BRISTOL, Va. – Bristol White Sox relief pitcher Chase Cooney couldn’t suppress a smile on Friday night when discussing the team’s starting rotation.
“They’ve been absolutely dealing,” Cooney said. “The way we’re playing this year is impressive.”
Starter Darwin Matos and two relievers combined on a six-hitter as the BriSox claimed a 5-2 Appalachian League victory over the Princeton Rays at DeVault Stadium.
Bristol (2-2) has received at least five innings from its starters through the first four games. Matos scattered two runs on six hits and registered six strikeouts in his solid six-inning performance on Friday.
“Our starters have been fantastic so far,” said BriSox manager Ryan Newman. “These guys are throwing strikes, getting ahead and giving us a chance every night.”
The bullpen wasn’t too shabby either.
Kevin Rath followed Matos with two shutout innings of relief and Cooney worked a perfect ninth for his first professional save.
“It feels good,” Cooney said. “Real good.”
Meanwhile, Bristol hammered out nine hits at the plate, including two apiece from Drew Lee, Jose Martinez and John Spatola.
“I like what I see now on both sides of the ball,” Newman said.
Lee’s double down the right-field line in the fifth inning snapped a 2-2 tie and put Bristol ahead for good. The second baseman has compiled a .389 batting average thus far.
Meanwhile, Spatola continued his torrid pace and smacked a booming RBI double in the seventh inning.
Spatola was initially a walk-on at Boston College but progressed into one of the Atlantic Coast Conference’s top hitters. He smashed 17 home runs this past season for the Eagles.
He’s hitting .455 (5-for-11) thus far for the BriSox.
“He’s come in here with a lot of confidence and has been driving the ball off the wall,” Newman said. “It’s nice to see.”
Spatola said seeing the likes of Miami, Virginia and Florida State during his time at BC has helped him prepare for the rigors of the Appy League.
“The ACC – that’s as good as a college conference as you can get,” Spatola said. “I think it prepared me pretty well. For the most part, the ACC sets you up pretty well for this level
and hopefully, beyond.”
NOTES: Right-hander Jacob Petricka, who was a second-round pick by the Chicago White Sox in the MLB Amateur Draft, will start for Bristol tonight against Princeton. It will mark his professional debut. … Leadoff hitter Kevin Kiermaier collected two hits for Princeton.
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