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NYPL West Virginia Black Bears

Black Bears Blow out Scrappers

June 19, 2019 - New York-Penn League (NYPL)
West Virginia Black Bears News Release


Granville, WV - Hot pitching and explosive offensive powered the Black Bears to a 10-3 rout of the Scrappers Tuesday night at Monongalia County Ballpark. West Virginia took advantage of six walks in the bottom of the fifth inning to stun Mahoning Valley in the first of a three-game series.

Pirates top pitching prospect Jonathan (JT) Brubaker, on a rehab assignment from the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians, started the game for the Black Bears. Brubaker's high-velocity slider stunted the Scrappers offense as he pitched 2 2/3 innings with only one run and three strike-outs.

"JT is just very professional," said Black Bears manager Drew Saylor. "He was a really good example for all of our young players and young catchers on what it takes to prepare on an elite level. I don't have enough adjectives to be able to say what JT means to our organization."

While Mahoning Valley took the early lead off Brubaker in the top of the first on an RBI single from Jonathan Engelmann, the West Virginia offense came alive in the bottom of the first.

First baseman Nick Patten tied the game up with an RBI double that scored second baseman Kyle Mottice. West Virginia would add two more runs in the second inning when right fielder Juan Pie hit an RBI double that scored catcher Ryan Haug.

After Haug was hit by a pitch, he scored from third base on a wild pitch to increase the lead to 4-1. The Black Bears then capitalized on four consecutive walks issued by Scrappers' pitching in the fifth inning when Pie hit his second double of the game with the bases loaded which gave him a 4 RBI night and West Virginia a 10-1 lead.

"Guys are really starting to buy in to the advanced process that we have here and just controlling what we can control," said Saylor. "Hit stuff hard that you can hit and take stuff that you can't. I was really excited to see our guys take their walks in that inning."

Though the Scrappers added a run in the top of the seventh inning on an RBI single and another run in the ninth on to make it 10-3, the Black Bears silenced the Scrappers with a strong outing by big league reliever and rehab assignment, Brandon Maurer, who pitched a scoreless inning for the Bears. New draft pick, Garrett Leonard, made his debut on the mound in the ninth, as he closed out the game.

Black Bears second baseman Kyle Mottice propelled much of West Virginia's offense as he recorded two more hits, bringing his season average to .467.

"I've just been seeing the ball really well right now," said Mottice. "I'm just trying to get on base and give the guys behind me a chance to drive me in. That's my job at the top of the lineup so that's what I try to do."

The Black Bears and Scrappers will continue their three-game series tomorrow night at Monongalia County Ballpark with first pitch scheduled for 6:35 p.m.

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