NOTEBOOK Scrappers

Struggling: The Scrappers went into Thursday’s game struggling to get wins at Eastwood Field. They had lost six of their last seven home games and have not won more than two straight at any time this season, home or away, although their longest losing streak has been only three games.

Buck night: Thursday is always “Buck Night” at Eastwood Field with hot dogs and beverages going for $1. Thursday and Friday, which is fireworks night, are two of the biggest fan attractions on the Scrappers’ schedule every year. However those two nights have also been the worst for the Scrappers. Mahoning Valley is just 1-3 when playing on a Thursday and 0-3 with playing on Friday.

Moving up: Scrappers Jeremie Tice is fourth in the New York-Penn League in on-base percentage at .456 and he also leads the team in hitting with a .315 average. No. 1 draft pick, Lonnie Chisenhall, likes to hit at Eastwood Field as he is batting .342 in nine games there this season. Juan Valdez is batting .385 this season whenever he leads off an inning. The Scrappers are 7-8 against Pinckney Division opponents thus far this season.

Long ball: Vermont leads the New York-Penn League with 19 home runs this year in 22 games played. The Lake Monsters have hit seven in the last four games. They hit just two home runs in the team’s first nine games but 17 in the last 13 games. The Lake Monsters are 9-2 in games this season when they’ve hit at least one home run.

On the other hand: Mahoning Valley is tied for last in home run production with just five round-trippers, but the Scrappers are 4-0 when they have hit a home run.

Promotional night: It was Latino Heritage Night at Eastwood Field Thursday and there was a pre-game performance by Occha in the picnic garden.

Pete Mollica