Scrappers extend win streak to four games

Photo by: David Dermer/The Vindicator

Photo

Scrappers second basemen K.C. Serna (6) can’t catch a wild throw as Samuel Gonzalez of State College advances to second base on a wild pitch in the fourth inning.

By Joe Scalzo

scalzo@vindy.com

NILES

Fresh off his second walk-off walk in a week — yes, you read that correctly — Jordan Smith of the Mahoning Valley Scrappers was greeted after the game by a group of teenage girls in the stands, who yelled, “Jordan, can we get our picture with you?”

He obliged. When asked about it afterward, he gave a slight smile and said, “I don’t know if I pride myself on that.”

He has plenty else to be proud of so far with the Scrappers, continuing a strong start to the season Monday night with two hits, two walks, a run and a bases-loaded, bottom-of-the-ninth walk that scored Tony Wolters with the game-winner in Mahoning Valley’s 2-1 win over State College at Eastwood Field.

It was the fourth straight win for the Scrappers (8-3).

“Never having any [walk-off walks] in my career to two in a week, it’s crazy,” said Smith, whose other game-winning walk came last Wednesday in a 4-3 win over Batavia. “My dreams are a little more intense than a walk-off walk but it’s a good team win.

“We only scored two runs, which wasn’t our best performance, but it ended up working out well. The pitchers threw well and there’s not much more you can ask for.”

Smith, who had three hits in Sunday’s win, has at least one hit in every game this season. He doubled to lead off the eighth inning and eventually scored on Jerrud Sabourin’s two-out single to center.

“I guess I’m just finding holes,” Smith said. “I’m happy with what I’m doing and I hope it continues.”

Sabourin’s hit wasn’t good enough to attract any groupies — “I guess not,” he laughed while standing just a few feet away from Smith’s photo op — but Scrappers manager Dave Wallace called it the game’s biggest.

“I was just working the count,” said Sabourin, who went 1 for 4. “I didn’t really get a whole lot to hit all night and I was just looking to get a fastball over the plate.

“He [State College pitcher Fraylin Campos] didn’t throw me anything until that last pitch, so I was ready for it. It was right over the plate, so I got some good wood on it, I guess.”

Sabourin, a San Diego native, signed with the Indians as a free agent this month after a solid career at Indiana University. Sabourin is used to be an underdog — he didn’t have any scholarship offers coming out of high school and was asked to walk on at Indiana — and maybe Monday’s hit will spark him at the plate. Sabourin was batting just .138 entering the game.

Bryson Myles and K.C. Serna each added two hits for Mahoning Valley. Starter Joseph Colon gave up one unearned run in five innings, while Drew Rucinski, Ramon Cespedes and Kyle Petter (2-0) each pitched 11/3 shutout innings of relief.

Nick Kingham started and pitched five shutout innings for State College, while Kevin Kleis tossed two shutout innings. Campos (1-1) got the loss.