Paddack’s debut strong in Hoppers’ 11-4 win
from Bill Hass with Bill on Baseball(Greensboro Grasshoppers) at www.gsohoppers.com
Chris Paddack made up for lost time Wednesday afternoon.
The 20-year-old right-hander breezed through four innings in his debut to set the tone for the Hoppers’ 11-4 pounding of Delmarva in NewBridge Bank Park.
Paddack was scheduled to start the season in Greensboro but was held back in extended spring training with a sore shoulder. So he was more than eager to get his own season underway.
“I was amped up,” he said after posting nine strikeouts in his four-inning stint. “I was really mentally prepared and my body was prepared. I feel pretty close to these guys and I was sad that I couldn’t break camp with them.”
Paddack knew he would be on a strict pitch count (between 65-70) and likely wouldn’t be able to throw the five innings necessary to be eligible for the win. But not getting the win didn’t matter. He stymied the Shorebirds with his fastball and kept them off-balance with his changeup.
“I think my changeup is what separates me from other fastball pitchers,” he said. “I throw it whether I’m ahead or down in the count. It speeds up my fastball and makes me a strikeout pitcher.”
Paddack gave up two hits, including a solo home run, and one walk. Of the 15 batters he faced, only five put the ball in play.
“I thought he did a great job of being fearless,” said manager Kevin Randel. “He has a great head on his shoulders and never let the pressure mount on him.”
It also helped that the Hoppers’ offense put up five runs in the second inning, which would be enough to win. They went on to score six add-on runs during the game.
Pitching coach Brendan Sagara said the Marlins have high expectations for Paddack, drafted in the eighth round out of high school last summer.
“The nine strikeouts were unexpected,” Sagara. “He’s a young kid in his first game (at this level) and he controlled his nerves. I’m real proud of him.”
Paddack, Gabriel Castellanos and Kyle Keller combined for 17 strikeouts. The Shorebirds did hit three homers, but none came with men on base. Castellanos was the pitcher of record and picked up his third win.
It was Castellanos’ normal turn to start and he struggled out of the bullpen. In 3 2/3 innings he gave up five hits, four walks and three runs, including a pair of homers.
“It wasn’t easy and it wasn’t pretty,” Sagara said, “but he fought tooth and nail and didn’t get down on himself. He gutted his way through it and was rewarded with the victory.”
There were two examples of what Sagara meant. In the fifth inning, with two runs already in and runners at the corners, Castellanos picked off D.J. Stewart on first base for the third out. The Shorebirds’ heavy hitter, Yermin Mercedes was at bat with the score down to 6-3, so that meant Mercedes led off the next inning instead of batting with a runner in scoring position.
In the seventh, Castellanos gave up a single and two walks to load the bases with Mercedes, the league’s second-best hitter at .357, up again. Castellanos induced a ground ball to Blanton at third, who made a nice stop and throw to get Mercedes and retire the side.
After Castellanos hit a batter with two outs in the eighth, Keller entered and got a strikeout to end the inning, then retired the Shorebirds in order in the ninth.
The Hoppers’ offense pounded out 10 hits, seven for extra bases. Anfernee Seymour had two triples and two RBIs and Isael Soto added two doubles. Stone Garrett, Justin Twine and Blanton added doubles, with Blanton’s driving in two runs.
Even when the Hoppers didn’t get base hits, they got RBIs. Blanton, Garrett and Kyle Barrett all drove in runs with groundouts and Soto had a sacrifice fly.
After taking a 5-1 loss Tuesday night when the Hoppers played flat, Randel was enthused with the way they responded.
“That’s about as good as it gets,” he said. “The intent, the energy and the effort were outstanding. I like the way the hitters were fast out of the box and looking to get to second base on those doubles.”
The win meant the Hoppers took two out of three and won their third straight series. They completed a 6-1 home stand, their best of the season, and have won nine of 10 overall.
Randel stayed in the dugout and continued to let Jose Ceballos coach at third base, where he has posted a 10-3 record. Randel said he hasn’t decided whether to return to the field for the road trip. It starts at Hickory for the first of four games Thursday night, and continues at Lexington for three games.
NOTES: Room was created on the roster for Keller when Scott Squier (back strain) was placed on the seven-day Dl … Catcher Roy Morales returned from the temporary inactive list (death in the family) and infielder Giovanny Alfonzo went on the DL (left foot contusion).