Bump, Chavez sparks IronPigs win over Norfolk

FROM THE MORNING CALL

Dave Huppert credits the energy and enthusiasm brought by younger players.

No, one of those younger players countered, it's the experience and leadership of the veterans.

Whatever the reason, the IronPigs are suddenly a more exciting and more interesting team to watch.

Not to mention more successful.


Lehigh Valley made it six wins in eight games Saturday night by getting two hits and three RBIs from Ozzie Chavez and a bounce-back effort from Nate Bump in a 6-4 win over Norfolk before 9,751 at Coca-Cola Park.

"You've got youth," Huppert, the IronPigs manager, said after his team built a 6-1 lead through four innings against the Tides. "It's energized the older guys; they're having fun with the younger guys, and it's fun to watch. We're going to make some mistakes with the younger guys but I think the success comes from the energy that's come from the younger guys to the older guys. It's a good mix now. I think that's been a big difference."

"I would say it's the veterans," said reliever Michael Schwimer, who came up from Reading on July 7. "You look at [Brian] Bocock, who has just caught fire. [Chris] Aguila is starting to hit. I think it's a team effort, but I really credit the older guys, the leaders of this team. The older veterans deserve all the credit for this run right now."

Bocock and Chavez had key two-out RBI singles in a three-run fourth that gave the IronPigs (43-58) a 6-1 cushion. Hitting with two outs after Aguila's leadoff double, Bocock singled up the middle off Chris Tillman (8-5) to make it 4-1. Bocock now has 15 RBIs in his last 12 games after getting just 12 in his first 67. Chavez added another run-scoring single (after Chris Duffy kept the inning alive with an infield single) to go with his two-run homer the inning before, a line drive off the Harry Kalas sign outside the Bud Light Trough in right field that snapped a 1-1 deadlock.

"It's a tremendous credit to them the way they've continued to battle," said John Mayberry Jr., who gave the IronPigs their first run with a second-inning solo homer. "It's really gratifying when you're struggling to come through in big spots."

Chavez, who came up from Reading on July 3 when Cody Ransom was called up to the Phillies, has made 18 straight starts at short stop or second base, and has hit safely in nine of his last 11 games (15-of-46, .326).

"He plays the game the way it's supposed to be played," Huppert said of the 27-year-old, signed as a minor-league free agent last winter. "When he needs to hook the ball to move the runner over, he does. He's hit three homers now for us, and he's had some big hits. He's shown some real good range and some good footwork on double plays."

Bump, who gave up nine hits and eight runs in two innings of his last start, allowed a run on four hits over the first five innings, then ran out of gas in the sixth on a steamy, humid night. Leading 6-1, Bump gave up a run on three singles before Schwimer came in with one out and runners at first and second.

Both runners moved up on a wild pitch as Schwimer was recording a strikeout, then scored on Brandon Snyder's single that cut the IronPigs lead to 6-4. But he retired the last seven batters he faced, and Scott Mathieson gave up a hit in the ninth (erased on the IronPigs' two double plays) and faced three batters to record his 20th save, tying Matt Childers' franchise record.

"As a reliever the most important stat is inherited runners, and I gave both of them up, I feel really bad about that," Schwimer said. "But it was the only bad pitch I threw. "

Mayberry's game-tying homer in the second snapped a personal 100 at-bat homer drought. He hadn't hit a home run since June 24 at Norfolk.

"It seems like it's been forever," Mayberry said. "To hit one well and be able to trot around the bases was fun."

Fun, youth — and wins — seems to be the key word with the IronPigs recently.

"At this level you can get too many six-year free agents, and they're all looking for a job for next year, trying to put numbers up for themselves, not thinking about moving runners over and doing the little things it takes to win," Huppert said. "For me, six-year free agents are a whore for hire. Sorry to use the word but that's what they are; guys that keep putting up numbers and move from team to team. Right now we have the young guys, the [Domonic] Browns, the Schwimers, the [Michael] Stutes', and we'll be getting [Vance] Worley here … it's fun."

"When you look at this team at the start of the season it was older than it is now, and I think it's balance that makes a good team," Schwimer said. "It's a mutual relationship. They help us, we help them. It's a great dynamic we have going and we hope to build on it the rest of the year"

http://www.mcall.com/sports/mc-ironpigs-0724-20100724,0,5432298.story