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Staten Island Yankees leave coal in Scrappers’ stocking on Christmas in July
Photo
Mahoning Valley Scrappers pitcher Jacob Lee delivers during Wednesday’s New York-Penn League game against the Staten Island Yankees at Eastwood Field. The Yankees downed the Scrappers, 8-2.
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By Jon Moffett
Niles
’Twas the night before Thursday and all through the crowd the baseball fans watched, none very loud.
It was Christmas in July, the home team needed a lift. But it was their opponent that left with the gift.
The Mahoning Valley Scrappers let the Christmas magic slip away as they were defeated 8-2 by the Staten Island Yankees on Wednesday at Eastwood Field. The loss puts them at 19-18 and comfortably in fourth place of the New York-Penn League’s Pinckney Division heading toward the All-Star break next month.
The Scrappers (10-9 at home) received their pair of runs on an early gift by the Yankees (15-22). A fielding error on what would have been the third out of the first inning turned into the only offense the home team would muster. Manager Ted Kubiak said it was the best pitching his team has seen this season.
“Those guys can throw, and we didn’t hit,” Kubiak said. “We got our two runs on an error, and you can’t do much with that. We hit the ball hard, but it was right at guys.”
Staten Island limited the Scrappers to just five hits scattered throughout the first five innings and another in the ninth. Starter Gabriel Encinas (3-2) went five innings. He walked three and struck out just one, but was effective, throwing 56 strikes on 91 pitches.
The Scrappers did have three doubles, but failed to capitalize on them.
But maybe the bigger problem other than pitching, Kubiak said, was a lack of effort by his club. The manager benched two players because they “didn’t hustle” on the field. He added that more time on the pine could be coming if his players don’t realize this is a job now.
“I’m tired of it,” Kubiak said. “We’ve been playing really well, but I don’t like that stuff. I’ve told them they can’t let down.”
One player who hasn’t let down all year is Yankees first baseman Saxon Butler.
Butler, drafted in the 33rd round of this year’s draft, entered the game leading the league with 31 RBIs. He added another five to his total in a staggering effort that included a three-run home run and a two-run single.
The former Samford University slugger said the trick to carrying his power over from school is just continuing to push himself.
“About a week and a half ago I started to struggle and everything, but I’ve just been grinding it out,” he said. “The last couple of games I’m seeing the ball better again, looking for a pitch in my zone and just trying to put as good a swing on it as I can and hoping I can run into one.”
Butler is second on the team with a .315 average behind only leadoff man Taylor Dugas (.320) and leads the team with 10 long balls.
Butler said his job is made easier by having the guys in front of him finding ways of consistently getting on the base path. After that, he said, it’s just about putting the ball in place.
“Guys just seem to be on base for me,” Butler said. “And I’m just trying to get them over or get them in and me get on base so the guys behind me can get some RBIs and we can win some ballgames.”
Yankees 8, Scrappers 2
Staten IslandScrappers
abrhbiabrhbi
Dugas cf4220Siliga lf2000
Cayones rf3210Jones lf2010
Butler 1b5125Naquin cf4110
O’Brien dh5010Wendle 2b4010
Kuo 2b5020Valerio c3100
Tejeda c5111Sever 3b3010
Rosario c5000Nilsson dh3000
Lopez lf3120Gonzalez 1b4010
Duran 3b3121Romero rf3010
Garcia ss3000
Totals388137Totals31660
Staten Island003101003—8
Scrappers200000000—2
E—Romero (1), Encinas (1). DP —Yankees 3, Scrappers 1. LOB—Yankees 8, Scrappers 5. 2B—Naquin (8), Romero (1), Sever (5) HR—Tejeda (1), Butler (10). SB—Cayones (3).
IPHRERBBSO
Yankess
Encinas W, 3-2552031
Romanski200002
Pazos S, 3210001
Scrappers
Lee L, 4-1333212
Davenport462221
Pasquale110000
Encarnacion133312
WP—Encarnacion. HBP—Lee. Balk—Lee Umpires—Home, Matt Moore; Bases, Jeff Andrews. T—2:44. A—2,831.