LORAIN – The Lorain County Ironmen got a much-needed 3-1 victory at home over the first-place Chillicothe Paints on a picture-perfect afternoon on July 6 to go into the All-Star break on a high note.
A few hours after a tough, extra-innings loss in West Virginia, the Ironmen had a long drive back to the Pipe Yard for an early-afternoon affair with rival Chillicothe. In response to the shortened time frame, Lorain County manager Joe Rhomberg made the move to have a well-rested Jose Flores make the start.
Rhomberg’s move paid off big time.
Flores dominated the Paints and finished with 11 strikeouts in eight innings. He gave up one unearned run on four hits.
‘I think that was one of the better performances, pitching wise, here in a couple of years with the pitch count, how he mixed his pitches up and the amount of strikes he threw,’ Rhomberg said. ‘He was at 93 pitches in eight innings. He got ahead in the count, then had the stuff to put them away or get them to hit it into the field weakly.’
Rhomberg went on to say Flores, from the University of Arts and Sciences of Oakland, California, took a ‘big step’ in his development.
‘I think we got in at about 3-4 o’clock this morning then had to be up at 9,’ Flores said. ‘It don’t bother me really. I slept plenty on the bus and just came out here and did what I had to do.
‘Everything was working for me, my slider was on it today and that’s probably the best I’ve thrown it all year.’
Putting the ball in Flores’ corner early on, the Ironmen jumped on the Paints in the first inning by stringing together hits. In the first, Lucas Raley (Lake Erie College) started a quick two out rally.
Raley jumped on a pitch and pulled it for a single to get on base. Raley was rewarded with a big RBI double by Ohio University’s Taylor Embody to get the run home and Lorain County on the board.
Meanwhile, Flores was working hard and retired the first 11 batters he faced and took advantage of the lead.
Then in the fourth, Chillicothe’s leadoff hitter Chris Sedio (Miami University) lifted a high fly ball to left that was lost in the sun by the Ironmen. The ball hit off a glove but was not caught, and Sedio motored his way to third on the error.
Two batters later, the Paints got their first hit of the game and tied it at 1-1 in the fourth.
Lorain County responded an inning later to grab the lead. Then in the seventh, Raley again came up big with an RBI single to put the Ironmen on top, 3-1.
Raley finished his day 3-for-4 with a run, an RBI and a triple as he has earned his spot in the Prospect League All-Star lineup.
‘I started off the season doing pretty well, then I slowed down a bit and I’ve been picking it back up as of late,’ Raley said.
But the real secret to Raley’s success, in his mind, is a strict diet he has been implementing.
‘I’ve changed a couple of things. Honestly, since I’ve started hitting the ball I’ve been stopping at 7-Eleven every day,’ Raley said with a laugh. ‘I think that’s the key, I really do, so I’m going to keep stopping at 7-Eleven and see how it goes.’
Even Rhomberg chimed in and said if his hitting keeps up, he will install a 7-Eleven at the field.
Rhomberg and the Ironmen will have a few days off with the All-Star game to recoup for the second half of the season.
‘We’re glad we won this one because you don’t to sit on three and a half days losing,’ Rhomberg said. ‘We’re excited – we’ll come back from the break strong. I think we’re fully loaded with pitching and know the position players want a couple of days rest, so I think we’re good to go the rest of the season.’
