Scrappers split doubleheader with Jamestown

Mahoning Valley beat the Jammers in the nightcap, 1-0, after losing the opener, 5-4, at Eastwood Field.

By CHUCK HOUSTEAU

Vindicator Correspondent

NILES — The Mahoning Valley Scrappers could easily just play out the season after comfortably clinching the Pinkney Division of the New York-Penn League earlier this week.

Despite an offense that has been decimated by injuries, the Scrappers are still poised to make a strong playoff run after splitting a second consecutive doubleheader against the Jamestown Jammers on Thursday.

The Scrappers own a one-game lead over Staten Island for the number one playoff seed heading into a weekend series beginning tonight with the State College Spikes.

Mahoning Valley got a strong pitching performance by Kyle Smith and Antwonie Hubbard to hold off the Jammers 1-0 in the nightcap Thursday night at Eastwood Field.

Casey Frawley’s RBI single against a drawn in infield in the bottom of the sixth inning scored Moises Montero with the game’s go-ahead run.

The Scrappers dropped the opener 5-4 despite a strong mound outing by Marty Popham.

The win in the second game was the team’s 47th of the season which is one shy of the all-time best mark of 48 wins by the 2000 Scrappers team.

“Big hit, yeah,” said Frawley after the win. “We were struggling with the bats all night. I was trying to stay within myself and just get the bat on the ball.”

Frawley said it has been tough to play back-to-back but both teams had to endure the tough situation.

“You still have to stay focused,” Frawley said. “We’re trying to get that top seed in the playoffs and we’re in a battle with Staten Island and Lowell for the best record.”

Smith (0-2) made only his fifth start of the season and pitched four shutout innings.

“Kyle was big tonight,” said Scrappers manager Travis Fryman. “Antwonie was really big. He has gotten progressively better as the season has gone on.

“He’s been a bright spot for us.”

Hubbard (2-0, 2.05 ERA) pitched the final three innings and stuck out five batters.

In the opener, the Scrappers blew a 4-3 lead in the ninth inning.

Cory Burns, who leads the team with 11 saves, blew his third opportunity of the season when he allowed a one out walk to Erik Kanaby. After a stolen base and a wild pitch, Kanaby scored the tying run on an infield ground out.

The Jammers scored the winning run on a single, another stolen base and an infield single that allowed Nate Simon to score from second base.

Marty Popham (6-1) started the game for the Scrappers and pitched six innings of four-hit ball. Unfortunately, two of the hits allowed were home runs that allowed three runs.

Popham left with the Scrappers holding a one-run lead.

Mahoning Valley got a two-run homer from Juan Aponte in the second inning and an RBI triple by Jesus Brito in the fourth.

Tim Palincsar scored the team’s fourth run after walking and later scoring on a fielder’s choice by Jason Kipnis.

———

FIRST GAME

JamestownScrappers

abrhbiabrhbi

Markel rf3221J.Henry cf3000

C.Wade ss4000Frawley 2b4010

K. Jensen lf3122Kipnis lf4011

Dickerson 1b3000Folgia dh2110

Austin 3b3000Carlson ph-dh1000

Kanaby 3b2100Je.Brito 3b3011

C.Paulino c3001Ch.Chen c1110

Simon dh3010Vera ss3000

Z.Moore pr-dh0100J.Aponte 1b3112

Pasek 2b3011Palincsar rf2100

Totals27565Totals26464

Jamestown0001022—5

Scrappers0201100—4

DP—Jamestown 1. LOB—Jamestown 3, Scrappers 5. 2B—Kipnis (8), Ch.Chen (15), Folgia (17). 3B—Je. Brito (1). HR—Markel (4), K. Jensen (4), J. Aponte (2). SB—Z. Moore (6), Kanaby (9), Ch. Chen (8).

IPHRERBBSO

Jamestown

K.Fernandez4 1-364425

Barrow W,1-01 2-300013

A.Ramos S,8100010

Scrappers

Popham643305

Burns BS,3 L,3-2122221

WP—Burns. Umpires—Home, Brian Debrayware; Bases, Jose Rivera. T—2:01.

HOW THEY SCORED

Scrappers 2nd — Brito flies out to left fielder. Chen hits a ground-rule double to right-center. Vera grounds out to shortstop, Chen to 3rd. Aponte homers to left field. Palincsar strikes out. 2 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.

Jamestown 4th — Markel homers to left field. Wade flies out to center fielder. Jensen singles to center field. Dickerson strikes out. Austin grounds into a force out to shortstop. 1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.

Scrappers 4th — Folgia doubles to right field. Brito triples to right field, Folgia scores. Chen walks. Vera grounds into double play to third baseman. Aponte strikes out. 1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.

Scrappers 5th — Palincsar walks. Henry grounds out to shortstop, Palincsar to 2nd. Frawley singles to center field, Palincsar to 3rd. (Pitching change: Barrow replaces Fernandez.) Kipnis flies into a force out to right fielder, Palincsar scores. (Carlson pinch hits for Folgia.) Carlson flies out to center fielder. 1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.

Jamestown 6th — Pasek strikes out. Markel singles to right field. Wade pops out to shortstop. Jensen homers to left center. Dickerson grounds out to second baseman. 2 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.

Jamestown 7th — (Pitching change: Burns replaces Popham.) Austin grounds out to pitcher. Kanaby walks. With Paulino batting, Kanaby steals 2nd. With Paulino batting, Kanaby to 3rd on a wild pitch. Paulino grounds out to shortstop, Kanaby scores. Simon singles to left field. (Moore pinch runs for Simon.) With Pasek batting, Moore steals 2nd. Pasek singles to shortstop, Moore scores. With Markel batting, Pasek to 2nd on a passed ball. Markel walks. Wade strikes out. 2 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB.

SECOND GAME

JamestownScrappers

abrhbiabrhbi

Markel rf2000J.Henry cf2000

C.Wade ss2000Frawley dh3011

K. Jensen lf3000Kipnis lf2000

Dickerson 1b3000Carlson 1b3010

Austin 3b3000Je.Brito 3b2000

Kanaby cf2010Palincsar rf2000

Torres 2b3010Vera ss2000

C.Paulino dh1000Ar.Mrtnz 2b2010Simon ph-dh1000M.Montero c1100

Wyatt c2000

Totals23020Totals19130

Jamestown0000000—0

Scrappers000001x—1

DP—Scrappers 1. LOB—Jamestown 4, Scrappers 3. CS—Ar. Martinez (1). S—J. Henry.

IPHRERBBSO

Jamestown

Armstrong520014

G.Ramirez L,2-3111011

Scrappers

Kyle C. Smith420024

Hubbard W,2-0300005

PB—Wyatt. WP—Kyle C. Smith. HBP—by Kyle C. Smith (C. Wade). Umpires—Home, Jose Rivera; Bases, Brian Debrayware. T—1:33.

HOW THEY SCORED

Scrappers 6th — (Pitching change: Ramirez replaces Armstrong.) Montero walks. Henry out on a sacrifice bunt to third baseman, Montero to 2nd. With Frawley batting, Montero to third on a passed ball. Frawley singles to left field, Montero scores. Kipnis strikes out. Carlson flies out to center fielder. 1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.