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Scrappers work overtime for a victory
Photo
Scrappers catcher Jeremy Lucas tags out Jamestown’s Jesus Solorzano on a throw from third baseman Erik Gonzalez during the seventh inning.
By STEPHEN WILAJ
NILES
The clock struck 9:05 p.m.
It was exactly four hours after the game-time start and all signs pointed to even more baseball at Eastwood Field, as the Mahoning Valley Scrappers and Jamestown Jammers were locked in a 1-1 tie.
Yes, the Scrappers had the bases loaded.
But if the previous 14 innings shed any light on the prospects of Juan Romero’s sixth at-bat, it was to settle in for more free baseball. Already 0-for-5 with three strikeouts, Romero looked destined to come up empty once again.
Behind in the count 1-2, Romero worked it back even, then laced a hanging slider from Jammers pitcher Jose Rodriguez into left field.
Finally, when Joe Sever came home from third, the hundreds of fans still in attendance celebrated a 2-1 Scrappers victory.
“It’s a good win,” Scrappers second baseman Joey Wendle said. “[Romero] came through in the end. He was very persistent. [He was] 0-for-5 with three strikeouts, then he got the biggest hit of the game. That’s a lot of mental toughness right there.”
Speaking of mental toughness, the Mahoning Valley pitching staff showed plenty throughout 14 innings.
New York- Penn League All-Star Jacob Lee started the marathon game for the Scrappers (27-31) and gave up an earned run in the second inning. From then on, it was lights-out for the Jammers (24-33).
Lee left after three innings, giving way to Geoffrey Davenport, who pitched in and out of jams in his 3 1/3 innings on the mound. Although Davenport walked four, he didn’t allow a run.
Next was Scott Peoples, who turned in 1 2/3 scoreless innings while showing some nifty glove-work, followed by Jack Wagoner, who threw three scoreless innings.
Rafael Homblert (2-0) finished for the home team, hurling three scoreless innings.
In all, the Mahoning Valley bullpen worked 11 scoreless innings, allowing seven hits and striking out seven.
“[The pitchers] were phenomenal,” Wendle said. “Our bullpen was just awesome the whole game. You can’t ask for anything more. Every guy who came in did their job.”
Wendle ignited the Scrappers’ rally in the bottom of the 14th with a leadoff double to right-center. Next up, Sever was hit by a pitch, and after a failed sacrifice attempt by Evan Frazer, Jeremy Lucas walked to load the bases.
That set the stage for Romero.
“A big part of the game is not letting the pressure build up on you,” Wendle said. “You just have to stick with your same approach from the beginning of the game to the 14th.”
Not to be overlooked, the Scrappers’ defense played excellent behind its pitchers.
In the seventh inning, third baseman Erik Gonzalez made a sliding-backhanded stop before throwing home to stop the would-be go-ahead run, bringing the crowd to its feet.
“Our defense played really well, which helped us pull this one out in the end,” Wendle said.
SCRAPPERS 2, JAMMERS 1
JamestownScrappers
abrhbiabrhbi
Main rf-cf6020Siliga cf6000
Keefer dh7030Campbell lf5120
Slrzno lf-rf6010Wendle 2b6020
Rosa 1b6000Sever dh4121
Juengel 3b6000Nilsson 1b5000
Vaughn c6110Frazar ph1000
Peralta 2b5020Lucas c5010
Hrnndz ss4011Romero rf6011
Martnez cf2000Gonzalez 3b5010
Dewitt lf3000Kelly ss5000
Totals511101Totals48292
Jmestown 010 000 00000000—1
Scrappers 000 100000 00001—2
E—Peralta (3), Gonzalez (12), Kelly (13). DP—Jamestown 2, Scrappers 1. LOB—Jamestown 16, Scrappers 10. 2B—Hernandez, Sever, Wendle. SB—Solorxzano (7), Campbell (3), Gonzalez (6). SAC—Hernandez.
IPHRERBBSO
Jamestown
Hope661116
Fermin110000
Manzueta400006
Rodriguez L, 2-22.1 21113
Scrappers
Lee331112
Davenport3.140031
Peoples1.200011
Wagoner320003
Homblert310002
WP—Manzueta, Davenport, Peoples, Rodriguez. HBP—by Lee (Solorzano), by Rodriguez (Sever). Umpires—Home, Mike Wisemann; Bases, Mike Provine. T—3:59. A—2,849.