Scrappers' bats are silent in 4-1 loss to Crosscutters

Mahoning Valley suffered its third straight loss.
By BILL ALBRIGHT
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. -- The Williamsport Crosscutters combined tough pitching with timely hitting to defeat the Mahoning Valley Scrappers, 4-1, Thursday at Bowman Field.
Offensively, the Cutters amassed nine hits, while the combined efforts of four pitchers only allowed the Scrappers four hits while striking out nine.
"They played a good ball game and they had good pitchers on the mound," Scrappers manager Rouglas Odor said. "I wouldn't say that we didn't swing the bats well.
"We just had some hard hit balls either right at them or without runners in scoring position, except for the first inning and we didn't do any damage," Odor said.
Cutters score first
The Cutters struck quickly as they took a 1-0 run in the first inning.
Angel Gonzalez singled to right, moved to third on a single to right by James Negrych and when the Scrappers were slow in getting the ball into the infield, Gonzalez took off for home and beat the throw.
"The grass here is high and they know that," Odor said. "We saw that same thing in batting practice. He [Gonzalez] ran hard all the way from first to third and when he saw the opportunity to score, he did.
"I don't think the rightfielder [Cirillo Cumberbatch] and Andy [Lytle] at second thought he was going to score," Odor said. "Each of them took an extra split second and that was all he needed."
After Scrappers pitcher William Delage handcuffed the Cutters for five straight strikeouts, Williamsport got their bats going again in the third inning as they scored a pair of runs.
Picking up the big hits were A. J. Johnson on a single, Gonzalez with a double and Negrych with a two-run single.
Mahoning Valley took advantage of a two-base error charged to Williamsport left fielder Joe Hicks and a sharp single to right to score their only run.
SCRAPPERSCROSSCUTTERS
abrhbiabrhbi
Davis, ss3010Gonzalez ss4230
Lytle 2b4021Negrych 2b4033
Goedert 3b4010Peralta 3b4000
McBride dh4000Durham.rf4000
Realini 1b4000Presley.cf4000
Edmundson c4000Hicks lf3000
Cumbrbtch rf3100Smith dh4010
Douglas lf3000Peabody 1b3010
DeLeon cf3000Johnson c3210
Totals32141Totals33493
Scrappers000010000--1
Crosscutters10201000x--4
E--Edmundson, Peabody, Hicks; DP--Scrappers 1; LOB--Scrappers 6, Crosscutters 6; 2B--Gonzalez, Negrych;.
IPHRERBBSO
Scrappers
Delage (L, 0-1)453307Valdez241103
Miltenberger100001
Wagner100011
Crosscutters
Felix430005
Benoit (W, 1-0)311021
Heisel100002
Astacio (S, 2)1.00001
WP--Felix; Umpires--Home, Jason Cooksey; First, Travis Hatch; T--2:31. A--1,086.
HOW THEY SCORED
CROSSCUTTERS 4, SCRAPPER 1
FIRST INNING
Crosscutters -- Angel R. Gonzalez singles to center field. James Negrych singles to right field and Gonzalez scores on the throw. Negrych takes second on a passed ball. Alexander Peralta strikes out. Miles Durham strikes out. Alexander Presley called out on strikes. 1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOP. Crosscutters 1, Scrappers 0.
THIRD INNING
Crosscutters -- A. J. Johnson singles on a line drive to left field. Gonzalez doubles to left field, sending Johnson to third. Negrych singles to right field, Johnson and Gonzalez score. Peralta grounds into double play. Miles Durham grounds out. 2 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Crosscutters 3, Scrappers 0.
FIFTH INNING
Scrappers -- Cirilo Cumberbatch reaches second base on fielding error by left fielder Joe Hicks. Stephen Douglas grounds out. Evandy De Leon flies out to left fielder Joe Hicks. Adam Davis walks. Andrew Lytle singles on a ground ball to right field, Cumberbatch scores and advanced to third base. Jared Goedert flies out to left field. 1 run, 1 hit, 1 error, 1 LOB. Crosscutters 3, Scrappers 1
Crosscutters --John Peabody singles to center field. Johnson grounds into a force out. Gonzalez singles on a line drive to left field and Johnson takes second base. Negrych doubles to left field, Johnson scores and Gonzalez takes third base. Peralta grounds out. Durham strikes out. 1 run, 3 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB. Crosscutters 4, Scrappers 1.