Scrappers can’t hold off IronBirds’ comeback

July 7, 2012 at 12:09a.m.

Scrappers can’t hold off the IronBirds’ comeback

NILES

For three-plus innings, the Mahoning Valley Scrappers’ bullpen was as hot as Friday’s game-time temperature of 96 degrees, retiring the first 10 Aberdeen batters faced.

But the streak was snapped in the eighth inning and pinch-hitter Torsten Boss’ two-run homer put the IronBirds ahead for keeps in Aberdeen’s 7-6 victory at Eastwood Field.

“It’s still early in short-season [baseball] so I think consistency will come as we get to play more and get acclimated to each other,” said Scrappers second baseman Joe Wendle who tripled and doubled. “It’s still under a month for the new guys.”

Aberdeen (8-11) won despite committing four errors and seeing starting pitcher Sebastian Vader throw 38 pitches in the second inning alone.

“I knew it was a long inning,” said Wendle, acknowledging that the Scrappers (10-9) squandered an opportunity. “There are benefits in scoring runs and getting the starter out of the game early. You want to get the pitch count up as much as you can but he battled.

“He was good enough to get out of the inning with only two runs so that’s commendable.”

Neither Vader nor Scrappers starter Ryan Merritt were around by the bottom of the fourth inning.

In 32/3 innings, Merritt threw 74 pitches, allowing four runs.

In three innings, Vader threw 67 pitches and allowed three runs.

“Merritt threw well, I thought,” Wendle said. “We wanted him to stay in the game a little longer but we made a couple of errors, didn’t do everything we could to keep him in the game.”

Cody Penny relieved Merritt with two outs in the fourth inning and retired seven straight IronBirds.

With a 5-4 lead, Jack Wagoner (0-2) took over in the seventh inning with a one-two-three inning.

Momentum shifted back to the IronBirds when Roberto Ortiz led off the eighth with a single and Boss homered for a 6-5 lead, giving Wagoner a blown save and loss.

The IronBirds added another run in the ninth inning off Enosil Tejeda, which proved crucial.

Tyler Naquin led off the Scrappers’ final at-bat with a single. He took second on a passed ball and third on a Wendle strikeout that required a throw to first base. After Charlie Valerio walked, Joe Sever singled to score Naquin and slice the IronBirds’ lead to one.

The game ended with Mark Bradley on deck anxious for another chance. After reliving right fielder Juan Romero, Bradley snapped a 4-4 tie in the sixth inning with a wacky two-error play.

After drawing a two-out walk, Bradley stole second and catcher Scott Kalush’s throw eluded infielders Joel Hutter and Anthony Caronia.

As Bradley headed to third, center fielder Roderick Bernadina’s throw sailed into the grandstand, allowing Bradley to trot home.

“I saw the second baseman come over and kind of tail off from the base,” said Bradley of his green light to advance. “I slid and [third base coach] Ted [Kubiak} said it’s going over.

“One play to get home like that is pretty amazing,” said Bradley who also doubled in the eighth. “It was a blast — I just kept running.”

Ironbirds 7, Scrappers 6

AberdeenScrappers

abrhbiabrhbi

Vega lf5220Kelly ss4010

Smpson dh4130Naquin cf4110

Brnadina cf5033Wendle 2b5220

Walker 1b5000Valerio 1b4131

Hutter ss5011Sever dh4111

Ortiz rf4110Siliga lf5010

Leonara 3b3000Lucas c4001

Boss ph-3b1112Romero rf2000

Kalush c2100Bradley rf1110

Caronia 2b4100Gonzalez 3b4011

Totals387116Totals376113

Aberdeen101200021—7

Scrappers021011001—6

E—Kalush 2 (2), Bernardina (2), Walker (1), Kelly (1), Tejada (1). PB—Kalush (1). Team LOB—Aberdeen 8, Scrappers 10. DP—Aberdeen 1, Scrappers 1. 2B—Vega (1), Wendle (5), Bradley (1). 3B—Wendle (2). HR—Boss (8). SB—Wendle (2), Valerio (1), Bradley (3), Naquin (2), Gonzalez (3)

IPHRERBBSO

Aberdeen

Vader353322

Beck322113

Wilkin W, 1-0220013

Nivar S, 2121111

Scrappers

Merritt3 2-384323

Penny2 1-300001

Wagoner L, 0-2222201

Tejeda111011

WP—Beck. HBP—by Merritt (Kalush). Umpires—Home, Ryan Simmons; Bases, Ben Lebin. T—3:16. A—2,268.