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Lake Monsters rally to sting struggling Scrappers
MV wasted Hillman’s solid start
By STEVE RUMan
NILES
The New York-Penn League’s top pitching team was too much for one struggling at the plate.
Monday at Eastwood Field, the Vermont Lake Monsters rallied to defeat the Mahoning Valley Scrappers, 3-2, in front of 3,814 fans.
Vermont (9-9) entered the contest with a team earned-run average of 2.45 — tops in the league. The Scrappers (4-14) came in with a league-low .199 team batting average.
Vermont put together a three-run eighth inning to erase a 2-0 deficit and negate a strong pitching performance by Scrappers starter Juan Hillman (1-0, 1.31 ERA). The lefty pitched 52/3 scoreless innings, giving up just three hits while striking out eight.
The Scrappers scored single runs in the third and the fifth. Erlin Cerda belted his team-high third home run to give the Scrappers a 1-0 lead.
Michael Tinsley scored the Scrappers’ second run on a wild pitch.
The Scrappers’ loss continues a trend of early-season struggles which has put the team in last place of the Pinkney Division.
“For a lot of us, this is the first time we’ve been involved in the road trips and the everyday play,” Scrappers shortstop Luke Wakamatsu said. “It’s not an excuse, because it’s baseball and it’s what we love. But the everyday grind definitely takes a toll physically and especially mentally.
“You play through injuries,” he said. “You play through fatigue. It’s just something that a lot of players at this level are getting used to. I think there are signs of [the team] getting things together, we just need to do it on a consistent basis.”
Just 14 short months ago, Wakamatsu was finishing up his senior year of high school in Keller, Texas. He was selected by the Indians in the 20th round of the 2015 draft. Like many of the current Scrappers, Wakamatsu spent last summer in the Arizona Rookie League.
“It’s a big change. There, we were playing four days, then a day off, and there was far less travel,” Wakamatsu said.
While the adjustments may be new, they aren’t catching Wakamatsu off guard. He has a firm understanding of what to expect at the professional level, thanks to his dad Don Wakamatsu.
The elder Wakamatsu played briefly in the major leagues, then became a major league scout, coach and manager. He managed the Seattle Mariners in 2009 and part of 2010. For the past three years he has been a bench coach for the Kansas City Royals.
“Growing up, I was always around the game, always watching what was going on and what it took to play at the highest level,” Wakamatsu said. “In my Dad, I have had a personal coach at my side every step of the way. It’s been a true blessing.”
Wakamatsu also was able to experience winning at the highest level. Last year he was on hand to watch Kansas City win the first two games of the World Series.
“It was something I’ll never forget, I can only hope I can be a part of that experience as a player,” Wakamatsu said.