Scrappers finally get offense with sharp pitching in 5-2 win

By PETE MOLLICA
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
NILES -- Mahoning Valley manager Rouglas Odor was excited Friday after his Scrappers finally produced some offense to go with the team's exceptional pitching thus far this year.
The Scrappers pounded out 10 hits and coupled with another outstanding pitching effort rolled to a 5-2 victory over the Williamsport Crosscutters, in their home opener before 6,450 fans at Eastwood Field.
Rookie pitcher Josh Tomlin, a 19th-round draft pick out of Texas Tech, made his professional debut for the Scrappers and threw three innings without allowing a hit or a run.
Only one runner reached base against Tomlin, and the 21-year-old struck out Crosscutters catcher Kristopher Watts.
But the third strike was in the dirt and Scrappers catcher Kelly Edmundson couldn't find the ball, allowing Watts to reach first.
Excellent pitching
"He [Tomlin] was outstanding in his first professional effort," Odor said. "We've got a pretty good pitching staff this year.
"Even in our two losses in Jamestown our pitchers kept us in the game and gave us a chance to win," Odor said. "It was good to see our bats come to life tonight."
Tomlin said that he was very nervous out on the mound to start the game.
"All I was trying to do was throw strikes and get outs," he said.
Tomlin was on a 55-pitch or three innings count -- he threw 37 pitches in his three innings of work.
"I felt good and probably could have gone more, but why take chances? I felt that I did pretty good tonight," Tomlin said.
Odor said that it usually takes a little longer for the hitting to catch up to the pitching.
"I'm a little surprised with our pitching, but pleasantly surprised," he said. "You get these written reports on these kids, but until you actually see them in action you really don't know much about them."
Chances to score
The Scrappers had plenty of opportunities early in the game, but scored single runs in the first and second, one on a wild pitch and the other on a Crosscutters' error.
In the first, Andy Lytle reached on an error with one out, Jason Denham singled to right and Lytle went all the way to third.
After Jared Goedert walked to load the bases, Lytle scored when Crosscutter starter Stephen MacFarland uncorked a wild pitch.
In the second, Evandy DeLeon walked to open the inning, went to second on an infield out and to third on Edmundson's single in the hole at short.
Adam Davis then hit a grounder back to MacFarland, who threw wildly to second and DeLeon scored on the play.
The Scrappers took a 3-0 lead in the fifth when Lytle and Denham opened with back-to-back singles. Lytle moved to third on a fielders choice and scored on Matt McBride's single to right.
Williamsport cuts gap
Williamsport made the game a little tighter in the sixth against reliever Luis Valdez, who had pitched two perfect innings of relief.
John Peabody opened with a single and after Watts struck out, Angel Gonzalez singled home Peabody.
Greg Picart doubled to right with Gonzalez moving to third and he then scored on a wild pitch by Valdez.
Chris Cooper, on rehab assignment from Buffalo, pitched a scoreless seventh inning and Jason Schutt pitched the final two innings without allowing a hit.
Mahoning Valley got some breathing room in the eighth inning when Cumberbatch led off with a single and one out later scored when rookie second baseman Dustin Realini ripped a two-run home run into deep left field.
Denham, McBride, Realini and Edmundson all had two hits.
The two teams will meet again tonight in the second game of the three-game series at 7:05 at Eastwood Field.
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CROSSCUTTERSSCRAPPERS
abrhbiabrhbi
Gonzalez 3b4110Davis ss5001
Picart ss4011Lytle 1b5210
Ford dh4000Denham cf4020
Durtham cf4000Goedert 3b3010
Smith rf4000McBride dh4111
Hicks lf4000Cumbrbach dh4020
Negych 2b4010DeLeon lf2100
Peabody 1b3110Realini 2b4122
wells c3000Edmundson c3020
Totals34241Totals345111
Williamsport000002000--2
Scrappers11001002x--5
E--Picart, McFarland; E. Davis, Realini. DP--Williamsport 1, LOB--Williamsport 5, Scrappers 8. 2B--Picart, Edmundsson. Hr--Realini
IPHRERBBSO
Williamsport
McFarland (L 0-1)222122Crotta351103
Molleken342201
Scrappers
Tomlin300050
Valdez (W 1-0)322050
Cooper 1.210010
Schutt (S 1)1.100001
Umpires--Home, Jimmy Volpi; First, Jordan Baker T--2:329. A--6,450.
HOW THEY SCORED
SCRAPPERS 5, CROSSCUTTERS 2
FIRST INNING
Scrappers -- Adam Davis grounded out; Andy Lytle reached on an error at shortstop; Jason Denham singled to right, Lytle tooo third. Jared Goedert walked to load bases; Lytle scored on a wild pitch; Matt McBride popped out; Cirillo Cumberbatch struckout. 1 run, 1 hit, 1 error 2 LOB. Scrappers 1, Crosscutters 0
SECOND INNING
Scrappers -- Evandy DeLeon walked; Dustin Realini grounded out, DeLeon to second; Kelly Edmundson singled to left, DeLeon to third; Davis reached on an error by pitcher, DeLeon scored, Edmundson to second. Lytle struckout; Denham popped out. 1 run, 1 hit, 1 error, 2 LOB; Scrappers 2, Crosscutters 0.
FIFTH INNING
Scrappers -- Lytle singled to left; Denham singled to right, Lytle to second; Goedert reached on a fielders choice, Denham out at second, Lytle to third; McBride singled to right, Lytle scoring, Goedert to second. Cumberbatch popped out; DeLeon flied out to right. 1 run, 3 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB; Scrappers 3, Crosscutters 0.
SIXTH INNING
Crosscutters -- John Peabody singled up middle; Peabody to second on wild pitch; Kris Watts struckout; Angel Gonzalez singled to right, Peabody scored; Greg Picart doubled to right, Gonzalez to third; Gonzalez scored on wild pitch; Shelby Ford struckout; Miles Durham grounded out. 2 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB; Scrappers 3, Crosscutters 2.
EIGHTH INNING
Scrappers -- Cumberbatch singled to left; DeLeon sacrifice bunt, Cumberbatch to second; Dustin Realini homered to deep left field, Cumberbatch scored; Edmundson doubles to left; Davis grounds out; Lytle flies out; 2 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB; Scrappers 5, Crosscutters 2.