Magic at Eastwood

By Steve Ruman

Scrappers power way past State College, 9-1

Mahoning Valley has dominated the Spikes, winning the last four meetings.

NILES – The Mahoning Valley Scrappers have the misfortune of being in the most competitive division of the New York-Penn League. Four of the six teams in the Pinckney Division are above .500, while Jamestown and Batavia own the league’s two best records.

Fortunately for the Scrappers, the State College Spikes are also part of the Pinckney Division.

Sunday the Scrappers defeated State College, 9-1, in front of 2,956 fans at Eastwood Field. The loss was the ninth straight for the Spikes (9-34), while the Scrappers (21-25) have won six of their last eight games.

Much like the rest of the league, the Scrappers have enjoyed success at the Spikes’ expense. After dropping five of six games in their last homestand, the Scrappers last week traveled to State College where they earned a three-game sweep.

Sunday the Scrappers scored early and often in handing the Spikes their 16th road loss in 19 games.

After Spikes starter Emilis Guerrero (1-5, 7.40 ERA) retired a batter to lead off the bottom of the first inning, five straight Scrappers reached base in a four-run frame.

The big blow was a two-run homer that Lonnie Chisenhall deposited into the right-field bullpen.

Chisenhall finished 2-for-5.

His second hit was one of three triples the Scrappers collected.

The shortstop leads the Scrappers in RBIs (28) and home runs (4).

“It was nice to get off to the quick start and give our starting pitcher a bit of a comfort zone,” Chisenhall said.

“Lately, I’ve been getting into a routine and I’m learning to adjust to this level of ball. My hitting coach has done a wonderful job working with me, and the work has paid off.”

Mahoning Valley added a run in the second when Corteze Armstrong led off with a single, then later scored on a wild pitch.

The Scrappers then chased Guerrero with a three-run third.

Brock Simpson and Armstrong each tripled in the inning, while Donnie Webb and Armstrong scored runs.

The Scrappers extended their lead to 8-1 when Armstrong scored on a throwing error by Spikes second baseman Andy Vasquez.

The Scrappers capped their scoring in the fourth when Chisenhall led off with a triple, then scored on a sacrifice by Webb.

Every Scrapper in the lineup collected at least one hit. Leadoff hitter Isaias Velasquez went 1-for-3 with a pair of walks to extend his hitting streak to 14 games.

Cord Phelps and Brock Simpson both went 3-for-5, while Webb collected three RBIs.

While the Mahoning Valley offense piled it on, the Spikes’ bats were held in check by Scrappers starter Russell Young (3-2).

The lefty surrendered just one run on three hits through five innings.

He struck out five without giving up a walk.

Three Scrappers relievers held the Spikes hitless through the final four innings.

“We’ve known all along that our offense was capable of putting runs on the board. We’re capable of stringing together a handful of base hits at a time, and lately we’ve been doing that,” Chisenhall said.

“We had a nice road trip, so we were anxious to come back home and give our fans something to cheer about. We seem to be coming together.”

The teams will conclude their brief two-game series tonight at 7:05.

The Scrappers will enjoy an off day Tuesday before visiting Jamestown for a three-game set.

———

STATE COLLEGESCRAPPERS

abrhbiabrhbi

D’Amaud ss2010Velasquez dh3010

Rosero cf4000Phelps 2b5130Farrell 3b4021Chisenhall ss5222

Anderson 1b4000Realini 3b4110

Biela rf2000Simpson 1b5230

Payne dh4000Webb cf4013

Mendez c3000Blair rf4011

Rubenstein lf4000Valadez c5110

Vasquez 2b2100Armstrong lf3221

Rice 2b1000

Latimore pr-lf1000

Totals31131Totals389157

State College001000000—1

Scrappers413100000—9

E—Vasquez (5), Chisenhall (11); LOB—State College 7, Scrappers 11; 2B—Phelps (2); 3B—Simpson (2), Chisenhall (3), Armstrong (2); HR—Chisenhall (4); SF—Webb.

IPHRERBBSO

State College

Guerrero L, 1-63108713

Martinez211142

Amaro340000

Scrappers

Young W, 3-2531105

AMartinez200021

Roberts100001

Morales100002

HBP—by Young (Vasquez), by AMartinez (Biela); WP—Guerrero; Umpires—Home, Matt Jones, First, Mathieu Moisans; T—2:43; A—2,956.

HOW THEY SCORED

Scrappers 1st — Isaias Velasquez grounded out to third. Cord Phelps singled to right. Lonnie Chisenhall homered to right, Phelps scored. Dustin Realini singled to center. Brock Simpson singled to center, Realini advanced to second. Donnie Webb singled to right, Realini scored, Simpson advanced to third, Webb advanced to second on the throw. Ryan Blair grounded out to first, unassisted. Simpson scored, Webb advanced to third. Michael Valadez was called out on strikes. 4 runs, 5 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.

Scrappers 2nd — Corteze Armstrong singled to left. Velasquez struck out swinging. Phelps doubled to the gap in left-center, Armstrong advanced to third. Chisenhall grounded out to second. Armstrong scored, Phelps advanced to second on a wild pitch. Realini struck out looking. 1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB

State College 3rd — David Rubenstein struck out swinging. Andy Vasquez was hit by a pitch. Chase d’Arnaud singled to center, Vasquez advanced to third. Ciro Rosero flew out to right. Jeremy Farrell singled to right, Vasquez scored, d’Arnaud advanced to second. Calvin Anderson flew out to right. 1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB

Scrappers 3rd — Simpson tripled down the line in right. Webb grounded out to second, Simpson scored. Blair grounded out to shortstop. Valadez singled to right. Armstrong tripled to center, Valadez scored, Armstrong scored on an error by the second baseman. Velasquez walked. Phelps grounded out to first, unassisted. 3 runs, 3 hits, 1 error, 1 LOB

Scrappers 4th — Chisenhall tripled to the corner in right. Realini walked. Simpson popped out to second. Webb flew out to center, Chisenhall scored. Blair walked, Rialini advanced to second. Valadez grounded out to second. 1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 2 LOB.