Scrappers edge Batavia in 11 innings

June 23, 2011 at 12:09a.m.

A bases-loaded walk by a player who had joined the team earlier in the day resulted in an 11-inning, 4-3 win Wednesday night for the Mahoning Valley Scrappers.

Scrappers third baseman Jordan Smith also drove in run that sent the game into extra innings with an eighth-inning single, his second hit of the night. He collected his first hit as a Scrapper in his first at-bat in the second inning.

“I’ve never had a walk-off walk before,” joked Smith. “I’ve had a walk-off hit, but never a walk-off walk.”

Smith joined the team earlier in the day, after signing with the Cleveland Indians organization on June 19. He played the last two seasons at St. Cloud State in Minnesota, and was a ninth-round draft pick in this year’s draft.

“He’s going to be a guy who’s out there a lot for us,” said Scrappers manager David Wallace.

In the bottom of the 11th, Scrappers center fielder Cody Elliot led off with a single and moved to second when the Muckdogs infield muffed a ground ball by Kevin Fontanez. Both runners moved up a base on a sacrifice bunt by Kevin Myles. After Jake Lowery was intentionally walked to load the bases, Alex Lavinsky struck out.

That brought Smith to the plate with two outs.

The Scrappers scored the first run of the night, when Aaron Siliga slapped a home run over the right field wall in the fourth inning for the first run of the night.

Before the homer, the Scrappers put five runners on base in the first three innings, but couldn’t produce a run.

Bryson Myles became the Scrappers’ first base runner when he reached base on an error in the first inning, and advancing to second on the error. But the Scrappers couldn’t bring him home.

Lavinsky was Mahoning Valley’s next base runner, reaching base on a Muckdogs error in the second inning. Lavinsky advanced to second when Smith slapped a soft single to center field. Both runners moved up a base when Aaron Siliga tapped a bunt single to load the bases. But the Scrappers again couldn’t produce a run.

Bryson Myles walked in the third, but the Scrappers couldn’t advance him.

After Siliga’s home run, Casey Serna walked, but became the Scrappers’ sixth runner stranded on base.

Scrappers starting pitcher Joseph Colon frustrated the Muckdogs for the first five innings, holding them scoreless while striking out four batters. Colon gave up only a single hit, a first inning single by Nick Martini.

Drew Rucinski replaced Colon on the mound to start the sixth inning.

Batavia starting pitcher Hector Hernandez lasted four innings, giving up three hits, including Siliga’s home run. He struck out two batters and walked two.

But Rucinski had a rough time from the start, giving up singles to the first two Muckdogs he faced, Mike O’Neill and Juan Castillo. After Roberto Reyes reached base on a Scrappers error, Nick Mancini brought home O’Neill with a sacrifice to tie the score 1-1.

After Rucinski recorded a strikeout, Batavia’s David Medina tapped a single that brought home Castillo, giving the Muckdogs their first lead of the night, 2-1 after six innings.