Scrappers win, remain four games back of first

Joanniel Montero (7-2) won his seventh game of the season, which ties him for the league lead in wins.

By STEVE RUMAN

VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT

NILES — Football was in the air Saturday at Eastwood Field as the Mahoning Valley Scrappers hosted Browns versus Steelers Night.

The Scrappers played along with the theme, scoring a touchdown’s worth of runs in a 6-1 win over Jamestown in front of 3,588 fans. The win kept the Scrappers four games behind Auburn in the Pinckney Division of the New York-Penn League.

After Jamestown starter Alejandro Sanabia retired the first six Mahoning Valley batters in order, the Scrappers broke through with three runs in the third inning.

How it was done

Nick Petrucci and Osiel Flores led off the frame with back-to-back doubles. Flores’ shot, which rolled to the wall in right, scored Petrucci. Cristo Arnal followed with a run-producing single, then after Arnal advanced to second on a passed ball, he scored on a Mark Thompson base hit.

The Scrappers added a pair of runs in the fifth. This time, all the damage was done after the first two men of the inning were retired.

Thompson got the rally started with a double to the gap in left-center. Jansy Infante followed with a single that was kept in the infield by Jammers second baseman Rigoberto Silverio. However, Silverio committed an error on the play, which prompted Thompson to score and Infante to advance to second.

Infante then scored when Nash rapped a double down the left field line.

Meanwhile, Scrappers starter Joanniel Montero cruised through the first five innings, scattering just three hits before the Jammers broke through in the sixth on a Bryan Peterson solo home run.

Rain delay

Montero went on to pitch a scoreless sixth, then was lifted after a line of rain showers caused a 21-minute delay. The righty surrendered just four hits and struck out four while lowering his earned run average to 2.67.

Montero (7-2) also won his seventh game of the season, which ties him for the league-lead in wins.

“Joanniel has done a great job as of late. He’s been very consistent,” said Scrappers manager Tim Laker. “He was jumping in and out of the rotation in the early part of the season, but since he’s been put in it for good, he’s been real solid.”

The Scrappers tacked on their final run the game in the seventh. White led off the inning with a bunt single, stole second, and scored on a Thompson single.

Thompson finished the night 3-for-4 with a double and two RBI.

“Though his numbers don’t show it yet, Mark has been swinging a really good bat lately,” Laker said. “Earlier this summer, he struggled to get the ball out of the infield. Now he’s driving the ball and he always seems to get quality at-bats.”

Thompson said he is especially happy with the way his team has responded after suffering several heartbreaking losses earlier this week.

Long season

“It’s a long season, and I think we all realize you’re going to lose a few tough ones along the way,” Thompson said. “But we’ve put the losses behind us and moved forward. That’s the sign of a team with character.”

“I was happy to contribute tonight. It seems as though a different guy is stepping up each night we win, so I guess tonight was my turn.”

Following the rain delay, three Scrappers relievers — Vinnie Pestano, Daniel Morales and Dallas Cawiezell — each pitched a scoreless inning. The Jammers were limited to just five hits on the night.

———

JAMESTOWNSCRAPPERS

abrhbiabrhbi

Jacobs cf3000White cf3110

Peterson rf4111Thompson ss4132

Anetsberger 3b3010Infante 3b3110

Lasater 1b4000Nash 1b2011

Kaats lf4000Jenkins rf4000

Crockett dh4020Castillo c4000

Belcher c3010Petrucci lf4120

Waters ss4000Flores dh3111

Silverio 2b3000Arnal 2b4111

Totals32151Totals316105

Jamestown000001000—1

Scrappers00302010x—6

E—Waters (8). DP—Jamestown 1. LOB—Jamestown 7, Scrappers 7. 2B—Anetsberger (8), Belcher (2), Petrucci (6), Flores (1), Thompson (6), Nash (2). HR—Peterson (4). SB—White (21). CS—White (6).

IPHRERBBSO

Jamestown

Sanabia L, 1-64 2-375512

Battisto1 1-300013

Alsup231120

Scrappers

Montero W, 7-2641115

Pestano110002

Morales100010

Cawiezell100010

PB—Belcher. WP—Sanabia. HBP—by Sanabia (White). Umpires—Home, Benjamin May; Bases, Joe Hannigan. T—2:27. A—3,588.

HOW THEY SCORED

Scrappers 3rd — Nick Petrucci doubled to the gap in right-center. Osiel Flores doubled to right, Petrucci scored. Cristo Arnal singled to right, Flores scored. Arnal advanced to second on a passed ball. Adam White was thrown out on a bunt attempt 2-3, Arnal advanced to third. Mark Thompson singled to right, Arnal scored. Jansy Infante popped out to shortstop. Chris Nash reached on a walk, Thompson advanced to second. Justin Jenkins hit a grounder to third, Thompson was forced out at third 3-U. 3 runs, 4 hits, 0 errors 2 LOB.

Scrappers 5th — Arnal flew out to right. White was hit by a pitch. White was thrown out at second on an attempted steal 2-6. Thompson doubled to left-center. Infante reached on an infield single, Thompson advanced to third, Infante advanced to second and Thompson scored on an error by the second baseman. Nash doubled down the left field line, Infante scored. Jenkins struck out swinging. 2 runs, 3 hits, 1 error, 1 LOB.

Jamestown 6th — Justin Jacobs grounded out to third. Bryan Peterson hit a home run to right. Ryan Anetsberger walked. Ben Lasater struck out swinging. Dustin Kaats flew out to left. 1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.

Scrappers 7th — White reached on a bunt single. White stoel second. Thompson singled up the middle, White scored. Infante walked, Thompson advanced to second. Nash walked, Thompson advanced to third, Infante advanced to second. Jenkins flew out to center. Castillo hit into 6-4-3 double play, Nash was forced out at second 6-4. 1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB.