The Sky CarpÃÛèÖÊÓƵ Eric Rataczak (11) is greeted in the dugout by teammates, including starting pitcher Will Schomberg (25), after scoring a first-inning run on Wednesday afternoon.
Beloit Sky Carp shortstop Jesus Hernandez completes a double play in the first inning Wednesday. Hernandez took a throw from second baseman Gage Miller on Carlos SanchezÃÛèÖÊÓƵ grounder and forced out DaytonÃÛèÖÊÓƵ Carlos Jorge before completing the DP by retiring Sanchez at first.
The Sky CarpÃÛèÖÊÓƵ Eric Rataczak (11) is greeted in the dugout by teammates, including starting pitcher Will Schomberg (25), after scoring a first-inning run on Wednesday afternoon.
BELOIT — Second baseman Gage Miller set the tone for the Beloit Sky Carp in the first inning Wednesday afternoon when he delivered a bases-clearing two-out double at ABC Supply Stadium.
Then he made certain he left a lasting impression in the ninth inning by ranging into the outfield grass to pounce on a hard hit ground ball by Johnny Ascanio and throwing on the run in time to retire the Dayton Dragon as the Sky Carp took the second game of the six-game homestand 5-1.
“That play is just instinct,†said Miller, who had six assists in the game. “You see the ball and go get it and just fire a throw.â€
In the first inning, Miller stepped to the plate after Colby Shade had led off with a single and stole second and third before Garret Forrester and Eric Rataczak walked with two outs. Dayton replaced starter Luke Hayden (1-5) after just 29 pitches, bringing on reliever Graham Osman.
“I was just looking to hit the ball hard somewhere and hopefully find a gap,†Miller said about his three-run double to center. “I was hoping for a fastball and thatÃÛèÖÊÓƵ what I got.â€
Beloit Sky Carp shortstop Jesus Hernandez completes a double play in the first inning Wednesday. Hernandez took a throw from second baseman Gage Miller on Carlos SanchezÃÛèÖÊÓƵ grounder and forced out DaytonÃÛèÖÊÓƵ Carlos Jorge before completing the DP by retiring Sanchez at first.
That key hit gave Beloit starter and winner Will Schomberg (2-4) a nice 3-0 cushion. He was sharp from the opening pitch, taking a no-hitter into the fifth inning and then retiring the first two Dragons. Ascanio did coax a walk and Ariel Almonte collected DaytonÃÛèÖÊÓƵ first hit to send Ascanio to third. Diego Omana walked to load the bases and Schomberg lost his shutout when he drilled Victor Acosta with a pitch to force in a run. He then got Carlos Jorge to pop out to shortstop Jesus Hernandez to end the threat.
“I was on a pitch-count of about 75-80 pitches (he threw 72) so I was right about to the finish line,†he said. “I let it get away from me a little. I might have run out of gas a little there. There were a couple of pitches I wish I had back. There was a backdoor slider on a 3-2 pitch that I thought caught the corner for a strikeout, but it was a walk. The two-strike changeup (to Almonte) just floated in there at the top of the zone. I wish I would have thrown a fastball or sweeper there. But thatÃÛèÖÊÓƵ baseball.â€
SchombergÃÛèÖÊÓƵ fastball reached the mid-90s.
Not one of your taller pitching prospects at 5-foot-10 and 190 pounds, the right-hander who played for Davidson knows how important teams think velocity is in measuring potential.
“It seems to tick up every year and you have to keep up with the Joneses,†Schomberg said. “There is still value to getting outs, but in todayÃÛèÖÊÓƵ game and how fast everything moves, velocity is the highest correlation to big-league success. The harder you throw, the more margin for error you have and the more effective your off-speed pitches are going to be.â€
Throwing 90 mph is nothing new to Schomberg.
“I was about 5-10 and 157 pounds soaking wet my senior year of high school,†he said. “Scouts were there to watch someone else and I was throwing 90-91. I surprised myself. ThatÃÛèÖÊÓƵ the first time I remember doing it.â€
Facing a team with the worst collective earned run average in the Midwest League at 5.27, the Sky Carp looked stymied after MillerÃÛèÖÊÓƵ big hit. They finally went back to work in the seventh to add a couple of insurance runs. Echedry Vargas and Emarrion Boyd, who were both 2-for-4, each singled and Shade smacked an RBI double down the left-field line. Boyd took third. Jesus Hernandez walked to load the bases and Payton Green, who was 1-for-2 to raise his average to .302, greeted reliever Jimmy Romano with a sacrifice fly for a 5-1 lead.
The Beloit bullpen was more than up to the task. Xavier Meachem went two innings and allowed only one hit and no runs, walking three and striking out one. Colby Martin pitched a scoreless eighth, allowing one hit with two strikeouts and Chase Centala pitched a scoreless ninth with a strikeout.
The Sky Carp outhit Dayton 8-3.
With the All-Star break coming up soon, finishing the season strong is on the minds of everyone on the roster, Schomberg said.
“We get a few days off to reset and then itÃÛèÖÊÓƵ the home stretch,†the pitcher said. “For me, this season has flown by compared to my first year last year when you’re not used to it. I think itÃÛèÖÊÓƵ been easier this year having gone through it.â€
Miller, who had a two-run homer earlier in the season, is hitting .235 overall and hopes for consistent success from here on out.
“Obviously you know when you’re doing good and when you’re not,†Miller said. “I’m just trying to get better mentally. At the start of the season I wasn’t doing too great. That takes a bit of a toll. I’ve been working on keeping my confidence up. And I’m trying to hit the ball in the air more and harder.â€
• UP NEXT: The Sky Carp will host the Dragons for game three of the six-game series at 6:05 p.m. Thursday.
