Scrappers fall in series finale

August 7, 2010 at 12:08a.m.

By GREG GULAS

NILES

The Mahoning Valley Scrappers held the top of the Tri-City lineup in check during the first two games of their series with the ValleyCats.

Such was not the case Friday as the top four batters combined for six of their team’s 10 hits, three walks, two hit by pitcher, two stolen bases and all six runs scored en route to a 6-2 victory over the Scrappers in a New York-Penn League game at Eastwood Field.

“The top of our order definitely set the table tonight. We struggled to score runs in this series so it was nice to get off to a good start and then hold onto that lead,” ValleyCats’ manager Jim Pankovits said.

Tri-City (21-26) got on the board first, plating three runs in their half of the opening frame before Scrappers starter Kirk Wetmore was able to register an out.

Ben Orloff led off the game with a single, Kike Hernandez followed with a single and after Wetmore hit Tyler Burnett to load the bases, Michael Kvasnicka cleared the sacks with a double to the right-centerfield gap for the early 3-0 ValleyCats’ advantage.

“We played flat early and that hurt us. After looking at the pitching charts, you dig a hole when you give up five walks, hit two batters and hit into three double plays; narrowly avoiding a fourth.

“We fell behind 3-0 early but had our opportunities to get back into the game. We just couldn’t overcome that first inning,” Scrappers manager Travis Fryman said.

Mahoning Valley (18-30) got on the scoreboard in their half of the second on back-to-back doubles by Jesus Aguilar and Chase Burnette, cutting the Tri-City lead to 3-1.

The ValleyCats extended their lead to 5-1 in the third when Hernandez walked and Burnett was hit by Wetmore to start the frame, the former scoring on a single by Ben Heath and the latter crossing the plate on a ground out by Daniel Adamson.

The Scrappers then cut into the Tri-City lead for the second time in their half of the fifth.

With one out, singles by Kevin Fontanez and Kevin Rucker put runners at first and second and when Dan DeGeorge followed with a single, Fontanez scoring to cut the ValleyCats’ margin to 5-2.

In the eighth Orloff singled with two outs, stole second and scored on a single by Hernandez to give the ValleyCats a 6-2 edge.

YSU’s Jacke Healy, who started at shortstop all three games, went 1 for 11 in the three-game series.

He also had a hand in turning all three double plays on Friday.

Tri-CityScrappers

abrhbiabrhbi

Orloff 3b4220Moncrief cf4020

Hernandez 2b4221Heere lf4000

Burnett 1b3210Urshela 3b3010

Kvasnicka rf4013Aguilar 1b4120

Heath c4021Burnette dh4011

Adamson cf5011Seastrunk c3010

Afenir dh5000Fontanez ss4110

Healey ss4000Rucker rf4010

Infante lf3010DeGeorge 2b3011

Totals366106Totals332102

Tri-City302000010—6

Scrappers010010000—2

E—Seastrunk (1). DP—Tri-City 3, Scrappers 1. LOB—Tri-City 10, Scrappers 6. 2B—Kvasnicka (7), Heath (9), Aguilar (3), Burnette (10), Seastrunk (5). SB—Adamson (9), Burnett (1), Infante (8), Orloff (8). CS—Moncrief (4).

IPHRERBBSO

Tri-City

Doran W, 2-4572201

Belliard H, 3220001

Champion110012

DeLeon100011

Scrappers

Wetmore L, 1-6345513

Smith320023

Reichenbach110022

Goryl231100

WP—Champion, Wetmore 2. HBP—by Wetmore (Burnett 2). Umpires—Home, Aaron Reynolds; Bases, John Burzynski. T—2:47. A—4,001.