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Scrappers sweep IronBirds
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Scrappers infielder Yonathan Mendoza charges a ground ball during Monday’s 7-0 victory over Aberdeen at Eastwood Field in Niles.
By Steve Wilaj
NILES
Scrappers starting pitcher Julian Merryweather couldn’t have been happier to sit back and watch his offense score three first-inning runs on Monday.
But if he looked away for a second, he would have missed the show.
In defeating the Aberdeen IronBirds, 7-0, at Eastwood Field to complete a three-game sweep, it took only eight pitches from John Means before the Scrappers built a three-run advantage.
Ordomar Valdez and Yonathan Mendoza each notched singles, Bradley Zimmer hit a two-run double and Francisco Mejia recorded an RBI single all before the IronBirds starter could reach double digit tosses.
“Getting those three runs early is nice as a pitcher,” said Merryweather, who threw five scoreless innings. “Then I could just relax and pitch to contact, which I was trying to do. I just wanted to get quick innings to keep the offense flowing.”
The offense, which pounded out 13 hits, certainly kept flowing from Sunday when it scored 14 runs.
The Scrappers (16-22) added four more in the fourth inning on RBI triples by Josh McRoberts and Drake Roberts, followed by a run-scoring single from Mendoza and an RBI groundout by Zimmer.
“From the last couple of nights, I’m happy where we are right now,” Scrappers manager Ted Kubiak said. “We’re in the right frame of mind. I think we hit a club here that was struggling, but that doesn’t take away from what we’ve done.
“It’s nice to see them get the hits and hopefully we can continue that and keep it up because it definitely makes the nights better. The pitching was good, too.”
Merryweather allowed just three hits and struck out five in his five innings of work to earn his first-career victory.
David Speer added three scoreless innings in relief while Dominic DeMasi also notched one a perfect frame.
As part of a Scrappers staff that has allowed three-or-fewer runs in seven of the last nine games, Merrweather said the starters are feeding off each other.
“It’s good to have that competition and try to be as good as the last guy,” he said. “I was just trying to focus in and not do too much — just let them hit the ball and have the defense work.”
Mendoza, who turned in a solid defensive game at shortstop, paced the Scrappers with three hits. Taylor Murphy also had three hits, while Zimmer and Valdez each had two.
Mahoning Valley went 5-1 on its six-game homestand and has won seven of nine contests since losing eight straight.
“I think we’ve gelled together and understood things a little bit more,” Kubiak said. “We’re starting to get what it takes to play this game every day, which has taken a while. But we just seem more comfortable.”
The Scrappers hit the road for two games at State College and two at Williamsport before returning home on Sunday for a three-game set.
“Everyone’s on a good streak right now,” Merryweather said.
“We’re on a good run and we just want to keep that going.”