Gaynor stifles Spikes in win

Staff report

State College, PA.

Casey Gaynor allowed only three singles, and the Mahoning Valley Scrappers won 4-1 against State College in a New York-Penn League game on Monday.

Gaynor (5-2) scattered the hits over 52/3 innings and didn’t allow a run. He struck out four and walked two.

The Scrappers (27-36) won with six hits. Two of those came off the bat of left fielder Brian Heere, who also scored two runs. Also scoring were Tyler Cannon and Trent Baker.

Heere scored his runs in the fifth and seventh inning. Heere scored his first run on a wild pitch by Spikes (30-32) starter Brooks Pounders. Baker also scored on the play.

Heere scored again on a fielder’s choice. Cannon scored on a Baker double in the ninth inning to seal it.

Reliever Kyle Smith gave up the Spikes’ only run.

In the bottom of the seventh, Smith committed a throwing error. The bad throw brought around Pat Irvine. Smith was replaced by James Reichenbach.

Reichenbach struck out the next batter and ended the inning on a ground ball to shortstop Nicholas Bartolone.

Reichenbach struck out two in his 22/3 innings.

The teams play tonight at Eastwood Field to start a three-game series.