NILES

Sunday was Superhero Day at Eastwood Field. Superman, Batman and the Incredible Hulk were among the superpowers roaming the stands when the Mahoning Valley Scrappers hosted Auburn.

On the field, Caleb Hamrick is quickly turning into the Scrappers’ version of a pitcher with super attributes.

Hamrick on Sunday picked up his first win of the season in a 3-1 victory over the Doubledays. The 19-year-old righty retired the first 13 batters he faced, working five scoreless innings while surrendering just one hit.

In his only other outing of the season, Hamrick retired the first 12 batters he faced, and struck out five while surrendering one earned run on three hits.

“Caleb has had really good command of his fastball, and he’s keeping it down in the zone,” said Scrappers pitching coach Scott Erickson. “He has good location on both sides of the plate.”

“He has looked really smooth. Right now, he’s doing a really good job of making things look effortless.”

Hamrick was able to pick up a victory thanks to a three-run fifth inning.

Leadoff hitter Claudio Bautista started the frame with a single. Following a strikeout by Robel Garcia, consecutive doubles by Juan Herrera, Nellie Rodriguez and Martin Cervenka each plated a run.

Bautista is batting .407, good for fourth-best in the New York-Penn League.

“They say hitting is contagious, and that seems true. Once Claudio got that hit, we all seemed to gain some momentum,” Rodriguez said.

Aeros closer Jose Flores did Sunday what he wasn’t able to do the night before, in halting a ninth-inning New Britain rally.



After Flores blew Saturday’s save, he was called on Sunday to quell another threat with the Rock Cats having scored two runs to pull within a run with two outs and the bases loaded in the ninth inning.



That’s exactly what Flores did, getting new Britain third baseman Miguel Sano (the parent club Minnesota Twins top prospect) to pop out to preserve the win.



Before the ninth inning fireworks, the Rock Cats got on the board first via on catcher Josmil Pinto’s run-scoring single that plated second baseman Eddie Rosario.



But the Aeros tied the game 1-1 with a run in the bottom of the fourth inning on catcher Chris Wallace’s single to match the one New Britain plated in top of the frame.



A Cedric Hunter solo homer to lead off the 6th inning gave the Aeros a 2-1 lead that marked his seventh overall on the season between Double and Triple-A.



In the I-can-do-anything-you-can-do-better department, Wallace smashed a no-doubt homer that sailed quickly over the left field wall to increase the host’s lead to 3-1.



Aeros starterMatt Packer limited the Rock Cats to a run on seven hits and struck out nine in 6 2/3 innings and left with the Aeros leading 3-1. But Akron added a key insurance run in the eighth inning on right fielder Carlos Moncrief's RBI single that scored designated hitter Cedric Hunter, who walked to lead off the inning. The run would prove to be crucial when the Rock Cats once again rallied late against the Aeros bullpen.



The Aeros’ bullpen blew the previous night’s game, as the Rock Cats scored 12 runs (11 earned) after the seventh inning when the starter departed. Sunday afternoon, the team’s relievers made it interesting again, before managing to escape with the win despite allowing two runs in the ninth inning.



Right-handed fireballer Austin Adams flashed a 97-mph fastball in his 1 1/3 hitless innings. But C.C. Lee quickly found himself in a jam when he took over in the ninth inning.



Lee walked the first batter he faced, then dished up an RBI double to left fielder Curt Smith. Smith soon scored on a sacrifice fly as the Rock Cats pulled to within a run before Lee was lifted for Flores.



Flores quickly got Sano to hit a major league pop up high into the air near the pitcher’s mound, an infield hit that first basmen Jesus Aguilar fielded to end threat and the game.



NOTES:

ROSTER MOVES - Aeros roster moves: RHP Bryce Stowell has been placed on the DL with a shoulder strain [again] and RHP Kyle Landis has been activated. Landis had been sidelined since May 8th with a right lat strain…Also, SS Ronny Rodriguez is day-to-day with hamstring tightness. He left Saturday night’s game in the 10th inning and did not play in Sunday’s homestand finale.

UP NEXT - The Aeros hit the road for a quick three-game road trip to Harrisburg Monday through Wednesday. The Aeros are slated to send right-handed pitcher Brett Brach (4-3, 4.76 ERA) to the Mound Monday at 7 p.m. to face Senators right-hander Taylor Jordan (6-0, 0.73 ERA).

Like an NBA basketball game, there was really no reason to watch the Aeros game Saturday until the eighth inning, for that’s when all the action really began.



That is, once the bullpen took over the Rock Cats got to work. In four innings, the Aeros relievers combined to allow 12 runs on 12 hits (including two home runs), four walks, two wild pitches and a hit batter.



The result was a hard-fought 12-7 New Britain victory.
The Aeros got on the board first, taking a 2-0 lead in the second inning against New Britain starting pitcher Virgil Vasquez.

Aeros leadoff man and first baseman Jesus Aguilar started the rally by reaching safely on a throwing error on Rock Cats thrid baseman Miguel Sano. Right fielder Carlos Moncrief followed with his 13th double off the right center field wall that just missed being a home run.

