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Subpar defense costs Scrappers
Mahoning Valley fell behind 8-0 before losing 9-4.
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — Trailing State College 8-0 after seven innings, Mahoning Valley finally got awake and scored four runs in the eighth, but it was too little, too late and the Scrappers fell to the Spikes, 9-4, at Medlar Field Friday night in a New York-Penn League game.
“We were guilty of some very, very poor defense early,” said Scrappers manager Travis Fryman. “I thought the scorekeeper was a little generous because to be honest with you, I thought our shortstop should have had three errors instead of just one. That got [starting pitcher P.J.] Zocchi in a hole early and then collectively we gave up 17 hits as a pitching staff. You are not going to win too many ball games when you give up 17 hits.”
The Spikes jumped on top 1-0 in the first inning when they put together three singles for the run.
David Rubinstein singled to short, Ciro Rosero followed with a single to right, and one out later, Kyle Morgan ripped a single up the middle, scoring Rubinstein with the game’s first run.
The Spikes tacked on another pair in the third inning before adding another pair in the fourth for a 5-0 lead and they never looked back.
Zocchi started and was roughed up for five runs on 11 hits in four innings to take his fifth loss in eight decisions.
“It wasn’t particularly a good night for him,” said Fryman of his starting pitcher. “He wasn’t sharp with his stuff and it just wasn’t a good outing for him, but we didn’t help him out much defensively.”
The Scrappers posed their biggest threat through the first six innings in the sixth when they loaded the bases on singles by Isaias Velasquez, Cord Phelps and Lonnie Chisenhall.
However, the Spikes were able to keep the shutout intact when State College starting pitcher Rudy Owens fanned Jeremie Tice and Spikes reliever Jorge Charry retired Tim Fedroff on a line drive to right.
“You have to get on the board there,” said Fryman of the failure of his team to capitalize on the opportunity. “If we score, that keeps the energy level of the guys up and keeps them right there. That picked him [Owens] up a little bit and let us down a little bit. We scored four in the eighth inning, but it is tough to come back when you are that far down.”
The Scrappers finally got on the board in the eighth inning when they scored four runs to cut their deficit in half.
Big hits in the frame were doubles by Isaias Velasquez, Ryan Blair and Ramon Hernandez.
As for the loss, Fryman thought it was a combination of things.
“Situational hitting let us down a little bit, our defense let us down early and we gave up 17 hits,” said Fryman. “That combination is usually one of the team that loses the game.”
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SCRAPPERSSTATE COLLEGE
abrhbiabrhbi
Velasquez ss5131Rubinstein lf4231
Phelps 2b5121Rosero cf5143
Chisenhall dh3110D’Arnaud ss5021
Tice 3b4010Morgan dh4011
Fedroff cf4000Farrell 3b5220
Alcombrack c3010Biela rf3110
Blair lf4012Carver 1b5121
Booker 1b4000Mendez c5110
Hernandez rf4110Vasquez 2b4111
Totals364104Totals409178
Scrappers000000040—4
State College10220031x—9
E—Velasquez (18), Farrell (12). DP—Scrappers 1. LOB—Scrappers 7, State College 12. 2B—Hernandez (3), Velasquez (10), Blair (8), Rubinstein (6), Mendez (4), Vasquez (6), Farrell (11). CS—Tice (2).
IPHRERBBSO
Scrappers
Zocchi L, 3-54105502
Langwell220013
Haley133321
CArias121112
State College
Owens W, 3-65 2-360002
Charry1 1-334411
Williams210005
Charry pitched to 4 batters in the 8th. WP—Langwell. HBP—by Zocchi (Morgan), by Williams (Alcombrack). Umpires—Home, Ryan Goodman; Bases, Joseph Born. T—2:57. A—3,570.
HOW THEY SCORED
State College 1st — David Rubinstein singled to shortstop. Ciro Rosero singled to right field, Rubinstein to second. Chase d’Arnaud flew out (F-8), Rubinstein to third. Kyle Morgan singled to center field, scoring Rubinstein, Rosero to 3rd. Jeremy Farrell lined out (L-4). Butch Biela grounded out (5-3). 1 run, 3 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB
State College 3rd — Rubinstein doubled to right field. Rosero beat out a bunt single, Rubinstein to third. d’Arnaud singled to right field, scoring Rubinstein, Rosero to 2nd. Morgan hit by pitch, loading the bases. Farrell grounded into double play (6-3), scoring Rosero, d’Arnaud to 3rd. Biela flew out (F-8). 2 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB
State College 4th — Carver singled to left field. Mendez doubled to left field, Carver to 3rd. Vasquez grounded out (4-3), scoring Carver, Mendez to 3rd. Rubinstein struck out swinging. Rsoero singled to left field, scoring Mendez. d’Arnaud singled to shortstop, Rosero to 3rd, d’Arnaud to 2nd on throwing error (E-6). Morgan flew out (F-7). 2 runs, 4 hits, 1 error, 2 LOB
State College 7th — Farrell doubled to right field. Biela walked. Carver flew out (F-8). Mendez struck out swinging. Vasquez walked. Rubinstein singled to right field, scoring Farrell, Biela to 3rd, Vasquez to 2nd. Rosero singled to center, scoring Biela and Vasquez, Rubinstein to third. d’Arnaud flew out (F-7). 3 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB
Scrappers 8th — Ramon Hernandez doubled to left field. Isaias Velasquez doubled to center field, scoring Hernandez. Cord Phelps singled to right field, scoring Velasquez. Lonnie Chisenhall walked. Pitching change: Mike Williams replaced Charry. Jeremie Tice struck out swinging. Tim Fedroff struck out looking. Robby Alcombrack hit by a pitch. Blair doubled to left, scoring Phelps and Chisenhall, Alcombrack to third. Booker struck out looking. 4 runs, 4 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB
State College 8th — Morgan struck out. Farrell singled to right field. Biela walked, Farrell to 2nd. Carver singled to center, scoring Farrell, Biela to 3rd. Mendez struck out swinging. Vasquez grounded out (4-3). 1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB