Morimando rings up victory
The evening got off to a smashing start for Shawn Morimando when he and seven other Clippers received their American League championship rings from Cleveland Indians president Chris Antonetti and assistant general manager Carter Hawkins.
Morimando gained appreciation from the Indians and fans when, with the big league team strapped for pitching the day after a 19-inning victory in Toronto, broke land and air speed records by a baseball player to report from double-A Akron and pitch 3 innings in relief in his major league debut.
“To be recognized like that was special,” he said of the ring ceremony. “I’m trying to build on what I did last year.”
The special night continued when Morimando pitched seven innings of three-hit, five-strikeout ball to lead the Clippers to a 3-1 victory over Lehigh Valley before 6,440 at Huntington Park.
The Clippers scored three runs in the sixth, two on a single to left- center by first baseman Chris Colabello, to end a losing streak at six games.
Carlos Frias got two outs and Kyle Crockett one in the eighth, and Joe Colon worked the ninth to get the save.
Music was blaring again inside the clubhouse.
“Mando went out and set the tone the way he attacked the strike zone,” manager Chris Tremie said. “That was something we needed out of a starter. Tonight he was really aggressive with all of his pitches, specifically his fastball. He was keeping the ball down and threw in and down and away enough. Overall, his aggressive attitude of, ‘ I’m going to use my stuff and locate the ball’ and challenge guys was encouraging to see.”
Tremie didn’t go so far as to say the ring ceremony inspired the team, but said he got excited.
“For me to be able to hold that trophy and touch it was a special moment,” he said.
Morimando was 0-3 with a 9.20 ERA his first three starts, but he proved last season that he belongs in the International League in going 5- 2 with a 3.51 ERA in 11 starts.
“I was just trying to make the pitches ( catcher) Erik Kratz called,” Morimando said. “I thought I battled, but the defense was awesome.”
Lehigh Valley got a home run by Rhys Hoskins with one out in the fourth that bounced off the top of the wall in left and into the grandstands. Morimando then got the next 10 batters before giving up a two-out walk in the seventh.
“I tried to limit mistakes and execute more pitches,’’ he said. “You do that and you are going to have better results. I trusted myself. That is my mound and you keep battling every pitch. I thought it was an awesome team win.’’