Scrappers’ bats silenced in defeat

Staff report

BURLINGTON, VT.

Drew Granier and three relievers combined on a seven-hitter as the Vermont Lake Monsters defeated the Mahoning Valley Scrappers, 3-1, in a New York-Penn League baseball game on Friday night.

The loss dropped the Scrappers (33-36) to 21/2 games behind Auburn in the NYPL’s Pickney Division, pending the outcome of Auburn’s second game against Aberdeen on Friday night.

The Scrappers also fell two games behind Williamsport in the wild-card standings.

The Lake Monsters (30-28) maintained their hold on first place in the Stedler Division.

Bryson Myles and Tony Wolters had a pair of singles each for the Scrappers, who could dent the scoreboard only in the sixth inning.

Myles led off the inning with a single and went to second on Wolters’ base hit. After Jake Lowery hit into a forceout there were runners on the corners, and Myles scored when Jordan Smith hit into a groundout.

Vermont broke a scoreless tie in the fifth inning on Nick Rickles’ two-out, two-run single.

The Lake Monsters answered Mahoning Valley’s run in the seventh inning when Rickles squeezed home Aaron Shipman.

Mahoning Valley starter Joseph Colon (4-3) allowed three hits and two earned runs in 41/3 innings.

Myles had a stolen bases, his 16th of the season.