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Scrappers win rain-shortened contest
By Steve Ruman
NILES
The Mahoning Valley Scrappers entered Wednesday’s game against Vermont desperately looking for a bolt of lightning to charge their stagnant offense.
They got what they were looking for, both figuratively and literally in a 6-0 win in front of 2,178 fans.
The game was shortened to four-and-a-half innings because of a fierce thunderstorm which rolled through Niles just before 8:30 p.m.
The Scrappers (5-15) had just scored six runs in the bottom of the fourth. The Lake Monsters were retired in order in the top of the fifth before heavy rains made Eastwood Field unplayable.
Mahoning Valley sent 11 men to the plate and scored their six runs on just two base hits. They benefited from the wildness of Vermont starter Ivan Andueza, who issued three walks and hit a pair of batters in the inning. A fielding error also added to the Vermont meltdown.
The Scrappers’ two hits in the inning were big ones. Erlin Cerda knocked in a pair of runs with a bases-loaded single. Two outs later, Andrew Calica duplicated the feat.
Calica started the inning when he was hit by a pitch. He eventually came around to score. His two-RBI hit was the first hit of his professional career. The centerfielder was making his Scrappers debut after being selected in the 11th round of the June draft out of Santa Barbara.
Aaron Civale and Tanner Tully combined to pitch five scoreless innings for the Scrappers, scattering six hits in the process.
The Scrappers now will enjoy their first off-day of the season today after having played for the past 20 consecutive days. They will make a six-hour trip to Staten Island, then “do nothing baseball-related” before playing the Yankees on Friday, according to hitting coach Justin Toole.
The Scrappers entered the contest with a team batting average of .199.
“The day off couldn’t have come at a better time,” Toole said. “Mentally and physically, it’s going to be a much-needed day off for this team.”
“This group has worked very hard. It doesn’t show in the standings, but they are moving in the right direction. It’s just been a daily grind, starting long before our first game for almost all of these guys. A one-day break can do a lot to recharge the batteries.”
Toole noted that the vast majority of players on the Scrappers’ roster came to the Mahoning Valley straight from either the college ranks or from extended spring training in Arizona.
“It’s been a whirlwind,” Toole said. “Mentally, it takes its toll. You have guys who are playing every day for the first time in their lives. Others are learning how to deal the travel, dealing with their meals, all sorts of things.
“It’s not an excuse, because every team is dealing with the same thing. But collectively we have struggled, and I think that the deeper we got (into the season), the more the struggles rubbed off on our entire lineup.”
Toole is confident the Scrappers’ fortunes will improve as the summer wears on.
“What I do know is that this is a very talented group, they are in professional baseball for a reason,” Toole said. “Sometimes all it takes is a spark to get the ball rolling.”
Wednesday, the Scrappers got their spark in the form of a few clutch hits and a lot of flashes from Mother Nature.