Lytle perfect at plate in 7-1 win

The Scrappers used another 12-hit performance to post their second-straight victory.
By PETE MOLLICA
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
NILES -- Patience has paid big dividends for 23-year-old Andy Lytle, and the Mahoning Valley Scrappers are reaping those dividends.
Lytle had a perfect night at the plate Monday by going four-for-four with an RBI, and the Scrappers rode their second straight 12-hit performance to a 7-1 victory over the State College Spikes before 3,741 fans at Eastwood Field.
Lytle improved his season average to .467 with his performance, and into one of the top three spots in the New York-Penn League's batting race.
The Scrappers put together their first winning streak of the season and improved to 4-3.
"It's just been incredible these last couple of weeks," Lytle said. "I'm seeing the ball very well, but the difference between this year and last year is that I've been more patient at the plate.
"It's just so great to see this team come together right now, with good hitting and great pitching," Lytle said. "It's just so much more fun to play when you are playing like we are."
Broke open game again
Once again, the Scrappers broke open a close game with a four-run rally in the sixth inning, but the way the pitching staff has been performing this season, the 3-1 lead early was all they really needed.
J.D. Martin, on rehabilitation assignment from the Akron Aeros, made his second start of the year and pitched three scoreless innings, striking out a pair and walking none.
Winning pitcher Matt Meyer came on and allowed the Spikes their only run while issuing four of the six base on balls the Scrappers allowed.
Luis Valdez threw two scoreless innings while striking out five, and Neil Wagner pitched the ninth.
"Our pitching staff has just been unbelievable no matter who's in there," manager Rouglas Odor said. "We knew from our first game that we had a pretty good staff and they haven't let up at all since then."
Likes the hitting, too
Odor also is impressed with the team's hitting.
"The thing that I'm really impressed with is the discipline that these kids are showing at the plate right now," Odor said.
"Almost every time they swing the bat it's at a pitch in the strike zone."
Odor also knows that he has four starters who are rehabilitation assignment, and that at any time they could be called back to their original team.
The Scrappers got on the board first in the second inning when Dustin Realini led off with his second home run of the season over the left-center field fence.
Mahoning Valley made it 3-0 in the fifth when Cirilo Cumberbatch led off with a walk, and went to third on Evandy DeLeon's double down the left field line.
Cumberbatch scored when Adam Davis grounded out and DeLeon scored on Lytle's third hit of the game, an infield single.
State College (2-4) scored its only run in the sixth on a walk and an RBI double by Nathan Southerd.
Hits delivered in sixth
In the bottom of the sixth, the Scrappers unloaded with four hits including a two-run triple by DeLeon, while Josh Roberts also had an RBI single.
In addition to Lytle's four singles, the Scrappers also had two hits by DeLeon, who is 4-for-7 the last two games after going 0-for-14 to open the season. Roberts also had a pair of singles.
The two teams will meet in the second game of the series tonight at 7:05 at Eastwood Field. Former Marietta College standout Michael Eisenberg will make his second start for the Scrappers.
SPIKESSCRAPPERS
abrhbiabrhbi
Southard cf4011Davis ss4001
Carter fr4010Lytle dh4041
Hamilton 1b4010Goedert cf4010
Wilkerson dh2000Edmundson.c4110
Morris 3b4000Realini 2b4111
Sivira lf4010Douglas lf4010
Car;enter c3000Crumbrbch rf3200
Salazar ss2000Roberts 1b4121
Sandoval 2b3100DeLeon cf4222
Totals30141Totals357126
State College000001000--1
Scrappers01002400x--7
E--Salazar, Martin. DP--State College 1, LOB--State College 8, Mahoning Valey 5. 2B--Southard, DeLeon. 3B.--DeLeon Hr--Realini
IPHRERBBSO
Spikes
Parrott (L 0-1)311031Lane386500
Sauceda110000
Scrappers
Martin310000
Meyer (W 1-0)2.211141
Valdez 2.1220050
Schutt (S 1)1.00020
Umpires--Home, Jordan Baker; First, Jimmy Volpi T--2:14. A--3,741.
HOW THEY SCORED
SCRAPPERS 7, SPIKES 1
SECOND INNING
Scrappers -- Dustin Realini homered to left-center field; Stephen Douglas flied out; Cirillo Cumberbatch flied out; Josh Roberts struckout. 1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 LOB; Scrappers 1, Spikes 0.
FIFTH INNING
Scrappers -- Cumberbatch walked; Roberts flied out; Evandy DeLeon doubled down left field line, Cumberbatch to third; Adam Davis grounded out to short, Cumberbatch scoring, DeLeon to third; Andy Lytle infield single to shortstop, DeLeon scoring; Lytle to second on wild pitch; Jared Goedert grounded out. 2 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB; Scrappers 3, Spikes 0.
SIXTH INNING
Spikes -- William Sandoval walked; Nathan Southerd doubled to centerfield, Sandoval scoring; Charles Carter struckout; Mark Hamilton flied out; Matt Wilkerson walked; Adam Morris struckout. 1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 2 LOB; Scrappers 3, Spikes 1.
Scrappers -- Kelly Edmundson singled to left; Dustin Realini flied out; Stephen Douglass singled to right, Edmundson to second; Cumberbatch reached on a fielders choice, Douglass out at second, Edmundson to third; Roberts singled to right, Edmundson scoring, Cumberbatch to second; DeLeon tripled to right, Cumberbatch and Roberts scoring, DeLeon scored on an error on the shortstop; Adam Davis grounded out. 4 runs, 4 hits, 1 error, 0 LOB. Scrappers 7, Spikes 1.