Errors prove costly as 'Cutters win, 6-1

The teams play the finale of the three-game series today at Eastwood Field.
By CHUCK HOUSTEAU
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
NILES -- The Mahoning Valley Scrappers struggled in the field and on the basepaths in dropping a 6-1 decision to the Williamsport Crosscutters Saturday to even the three-game series at a victory apiece.
The Scrappers committed three crucial errors -- all but one of the Crosscutters' runs were unearned -- hit into three double plays, which ended scoring threats for the Scrappers (2-3).
The teams play at 1:05 p.m. today at Eastwood Field.
Williamsport's Shelby Ford had three hits and Kent Sakamoto had two RBIs to lead the Crosscutters' 11-hit attack.
Taking control
The Crosscutters (2-2) scored three runs in the fifth inning to break open a scoreless tie and held on behind strong pitching performances by a trio of hurlers to grab the win.
Williamsport's Michael Felix pitched four strong innings but reliever Basillio Alvarez got the win by pitching the fifth and sixth innings. Charles Benoit earned the save for the Crosscutters by pitching the final three innings.
Williamsport's winning rally began after the Crosscutters loaded the bases on three singles with only one out. Kris Watts scored the first run of the game when he came home on an RBI fielder's choice by Sakamoto.
The Scrappers seemed to avoid any more trouble in the inning when Alexander Peralta hit a fly ball to left that was dropped by Evandy DeLeon and allowed two unearned runs to score.
Williamsport tacked on another run in the sixth without the benefit of a hit. Joe Hicks reached first base on an error and proceeded to steal second and third base before scoring an unearned run on a wild pitch that gave the Crosscutters a four run lead.
In the top of the seventh, Williamsport scored after James Barksdale reached first on a throwing error by Scrappers' shortstop Adam Davis. Barksdale moved to third on a double by Shelby Ford and scored on a broken-bat single by Alexander Peralta.
Williamsport tallied their final run in the ninth on a single by Barksdale, a stolen base and a single by Sakamota.
Mahoning Valley scored its only run in the eighth after Kelly Edmundson doubled and scored on an RBI single by Josh Roberts.
Andy Lytle had two hits for the Scrappers while Jared Goedert also had a double.
Mahoning Valley starter William DeLage allowed four hits and no runs in his three innings of work. Derrick Loop suffered the loss for the Scrappers.