Monday, July 18, 2005
Two long rain delays and a weakened bullpen led to a 14-5 defeat.
NILES -- A couple of one-hour rain delays along with a depleted bullpen proved costly to the Mahoning Valley Scrappers Sunday at Eastwood Field.
The Scrappers took a 3-1 lead after six innings, but the Lowell Spinners took advantage of the Mahoning Valley bullpen and scored 13 runs over the final three innings to roll to a 14-5 victory.
The defeat snapped a two-game winning streak for the Scrappers (13-13) and put them back to .500.
Five-hour contest
The contest took more than five hours to complete. The first rain delay came in the second inning and the second in the bottom of the fourth.
The Scrappers held their own through the delays, but the bullpen, which has been overworked in recent games, was depleted to the point where catcher Mike Woodson was called on to pitch the ninth inning.
Mahoning Valley took a 1-0 lead in the first inning without getting a hit as Jose Constanza was hit by a pitch, went to second on a wild pitch, third on a groundout and scored on another wild pitch by Spinner starting pitcher Ryan Phillips.
Scrappers led 3-0
The Scrappers made it 3-0 in the fourth inning when Omar Casillas and Andy Lytle each came through with RBI singles.
Mahoning Valley starting pitcher Ryan Edell pitched well, holding the Spinners scoreless through four innings.
Mark Jecmen came on in the fifth and walked the first two batters he faced before allowing the Spinners' first run, which also came without a hit.
Lowell takes lead
Josh Kite came on in the sixth and retired the Spinners in order, but then was tagged for three runs in the seventh as Lowell took the lead 4-3 on only one base hit, along with a pair of walks and a hit batsman.
Nelson Hiraldo pitched the eighth inning and was tagged for six runs and four hits, including a three-run double by Yahmed Yema.
Forced into action
Woodson was forced into pitching the ninth inning and allowed four more runs. He gave up only one hit, but he hit two batters, walked another and the Scrappers made their third error of the game.
Derrick Peterson had a two-run double in the eighth inning for the Scrappers' other runs. Trevor Mortensen also had a double as the Scrappers were held to just five hits.
The two teams wind up the three game series, which is now tied at 1-1, today in a 12:05 p.m. start at Eastwood Field.