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Scrap book: Two MV players reach milestone

News and notes from Eastwood Field:

  • WEIGHT OFF THEIR SHOULDERS: Two Scrappers players, shortstop James Roberts and catcher Sicnarf Loopstok, registered their first professional hits on Tuesday. Roberts plated Mahoning Valley’s first run with an RBI single to left. Roberts was a 15th-round pick out of the University of Southern California by the Cleveland Indians in this year’s draft. The 6-foot-2, 200-pound 21-year-old finished 2 for 4 with an RBI. Loopstok was a 13th-round pick out of Western Oklahoma State University. The 21-year-old from Aruba finished 1 for 4 with a run.

“It felt good to get it out of the way,” Roberts said. “It calmed my nerves a little bit.”

  • FREE FOOD FOR EVERYONE: Cleveland Indians closer Chris Perez, who made a rehab appearance for the Scrappers, bought dinner for the team, Roberts said after the game. Perez pitched a scoreless inning, striking out one and now allowing a hit, for Mahoning Valley.

“It was great,” said Roberts of being able to meet Perez. “He’s a good guy. He just bought us dinner. It was easy talking to him, playing behind him.”

  • OFFENSE COMING AROUND: The Scrappers pounded out 11 hits against Auburn a night after collecting just five. Mahoning Valley’s offense has been up and down nine games into the season. The Scrappers were shutout in the first two games of the season, but then scored 21 runs in the next two games. Manager Ted Kubiak likes the approach they’ve had recently.

“They’ve been playing well,” Kubiak said. “Defense has been good, pitching has been great. We just needed to get some hits, and we got some tonight. They’ve battled every night.”

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