in handy for the game that lasted three hours and 11 minutes.
“I don’t care how long it takes as long as we get a win,” Scrappers left fielder Aaron Siliga said. “We were on a roll and just came out wanting it more than them.”
Coffey, a 6-foot-5, 2009 ninth round pick out of Houston, came in with a 10.38 earned run average and an 0-2 record. The Scrappers made him work after he sent them down in order to open the first inning.
Coffey threw 48 pitches over just two innings, with 37 coming in the second, alone. He allowed five runs on six hits.
Victim No. 2, Ironbirds relief pitcher Dustin Ward, didn’t fare any better. He let up six runs on five hits and walked four.
“We got them out of their groove,” Siliga said. “Everyone was seeing the ball very well and we delivered.”
For Mahoning Valley starter Luis DeJesus, it was smooth sailing. He stumbled a bit in the first, but escaped out of a bases-loaded jam. The 20-year old from Dibell, Texas, allowed just one run on five hits for his second win.
His only scare came in the third inning when Cameron Edman laced a rocket up the middle that eclipsed DeJesus’ head by mere inches.
“I didn’t have time to react,” he said. “It looked like the size of a golf ball coming at me. It shrunk.”
DeJesus admitted he had some initial nerves when things weren’t going well to start off. Members of his family were among the 3,620 in attendance at Eastwood Field. It was the first time in two years that they were able to see him pitch live.
“My hitters calmed me down with the run support they gave me,” DeJesus said.
The Scrappers (10-8) batted around twice, everyone scored a run and reached base safely at least once. Siliga opened up the scoring with an RBI double, he came around on Robel Garcia’s single up the middle. Jairo Kelly was 2 for 5 with his second triple of the year and Juan Romero added a two-run triple bagger.
“It was a fun game, man,” Siliga said.
Not for the Ironbirds (7-11).
Edman, the first baseman, was ejected for arguing balls and strikes in the seventh inning. In defense, manager Gary Allenson made his case and was tossed by home plate umpire Ben Levin, as well.
Aberdeen field coach Brad Komminsk joined them in the clubhouse later in the same inning after he was ejected for disputing a time-out call by Kelly while he was batting against reliever Alex Schmarzo.
Schmarzo’s temper flared even more when Charlie Valerio launched a deep fly ball to center field in the eighth. Anthony Vega caught it against the 405 marker at the wall, but Valerio gazed at it the entire time while trotting to first base. Schmarzo pointed and jawed at Valerio igniting a scuffle near the pitchers mound. Both benches and bullpens cleared, but no punches were landed.
“It got dirty,” Siliga said. “There’s nothing wrong with taking a look at it. Charlie kept running to first, anyway, so the pitcher was just frustrated with the whole game.”
WEDNESDAY’S BOXSCORE
IRONBIRDS 3, SCRAPPERS 1
IronbirdsScrappers
abrhbiabrhbi
Howard lf5000Kelly ss4011
Simpson 2b3010Siliga lf4000
Bernadina cf4000Wendle 3b4020
Boss dh2120Valerio c3010
Hutter ss4120Romero dh4010
Herbst rf2021Jones rf4000
Vega ph2011Bradley cf3010
Perez c4000Gonzalez 1b4110
Caronia 3b3010Garcia 2b4010
Aberdeen010000002—3
Mahoning Valley001000000—1
E-Valerio, C. Pe, Perez. DP-Scrappers (Wendle-Garcia-Gonzalez) Ironbirds (Hutter-Simpson). LOB-Scrappers 8. Ironbirds-7
IronbirdsIPHRERBBSO
Guzman671004
Wise, W 1-0210012
Nivar, S 1100133
ScrappersIPHRERBBSO
Sisco551004
Penny210012
Wagoner, L 0-1101111
Homblert121010
WP-Guzman, Ju, Sisco, Holmbert 2. T-2:56 (1:36 delay). A-3,217.