Scrappers must win two straight in title series

Scrappers must win two straight in title series

By KEVIN FLOOD

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — If the Mahoning Valley Scrappers are going to capture their first New York-Penn League title since 2004, they’re going to have to take care of business at home.

The Scrappers lost the opening game of the best-of-3 final series against the Staten Island Yankees 3-0 on Monday night at the Richmond County Bank Ballpark and must now win two straight (tonight and Wednesday) as they failed to score against four Yankee pitchers.

Scrappers’ starter Brett Brach surrendered solo runs in each of the first two frames as the Bombers banged out four hits and took a 2-0 advantage.

Mahoning Valley couldn’t solve Yankee starter Adam Warren as the right-hander out of the University of North Carolina cruised through six innings, struck out seven, surrendered just four hits, and was never in trouble.

“I knew from watching the Scrappers in July that they are very disciplined at the plate, like to work deep into counts, bunt well, and move runners along,” said Warren, who was getting his first start against the Scrappers. “I just tried to get ahead in the count, pitch aggressively and keep runners off the bases. All the teams that made the playoffs this year are very solid and you really can’t afford to make mistakes.”

The Scrappers got nothing going against Warren, but they did jump on Yankee reliever Griffin Bailey in the seventh.

Ben Carlson greeted the right-hander with a lead-off double and Jason Smit pushed a bunt past the mound to put runners at the corners with no outs.

However, Chun Chen and Argenis Martinez both struck out on breaking balls, Jordan Henry bounced out to short, and the Scrappers were still in a 2-0 hole.

The Scrappers went down in order in the eighth before the Yankees’ Zoilo Alamonte blasted a sole home run in the bottom of the frame to extend the lead to 3-0.

Almonte’s shot loomed even larger in the ninth when Mahoning Valley threatened against Staten Island closer Ryan Flannery.

Jesus Brito reached on an infield error and Carlson doubled into the right-field corner to put runners at second and third with no outs.

For the second time in three frames the Scrappers failed to capitalize.

Smit popped out to first, Chen bounced back to the box, Martinez grounded to short, and the Scrappers will have to win the next two at Eastwood Field if they’re going claim their second championship in six years.