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De La Cruz’s hot hitting helps Scrappers win again
By Steve Ruman
NILES
Less than two weeks ago, Juan De La Cruz was mired in an offensive slump while playing at Lynchburg, the Class A full-season affiliate of the Cleveland Indians. The 22-year-old who was signed as a non-drafted free agent in 2009 was batting just .100 and was seeing limited action behind Nellie Rodriguiz.
At the same time, a season-ending injury suffered by Emmanuel Tapia left the Mahoning Valley Scrappers in desperate need of a first baseman.
De La Cruz was assigned to the Mahoning Valley, and the move has paid huge dividends for both him and the Scrappers.
On Wednesday, De La Cruz enjoyed his fourth multi-hit game in a Mahoning Valley uniform as the Scrappers defeated Williamsport 8-6 in front of 2,457 fans at Eastwood Field.
In six games with the Scrappers, De La Cruz is batting .500 (11-for-22) with a home run and four RBIs. He has collected at least one hit in each game and the Scrappers are 4-2 during the span.
“I just try to keep relaxed at home plate, I am seeing the ball good and getting good swings,” De La Cruz said.
De La Cruz had two hits Wednesday against the Crosscutters. In the three-game series he was 6-for-12 with three RBIs.
At Lynchburg, De La Cruz was batting .100 but played in just 20 games. He said that getting the opportunity to play every day has helped turn his season around.
“I’m happy because I try to enjoy the game, and I just feel more relaxed and more in a groove being on the field,” De La Cruz said.
The Scrappers — who now leads the NYPL in team batting — pounded out nine hits, and benefited from four Williamsport errors.
Mahoning Valley scored a pair of runs in the first inning courtesy of a throwing error by Crosscutters pitcher Jose Taveras and a sacrifice fly from Daniel Salters.
The Scrappers then broke things wide open with a five-run second inning. Salters knocked in a pair of runs with a single, and Mark Mathias also plated two runs with a double.
Scrappers reliever Brock Hartson pitched 22/3 scoreless innings to lift his record to 4-0. He gave up just two hits and recorded three strikeouts.
Yoiber Marquina pitched a scoreless ninth to notch his fourth save of the season.
The Scrappers (21-22) are now just two games out in the wildcard race. They also climbed to within six game of Williamsport (28-17) in the Pinckney Division. As a team, the Scrappers are batting .262. They scored 23 runs in the three-game series against the Crosscutters.
“As a team, we seem to be going up to the plate with confidence,we’re seeing the ball well and getting good swings,” Mathias said. “We just seem to be in a good frame of mind. We’re playing well as a team.”
The Scrappers begin a three-game home series tonight against Batavia.