Aeros centerfielder Tyler Holt continued the rally with a run-scoring single, then Moncrief scored on a double play that third baeman Giovanny Urshela hit into, giving the host the early lead.

The Aeros got right back to work building on the lead, as shortstop Jose Ramirez led off the bottom of the third inning with a triple, then coasted home on second baseman Ronny Rodriguez's single to make it 3-0 Akron.

Aeros starter and right-hander Toru Murata held New Britain scoreless through seven innings, scattering five hits and not issuing a walk. But as soon as Murata was gone, the Rock Cats jumped all over Aeros reliever Cole Cook, who wiped out all thoughts of a quick and tidy game.

After retirring the first batter he faced, Cook served up a home run to right fielder Jordan Parraz that broke up the host’s shutout bid and went on to give up two more runs in just 2/3 of an inning to the game 3-3 in the eighth.

But the Aeros pulled the same trick against Rock Cats reliever Dan Turpen, working back-to-back walks with one out in the bottom of the inning. Urshela came up with the big two-out hit, a two-run triple that put the host back on top by two. The Aeros added an insurance run with more help from Turpen, whose wild pitch followed by a passed ball that scored Urshela and gave Akron a 6-3 lead.

But the Rock Cats rallied against Aeros closer Jose Flores, who came on to get the third out of the eighth inning. Despite striking out leadoff man Sano, a Flores wild pitch allowed him to reach safely. Flores gave up four runs in all, as New Britain took a 7-6 lead.

But the Aeros wouldn’t go away. Not against Josmil Pinto, who moved from behind the plate at catcher to pitch the bottom of the ninth. Rodriguez led off the frame with a single and soon scored on an Aguilar double off the wall to tie the game again, this time at 7-7.

New Britain second baseman Eddie Rosario picked up his third single of the game with one out in the 11th inning, this one of the RBI variety to put the RockCats on top and spark them to a five run inning against Aeros veteran reliever Rob Bryson.

As long as Carlos Moncrief keeps it cool, his bat’s going to stay red hot.

Moncrief is the Aeros’ 24-year-old right fielder loaded with natural ability and a wide range of tools, making him about as exciting as any player in the Indians’ farm system. He’s got a big bat and an even bigger arm (he’s a converted pitcher who used to hit 97 mph on the radar gun) to go with a good amount of athleticism.

But the Jackson, Miss., native and former 14th-round pick never could put it all together at the plate. The home runs and doubles came just fine but the strikeouts came with them two-fold (he averaged more than a strikeout per game the last two seasons at Lake County and Carolina).

Now in his first season at the Double-A level with the Aeros, Moncrief is putting forth all his energy and efforts into — as simple as it sounds — not overworking and just relaxing.

“It’s all about not thinking about my mechanics, not even in practice,” Moncrief said. “I just try to relax and see the ball for the most part. You learn so much in the years you’ve been playing pro ball that if it should be there, it’s there. You just gotta stop thinking about it.

“I hear all the time to trust your hands, trust your ability. All that means to me is when you relax, it slows the game down. When you’re tensed up, everything looks fast.”

It’s as easy as see the ball, hit the ball. And it’s working. Moncrief was named the Indians Minor League Player of the Week for the week of June 5-11 and entering Thursday’s game, he’s hitting .290 with an on-base percentage of .359, nine home runs, 11 doubles, 32 RBI and six stolen bases. And what might be the most promising part: only 57 strikeouts in 65 games, a major improvement over last season (126 strikeouts in 101 games, and at a lower level). Part of it is his don’t-think-about-it approach. Part of it is that he tries to make sure what happens in one game doesn’t carry over to the next day.

“My state of mind is to be the same every single day,” Moncrief said. “You talk about staying even keel, it’s like the hardest thing to do. You have a great game, go 4-for-4, and come in the next day and pretend like it never happened. You go 4-for-4 or 0-for-4, you come in every day and grind it out. It’s a brand new day, brand new at-bats.”

This is Moncrief’s fourth season in the minors. He’s already building an aura to his young career. There’s the story of how two years ago in Low-A Lake County, Moncrief crushed a home run ball and became only the second player to hit one off the scoreboard in center field. Then there was the time earlier this season in Akron when he crashed into the wall trying to catch a ball off the bat of Portland’s Xander Bogaerts. Moncrief couldn’t quite get to the ball, hit the wall, got up and delivered a strike to third base, almost gunning Bogaerts down all the way from the warning track. Bogaerts, to his surprise, wasn’t even expecting a throw and cruised into third without sliding and was nearly tagged out.

Moncrief isn’t listed among the major scouting services as one of the Indians’ top prospects. But he’s now starting to slowly put things together and could scoot his name up their lists.

“I feel like I’m starting to really understand how to hit,” Moncrief said. “A lot of people say that I’ve been on a hot streak, but if I’m on a hot streak then Miguel Cabrera’s been on a hot streak throughout the whole season. It’s just an understanding of what you’re doing.”

Just see the ball, hit the ball.

But Moncrief cannot be an everyday prospect unless or until he can hit lefties. His splits are pronounced:

Vs LH 211/260/239/499
vs RH 317/399/540/939

I see Bauer got slapped around again.Wonder what he's working on.

