A good start to the month of August was negated for the Mahoning Valley Scrappers, who were swept in three straight close contests against Hudson Valley on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday.
The week began better for the Scrappers, who salvaged their series at home against Williamsport with a 2-1 win last Tuesday before heading to West Virginia for three with the Black Bears. They swept the set with three one-run victories, but lost 4-2, 3-2, and 5-2 to Hudson Valley to spoil the four-game winning streak.
The Scrappers (22-27) return home on Tuesday for a six-game homestand with Batavia and Williamsport. They trail State College by 12.5 games in the Pinckney Division, but will look to gain a little ground while hoping to improve on an 11-12 home record this season.
In more news and notes from the Scrappers’ Scrapbook:
McKENZIE WHISKED AWAY TO LAKE COUNTY
Cleveland Indians’ 19-year-old pitching prospect Triston McKenzie had more than made his mark on the New York-Penn League so far this season, earning him a well-deserved promotion to Class-A Lake County on Wednesday.
McKenzie made nine starts for the Scrappers, posting a 4-3 record with one complete game, a 0.55 ERA, a 0.95 WHIP, and a .180 batting average against. He struck out 55 batters over 49 1/3 innings pitched.
In his debut for the Captains on Friday night, he struck out a professional career-high eleven batters and did not issue a walk, but took home the loss after allowing three runs on four hits over five and one-third innings, with the final run charged to him scoring off of the Lake County bullpen.
CALICA CONTINUING TO OWN THE NEW YORK-PENN LEAGUE
Andrew Calica contributed a professional-best four RBI on Friday in the win over West Virginia. The eleventh round pick in June followed up the effort with his fifth career three-hit game, going 3-for-4 with a pair of singles and a double in the loss to the Renegades.
While his average for August sits at just .259, he is hitting .376 for the season with a .457 average at home and a .414 mark against right-handed pitching. He has three doubles, five triples, a homer, and 15 RBI while scoring 20 runs in his 27 games played as a member of the Scrappers.
KRAUTH’S SCORELESS STREAK GROWS
Left-hander Ben Krauth joined the Scrappers to start the month of August after making seven appearances in the Arizona League for the Tribe and picked up right where he left off in Goodyear.
In a pair of appearances for Mahoning Valley, Krauth has worked a combined six and two-thirds innings, striking out nine batters, allowing four hits, and walking two. Combined with his seven appearances out west, he is 2-0 on the season in nine scoreless outings with two saves in three opportunities, a 0.73 WHIP, and a .181 batting average against. He has struck out 29 batters in 20 2/3 innings on the season while walking just two.
Krauth joined the Indians via the University of Kansas after his selection in the 16th round in June.
BIEBER BUILDING UP STRENGTH
Fourth round pick Shane Bieber continues to build up his innings and his stellar starts for the Scrappers.
Making his third start of the season, he went three innings of one-hit baseball on Thursday in the win over West Virginia. He pounded the strike zone, throwing 27 strikes and just five balls in his outing while striking out four, a new pro high.
For the season, the 21-year-old right-hander has made three starts and worked eight total innings, allowing one run (1.13 ERA) on six hits with one walk and nine strikeouts.
TULLY TAKING A TURN IN THE ROTATION
Tanner Tully, the Indians’ 26th round pick out of The Ohio State University in June, has put together a very solid start to his professional career. In eight outings, he has posted a 3-0 record with a 1.13 ERA and 0.92 WHIP. Opposing hitters are batting just .198 against Tully, who has walked four and hit three while striking out 12 in 24 innings.
Tully has started each of his last two appearances, giving up one unearned run last Tuesday while striking out a professional high four in three innings. He followed it up with a pro high five innings of one-run ball, giving up three hits in the no-decision.
HILLMAN’S ERA ON THE RISE
Left-handed pitching prospect Juan Hillman has returned to earth some after throwing five consecutive starts without giving up an earned run. He gave up seven earned runs in seven innings over his final two starts in July and has given up six runs in his first two starts in August over a span of eight and two-thirds innings.
He earned the win last Wednesday, giving up two runs on five hits over five innings, but was dealt a loss on Monday when he allowed four runs on four hits in just three and two-thirds innings. He is now 3-2 on the season in ten starts with a 3.13 ERA and 1.24 WHIP.
MEJIA A MULTI-HIT MACHINE
Gabriel Mejia’s hitting streak may pale in comparison to that of another Mejia in the Indians organization, but it is a good start for the switch-hitting center fielder.
Mejia pushed his streak to six straight on Monday night with his fourth consecutive two-hit game. All ten hits during his streak have been singles, but he has made up for that by stealing four bases in five attempts during that span.
ISAACS PERFORMING WELL IN LIMITED OPPORTUNITIES
Todd Isaacs, Mahoning Valley’s 20-year-old outfielder, went 4-for-4 on Saturday in the Scrappers’ loss at Hudson Valley. He singled three times and added a solo home run, his third of the season.
The Indians’ 19th round pick out of the 2015 draft, he was limited to four games during the week in a crowded Scrappers outfield mix. He has hit .380 in 24 games this season in his first action at the short-season level. He spent 34 games in Goodyear in the Arizona League last year, hitting .214.
COLLINS HITS IN CAREER HIGH FIVE STRAIGHT
Gavin Collins had singles in five straight games for the Scrappers before that streak came to an end with an 0-for-4 on Monday night. He also had a triple in the August 4 game against the Black Bears.
Taken in the 13th round of the June draft out of Mississippi State, he has spent 22 games in the field for the Scrappers working exclusively as a third baseman.
ON THE MOVE
Kenny Mathews returned to the Scrappers on Friday from Lake County, where he had appeared in six games with a 7.11 ERA and 1.42 WHIP.
Right-hander Cesar Ventura and infielder Jorma Rodriguez joined the Scrappers from Goodyear on Thursday.
Infielder Yonathan Mendoza was assigned to High-A Lynchburg on Thursday.
Photo removed by request
