Scrappers held in check again by Williamsport

Staff rpeort

WILLIAMSPORT, PA.

The Mahoning Valley Scrappers’ postseason hopes took another blow on Tuesday night with a 4-2 loss to the Williamsport Crosscutters in a New York-Penn League baseball game.

The Scrappers’ record fell to 37-33 and they fell 31/2 games behind Brooklyn (40-29) and Williamsport (41-30) in the wild-card race.

Mahoning Valley has five games remaining, including their final two home games at Eastwood Field tonight and Thursday against Williamsport, then finish the season at Jamestown with three games.

On Tuesday the Scrappers fell behind in the second inning and never led.

They scored a pair of unearned runs in the sixth inning. Francisco Lindor, the Cleveland Indians’ first-round draft choice who made his debut on Sunday, and Tony Wolters led off by reaching on errors.

Jordan Smith followed with a sharp single to right field, loading the bases, and that signaled the end for Williamsport starting pitcher Adam Morgan.

He was replaced by Austin Brough, who struck out Jake Lowery. Todd Hankins then hit a sacrifice fly to center, scoring Lindor and advancing Wolters to third. KC Serna smoked a double to right, driving in Wolters. Smith was stranded at third when Jerrud Sabourin grounded out to first.

John Barr led the Scrappers with a double and single. Lowery also hit a double in addition to Serna’s two-bagger.

Joseph Colon (4-4) took the loss for the Scrappers. He allowed four runs (two earned) in four-plus innings.