Light bulb better go on pretty soon or he won't be any help down the streach.

Moncrief looked good the few times I saw him in Spring Training.

Moncrief was a "breakout" candidate of mine when he was still a pitcher. Been rooting for him since but until this season his strengths were kind of buried, as he had good OBP and SLG and lots of outfield assists but his batting average was never impressive. Never has been close to the prospect list by any of the "experts".

This if from milb.com

Austin Adams is familiar with change. The Millbrook, Ala., native was mostly an infielder in high school, then served as closer his first three years at nearby Faulkner University before moving to the rotation.
Related Content

Adams' stats
Video: Adams interview
League pitching leaders
League batting leaders

Adams was drafted in the fifth round in 2009 by the Cleveland Indians and made 17 relief appearances during his rookie campaign. He was used mostly as a starter in 2010 between Class A Lake County and Class A Advanced Kinston and had a permanent role in the rotation with Akron in 2011. But after missing last season following shoulder surgery, the 5-foot-11 right-hander has been a stalwart back in the bullpen this season.

In 22 outings for the Aeros, he is 0-1 with a 2.57 ERA and two saves. In 28 innings, he has allowed 23 hits, including just two homers, and 16 walks with a whopping 39 strikeouts. The opposition is batting .223 against Adams, who throws a fastball, curve, slider and change.

"I feel pretty good about it," he said of his success this year. "I've been trying to stay healthy and throw as many strikes as possible. I feel a little more comfortable" out of the bullpen.

As a starter for Akron in 2011, he was 11-10 with a 3.77 ERA over 136 innings. He allowed 147 hits and 63 walks with 131 strikeouts.

"It's been a challenge," he said of coming back from an arm injury. "It is a lot less stress on my arm" to pitch in relief.

"We are very excited about Austin's return. He has worked as hard as anyone in recent memory in the rehab process and he came back stronger than before," according to Ross Atkins, vice president of player development for the Indians. "His current velocity and effectiveness is a real testament to his toughness and commitment to baseball.

"We feel he's best suited for relief work at this point in the year and in his career mostly because of the timeline in which he could potentially help the Major League team," Atkins added.

Adams was 3-1 with a 4.86 ERA in 17 relief appearances in his pro debut with Mahoning Valley of the New York-Penn League in 2009. He was 2-4 with a 3.54 ERA in 13 games, including eight starts, in the Midwest League with Lake County in 2010 and 6-1 with a 1.53 ERA in 13 games (12 starts) with Kinston in the Class A Advanced Carolina League.

Adams was drafted in the 27th round by Milwaukee as a junior at Faulkner but decided to return for his senior season. He worked out at Cleveland's Spring Training complex in Arizona following his surgery in May 2012.

Of his conversion from high school shortstop to pitcher, "ever since I have not looked back," Adams noted.

Monday boxscores:

http://www.milb.com/scoreboard/index.js ... d=20130624

Unusually both Carolina (23-51 record) and Lake County (27-45) won on the same night. Everyone else lost. The 5 US-based teams in action totaled 8 runs.

Star of the Day:

Ryan Merritt with a rare 8-inning performance in Low A. No runs, 5 hits, no walks, 4 K allowed. He's been off an on good this year. 3.79 ERA.

Cody Anderson on a 70-75 pitch count, with 4 solid shutout innings 2 hits, 2 walks, 6 innings.
Joe Wendle 2 doubles, hitting 311, 16 doubles for the year.

Jose Ramirez with a pair of hits for Akron. Moncrief 1 plus 3 strikeouts. Ronnie Rod remains out of action.

BA notes these prospect performances:

CLE AA Ramirez, Jose SS 4 0 2 0 .257 2B (5)
CLE SS Schubert, Josh RF-CF 4 0 1 0 .259 2B (2) [a.k.a. Josh McAdams]
CLE AA Haley, Trey 1.1 0 0 0 1 1 7.88
CLE AAA Barnes, Scott 1.1 1 2 2 3 1 6.84
CLE HiA Anderson, Cody 4 2 0 0 2 6 2.50
CLE SS Whitenack, Robert 5 4 1 1 1 3 3.12 L (0-1)

Recently signed draft picks Kyle Crockett, Kenny Matthews and James Roberts all now listed on the Scrappers roster of 20 pitchers. Have to imagine they're not all active at present. S. Loopstock still listed on the active roster, too, but he has yet to appear in a game

Clint Frazier similarly on the Arizona League roster but haven't seen him in game, either.

Dylan Baker with another good outing and Captains win. Unusual line 5 2/3 -1-2-2-3-5

3 H by C Jeremy Lucas

http://www.milb.com/milb/stats/stats.js ... x&sid=milb

Debut by Clint Frazier was a good one: 1st AB of the game, leading off, he homered. And he cleared the bases with a triple later on. Professional line so far reads: 400/400/1200/1600

And even more significantly Sicnarf Loopstok debuted as well. He went 1-4 and handled Chris Perez in his one inning on the mound for Mahoning Valley.