Scrappers one win away from clinching playoffs

Mahoning Valley beat Batavia 4-2 to take the wild card lead.
BATAVIA, N.Y. -- If the New York-Penn League season ended this morning, the Mahoning Valley Scrappers would be in the playoffs.
The Scrappers rode a strong combined pitching performance by Aaron Laffey, Roger Lincoln and Mark Harris to a 4-2 win over the Batavia Muckdogs on Friday at Dwyer Stadium.
The Scrappers (41-34, .547) took over first place in the NYPL's wild card race with the victory.
Hudson Valley (38-33, .535), which had a slight lead in the race entering play Friday, lost at Brooklyn 7-1 and fell into third place.
New Jersey (40-34, .541) moved into second place in the standings with a 4-0 win over Aberdeen.
Each of the three teams still in contention for the wild card has one game remaining.
Tonight's action
Tonight the Scrappers play at Batavia, New Jersey plays host to Aberdeen and Hudson Valley is at Brooklyn.
The tie-breaker is based on winning percentage.
The Scrappers will sew up the postseason position if they win their game tonight.
Mahoning Valley would also advance if New Jersey, Hudson Valley and the Scrappers all lose.
If the Scrappers win the wild card race, they would open the playoffs at home Monday against Auburn.
Laffey (3-1) pitched a three-hitter for the first six innings and exited with a 1-0 lead.
Laffey (1.24 earned-run average) struck out six and walked just two.
Lincoln replaced Laffey and saw the Scrappers take a 4-0 lead in the eighth inning.
Harris came on for the final out and notched his 15th save.
Leading hitters
Mike Butia and Wyatt Toregas each had two hits for the Scrappers.
In the top of the sixth inning Toregas singled in Brian Finegan for a 1-0 lead.
Brett Parker walked to lead off the seventh and Fernando Pacheco followed with a double to right, scoring Parker with the second run.
Finegan and Butia singled in the eighth inning. Toregas doubled to left scoring both base runners for a 4-0 advantage.
The Muckdogs scored their two runs in the ninth to chase Lincoln, but Harris was up to the task.
If the Scrappers are in the playoffs Monday, gates would open at 6 p.m. with the first pitch at 7:05 p.m.
A post-game fireworks show is also planned. Advanced tickets are available at Eastwood Field or by calling (330) 505-0000.
SCRAPPERSBATAVIA
abrhbiabrhbi
Reyes cf5000Gamble cf4010
Finegan ss3210Hardy ss4010
Gimenez 3b2000Frith rf3000
Butia dh4120Shimer 1b3000
Toregas c3022Jaramillo c4110
Montgomery lf4000Galloway dh4121
Parker 2b3100Orr 3b4011
Pacheco 1b4000Crosland lf4000
Encarnacion rf4000Buffone 2b3010
Totals32452Totals33272
Mahoning Valley000001120--4
Batavia000000002--2
E--Shimer, Jaramillo. LOB--Scrappers 6, Batavia 6. 2B--Toregas, Gamble. 3B--Galloway. SB--Frith. CS--Galloway.
IPHRERBBSO
Scrappers
Laffey W, 3-1630026
Lincoln2 2-342202
Harris S, 151-300000
Batavia
Happ510023
Martinez L, 0-2212022
Allen232201
PB--Jaramillo. HBP--by Happ (Finegan). T--2:20. A--1,048.