NEW YORK-PENN LEAGUE Scrappers' Pacheco gets hit, then gets even

Lost in the first bench-clearing incident of the year was a fine pitching job by Aaron Laffey.
By BILL SULLIVAN
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
NILES -- Fernando Pacheco made them pay.
Sandwiched between a pair of doubles, the Mahoning Valley Scrappers first baseman was hit by pitches twice, the second time resulting in a bench-clearing incident.
No ejections resulted from the situation and the Scrappers went on to beat the Jamestown Jammers 10-4 Monday.
With one out in the second inning of a scoreless game, Pacheco came to the plate with the bases loaded. His pop-up in foul territory was dropped, giving him new life.
Double No. 1
He drove the next pitch to deep center field for a 2-0 lead. Before the inning was over the Scrappers (33-31) had five hits and a 5-0 lead.
Jamestown (24-37) cut the deficit to 5-3 in the third but Mahoning Valley batted around in its half of the frame to take a 9-3 front.
During the rally, Pacheco was hit by a pitch, loading the bases. He came around to score his second run of the game.
"The first one, I took it like it was normal," Pacheco said. "It was high and tight and I just took it."
Then, in the fourth inning, Pacheco came up to bat for the third time and the same Jamestown pitcher, Chris Mobley, hit him again.
"The second time he rushed me on the pitch before," Pacheco said. "I didn't really like that because he had a base open.
"With a runner on second and third, two outs, he had a base open. I just said, if he's going to walk me, make it intentional. I don't really like getting hit.
"He hit me right on the ribs."
Call to arms
After starting toward first, Pacheco turned to the mound and players began streaming on the infield from all corners of Eastwood Field.
"I went up there because I thought he had a problem with me," Pacheco said of his discussion with the pitcher.
"If he wants to say something to me, it's OK."
By this time the two umpires were out-numbered about 50-2 but no punches were thrown.
"The catcher told me it wasn't intentional," Pacheco said. "I'm glad about my teammates -- they backed me up, and my manager as well. They had my back."
Pacheco doubled again in the seventh inning to cap a strange 2-for-2 night, then scored his third run of the game.
"The second time he got hit, I think Fernando had a good reason to get upset," Scrappers' manager Mike Sarbaugh said.
Winner's effort
Lost in the first bench-clearing incident of the year was a fine pitching job by Aaron Laffey (2-1).
He went six innings, allowing just five hits. With six strikeouts, Laffey now has 21 strikeouts and just seven walks this year.
"When you pitch like that, you have a good chance to win a game," Sarbaugh said.
Chris Gimenez added three hits, including a double, while Brian Finegan drove in three runs and Teo Encarnacion added two singles and two RBIs.