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Armas, Alcantara combine on a shutout

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette The Williamsport Crosscutters’ Danny Mayer points to the sky after crossing home plate during Tuesday’s game at Bowman Field with the Auburn Doubledays.

Gustavo Armas’ inning-by-inning pitch count looked like a collection of quarterback jersey numbers Tuesday night at Bowman Field. The Williamsport right-hander was not only effective, but efficient as he twirled seven shutout innings at the Auburn Doubledays at Bowman Field.

Armas threw no more than 15 pitches in an inning last night and threw single-digit pitches four times as he and Randy Alcantara combined on a five-hit shutout. The Cutters got a two-run home run from Danny Mayer in a 4-0 win over Auburn to move back above .500 at 3-2. Williamsport will go for its first series sweep of the season tonight against the Doubledays.

Armas became the first Williamsport pitcher to throw seven innings in a start since Julian Garcia did it in a win over State College on July 4, 2017. His stellar outing last night, which included seven strikeouts and no walks, was just another in the line of tremendous starts the Cutters have received to start the season.

Williamsport starting pitchers haven’t allowed a run since Saturday with Manuel Silva, Juan Escorcia and Armas having consecutive scoreless outings. The starters seemingly haven’t allowed a walk since the Eisenhower administration. Last night was the fourth outing without a walk in five games for Williamsport starting pitchers.

“I think (pitching coach Hector Berrios) does a real good job of making location an important part of their game instead of just throwing hard and not having an idea of what they’re doing,” Cutters manager Pat Borders said. “He makes it important that they have a plan with each and every pitch. Then they concentrate on locating it after you figure out what your plan is.”

Armas threw first-pitch strikes to 17 of the 25 batters he faced last night. He scattered four hits over his seven innings, and allowed only one batter to reach third base.

Third baseman Seth Lancaster made sure that runner on third didn’t score when he made a diving stop in the hole and threw the batter out at first to end the second inning. From that point on, Armas cruised. He retired 12 of the final 14 batters he faced to lower the Cutters’ starting pitcher ERA to 1.36 through five games.

Armas threw just 77 pitches in his seven innings last night. He threw no more than nine pitches in an inning through the first four innings, inducing weak, early contact which his defense made sure to take care of.

“These guys trust their defense,” Mayer said of the starting pitchers. “They know if they pitch to contact, they can have faith that we’re going to make the plays behind them. They don’t feel like they have to get swings and misses. It allows them to just pound the zone.”

And pound the zone Armas did. He threw 76 percent of his pitches (55 of 77) for strikes. He forced 10 groundball outs and had just two fly ball outs to go along with his seven strikeouts.

Alcantara followed a similar pattern, getting four of his six outs on the ground. Armas and Alcantara needed just 87 pitches to complete the game, 64 of which were strikes.

“I don’t think it’s pitch to contact. I think it’s pitch to location,” Borders said. “I think (catcher Rafael Marchan) has a lot to do with what they’re doing, too. He’s not just up there throwing down fingers. He’s got an advanced plan for a young age.”

Williamsport provided the two pitchers with the only run support they would need in the bottom of the fifth inning. Jonathan Guzman snapped an 0 for 13 start to the season with a single to left field. Two batters later he scored when Edwin Rodriguez singled into center field.

Rodriguez was 2 for 3 last night and is 5 for 7 in the series with a pair of RBIs from the ninth spot in the order.

Mayer padded the lead an inning later when he jumped all over a 3-2 fastball down in the zone and launched it over the left-center field fence for a two-run home run. The ball traveled 413 feet with a 107 mph exit velocity. It was just the second home run of the season for the Cutters, and the first since Julio Francisco’s two-run shot on opening night.

Mayer has been the most consistent and productive member of the Cutters’ lineup through the first two series. His four RBIs lead the team, as do his 14 total bases.

“I’m seeing the ball really well and feeling good at the plate,” the former 31st-round pick said. “My focus at the plate is see it as best I can and get a nice, relaxed swing off and just try to help the team win any way I possibly can.”

“I’m more impressed with his consistency in his contact,” Borders said. “His outs have been really good contact. It seems like he’s putting really good swings on the ball.”

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