Batavia wins, 1-0, to put heat on Scrappers

Tuesday, August 22, 2006 Tonight, the Scrappers open a three-game set against Jamestown at Eastwood Field. By TOM WILLIAMS VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF NILES — As the New York-Penn League regular season heads into the homestretch, the six-team Pinckney Division race couldn't be much tighter. The fifth-place Batavia Muckdogs kept their postseason hopes alive Monday at Eastwood Field by blanking the first-place Scrappers, 1-0. The Muckdogs' (27-30) victory moves them to within three games of the Scrappers (31-28). Also in the hunt are Auburn (30-27), State College (30-28) and Jamestown (27-30). "We have 17 games left and it's tight with [five of the six] teams right there," said Scrappers first baseman Andy Lytle, who contributed three hits. "It's going to come right down to the wire and that's why every inning, every pitch is so important. You really have to bear down, take care of business." For a moment in the ninth inning, it appeared that Scrappers were going to tie the game when Josh Rodriguez pounded a pitch from Muckdogs reliever Raymond Cruz into deep right-center field. Not so fast At second base, Jason Denham broke for third then scrambled back when center fielder Quinton Berry tracked the ball down near the warning path. Scrappers manager Rouglas Odor was certain Rodriguez had a hit. "I never thought he was going to make the play," Odor said of Berry. "All the outfielders were playing shallow because they were trying to throw out Denham at the plate. He made an unbelievable play." Berry struck out Stephen Douglas to end the game. "It was one of those nights offensively where we didn't get the runs in that we needed to," said Lytle, who was stranded in scoring position in each of the first two innings. "We were so close — that last inning Rodriguez hit that ball but it hung up just a little too much. "That's how it goes sometimes, you don't always get the breaks," Lytle said. "But we'll bounce back, we'll be fine." Scrappers starter Luis Valdez (6-4) deserved a better fate in losing his duel with Batavia's Andrew Cruise (4-4). Valdez allowed four hits, struck out four and walked none. "Every outing, except maybe one, has been a good one," Odor said. "He hasn't won his last three outings but he's had a chance. That's baseball. Tonight, we didn't swing the bats [well]." His teammates contributed some sterling plays in the field. Denham in center field made a sliding catch of a sinking drive off the bat Joel Naughton to end the second inning. Shortstop Rodriguez left his feet to snag a hit from Zach Penprase to end the third inning. In the fifth inning, Scrappers catcher Kelly Edmondson nailed Cody Montgomery trying to steal second base. Run scored in fourth The Muckdogs scored the game's only run in the fourth inning after P.J. Antoniato led off with a double into the left-field corner. Lytle's running grab of a ball hit by Jay Miller kept Antoniato at second but Jacob Dempsey's groundout advanced him. Gus Milner hit into left field off a 2-2 pitch from Valdez produced the only run. Cruise six hits and five stranded runners. Over seven innings, Cruise allowed six hits but stranded five runners. "He was challenging hitters and did a good job of mixing pitches," Odor said of Cruise. "He worked ahead [in the count] well, with his off-speed pitches and fastball." Lytle said, "We knew he liked to keep his fastball down, use his slider and changeup." Tonight, the Scrappers open a three-game set against Jamestown at Eastwood Field. Their remaining games are all against Pinckney rivals. "It's going to be exciting," Odor said of the finish. "Anybody can make it. "We're very excited that we have a chance." williams@vindy.com BATAVIASCRAPPERS abrhbiabrhbi Penprase ss4000Davis 2b4000 Cuevas 2b0000Lytle 1b4030 Antnto 2b-ss3120Denham cf4030 Miller lf4000Realini 3b3000 Dempsey dh4010Rodriguez ss4000 Milner rf4011Douglas lf4010 Morales 1b3000Cmbrbtch rf3000 Naughton c4020Edmundson c3000 Mntgmry 3b3000Roberts dh3000 Berry cf2000 Totals31161Totals32070 Batavia000100000—1 Scrappers000000000—0 E—Montgomery (6). LOB—Batavia 6, Scrappers 6. 2B—Antoniato (4), Lytle (7). SB—Antoniato (4), Berry (13). CS—Montgomery (4), Berry (3), Lytle (2), Douglas (5). S—Realini. IPHRERBBSO Batavia Cruse W, 4-4760003 Cruz S, 2210003 Scrappers Valdez L, 6-4641104 Meyer1 1-320022 Wagner 1 2-300011 PB—Edmundson. Umpires—Home, Jason Cooksey; First, Travis Hatch. T—2:17. A—2,841. HOW THEY SCORED Batavia 4th — P.J. Antoniato doubled into the left-field corner. Jay Miller lined out to first baseman Andy Lytle. Jay Dempsey grounded out to Lytle, advancing Antoniato to third base. Gus Milner singled to left field, scoring Antoniato. Doug Morales grounded out to second baseman Adam Davis. Muckdogs 1, Scrappers 0. 1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.