Scrappers stagger in 10th to Oneonta

NILES -- Oneonta Tigers rallied for three runs in the top of the 10th inning and handed the Mahoning Valley Scrappers a 7-3 loss Saturday night at Eastwood Field.
Once again, the Scrappers got little help from their bullpen as relievers Nelson Hiraldo and Matt Loberg just couldn't get the Tigers out in the 10th inning.
Mahoning Valley, losing its second straight, dropped to 10-9 on the season, dropping the first of a three-game series with the Tigers, who lead the Stedler Division of the New York-Penn League with a 12-4 record.
The Scrappers took a 2-1 lead early with the help of Stephen Head's fifth home run of the season.
Oneonta scored twice in the eighth inning to pull ahead 3-2, but the Scrappers came back in the bottom half of the inning to deadlock the contest.
Tying run
Matt Fornasiere came through with the big hit as he doubled to left field scoring Jose Constanza with the tying run.
Mark Jecmen, who pitched the eighth and ninth innings after taking over for starting pitcher Jim Deters, retired the Tigers in order in the ninth, but the Scrappers could do nothing IN their half of the inning.
Hiraldo came on to pitch the 10th inning but immediately got into trouble giving up back-to-back doubles to start the inning and also had a balk and a walk before Matt Loberg came on to relieve him.
Loberg had control problems also walking a pair as the Tigers scored three more times to take the 7-3 lead.
Mahoning Valley then was retired in order in the bottom of the 10th.
Fornasiere led the Scrappers eight-hit attack with a pair of safeties including the RBI double.
The second game of the series will be played today at 2:05 p.m. at Eastwood Field.