Walk-off homer lifts ’Cats past MV Scrappers

Staff report

Troy, N.y.

Chris Epps hit a solo homer in the bottom of the seventh to give the Tri-City ValleyCats a 4-3 walk-off win over the Mahoning Valley Scrappers in the first game of a doubleheader on Wednesday night.

The second game was not completed in time for this edition. Both games were seven-inning affairs.

Trailing 3-2, Mahoning Valley tied the opener in the top of the seventh on a two-out RBI single by Tony Wolters, scoring John Barr.

Wolters went 3-for-4 for the Scrappers (30-22), who are a half-game behind Auburn in the Pinckney Division standings of the New York-Penn League. Mahoning Valley leads Williamsport by a half-game in the wild card standings.

Myles added two hits and scored a run for the Scrappers, who finish a five-game roadstand tonight at Tri-City. They’ll return home for a three-game set against Brooklyn starting Friday, followed by the two-game All-Star break.

Mahoning Valley took a 1-0 lead in the first on an RBI single by Jordan Smith, scoring Myles.

The Scrappers made it 2-0 in the second when Cody Elliott reached on a throwing error to start then inning and scored on a double by Alex Lavisky.

Tri-City cut it to 2-1 in the bottom of the inning on an RBI groundout by Epps that scored Matthew Duffy. The ValleyCats added two more runs in the fifth inning on RBI singles by Kellen Kiilsgaard and Neiko Johnson.

Will Roberts started and gave up three runs (all earned) in five innings for the Scrappers. Ramon Cespedes pitched a scoreless sixth.

Will Krasne (2-2) came on for the seventh, facing just one batter.

Cole (1-1) gave up one run in the seventh but got credited with the win.