Lima’s Jayden Jerger came into this summer season looking to improve his game and help the Locos win games and the Defiance product is doing both.
Jerger, who pitches for Ohio University, improved to 2-0 by pitching five innings of two-hit ball and no run ball in relief to help the Locos to a 7-5 win Friday night against Jet Box.
Jerger finished with six strikeouts and no walks.
In four games and 18 innings of work, Jerger has yet to give up an earned run this year and has fanned 18 and walked one. He has not surrendered a base on balls in his last three outings.
Jerger was tabbed Great Lake Collegiate Summer League’s pitcher of the week already this year but he said the personal accolades are set aside for now as he continues to work on his game.
“I am so far,” said Jerger about what he wants to accomplish with the Locos. “I don’t want to talk about stats and runs but I am so far. My goal is to try and throw harder and harder as times go on. I just try to be better and better each time.”
With the win the Locos, who lost to Jet Box 10-6 Thursday night, upped their overall record to 10-3. Jet Box falls to 2-10 for the year.
“Jaden Jerger did what he has been doing all summers and that is throwing zeroes,” Lima manager Chad Ehrnsberger said. “I felt good with the lead knowing he was coming in.”
Ehrnsberger praised Jerger and the entire Locos’ pitching staff. The Locos have given up five or more runs in just five games. Coincidentally, three of those resulted in losses.
“For the most part they have done a great job,” Ehrnsberger said. “There have been a couple of games where they got a little sloppy but I tell pitchers at any level that if you can throw multiple pitches for strikes in any count you are going to have a lot of success and that is what Jaden is doing.
“He (Jerger) is mixing up his pitches and the hitters have no idea what to look for because he is throwing a lot of first-pitch off-speed. He is just keeping them off balance. When our pitchers get in trouble and it’s when they are only throwing strikes with one pitch or just falling behind.”
In a game that started as though it were going to be a slugfest with both teams combining for 11 runs turned into a pitchers duel for the final seven frames as only one more run, by the Locos in the seventh inning, and Jet Box shut down by Jerger and some solid defensive play.
Jerger entered the game in the fifth inning, with a 6-5 lead, in relief of starter Reese Bassinger, who shook off a rocky first two innings to hold Jet Box scoreless the next two frames.
“We kind of started off with a rough inning and Reese is a great pitcher and he got himself in a little funk and obviously he got out of it,” Jerger said. “We only won by two and without him throwing those two zeroes for the rest of his outing it might have been a whole different ball game.”
Jerger, who also gave credit to the team’s defense, admitted his velocity has been down a little but said he trusted the team’s defense and throwing strikes.
“This time and the last time all three of my pitches, my curveball, fastball and change-up have been working. My velo was a little down today but everything else I was able to throw for a strike and throw where I wanted which is good but as I said my velo was down by two or three (mph) when you are throwing strikes and putting it where you want. That’s all that matters and it felt good.”
The modest Jerger said he is enjoying this season and gives his teammates props for their support and making the summer fun.
Offensively, the Locos provided all the pitching staff would need in the first frame when the club exploded for six runs on five hits and three walks, highlighted by a Landon Underhill triple to drive in the team’s first two runs, followed by singles for Cade Belyeu, Jack Porter and Justin Rumfield that drove in two runs.
“It’s always great when you can come out and score six in the first inning,” Ehrnsberger said. “We had some great at bats in there. Unfortunately we gave up runs in the first couple of innings but it is always good to see your team come back and score when the other team scores first.”
For the game, Underhill went 2 or 4 with 2 RBI and a run scored and Belyeu was 2 for 3 with 2 runs.
Reach Jose Nogueras at 567-242-0468.
