AquaSox notes: No more ‘piggy-back’ starts for McClain

Published 7:00 pm Thursday, July 28, 2016

EVERETT — It seems that Everett AquaSox pitcher Reggie McClain was born to be a starting pitcher.

While the right-hander out of the University of Missouri has an 0-2 record and a 5.55 earned-run average overall, he’s been essentially two different pitchers depending on whether he starts a game or comes out of the bullpen as part of a “piggy-back” start.

The piggy-back start is a common practice on low-level minor league teams where one starter will go the first four innings before yielding to another starting pitcher.

Though meant to simulate a start for the second pitcher, McClain nevertheless has allowed 14 hits and 10 earned runs in 91⁄3 innings for an ERA of 9.64 out of the bullpen.

As a starter, however, McClain has struck out 23 and allowed just five earned runs and nine hits in 15 innings for an ERA of 3.00.

“It’s kind of the piggy-back situation that I’ve been struggling with, when I’m on the back end,” McClain said Wednesday. “Starting is my thing. I love being there and throwing the first pitch of every game. It’s what I do.”

If you toss out his first start, in which he allowed four earned runs in two innings, the difference becomes more stark. In his three starts since, he’s struck out 21 hitters in 13 innings and allowed five hits and one earned run for an ERA of 0.69.

On Wednesday he fanned six while scattering three hits and allowing one run in a five-inning no-decision. He has not walked a batter as a starter and has only two walks in 24 1/3 innings all season.

“I’ve always been a starter my whole life and it seems like every time I start I have a good outing,” McClain said. “They got me in the starting role now, hopefully till the end of the season, so hopefully I can continue to put good performances together.”

Brentz moved to bullpen

Everett left-hander Jake Brentz has been shifted to the bullpen for the time being, AquaSox manager Rob Mummau confirmed.

That shift will enable both McClain and Thursday’s starter Matt Festa, who had been piggy-backing starts with McClain, to each start their own games.

That means the only remaining piggy-back situation will be Danny Garcia and Tim Viehoff.

Ojeda making quick impact

The loss of first-round draft pick and star center fielder Kyle Lewis for the season created a hole for another outfielder, and so far Dimas Ojeda is filling the void nicely.

In six games since being called up from the Arizona Mariners on the last road trip, Ojeda is hitting .357/.379/.464 with a home run and three RBI in 28 at-bats.

Ojeda had never played outfield prior to this season.

“My whole life I’ve played first base and it wasn’t until my second year of college where they were thinking of putting me in left field to keep more bats in the lineup,” Ojeda said. “I’ve only been playing outfield since March of this year.”

On Wednesday Ojeda, who hits and throws left-handed, got the start at first base and moved to left field for the final two innings after Nick Thurman came on to pinch hit and stayed in the game at first.

“(The Mariners) see me as more of an outfielder,” Ojeda said. “They say I have a lot of room to grow in the outfield because I don’t have any bad habits because I haven’t played there, so they can work with me.”

Moyer joins Everett roster

A quick glance at the AquaSox roster reveals a familiar name.

That would be Dillon Moyer, the son of legendary Seattle Mariners pitcher Jamie Moyer. The younger Moyer signed with the M’s earlier this week as a minor-league free agent.

Originally drafted by the Dodgers as a shortstop in the 38th round of the 2013 draft, Moyer is attempting to make the transition to pitcher.

“I would say being in control all the time (is the toughest part),” Moyer said. “At shortstop you’re just reacting. When you’re pitching you have to think ahead, think about what pitch you just threw and think about what you want to do next. It’s just kind of a ‘more intense every pitch’ position.”

Moyer’s first pitching appearance came in a blowout loss last season when he was with the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes. He had a 1-0 mark and a 2.25 ERA in four appearances last season, and a 1-0 mark with a 9.00 ERA in five appearances this season for Ogden of the rookie-level Pioneer League.

Born in 1991, Moyer spent the majority of his formative years in Seattle where Jamie won 145 games in 11 seasons.

“It was a blast, being in the clubhouse,” Moyer said. “I have a lot of good memories here at Safeco Field, hitting on the field, taking ground balls with him. It was a really cool childhood.”

For the latest AquaSox news follow Jesse Geleynse on Twitter @jessegeleynse.